EAK (Empangan Air Kuning) is a popular spot for fly fishing in Malaysia, known for its pacu and toman fishing. It is the place where you can still catch the pacus with the conventional flies like Hopper, Nymph, Wooly buggers or even baitfish. So without wasting much time, we started with a quick nymph and hopper. Based on our past experience the first cast on the water would land us something but not today.
The pond was perfectly still with no pacu rising action at all. However, the tomans were strangely abundant and active, with easily more than 5-6 pairs circling and cruising around.
After no willing takers from the pacus in the middle of the pond, we decided to go to the side and try our luck. Just as we reached the bridge, we saw a pacu rise, we quickly casted and wait. With a few twitches, the Pacu took the fly and instantly dash into the structure. I tightened the drag and moved as far as I could from the structures, trying to prevent the fish from going in. After a few minutes of tug of war, I managed to land the first fish of the day.
Then the whole pond quiet down again and it went back to the waiting game again. Not wanting to wait for too long, we decided to chum the Pacus with some bread. However the fish was not in feeding mood that day, only after around 20-30 minutes another rise from the middle of the pond, we jogged over there and casted our flies. Just as the fly sunk 1-2ft below the surface, I felt a great tug and that’s it, another hook up!
Since I remembered there were no structures in the middle of the pond, I didn’t tighten the drag as much, and that became one of my fatal mistake. I underestimated the fish and it actually took off to the opposite bank towards the big sunken tree. By the time, I realised and tried to lock my drag, the fish had circled the tree trunk and broke off my fly. It showed how vicious these species can be.
With no time to repent on my stupid mistake, I retied my fly and did the whole waiting game again, only this time my drag was locked. After another rise was within the sight, I casted and landed it. Then the same routine went on for awhile before we had to leave for work.
Overall, it was a fruitful short trip though not as many as before.
Fishing Report: March 2023
– 3 hours of fishing
– 5 strikes and hookups
– 3 landed