Virgin trip to Pandan Reservoir

It have been a long long time since I do freshwater luring, it not that I don't enjoy it, but some of the legal area is ridiculous to fish. When Pandan reservoir is first opened for fishing, I am so happy as I have long heard of rumors that there are huge peacock bass.

Many months ago, I make my way down to the Pandan reservoir with full intention to fish. But I just couldn't find the legal fishing spot, granted I didn't walk the entire compound, it is just to huge an area for me to walk around just to seek out where is the legal spot.

Luckily, a fellow fisho I knew in Facebook is making his way there today and invited me to join him for some freshwater fun, he gave me good instruction how to get there and viola, I managed to find the 'elusive' legal spot at Pandan reservoir, Hooray!!! It is a nice jetty with a pretty decently long platform to lure.

CR - 1 hour Quickie at Taman Jurong Pro Pond

Ever since I knew more about rubbers lures and how effective it is at the Taman Jurong Pro Pond, I always recommend fisho I know to try out rubber at the pro pond.  After a long long break, I visited the pond 2 weeks back with a non-fishing friend, not to fish but to watch EPL at the little pub there.  As the water is very clear that night, I can see a few schools different species of fishes they released (KBL, Taiwan Ngor and MJ).  Notice that the KBL are of decent sizes, 1kg+ and saw a 2kg+ one too, I find that odd as usually they release 700g to 800g KBL only.  However, with 5 rods at that time and all using live prawn, I didn't see anyone catching any fish.  So sent as SMS to a fellow fisho who like to fish at this pond, telling him the KBL at the pro pond have grown cause no one is catching them.

This evening, fisho friend called me telling me he wanted to go take a look at the pond as he have not been there for a while, so off we go with no fishing gear.  But I brought along two 1/8 oz jig head and some rubbers, in case of zero fighter newbies who need to bring at least one fish home, I can give them the stuff to try.  After a while, friend get really itchy as he didn't fish for a while, and after seeing that I brought the rubbers, he decided to pay for an hour of fishing using their house rod.

After a very short session, he decided to take a smoke and pass the rod to me to have a go, a couple of cast later, I got my first hook up, but alas, jerky drag plus entangle with another angler's line make me lost the fish and also the jig head.  Damn, now left with only one jig head for the rest of the session, thus we decided to go for high drag setting and hopefully bring in the fishes fast to reduce the chance of line out situation.

Friend landed 2 fish shortly, one KBL and one MJ, and after that I have a go, I simply cannot believe that I have 7 takes and zero hook up and friend got 2 to 3 takes and also zero hook up.  However, we both ended the one hour session pretty satified with the bite rate, but non too happy about the hook up rate.  I think the jig head hook got blunt after the 2nd fish is landed, this unable to increase the hook up rate.  But nevertheless, it still prove to us that rubbers work well at the pro pond.

Tips

Bring your own tackle, their reels is in real need to service and have the drag system changed. Drag is jerky, and is either low or very high setting, not good at all.

Use rubber with good tail action, commonly found rubbers like Sure Catch, Angler's Pal, White Rabbit are okay, but the material is a bit hard, trim the section between body and tail thinner to achieve better tail action; Without good tail action, catch rate is significantly reduced. Remove the bottom triple hook as well, snag too easily as the strike zone is just above the bottom of the pond; Best are those soft unweighted rubber to be used with jig head, can use as it is with good tail action.

How to DIY Jighead

I have shared these in a couple of local fishing forum, forget about it totally until now. Time to put it up on my blog.

Ever since I started luring, I have been looking for cheaper alternative for stuff I can DIY. Started out with DIY spin fly, then Jighead with tinsel, and now Jighead using offset hooks for rubbers.

For my FW application, I usually go for light tackle, hence 1/8oz jighead suits me well since I am now more interested to use rubber then hard lures. Anyway decided to experiment to DIY my own jighead with some very simple stuff. Furthermore can customized weight and hook size to your own liking.


Stuff you will need, Solvent Based Paint (A), Reflective Paper (B), Hooks (C), split shot (D), 10 or 5 min Epoxy (E), Super Glue (F), Hole Puncher (G).
For rubber better to use off set hooks, pic of off set hooks and finished jighead. Link Here



Drop a little Super Glue between the groove of the split shot and insert the hook. Apply pressure till set.


Use hammer to hit on either side till the split shot gap is enclosed completely onto the hook shaft. Or just a clamp to do this job. Make sure the flat surface created is large enough to paste an "eye" on it.


