A quick revisit to the Urban Jungle – EAK

Fly Fishing Trip, Freshwater Trip, , , , , , ,

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

After the Clouds Cleared – Wetting the line after MCO

Fly Fishing Trip, Freshwater Trip, , , , , , ,

After the Clouds Cleared Wetting the line after MCO Brandon Ho FFI CCI 14 June 2020 was the date we decided it was time to give in to our secret desire after endless nights of fly tying. The venue has been selected and the final preparations made. Slightly before 7 am, we arrived the entrance of our fishing venue. The pond was to be open from 7am but there was no sign of anyone there. Ahead of us were several cars waiting to go in. All of them were observing the social distancing, standing 1 metre apart. As the rising sun chased away the darkness, a man on the motorbike rode up to the gate and nonchalantly opened the gate. We drove in and parked our car at our favourite spot. The first order of the day was to berley the huge pond to attract the fish within casting distance. This is not fair game but this is a pay pond after all. Real fishing trip is still not within our reach under the current circumstances. Our hopes were high, thinking of how hungry the fish would be after almost 3 months of zero fishing pressure. We were so wrong. The only fish that entertained us were the small lampans java or Java Barb, an introduced fish from Sumatra and Java for aquaculture. These fish thrived in ponds, preferring still water habitats rather than flowing water, eating vegetations and breeding like the proverbial rabbit. On an 8wt, it was an overkill. We were targeting the hard fighting pacu and the 8wt would give us a chance of landing these fish for a photo shoot. After landing incalculable lampans, I decided to switch to my Vision Onki 4 wt matched to a  Vision XLV3/4. Now, this made fishing for them fun and exciting. With the floating bread being hammered by these fish, all I needed to do was to cast into the frenzy and wait. If the bite didn’t come, chances were the bread fly would have sunk beyond their feeding zone. Our target species didn’t really come out until about 4 pm. The whole morning, only Nic and Clevin managed to land one each. The rest of us had to be satisfied with catching the Lampans in the 20 to 30cm range. Not too shabby considering that they only grow to about 40cm. At 4 pm, like clockwork, the pacu came out to play. Fist sized buns were being swallowed whole and each time they roll, they grey silvery body would catch the sun’s ray. What an amazing sight. These fish were smart and would only take the buns thrown 40 to 50 feet away. As the wind blew the buns closer to shore, they stopped feeding. They are like a pack of wolves waiting beyond the perimeter, ready to pounce on anything that stray too far out. The modus operandi was simple. Toss the buns as far as you can, usually about 40 feet and beyond. Not an easy task, more so with the wind blowing in your face. Then it is just to wait for the Pacu to arrive. Soon, the water around the floating bun began to churn. Something large was moving, pushing the water, causing the bread to wobble. Nothing happened for the next few seconds, then the water erupted, splashing the water and when the water calmed down, the bun was gone. Volleys of bun were launched and landed within feet of the action. The fly anglers were at ready, loose line at their feet, several feet of fly line were floating on the green olive water. In a split second, they would have to launch their heavy flies more than 40 feet out towards the commotion. Accuracy and timing counts. There was no room for error and certainly not for the faint hearted. The next fly angler would be standing less than less than 15 feet away. Any mistake in the casting would result in an ugly incident. Having a #1 hook in your face is never fun. Eyes focused on the water and at the first signs on a frenzy, flies whizzed through the air and within seconds, the white fluffy zonker landed softly on the water. A quick strip of the fly line caused the fly to gently sink. The commotion was still happening around the fly and suddenly the line tightened and shot out of the rod, burning fingers as it exited the rod tip. The reel screamed in agony but the drag did little to slow the fish down. Fly line evaporated from the reel and soon the backing was being stripped as well. Keeping the rod tip low, maximum pressure was applied to the fish and the run slowed before eventually stopping. The reel was cranked while maintaining a nice bend on the rod. The fish seemed to have thrown in the towel but as it got closer, the fish surged away, taking off the hard earned line. After several heart stopping surges, the fish was led meekly towards the net. Several failed attempts later, the fish was netted and after a quick photo shoot, the fish was released to bully other anglers. It was a frenzy to be remembered. Multiple hookups were the norm and we were the centre of attention. Curious passersby came up to have a closer look and some even took photos of the fish. While Clevin was fighting his larger than average Pacu on his double handed Onki rod, someone came up to him and said, “This look like fun. Can I try?”. He handed her the rod and guided her to fight the fish. After several minutes of strenuous work out, the fish was expertly landed and a celebratory photo was taken. The group was the alumni of UPM and their passion for the outdoors brought them here for a good meal after a morning of hiking and trekking. Each of them had a chance to fight the mighty pacu and experienced…

