Annual flooding of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers provides Assam with some of the finest floodplain wetlands in India. These floodplains play a significant role as feeding grounds for fish during the monsoon, with fish migrating back to the rivers and wetlands as the waters recede.

Local people have adapted their livelihoods to the flood cycle and fishing remains a traditional activity of tremendous importance in rural communities. This has lead to the development of a diverse range of fishing gear and methods.

This article documents some of the major fishing gears and their methods of operation during the flood season in Assam, with reference to their efficacy and targeted fish species.