Next is simply a paint job, use primer if you have else like me just do 2 coat. If you intend to dip the entire jighead portion into the paint to color it, insert a toothpick in the eye of the hook before doing it, this will prevent the paint from covering up the entire eye.


Using the hole puncher, punch out some round reflective paper. Paste it onto the flatten surface using super glue and finish it with a coat of epoxy. Draw a black dot on the reflective paper to complete the eye. Alternatively, use those ready made 'eyes' available from tackle shop to do so.

Final pics are my tinsel added jighead for PB hunting, use it like a lure except you impart all the action yourself thru wrist and rod action.

Lure Retriever

This posting is long overdue, managed to dig up this pic while cleaning up my PC.

When I started luring, I have been losing lures like nobody business. This Surecatch retriever sort of solve some of the lost lure issues, basic design like Tackleback model that Dave of Lure Haven recommended me.

Understanding Rubber Swimbaits

My lesson is angling goes on, after tying so hard to understand how fish like plastic instead of real baits, now there is new stuff for me to ponder upon.

Real Bait vs Plastic Lures vs Metal Lures vs Rubbers
Goodness me, when will all these new stuff available in the market stops??!!!

Technically, using plastic should be classify as Luring, I think. To be frank, I always believe that Rubbers will perform better then hard lures, not because they are considered a Newer Technology thing but they are more true to life then the hard plastic. Thus the swimming action, feel and now taste will be as close to the real thing.

My 1st introduction to rubber swimbaits are really bad, not because of me the angler but because no one know how to use them effectively. Further more, the crazy price tag it has and the poor quality rubbers that tackle shop brings in, makes many anglers locally to turn away from using rubbers and put their trust in plastic where it have a better range due to it's more established market.

My first real encounter with rubbers is actually just a few weeks ago, that is when I first meet Alvin at the Taman Jurong Pond.
1st meeting with Alvin
When I first feel the rubber, I am actually amazed by it's soft yet bouncy nature of the material, unlike those that I have seen that are pretty much very hard. With the softness of the material, the swim action of the paddle tail is much much better, entice fishes to 'Check It Out'. Now this is what rubbers should be like.

This kindle my curiosity in rubbers, and started reading more about it from mag, webpages and fishing forum. Also, a couple of fishing trip with my fishing neighbor, I begin to like rubber more and more.

Remember that I did mentioned that using rubber is like luring? Even with it's life like feel of a real bait, it still needed to be worked in the water to attract fishes, jst like hard lures. I am still a novice at using rubbers, and still have a long way to go before discovering more ways to use them.

Taman Jurong Pro Pond
Being close to my place, I visited this place not for fishing but to sit down talk cock with friends. I have the pleasure of fishing here a few times using rubbers. As this pond stocks up mainly seabass (KBL), Taiwan Ngor and Mangrove jacks, you know what exactly what you are fishing for. That's also one main reason why I hate pond fishing.
Using the Cabala's 3" rubber (Model - Action Tail), this is deadly for the KBL in this pond. During my last visit there, 3 anglers is having bad yield, one of them gave up after and give me his remaining 1/2 hours, I managed to hit 4 fishes, 3 KBL and 1 Taiwan Ngor. Pretty impressive considering during at that time live bait yields nothing at all.

New Tiew Auntie's Pond
Tag along for 2 trip with my fishing neighbor, the hit rate is consistent with using live bait or fish meat. As they stock mainly snappers and KBL here, most regular will target the snappers that are hiding under the net area. Using Keitech Swing Impact, Berley's Gulp produces better hit rate.
During our last visit, I tried for about 10 mintues and produced 3 hits, but alas lousy hooked up cause me to loss all 3 fishes. But now at least I know what to expect and have a new plan to catch them should I have the chance again.

If I were to do pond fishing, I think I will use rubbers instead of baiting. Reason being as these fishes are farm breed, and is Catch and Killed, there is no way for them to get used to rubbers, unlike CnR places where they might seen rubbers for like 10000 times. Given that you are covering more area by working the rubbers, I think the catch rate shouldn't be worse then baiting. Although rubbers are likely to cost more if not the same as Live baits, but in retrosect, if they catches you more fishes why not.

Below pics are the Cabala's Action Tail and Keitech Swing Impact with my own DIY Jig head and the Offset hook used to make my jighead for your reference.

Can't wait to try out some new rigging method at the ponds.