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Where The Fish Has Great Taste – The Pacu of Semenyih

Fly Fishing Trip, Freshwater Trip, , , , , ,

Where The Fish Has Great Taste The Pacu of Semenyih Brandon Ho FFI CCI It all started with a short text to Ben Foo, the renowned fly casting instructor on a Thursday afternoon. “Any recommendations for a fishing spot this Sunday?” “Could try Fish Valley but need to bring bread for berley.” “Ok” “It must be flavoured bun or cakes. Normal bread doesn’t work.” “Wow!!! The fish got taste!” On Sunday, Clevin, Nic, Janice and I walked into the Fish Valley Restaurant. It is a covered restaurant overseeing a large pond where some anglers were fishing. The dining area is large and the tables are placed a comfortable distance from each other, a welcome change from some of the restaurants in the city. The main showcase is two large aquariums showcasing some of the local fish species. I spotted Ben and Otto sitting at the far end of the restaurant, closest to the pond. You can tell the anglers and the non-anglers apart very easily. Even when talking to each other, their eyes never left the pond. After the customary greetings and handshakes, we chose a table next to the pond under a gazebo and had lunch. It was a simple meal but it was the simplicity that made the meal memorable. The food tasted just as I remembered it: good to the last bite! I was here many years ago, even before I picked up fly fishing. Under the gazebo with the fan blowing at full speed, we were slow to get up and set up our gear. Clevin took the van key from me and parked it under a tree next to our table. That’s thoughtful. Still, it was hard to get up but we were here for a mission. To catch the pacu! It was slightly after 3pm when the first bun was tossed into the water. With eagle eyes, we watched for the slightest movement in the water. The first few minutes passed without a single nibble on the bun. It floated gently in the translucent green water. Then, a few small movement, followed by a frenzy of fish attacking the bun. We all got excited but Ben coolly said it was just the small lampans. We didn’t travel here for the tiddlers. We wanted the brute that could bend out wt6 to breaking point and make our reels scream in agony. We kept throwing buns after buns into the pond. Occasionally, there would be a huge splash and the whole bun disappeared into the abyss. By the time the huge fish appeared, we had almost depleted our supply of bread. Clevin was sent to procure more bread from the nearby shops and he came back smilling with 5 loaves of bread. Ben looked at him, the smile disappeared from his face. “ This is only enough for one hour, max.” To catch these monster here, distance, accuracy and timing were vital. Once the fish zoomed in on the bread, one would have to read the splash to determine if it was the lampans or the pacus. The huge wake from the pacus would signal the time to cast. With the berley 40 to 50 feet away, you only had time to false cast 2 to 3 times to get the fly out to within a few inches from the commotion. Any further, the fly would be totally ignored. To make matter worst, there was a electric cable behind us and the front was obstructed by a wooden barrier to prevent the overzealous anger from falling into the pond. With Ben diligently throwing bread into the pond to keep the fish interested, I was instructed to wait for the precise moment to cast. “Cast now!!! To the middle bread!!!” It was more than 40 feet away! I picked up my rod, mindful of the wire about 10 feet away, cast into the frenzy. “Strip the line and little!” Ben coached. “Let the fly sink and leave it,” With the frenzy around the approximate location of my sinking fly, I knew it would be a matter of time before something swam away with it. The line went tight and I lifted the rod with my right hand while my left hand gripped the line tight. I eased the line, allowing the fish to take the loose line before allowing the drag to do the work. The drag whizzed as the line poured out, reminding me of the run of a bonefish, albeit a shorter run. With the fish slowing down, I slowly pumped and reeled to recover some line. The line took off again and then… the line went slack. The fish had thrown the hook. Despite losing the fish, the others kept fishing in earnest, catching lampan like there was no tomorrow. Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I saw Ben holding a bent rod. The others were rushing over to watch the commotion and Clevin took on the photographer’s job. After an intense but strong fight, the fish was netted and held for a photo session. After releasing the fish, he cast to another frenzy created by a pandan flavoured bun and connecting to a strong pulling fish. Like the gentleman that he was, he generously passed the rod to Janice. She fought the fish with confident and even after being bullied by the brute, she managed to land the fish. The commotion of the fight caused the pond to go quiet. We took a break under the tree with a cold drink. Otto and Nic were still casting under the hot sun. I wished I had their determination. Their hard work paid off, Nic hooked up to a monster that peeled the line out of his reel and well into his backing. It just wouldn’t stop. We enjoyed the show from the comfort of the shade. Just as sudden as the line took off, the line went slack. Another fish lost! I stood up confidently to avenge the humiliation Nic suffered. With…

