Every pool in the river is packed with fish, with the larger specimens lurking in the cool water of deep pools in the dry season, and moving into shallow flats and riffles when the stream swells. An astute angler will watch the stream’s eddies carefully, waiting for the schools of small barbel to scatter in the presence of the larger fish, launching their hopper, with a long and delicate tippet towards their target. The larger barbel, weighing up to four pounds, reached their size for a reason. They will scrutinize your fly, circling it, before cautiously deciding whether to gently sip it off the surface.

In terms of equipment, fly fishing the Ngeng is similar to a small trout stream, with a short rod in 2 or 3 weight fitting the casting distances perfectly when paired with a floating line and a 9 foot 4-5x leader. It is recommended that anglers on the Ngeng fish barbless hooks, as it is common to have to go through several smaller fish before raising a trophy to their fly.

A large terrestrial, ideally a hopper or a dragonfly imitation, will suffice in most circumstances. While smaller dries work, as one will often observe the barbel rising aggressively at late afternoon mayfly hatches, they will struggle to garner the attention of larger fish in deeper pools. A missed fish can often be coaxed into a second strike by switching to a large nymph or small streamer and swinging it downstream.

The Ngeng river is a must-visit location for the avid dry fly fisherman and those with a passion for native fisheries. And do not be fooled by the stream’s size, as the largest fish in the river are sure to put your gear to test.