Yellowcheek Mothership
An 11-day expedition with 10 days on the water. Live aboard a fully equipped mothership as it travels 300–500 km through remote rivers and reservoirs, fishing new water every day.
Hunt true trophies in Vietnam's most remote waters
Our mothership expedition takes you deep into remote freshwater systems far beyond the reach of conventional fishing. Operating from a fully equipped mothership, we move between reservoirs, flooded valleys and deep river channels where trophy predators roam.
Every day is spent chasing changing conditions in search of Yellowcheek, one of Asia's most powerful and elusive freshwater pelagic species. Living on the water means you can reach productive areas that are usually out of reach for sport-fishing boats, with comfortable cabins, fresh meals and expert guiding throughout.
Three ways to find them
There are three main ways we catch Yellowcheek.
Sight fishing
Yellowcheek are pelagic: they roam open water, and when they find a bait ball they very often blow up on it at the surface. Cast just behind the bait ball to entice a bite.
Blind casting
We patrol the banks of the river and the lake and cast tight to the shore, where Yellowcheek hunt the smaller fish hiding there for safety.
Sonar fishing
We find the fish on live sonar, chase them down and cast to the Yellowcheek we can see on the screen.
Yellowcheek can be caught all day. From 9am to 3pm the fishing is good, and from 3pm until dusk is the golden hour.
Top 5 reasons
- New water every day as the mothership moves upriver.
- Clear water and variety: Yellowcheek, Giant Snakehead and Skygazers.
- Bass boats with sonar and fishfinders, plus a fly-fishing longtail and an aluminium boat.
- Reach water day anglers can't, far from roads and towns.
- A specialised international crew and chefs.
Two seasons a year
Trophy season · November to early April
In the cooler winter months the water temperature drops and the big, mature Yellowcheek come down from the river to spend the winter in the lake. This is the time for the biggest fish.
Numbers season · mid-April to end of October
Through the summer months the catch rate is higher and you catch more Yellowcheek on average. Average size is smaller, but big fish are still caught.
Our scheduled mothership departures run from November to June.
Day by day
- Day 1Arrive in Hanoi, check in to the hotel, meet the group and get the tour briefing
- Day 2Depart 03:00 by private transport. Short ferry to the mothership, breakfast, rig up and start fishing from one of the fishing boats. Dinner and a night session for skygazers
- Days 3–7Breakfast at 07:00, then fish all day while the mothership moves 30–80 km further upriver
- Days 8–10Turn around and fish the most productive water on the way back down to port
- Day 11Morning session, pack up and return to the hotel in Hanoi
Best lures & flies
Poppers
Many poppers work. After testing a lot of designs, the Skitterpop has the right amount of pop and splash to get Yellowcheek blowing up.
Jerkbaits
A safe option for any predator. In our testing the X-Rap got the most fish interested and committed, because its action mirrors the baitfish they hunt.
Whopper Plopper
Fast bursts through the water mimic baitfish escaping a chase, and the plopping sounds like bait jumping.
Also works
Jigs, spoons and spooks all catch fish at certain times and in certain conditions.
Streamers
The standard fly for big predators. Silver, red, blue and yellow patterns work well.
Game Changers
A segmented fly that adds movement. Yellowcheek respond to erratic action.
Popper flies
Yellowcheek are drawn to splashing more than popping, so both small and large poppers work.
Wiggle minnows
A subsurface diver with a wild, erratic action that Yellowcheek find hard to ignore.
Fly fishing for Yellowcheek is physically demanding. You need to be competent with an 8 wt or heavier rod.
Mothership & fishing boats
Hydrasport 5.8 m bass boat
- Yamaha 100 hp four-stroke
- Lowrance ActiveTarget live sonar
GlassStream 4.9 m bass boat
- Yamaha 60 hp
- Lowrance Elite FS 9 sonar and ActiveTarget live sonar
9.8 m composite longtail
- Fly-fishing compatible
- 40 hp longtail engine
5.0 m aluminium boat
- For shallow water and rapids
- Yamaha 25 hp
The mothership
- Large shared cabin
- Fully equipped kitchen and grill, with a chef
- Freezers and fridges for cold drinks
- Solar panels for uninterrupted electricity
- 2 bathrooms with toilets and warm showers
- Large dining area on the second floor
- Separate crew and guest areas
Included & not included
- 2 nights in a Hanoi hotel (Day 1 and Day 11)
- All transport to and from the lake
- 2–3 meals a day (Vietnamese and Western), fruit, snacks, soft drinks and drinking water
- 10 fishing days and 9 nights on the mothership
- International English-speaking guides
- Fishing permits
- Life jackets and first aid kits
- Custom-made fishing shirts
- Airport transfers (available on request)
- Vietnamese SIM card
- Alcohol (available to buy on board)
- Sunscreen and hats
- Gratuities (always appreciated)
- Fishing gear: rods, reels, line and leader (available to rent)
- Meals in Hanoi
Alcohol, lures and pre-made lure boxes are available to buy on board. Airport transfers and trip videos can be arranged on request. Booking partners and agents: email Booking@taycaufishing.com for custom tours and packages.
Reserve your spot
- Join a scheduled departure
- Max 9 anglers per trip
- Everything listed under "Included"
- Book the whole expedition for your group
- Up to 9 anglers
- Same inclusions
Next departures
- 20 – 30 Jan 2027Open · 8 spots left
- 12 – 22 Feb 2027Full
- 17 – 27 Mar 2027Open
- 1 – 11 Apr 2027Open
- 4 – 14 May 2027Full
- 19 – 29 May 2027Full
Guests on this tour
Fantastic tour, great guides and great food. 512 fish in total!
Very professional and easy tour. Transportation, logistics, food and drinks were all easily sorted. The fishing was great: not as much topwater action as we expected, but the subsurface action was awesome.
Mothership catches
