St John Island - 20 May 2012

Todak posing with the tackle that kills it

Made this trip basically to seek revenge from the last trip, tide is similar so too is the weather. Hoping to see some queen fish again, no time is wasted to jig for bait fish from elsewhere, instead once we touchdown, straight away we headed to the linkway and hope to get some live bait fishes there.

Similar to the last trip, bait fishes are hard to come by, finally get one from an old uncle and quickly hook with on my noodle rod. And the wait begins for the arrival of the queen.

Saw a splash earlier so hopefully it is a sign, but alas a todak took my live bait and then spat it out, killing it. No choice but to start bottom fishing again for bait fish while leaving the freshly killed bait fish in the water.




Then the todak strikes again, DesT notice some action on my side and walks over.
DesT - Look like it is a big one I saw earlier.
Me - Big mah? I dun think so, although it didn't jump much.
DesT - Let's see when it closer.

a while later.....
DesT - Yeah, it looks like the big one I saw on the other side.
Me - Doesn't look big to me, maybe 80cm plus
DesT - Hmm... doesn't look that small to me
Me - I dun really care, I wanted the queenie, this is a by-catch

So up it comes, once it is on the grass patch then did I notice the length of it, it is indeed not that small. DesT took out the measuring tape and measure it. It comes just short of One meter, considered large in our local water.

Well, that's the only decent catch we had the entire day, and this is going to be donated to Raffles Museum to be preserved as part of their studies.

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Tackle used
Rod - GLoomis GL2 NR1382
Reel - Shimano Alivio 2500 body (Modified) with AernosXT C3000 spool
Line - Spiderwire EZ Braid 10lbs, with 12lbs Surecatch leader
Rig - Float with 15lbs line and Aji 12 and Aji 14 double hook

Three old man and a Queen

22nd May 2012, a planned trip to St John island to do some fishing, the tide is right to do some todak hunting and I have some other stuff to do, namely to take some pics for an article for a fellow fisho, and test out the new lines that I have spooled in.

Upon reaching, I immediately start to jig for tamban, on previous trips, they are pretty easy to get, however on this trip it is tough, before long we know what happen, there is a queenie whacking baits fishes just around the area. DesT hooked up a live tamban and managed to get a hit, but failed to set the hook. He is so hyped up that he refuse to move his butt until much later. With a predator in the area, tambans are hard to come by, finally we have no choice but to get some glass fish on top of the few precious tamban we get.

My journey with Noodle Rod

Me with Silstar Teal 10ft

When I first start out with this form of fishing I uses an very old Silstar Teal 10ft, which is brought 2nd hand from an angler. He gave up using the rod because he have no idea how to use it. Then when Nimo found a huge stash of these rods at Siow Chiang, he organize a mass-order which clear out all their dead stock. Now there are at least a couple hundred of the Silstar Teal on our sunny island, but I seldom seen them in action when I goes fishing.

I still remember then first time I uses the Silstar Teal, it is on a kelong in Sibu Malaysia. The targeted species? Todak of course. With the lack of expert guidance, even with the correct rig, I have a high percentage of miss. Doubts start to creep into my mind, what an I doing wrong? When I get to know DesT, he gave me a lot of feedback and shared his own experience for catching todak, my rate for landing those todaks increase and give me more confidence to use this rod / form of fishing to target other species such as half beaks.

Wolf Herring On Silstar Teal

The next obvious target is the queenie, however queenie and my noodle rods doesn't seems to like one another, try as I might but that elusive queenie just wouldn't take my baits when I uses the Silstar Teal. However, I have much better luck with other species, it is during one of the nights at the kelong that I try to use the rod while hunting for ikan parang (wolf herring). It is not the most ideal rod for the job on actual fact, as when the fish is near, you have a hard time trying to steer it clear of those boats. However, it is damn bloody fun to catch them on these long soft rods. The rod did just what it's labels says 'Designed to put the fun into light line fishing'. It is quite possible that during these period that invoke my interest to pursue into light lines and tackles.