Lousy day at CCK Canal

Have not visited this location for close to 2 months, the previous trip we started just at day break, explosive takes on surface lures but none get hooked up. Today we are hope to get the explosive takes again, thus start off early as well. Didn't know what had happen, but it is a damn lousy day this time round, maybe the foreign workers been catching way too much fishes already.

End of trip, I only have 2 palm sized PB, both are taken on this dress up Storm jig head. There are 4 jig heads are given to me by Nenasi, which I return 2 to him after I have dress them up.

The jig head shown are stained with PB blood. Taken right after I have remove it from the PB.

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Genesis Assasini 7ft3
Daiwa SS700
15lb Cheapo Braided with 25lb leader
Lures - Dress Up Storm Jig Head
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FW Fishing @ Spot X and AMK

Recently been to these 2 spot for fast relieve of fishing itch. Been using my light tackle setup as I am not aiming for anything big. Though I did hit a reasonably large PB using a Daiso crankbait at Spot-X, and during my short trip at AMK, the PB are whacking the Daiso popper with dress up treble non-stop .

During last week trip, Nesasi got a Toman Mama on Yozuri Altima 14g spoon in less then 10 cast. Lucky chap, me still waiting to hit a mama, will try tomorrow using BIG Lures!

Enjoy the pics (Trying out thumbnail this time round, except for the Toman Mama)

Good Fishing at last

2 weeks of barren fishing, been doing a bit of SW luring and this weekend I am back to FW luring.

Yesterday had a short session here, and back again this early morning. When I reach the place, I am deeply disappointed to see the water condition got worse overnight, a think layer of algae covers the entire area. But since I am already here, and have to wait for Aric and gang, so cast away. Early morning is slow, have just 2 fish landed, one small toman and one small PB. Action hot up after 10am, PB are everywhere, whacking lures and live baits left right center. I easily have 7 to 8 hits, but landed 4 to 5 only.

Strangely the most effective lure is a cheap spoon with self tied tinsel and feather, which KIA when I lend it to Aric to try, he get 2 hits in less then 15 min! A welcome break for him as his chug-bug invite only misses from the fishes. Also have reasonably good result with the self paint Fire Tiger minnow, I have been abusing this lure and the paint work start to drop off already, when it get real bad, gonna do the paint work again.

Some pics of the small PB landed, and a bonus pic of a monitor lizard which appear when we are about to leave the place.

Tackle - Shimano Convergence IM6 with Daiwa SS700, 15lbs cheapo braided

New Spot try out

Yesterday when we recce out this place plus some luring, as I am expecting a lake instead of a stream, my lures are 90mm and above. Thus cannot gauge if the spot is productive. Today we are back after a hearty lunch to try out the same spot again. Only difference is that I bring my Light luring set and small lures.

1st PB caught is on a Daiso crankbait (Lumo Yellow), when I had the hook-up, the PB didn't make any jumps and is always in the stream bed, and my line is beening stripped on a steady speed. I thought I had a small adult toman, but when i bring up the PB, it have it's body half bitten off, really suspect it is whack by a toman. Didn't take any pics as it is damn gross and blood dripping from the severe body.

After this hook up, it died down, nothing at all. As it is a hot sunny day, I expected the fishes to feel lethargic, so I deploy a slow crank, twitch pause method. Nothing at all, so try a fast crank, twitch and pause, also nothing attack the lure. I almost use all my smaller lures hoping to get at least something, then finally try out the Crystal minnow which is slightly bigger then those I have use so far. Felt lazy already by then due to lack of action, I simply cast and do a fast retrieve. Finally, notice 2 PB chasing my lure till the bank, ah so fast retrieve works, for the last 45 min fishing, doing fast retrieve all the way. Manage to land 2 decent sized PB while a couple more chasing my lures and missing it. This place look good all of a sudden.

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Shimano Convergence IM6 6'6"
Ofmer Axis 6
4lb Fireline with 12lb leader
Lures - L- Minnow 66 (Purple back) and Yozuri Crystal Minnow 70.S (Green Gold)
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New Fishing Spot Recce

Have some free time today, so went to recce a new spot that friend pointed out. Should call it Spot X-West to keep the place as it is.

In fact I am expecting to see a lake, instead it is a just stream. It is not wide and pretty swallow at the side, sort of disappointed with the place. However upon exploring the place further, the grass patch at both bank are accessible, which could mean haruan and soon hock hiding place galore. But today I bring only big lures, so can't try for them along the bank.

