All Articles and Photo's Courtesy of Jean-Francois Helias.

Founder of Fishing Adventures in Thailand, Jean-Francois Helias is also an IGFA Representative of Thailand and freelance fishing writer who has established over 100 world records, both as a guide and angler.

…we were to take turns at the rod, each of us giving his share of cheer strength and energy…

…pumping the barn door size ray, until it would eventually got tamed…

…we did not think for a second the fight would be lasting for six long hours...

…the ray had no problem at all to tow our 2 wooden boats tied together with ropes, with a total of 7 people on board...

…the only issue to me was to be able, at last, to touch and caress that ray's skin from my own fingers...

…later, it got released safely and unharmed, after a short photo session by the river's bank. By Jean-Francois Helias

 
My Belgium friend Philippe Pletincx, a several times return client, had already landed a 30 kg Freshwater Stingray (Himantura chaophraya) that hot afternoon of May 2004. So when a second ray that had taken my bait started to run full speed to the middle of the river, to make it fair to my second guest, Dave Garber, an American angler from Minneapolis, I gave him my personal 30-60 Graphite USA Custom built rod. So he could enjoy himself experiencing a fight with this unique ray species. Dave had been fishing with us for 9 consecutive days around the country. It was his very last fishing session with us as he had to leave Thailand early morning at 4.00 am the next day. This second ray bite occurring at 6.30 pm, I thought then he would have largely enough time ahead of him to land the fish. We had initially agreed together to have a van picking him up at the river late at night, at 1.00 am, to bring him back to his hotel in Bangkok. But Dave had changed his mind early afternoon, asking me to leave earlier around 8.00 pm. It was his last night in Bangkok, and he wanted to have a nice Thai cuisine dinner, followed by a good night rest.

After Dave had pumped the stingray for one and a half hour, we already knew by then we were going to be into a marathon fight that could last several hours. There was no doubt in our minds that it had to be a big size Himantura chaophraya. Thai Freshwater stingrays are said to reach a maximum weight of 1000 pounds (max. published weight). But according to locals, today the biggest rays inhabiting the Bank Pakong River are around 550 pounds. We did not have a single clue how big could be the one we had hooked up, neither we were certain that we would be able to land it. We already knew what to expect from local friends of ours who fought huge size freshwater rays. Using low quality fishing gear, they had to fight them for 14 /16 hours....without being able to land them.

Dave was gone now. We had to take over the rod and go on with the fight. Philippe, Kik and Noi (two of my team guides), and yours truly, were to take turns at the rod, each of us giving his share of cheer strength and energy, pumping the "barn door size" ray, until it would eventually got tamed. We did not think a second at this stage of the fight our pumping session would be lasting for six long hours.....

We had a slight handicap though. We did not have the best appropriate combo for this kind of unexpected size stingray. My personal 30-60 Graphite USA custom built rod was a largely good enough weapon "to go to war" with the ray. But the 8000 Twin Power Shimano reel loaded with 80 lb PowerPro braided line was kind of "light tackle" for the size of our opponent.

Each time the ray decided to stuck on the bottom, there was no way we could move it, not even for a single inch. When it was creeping slowly on the river's muddy bottom, we would pump it like if it was a matter of life and death but without being able to lift the ray vertically of a single foot. And when it decided it was time for a move, time to exercise a bit, starting swimming for real, the ray had no problem at all then to tow our 2 wooden boats tied together with ropes, with a total of 7 people on board. I felt we were a feather floating on the river...

Four hours had already passed since the ray had taken the bait. The giant ray was still doing whatever it felt doing though each of us, taking turn at the rod to play the fish, was giving the best he could to have the ray getting tired. We were kind of powerless in a situation where we could have asked ourselves if we were the ones fighting this fish or if it was the other way around. We had plenty of time then to let our respective minds wondering if the giant ray would ever give up. But a part of our worry about our 80 lb line badly suffering from its friction on a very bent rod's guides, we did not have to worry too much about anything else. The atmosphere on board was nice. I was often cracking jokes, or teasing my angling accomplices, to make sure everyone was feeling relaxed.

A part of the good fun I wanted everyone to share with me during this unique angling experience, I had more seriously sent several times a verbal message to everyone: in the boat. There was NO WAY we were going to miss the opportunity to land such a rare and huge size specimen of Himantura chaophraya. There was NO WAY I was going to give up the fight myself. Whatever was the weight of the ray, whatever would be the needed amount of hours to tame it, we would all be fighting "her" until it "she" gives up.

If our "karma" (you would say fate) was to lose this battle due to the line breaking on us (which was my main worry as the braid, after several hours of heavy pressure, was already showing some bad signs), then it would be fine with me. No disappointment at all, no frustration. Losing fights and failing landing fishes is also part of our passion. But as long as the line would stand the punishment it was taking, then I wanted each of us to give the best of his strength and will to battle that ray.

I had booked our 2 boats until 7.00 am the next day. And our next clients we had to guide were booked for the next day. So we had still another 36 hours ahead of us to end this fight as the winners. I told both boat captains that if we could not land the ray before 7.00 am, we would go on. I would pay them the additional day for keeping their boats. I also told my two faithful crew's team mates, Kik and Noi, they would get their due fees too for working extra time. In the intensity of the action, money was no issue. The only issue to me was to be able, at last, to touch and caress that ray's skin from my own fingers. We had coffee, we had cold drinks, we had plenty of food, and cigarettes. We were a nice bunch of good friends, all cool guys with a positive attitude, crazy dedicated anglers, all having a helluva time sharing this unexpected angling adventure, and working together as a team to tame this heavyweight monster. Life could not get any better than this!