While I am very happy using this rod, I did notice that DesT is still having a higher landing rate then me. So what's the difference? Apparently it is the rod, while most of us would happily call the Silstar Teal as a noodle rod, it appears more like a float rod to me. Nothing wrong with using it with light lines, however I really wanted to feel the difference between the GLoomis and Silstar Teal. But by the time I intent to purchase the GLoomis factory noodle rod, then I learn that GLoomis no longer produces the factory noodle, but only the blanks. It is quite a heavy investment really when you are looking at around SGD400 to get one done. It took me a while to finally lay my hands on a custom built with GLoomis NR1382 blank. (How the rod finally landed on my hand is another interesting story by itself.)

The first time I fished with GLoomis

Once I have the GLoomis there is no turning back for me, I love the feel of the rod and fighting fishes on the other end of the line. It is more difficult to cast then the Silstar Teal for sure, but the feel and the way the rod feels is different. Hard to really put it in words, but heck there is a difference.

Again, todaks are my choice of target species and maybe because that's the de facto species whenever I uses the noodle rod. As times goes by, I wanted to try out how it will feel to have some other species on the other end of the line other then todaks. Luckily for me, the GLoomis and Queenie are not in conflict, i have hook up 2 or 3 queenies so far with the rod, but alas yet to land one yet. Twice the leader rub against some underwater structure and 8lb mono leader is no much for such obstacles.

I am drooling when DesT had this barracuda on his noodle rod at a kelong. I too wanted some other species, my guess is that I will need to work hard and go on trying out and experiment with different rig setup to target some other species.

My noodle rod journey have started for a few years already but by no means that it will end anything soon. It alreadys have been a trill whenever I have something on noodle rod, I don't think I will get tired of this form of fishing. While those species I mentioned can be landed with any regular fast action rod, it is simply more fun using a long soft flexible with that distinctive slow action with light lines.



Next on my wish list in a 15ft noodle with North Fork Composites blanks, no idea when they will be pushing out this product, will just keep my finger crossed.

Reward finally! Sort of have a long dry spell (Labrador Park & St John)

Recently, I have sort of fishing curse set upon me. I seems to be having terrible luck whenever I goes fishing, not having any bites and worse of all, busted lines when I least expect it to happen.

Well please allow me to forget about my fishing trips for the last couple of months, it is really really bad, so bad that I wanted to take a long long break away from fishing. However, as the fishing itch comes, damn you just forget about those horrible past trips and hope that you will get some decent hook up at your next trip.

For the past week, I made 3 fishing trip, one familiar place for me, St John island, and twice at an long time fisho haunt, Labrador park.

St John Island - Another Queenie miss

A St John island todak hunting trip is planned as we didn't fish there for a while already, all in all there is 6 of us making the trip for todak hunting.  Initially I thought that there is just 3 or 4 of us, on the morning of the trip itself, I learn that there are 6 anglers, fearing that there is a very strong chance of have lines tangled up, i quickly packed an extra rod and reel for some light bottom fishing.

After a mad mad dash to the Marina South Ferry terminal, we make it on the first ferry to the St John island, look like we are in for a good time cause one of us bought small tambans, anchovies and gargo (those some tiny shrimps).  I am particular please about the gargo as during the trip to Sister island, I see how effective it is when you are targetting some fishes.  What pleased me even more is that one of them told me that what I see that are caught on Sister islands are also available on St John, similar area and environment. Thus the list of lightly species are, most likely Ms. Wong, Yellow tails are available, sometimes a 'Lai Mun' (those bigger stripped rabbit fish) and once a blue moon a 'Hai Ciong' (direct translation from Hokkien is Sea Pomfret). So while on the ferry, I make my plan, from the moment I reached till tide change, I will be doing light bottom for those assorted fishes, as the current will be flowing at the 'wrong' direction for good todak hunting.