Didn't hit anything until toman school came, manage to hit 3 before they left my casting area. Next trip, will bring light tackles and rubber to try along the banks.

Update - Oct 09
This location is officially a 'No Fishing' location, PUB have put up a sign to indicate that.

Operation - GuiLin Lake

GuiLin park is close to my place and is a nice and scenic place for families to spend time together in the nature that is just a stone throw away from residential area. Also with the close proximity of Bt Gombak MRT station, it is very accessible to most people.

However as a fishing place, this place is really bad. Overfishing in the past have resulted in the population of the fishes to reduce drastically, as a lot of these anglers will bring the fishes caught back home to rear in their tanks or end up on the dining table. While the population of fishes are slowly recovering, I have see schools of baby PB and tomans, my fear is that the recovering period could take a while as there is a few regular anglers that who will bring home anything they can catch.

Thus, after a few round of discussion with my fishing buddy, Nenasi, we have decided to try increase the fish stock in the lake, so that in future we are able to enjoy fishing there and also other anglers to fish in a legal place. I hope to do this so that if anglers can have a nice legal place to fish, the anglers fishing in illegal spots will reduce too.

Our plan is to simply fish in canals or lakes that are totally legal, and bring the fishes to GuiLin lake to be released. We plan to introduce PB and Toman which are already native species in the lake. Question will arise if we are doing things legally by getting fishes in canals and lakes? Well, the few places we frequent are currently also visited by foreign workers doing net casting for fishes as food. Thus it is either a new home for the fishes or end up on the dining tables.

Back on track on the operation, today we mark our first release of fishes into the lake. A total of 7 baby Toman are released today, all between 8 to 10 inches. At these size, they are less likely to be food for the PBs and is given a fair chance to grow in the lake. We caught these baby toman from a couple of schools that swim very near to the shore in the late morning, we could have catch a few more but decided to leave after we have a significant number as we are afraid they cannot survive long in a pail.

Will continue to update on this operation of ours.

Good Size PB at 2 different location

Last weekend didn't do any FW luring, this weekend again didn't plan to do any FW luring BUT a phone call at 6:10am from Aric changes it all.

My inital plan is to catch some bait fish in the morning for tomorrow outing at Marina South barrage, noodle rod with float. But when Aric call, I am still in dreamland, he mentioned that he is at my place's coffeeshop with John and Boi already. Me quickly wash up, grab my tackles and lures and off I go to the coffeeshop.

We intend to try the little stream at Jurong road for huruan, but while luring there, we are attacked by mozzies. Decided to leave the place and off we go to 'AMK'. I didn't bring much lures and I am not too prepared for this trip, so use whatever that's in my box. Got this 9 to 10 inch PB after a good workout on my rod and reel. FUN!!! But the trip ended with me losing my modified Daiso Spinner bait.

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Shimano Convergence IM6 6'6"
Daiwa SS700
15lb braided with 30lb leader
Unknown Lure, self paint in 'Fire Tiger' color, lure have a wide wiggle on retrieve.
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Later in the evening, Aric suggested we go to recce trip to MacRitchie Reservoir to check out the fishing ground, KNN, me walk to wrong side, spend 1/2 hrs walking to and fro. Found the fishing spot, what the Fxxx, such a small area and slope so steep to water. Since there already so start luring lor.

This trip is meant to test out my 'Tuned Up'' Abu 5600D5 as well, so choose lures between 7g to 19g to test cast. After tuning up, I have yet to try it out, since this is one short session, decided to give it a go.

Start off with a couple of toss with the Halco roaster, nice distance and smooth! Seems like reel reacts well so far. Since it is getting dark and I see some rise nearby, I change to a minnow hoping to get something. A couple of cast later, fish ON!!! But hook didn't set well, and I miss the fish. Cast into the same area again, some method to retrieve it, slow retrieve, snap and pause. The pause is when the fish take the lure, feel line tighten and fish pulling! A snap of my wrist to set the hook and the fish got hooked this tie round. Fight is good and strong, took longer then usual to land the fish. This PB look thinner and lack the distintive strips of the normal PB, it is a different species of PB. A good decent sized PB landed on my maiden visit to this place.





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Majorcraft Slicer 7ft
Abu 5600D5
14lbs Fireline with 30lb leader
'OK' brand lure, 90mm red head floating.
Retrieve method - slow retrieve, twitch and pause for 1 sec. both time it is taken on the pause.
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Barren weekend and Lost lure again

This weekend is terrible for me in terms of lure fishing. On Sat, usual spot the water is very murky, nothing took the lure, zero take. Sunday at GuiLin, trying for some small PB, zero take as well.