The battle we had with this 100 kilos Freshwater Stingray is one of the most tremendous moments of sportfishing and of true friendship I have ever had the chance to experience, in 45 years of fishing. No need to say that a catch of a 100 kg fish has to be of course unforgettable in any angler's memory. But analysing today everything I can still remember of it, the best feeling to me is not anymore about the catch in itself. It is more about all of us, more about friendship between guys sharing together an angling adventure, more about the satisfaction of a well done team work and the sweet feeling of achievement as its reward.

The giant stingray finally gave up at half past midnight. Later, it got released safely and unharmed, after a short photo session by the river's bank. Through the past 18 years I have spent targeting Thai freshwater fish species, I have fought and landed numerous big fish. Either Mekong Giant Catfish - a still too unknown fish to worldwide anglers which pound for pound got to be rated in the top 3 world's freshwater hardest fighting fish - either the rare and elusive Siamese Giant Carp, the "mother of all carp" - a powerful "submarine with fins" who can whoop the ass of any physically well built angler. But let me tell you these two hardfighting Thai fish species don't belong to the same warriors league than the Giant Freshwater Stingray plays in!

Again remembering today the encounter we had with this record size Himantura chaophraya, I find myself in total admiration about the unbelievable strength such a ray species can display. It is absolutely out of this world. When it comes to freshwater sportfishing, and when it comes to fight what us sport anglers call "big ones", the Himantura chaophraya is without a doubt "the real thing"!

We hooked up this 100 kg ray at the Bang Pakong River. It towed us - 2 wooden boats tied together with rope with a total of 7 people on board - for miles, this for 6 hours, from the Bang Pakong River to the Nakorn Nayok River, from the Nakorn Nayok River to the Prachinburi River, then back to the Bang Pakong River again, before being finally landed, back at the Nakorn Nayok River.

That's what we could call being taken for a ride!

'Beginner's Luck' – 154 Pounds Arapaima Caught on Fly

…the third Arapaima, weighed on my 100 kg certified scales, at exactly 154 pounds...

…my Belgium friend, Philippe Pletincx, was the first one to insist I borrow his fly rod…

…so I could experience catching a few good size Barramundi with it…

My first world record on fly: a 15.02 kg redtail catfish I caught on March 22, currently pending the IGFA 20lb tippet record.

Dear Ben (Siegel),

Just a few words, my good friend, to tell you how much I am now enjoying fly fishing with the new combo rig (Sage VT2 # 9 rod + Tibor Billy Pate Bonefish reel) I bought with you at Bass Pro Shop in Fort Lauderdale. Perfect choice!

I had the opportunity to try that virgin rod for the first time on April 21… and got skunked. Not even a little "tap" from a fish all day long. I was using two of the six flies I purchased for testing. Neither of these flies triggered interest from any of our local and non native species.

The next day I tried a different fly. Again, I used one that resembled a Tilapia in the water, but this time a smaller size.  Boom..... I hit the jackpot right away with it. I hooked three Arapaimas on it, landing the first and third one, but losing the second one.  It came unhooked after playing it for almost an hour. The first catch was around 80-85 pounds, the second one around 110 pounds, and third one we weighed on my 100 kg certified scales, at exactly 154 pounds. It took me almost two and a half hours to tame that last fish with my Sage # 9.

My old buddy, Dr. Lenny Kouba, from Chicago, who is fishing with me following my return to Thailand, told me that had he not witnessed these Arapaima catches himself, he would have never believed that kind of thing could happen to a fly fishing beginner. I guess that my amigos Peter Collingsworth and John Mitchell, who are the most dedicated fly anglers I know, are gonna ask themselves how that sort of thing can happen (lol). Let’s say I know "a bit" about fishing for Arapaima, I had the right fly tied on, maybe the way I was stripping helped a bit to trigger an Arapaima’s bite, and as usual, it had to be my karma! 

Man, I do not have to tell you about the great feeling of satisfaction I had with these three Arapaima hook ups on the same day. For a true fly-fishing novice, it is quite pleasing and rewarding to have my efforts at becoming a decent fly-fisherman validated in such a manner. It gives me the kind of confidence I need to dig fly fishing even more. I think I may be a tiny bit hooked on that method now. I owe thanks to my Belgium angler friend, Philippe Pletincx. Philippe was the first one to insist I borrow his fly rod so I could experience catching a few good size Barramundi with it. Thanks as well to the UK IGFA Rep. Peter Collingsworth, who recently nailed it deeper by lending me one of his rods for three days, while fishing together upcountry.

I truly like the fact I am discovering fly fishing only now that I am over 50 years old. I'm excited and I am looking forward for some different new days "at the office" (guiding & fishing), and for a few new challenges to go after. I'm telling you, Ben, life never gets boring to a guy like me as long as there are still challenges in store! 
 

Now that lethal Arapaima fly, which I think is the only fly I bought at Florida Keys Outfitters shop, has been totally destroyed after having been munched by three Pirarucu. There are almost no feathers left on it. Its metal head is gone. I had no other choice but to retire it after having fished it a single day.

None of the other flies I bought work, except for one that seems attracting only Pacu. I caught two of them on it while fishing all day yesterday, and nothing else.

Mai pen rai. Hope fuels anglers. I'm gonna try fishing harder with the only flies I have left until!