Once we arrived at St John Island, my heart sank, alas there are already a few people fishing at the spot where I knew that is good for light bottom fun, have to look for a new spot. Set up my light bottom gear and started trying at a few spot, before long, I gave up fishing along the 'causeway' because the blazing hot sun plus I didn't have much sleep the night before, I feel damn tired.  However, I did managed to find a semi-shaded place to spend an hour or so and hooked up a lot of Ms.Wong and a few yellow tails, though catch rate is not fantastic, I could now identify how the yellow-tail attack the bait, will modify my fishing method in future.

When it is close to noon, that goes my shade as well, so make my way back to the 'causeway' and setup my noodle setup, not keen to go for todak as the strike rate isn't good and still feeling lazy, decided to try and target for Queenie instead. Many many moons ago, I hook up a nice sized Queenie and fought for more then 1/2 hrs on my noodle rod setup before I lost it, so hope I can hook one again. Soon, I am told that a Queenie is spot by the other anglers earlier, so I am hopeful I can get one. I check out my bait often, a small dead tamban, which I set it just 5 meters out. Finally, I spotted it! rather it's tail, it check out my bait but refused to take it, instead show me it's arse and swim off. Damn!!!

Immediately, I realized the fact I need a live bait to get that teasing bugger. Luckily, someone is using my bottom setup for halfbeaks, so I sort of hijack the setup and get myself a nice halfbeak. Hookup and the waiting game begins again. Another who witness my earlier near miss also got himself a halfbeak and also playing the same waiting game.  Finally a Huge take, rod bending and reel screaming, but alas not mine but the Queenie decided that my halfbeak doesn't look tasty enough and decided to take the other. But a short fight later, the angler lost the Queenie.

When the current changes direction, it's back to todak hunting again.  I have a couple of takes but didn't landed any, it is not turning out to be my day at all. Feeling tired and seeing twice anglers having their lines tangled by, I decided to take it easy for the rest of the day, which of course didn't yield anything.

A bad day of fishing for me, but a good day overall as fishing for me isn't just about getting fishes, it always have been the company and it have been good today. Yeah, still yet to get that elusive queenie today, but one day, just one day I will be back and get you.

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GLoomis NR1382
Modified Alivio 2500
4, 5, 6 lbs braided line, joined, with 8lbs leader.
Running float rig.
Genesis Assasini 7'2
Unmodified Shimano Slade 1000
Unknown strength braided line, with 8lbs leader.
Running float rig.

Half Beaks Hunting

It has been a while since I last fish for half beaks, almost a full year ago. As they comes near to our mainland shoreline in huge numbers for a short 3 months period or so, it is usually a case of catching them when they are around. Myself and DesT decided to hunt them before they are gone from our shore line.

Arrangement are made the day before the trip, my hands are itching for some action as we noticed that the half beaks are still around just a couple of days ago.  However, this trip almost didn't happen as while we are having breakfast on the day of this trip, we notice the weather isn't too good, slight overcast with a chance of raining.  With a heavy heart, we gave up the thought of going fishing and started to have a chat and have more kopi and teh.  I think mother nature took pity on us, as the sun came out blazing in the late morning, with hunting season coming to a close and with itchy hands, common sense are thrown out of the window and we decided to go half beak hunting.

North Fork Composites blanks

Been a while since I put something up on this blog, been busy lately plus having to serve my nation for 2 weeks keep me away for a while. Problem is that I haven't been fishing lately so what can I put in here? Luck have it that recently I am doing some search on the net to look for a 3 section 15ft noodle rod, previously I saw one piece for sale at a US website which is built by Dick Swan, but by the time they responded it is already sold.

One thing leads to another, then I saw an article that got my attention, it is about Gary Loomis (yup the same guy that started 'G Loomis' the company and partner with a Taiwan firm for 'Loomis & Franklin') first started his rod business by buying fly blanks and transform it into a noodle rod so that he can downsize his terminal when the fishes are not biting. Anyway, what have happen to between the man and the company is that he sold it off to Shimano more then a decade ago but stay at the company likely because of contract obligations. Recently, he is back to to a business he is familiar, manufacture blanks and his new company is North Fork Composites

Why use a Noodle Rod?