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EAK Revisited

Fly Fishing Trip, Freshwater Trip, , , , , , ,

Hidden paradise in the city Brandon Ho FFI CCI After a freak storm that created extensive damage to Taman Botani, Fly Fishing and Lure Casting Centre, was forced to close its door due to safety concerns. This is sad day for fly fishers as they have lost paradise that is so close to city. Though located less than an hour away from the city centre, this place offers great fly fishing opportunities for the hard fighting “Pacu”, better known as the fresh water GT with its blistering run and never say die attitude. There is no shame in losing this fish and landing one, especially on a #6 is a cause for celebration. Since its reopening on 16 August 2019, many fly fishers have revisited this Pacu infested pond. I have always wanted to revisit this place but it was only in January that I finally made the trip there with Nic, Clevin from FTC and Thian, a relatively new fly fisher who has not caught a Pacu on fly yet. This would be the day for him to receive the baptism of fire from the notorious Pacu. On the bright Sunday morning, we headed to Taman Botani and made our customary stop at one of the stalls opposite the Seksyen 6 wet market. Their “nasi dagang” is to die for and one plate of the steamed rice in coconut milk, generously smothered in thick tuna curry and accompanied with pickled cucumber, carrots and onions is enough to provide you with the sustenance for a full day of fishing. By the time we reached, it was already 9 am. The sun was already warming up the air and evaporating the morning mist. We were the first one there and the sight of rising fish was an invitation that was hard to resist. However, there was work to be done. We were there to shoot a product video on a new product. Hard as it was, we managed to photograph, video and even test the product without losing focus to the distracting ripples caused by the rising fish. Our first fly landed on the water and anticipation of a strong pull followed by a long blistering run filled our minds. With slow figure of eight strip, the fly was slowly retrieved and then cast out again. This happened again and again. Sweat was trickling down our faces. The morning sun had slowly but surely increased in intensity, draining us of our energy and also optimism of landing a fish. I had already begun carelessly casting to the shallows, hoping to hook one of the earth eater that could be seen to inquisitively follow our slow moving fly. Seeking reprieve from the burning sun, I seek shelter in the gazebo facing the pond. Nik, the owner of FFLCC was there. He told me that the fishing yesterday was very different. Fish after fish were landed, regardless of the type of flies used. The fly fishers were too tired after the fishing marathon and decided to call it quits. Now, that’s very rare. Have you heard of a fly fisher who would leave a fishing frenzy? Later in the afternoon, we began to see other anglers landing fish and not to be one to lose out, we geared up and headed to the two wooden platforms to begin our assault on the fish. The fish were feeding on the surface and we changed to a hopper pattern, the same one that proved to be successful for the graylings and lenoks in Mongolia. Leaving the fly to float on the surface and with the occasional twitch to catch the attention of any passing fish, we mentally prepared for the inevitable battle with the mighty Pacu. It finally happened, with a splash, the light ocher yellow fly disappeared under the translucent green water and the line pulled tight, threatening to yank the fly rod out of my hands. The line whizzed through the snake guides, bending the rod. I watched the line in amazement, bringing back the memory of my very first Pacu caught in this very same spot. Then the line went limp, the rod straightened and my heart sank. The fish was gone… together with my confidence. Dejectedly, I reeled my line in only to discover that the leader had been cut off clean. Fishing for these brutes requires more than fishing skills. Luck plays a big role too. With the hook either in the mouth or on the lip can mean the difference between a landed fish and a sulking angler. After putting on a similar fly, I casted to a nearby ripple and the next moment was a blur of whizzing lines, bent rod and confused running about the wooden platform. The fish fought hard and long, even when it is near, it continued to stubbornly resist by swimming on its side, using the bulk of its body to prevent itself from being guided it to be landed. Several fail attempts later, the fish was gently lifted out of the water. The fly sat nicely at the corner of the mouth, away from the menacing teeth, used for crushing the hard fruits that is the typical food of the Pacu. I was not the only one landing fish. All of use landed multiple fish and losing even more. Later in the afternoon saw the fish becoming more active, giving us double and triple hook up. Thian got several good size fish that almost humiliated him but finally gave him a good profile picture. He had caught his first Pacu on fly. All in, the 4 of us landed a total of 12 fishes, losing even more and we were not even fishing seriously. It was more of a fun trip focused on having a great time. The fish here really do fight hard and I began to understand why the previous group opted to leave early. By 5.00pm I was ready to leave too. Other anglers had packed and waiting to go…