Lost 2 lures over the weekend, Daiso Vibe (self paint FireTiger color) and Duel 3D Flatcrank Green. Sad.......

Shimano AernosXT C3000

When I first purchase this reel, I am thinking of using it with the noodle rod. But upon setting it up, I found it is too heavy, upset the entire balance of the Silstar Teal noodle rod.

Kept in storage until now, spool it up with Surecatch 14lb braided and going to pair it with the Genesis Assasini 7'3 rod. Try out the balance, it feels great.

Finally this reel will see daylight again. Back into 'Active Service'.

'AMK' Luring Trip

Last week, myself and Nenasi are luring at 'AMK', the hook up rate is fantastic for Nenasi. He have easily over 10 hook up but sadly none is landed for picture taking, which includes PB, Toman and Haruan. While I have about 5 hook up and also none landed. We are back again to the same place again in hope of better if not the same hook up rate and 'finger cross' break the ZERO landed curse.
This trip is significant for me as I have just purchase a 2nd hand Genesis Assasini 7'3" rod from my surfcast friend, Derrick. Just the night before, I am thinking should I bring this newly aquired set for the luring trip today. Remembering what I always say to Nenasi "Tackle Bought are to be used and not for display", i decided to bring the rod to make it's maiden trip with me.

Fuunily, when Nenasi pick me up in the morning, I notice he also brought along the same model rod. AND we both pair it with the Daiwa SS series, his 1300 and mine 700. Great minds think alike??? :P

Once reached our spot, we started luring in hope to get toman in their feeding time zone. As usual, we didn't manage to get one. Thus I switch to a smaller lure and hit this Cichlid fish, this is a first for me on lure and more importantly, my Genesis Assasini have taken it's first prey, and with many more to come (keeping my finer cross). This lure is extremely effective today, most of the hook up I have is on this lure, during a hook up of a PB, the split ring opens. Needless to say, I lost the fish and a treble hook as well. That's not the only thing I lost, had a Daiso vibe lost during a cast, but not before it have done it's job to get me a PB.

However, Nenasi is still carrying on what happen last week, decent amount of hook up but none landed. Only towards late morning, he finally landed one PB, breaking his unlucky spell.
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Genesis Assasini 7'3"
Daiwa SS700
15lb braided with 30lb leader
Duel 3D Flat crank
Daiso Vibe (May you RIP)

Genesis Assasini 7'3"

Since I started luring, I am looking out for a reasonably priced, 7ft spin rod that can cast big lures. Upon recommendation from my luring kaki Nenasi, I pick up this rod from a fellow fisho, Derrick. He sold it to me with 2 tip and one butt.

Really like this rod, easy to cast and have enough backbone to fight biggies. Going to pair it with my Shimano AernosXT C3000 for the extra line capacity, and the weight balance is great.

Luring catch at Location 'AMK'

Luring is a new form of fishing method I am more serious about it recently. My 1st attempt at luring is almost 5 years ago, arm with just 2 plugs, Storm Thunderstick and another model which I cannot remember it now.

Recently a good friend and kaki introduce me to this spot which I codename 'AMK' which yields a very decent amount of fishes caught, albeit small catches.

This entry simply compiles some of the catches I have there. Future entries will havea more in depth catch report. So enjoy the pics for now.

Shimano Convergence 6ft - CVS60M2

Purchase this rod 2nd hand for one sole purpose only - jigging tamban. I never had any intention to use it for anything else as it is a medium power rod, not much lifting power, but long enough to dislodge tamban off the tamban jigs.

Only when I started luring, then I discover that this rod is suitable for casting light lures, 1/8 to 1/2 oz. Since then I am using it so very often for my luring trip, pairing it with either Ofmer Axis 6 or Daiwa SS700.

Good for light game fishing, had a great time fighting a 2-lbs odd PB with this rod and 4lbs line.

Majorcraft Slicer 7ft - MC702H

When Majorcraft rods hit our shores, it caused quite a small stir. Beautiful crafted japanese rods but at a more affordable prices then high end branded rods.

I ponder for a long time before I purchase this rod, as I am not into luring then. Decided to buy a 2nd hand rod thru forum when I have an Abu 5600D5 to match the rod should I want to do luring.

After I purchase it, it remains on the rod rack for a long time. Start to see action when I get more serious into luring.