The very first time I have seen a noodle rod in action is on a Sibu kelong by DesT, then I don't know him yet, but yet he is willing to tell me about the rod, lasso rig, etc. Many moons later, I meet him once again on a Sibu kelong and is formally introduced to him, and after many trips together, we have become good friends.  He is considered to be one of authoritative figure in Noodle Rod locally, and almost everything I know about noodle rod fishing is learnt thru him.

Noodle rod, that long,soft, limpy looking fishing rod that look like it will break anytime soon. Why would any angler want to use it to fish? It look like an fishing rod that will break really soon, and would anyone able to bring up anything larger then bait fish with it?


First, let's make it clear that noodle in the Noodle Rod is NOT a brand, it is a Rod Action classification, which is confusing to a lot of anglers locally because most of the rods sold here are seldom goes below Medium Light action. As you can see from Noodle Action is in the last position, which means you can expect a rod with very little backbone and flex almost throughout the entire length of the blank.

Extra Heavy ; Heavy ; Medium Heavy ; Medium ; Medium Light ; Light ; Ultralight ; Noodle
Given the lack of power in the rod, if you fish the traditional method of tug-of-war method, stay clear of this rod, this rod is not built for this purpose. Must likely the only tug-of-war you are likely to win are with bait fishes, hardly one's idea of fishing. Even if you intend to use this rod to jig for bait fishes, Don't. The action is so slow that chances you will not get a hook up when you try to set the hook, we have tried before and failed big time for bait fish jigging. So what the heck is this rod good for?

If you are fishing in open waters for pelagic species, then this rod will suit your applications. You are asking for trouble if you use this rod to hunt for groupers, snappers, stingrays. Simply because you need to tire the fish before you can bring it in, if they go into their cervices in coral or rocks, the rod will not have any power to pull it out of it.

Still, I have yet to answer the question on Why use a Noodle rod? Using light lines and smaller hooks, it will not spook fishes that easily and hopefully entice them to feed on your bait. But using lighter lines and hooks, any sudden jerks or turbo-boosted run by these pelagic species will likely to lines to snap or hook being straighten, with the noodle rod acting like a shock absorber to take these punishment, you will be able to land your fish.

Making Todak into Otak

This recipe is done like a year ago, I posted it up on a couple of local fishing forum. However, being so old, I have a hard time looking for it if I need the info. As this recipe is given to me verbally, I have no digital record of it, so decided to put it up here.

Todak is a type of gar fish which is found in abundance in our surrounding waters, while considered a pest fish for most anglers, myself, DesT (my great fishing kaki and mentor) and a small group of noodle rod users like to target them. Not for it's meat but for the great fight it provides on ultralight tackle.

As it's meat is pretty firm and bland, it is cooked usually as curry or assam pedas in our region but I decided to give it a little twist by using it to make otak. As very little flour is used, the finished otak is essentially fish meat and spices mix, very filling on the tummy.

St John Island Trip

It have been a long time since I have fished at St John island, almost 8 months, due to the current flow does not suit us for our weekend trips. However today, the current flow suit us very well and after today, it is the month long Kusu island Pilgrimage, there will be no direct ferry service to St John for a month. Thus myself, DesT, Rookie, and a couple, Danny & Evon, decided to go Todak hunting.

In recent times, I didn't want to make trips up to Sibu kelong as it is pretty tiring and most of the bigger catches we have is Todak. And since St John island could yield a good haul of todak, albeit smaller, and is much less tiring and less hassle, I decided to put aside kelong trips for now for curing the itch of catching todak on light tackle by making a day trip to St John island.