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Youth Fly Fishing Camp 2017

CSR Project, Fly Fishing Trip, Freshwater Trip, , , , , , , , , ,

Take a kid fishing? Why not take a kid fly fishing? With the intention of promoting a healthy sport to the younger generation, the idea of a fly fishing camp was mooted and plans were being drafted out in the early September. The FTC team at that time has been actively conducting weekly fly casting lesson at the SS15 field and the respond has been very encouraging. Riding on the momentum, the next step would be to take the new casters fly fishing. To make this event a success, careful planning has to be undertaken; from choosing a suitable location, the type of equipment to use down to the food. FTC managed to get the help of Mr Dron Lee, the renowned fly tyer from Fly Tying Nation, (You can follow his blog for his realistic fishable flies.) and the FFI Casting Instructor, Mr Ben Foo. On the morning of 9 December, the YFFC participants arrived at the private pond in Semenyih. We could see Ben on a small boat casting to the peacock bass in the tranquil pond. After a short briefing, equipment was set up and flies were tied to the tippets. Ben gave us a briefing on the history of peacock bass in Malaysia and the tip on how to best catch them. Then it was off to fishing. The morning session was a bit slow and the fish sluggish as it had rained heavily the day before. But that did not stop the youths from fishing. They were casting non stop and Xuan Lih, on his first fishing trip, caught a respectable tilapia. A surprise catch as out intended quarry was the exotic peacock bass. This catch has converted the happy angler into a lifetime fly fisherman. The next highlight was night fishing. The pond owner had just recently introduced Pacu, another exotic South America fish into the pond. That night, it was a frenzy of pacu. Fish after fish were landed and some of the notable catches were a jelawat, belida and a ketutu. The night fishing is a fishing competition among the participants and the prizes were 2 fly boxes filled with premium flies tied by Mr Dron Lee. It was a great prize and all the participants were fishing hard. It was good fun filled with excitement. The biggest fish award goes to Chen Yong Qi, a fist time fisher with a Pacu of 38 cm. The smallest fish goes to Phyllis Yong with a ketutu of 9 cm. We believe in sharing through experience and during this camp, we share about the proper catch and release methods and conservation and preservation of our world. To allow for themselves to experience the beauty of our world would encourage them to care and protect it. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHVhXsh57QA ~More Gallery Click Here~