For over a year now, I have been using a Silstar TEAL 10ft UL rod for todak catching. After much usage and abuse, the age of the rod shows, furthermore I like to use noodle rod a lot, I decided to buy over a GLoomis NR1382 from Edmund, a fellow fisho, and this trip is the rod maiden trip. Rdmund himself custom build the rod, with a slight difference to the factory built rod which is now discontinued.

The trip haul is not impressive neither is the size of the todak, however I did manage to land a 100.5cm whooper, not too far off my personal record of 102cm in SG waters. My personal all time record is a 108.5cm at Sibu Kelong.

As usual, we all have a great time and before long we are all on board the ferry back to mainland. Everyone is visibly tired, but happy.

Will be back very soon to have fun with the Noodle rod, this is one rod I am sure I have no regrets buying it will serve me for a long long time, I hope.

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GLoomis NR1382
Modified Alivio 2500
4, 5, 6 lbs braided line, joined, with 12lbs leader.
Running float rig.

GLoomis NR1382S - Noodle Rod

I have been using the Silstar Teal 10' as my UL fishing gear. Since I like fishing with Noodle rod, I have already decided to this GLoomis rod for a while. GLoomis no longer manufacture the factory rod anymore and to custom build one will cost in excess of $350.

A fellow fisho built this for DesT, but have to keep it for himself as DesT perferred a thinker Eva grip. He posted in the forum for sale and I took it at $250.

An expensive rod for UL tackle, but use it once on St John island to play with the meter long todak, one can really feel the difference in the rod. In my view, well worth the money if you like UL tackle.

Specs
11'6" 2pc.
Line: IGFA 4 

Silstar Teal Ultralight T100-SN 10ft

The 'original' noodle rod that I have when I try my hand at todak hunting. I bought it 'Used Condition' when it is advertised in the forum, original owner sold it because he don't know how to use the rod.

For a period of time, a bunch of us go Sibu kelong to hunt for todak, DesT with his G Loomis, Nimo with his Daiwa Heartland and me with the Silstar Teal. Nothing beats the G Loomis for the flex and sensitivity, while the Heartland in my view is a Float rod, while the Silstar though with a better flex then the Heartland still closer to a Float rod rather then true noodle.

Later Nimo found out the Siow Chiang have close to 200pcs of this particular rod (and many more in the 8ft and 9ft), he organized a mass order for FK forum at $15 each. Suddenly there are 146 anglers around SG using the same rod that I have been singing praises about for a few mths then.

Now the first Silstar rod that I have is semi-retired, use to old age and heavy usage, the reel seat fit is no longer good. But I still use it when I hunt for half beak or wanted some UL fun, only reason why I use this over the G Loomis is that it cast better and further.

There is another 2 of these rods that I got when Nimo did the mass order, will be keeping them as I think somehow, I might need it which is quite unlikely since I already have gotten a G Loomis that is built with quality Fuji components.

Shimano Alivio 2500

Nimo help me to purchase this reel and also did a bushing-bearing upgrade as well. Think he change the roller and handle bushing to bearing.

This reel is used exclusively for noodle rod, as I spool it with a mixture of 6, 5 and 4 lbs superlines. Furthermore just recently change the drag material to greased cork, thus making it more suited for UL Noodle rod usage.

Status - Always in 'Active' service.

Update - Drag Material have been changed to Teflon, new drag should last a long long time.

Ofmer Axis 6

Bought this reel as I do not have any small reel after my Globe500 is damaged beyond repair.

Small light-weight and a pretty decent drag. Use this reel when jigging for bait fish, and for UL fun luring and half beak hunting with Noodle rod.

Since the day it is purchase, it always have been in 'Active' service.

Upgraded the roller bushing to 2 piece of flanged bearing.

Pinnacle Inertia ISF40 (Sold)

Bought this reel when I wanted to try out using Noodle rod. I pick this reel simply it matches the color of the Silstar Teal rod I am using with the correct line capacity.

When I got an Shimano Alivio 2500 for noodle rod application, I no longer need this reel and thus sold it off.