KFC - Attempt at Fly Tying

My recent venture into the rarely attempted pastime of fly tying had infected fellow KFC members and naturally roused certain interest on how to tie fly. While I am not yet so experienced, I think I know enough to try to teach them how to tie a fly. We gathered at LSR this morning to attempt to have each one of us tie and fly and then testing it to see if it would work and get us a fish.

My lousily tied Chennile Charlie

People passing by must be thinking we all siao!

Another use of a fly tying vise

Luckily for us, the vise fitted nicely on the LSR park bench chair and we improvised to convert it into a fly tying bench. With the required materials that I brought, I briefly went through the process of tying a chenille charile. However, I did quite a bad job and the resultant fly wasn't too professional looking. But it was good enough as a demonstration.

Weird variations of the Chenille Charlie

The others quickly had a go at it and each came up with their own version of the fly. I told them to be free to improvise if needed. There wasn't any need to follow any steps to the letter.

With my newly tied fly, I went down to the rocks to have a go at it. And Wham! First cast, I hit a PB. How's that for Proof of concept? :D. However, the PB shooked loose nearing the bank and I lost it. At first I thought the PBs were around in numbers. But we found out later that while the water was clear, the PBs were not readily around. It took me quite a number of cast to get 4 bites later on, while the others were mainly still zero.

Finally another notch on his fishing accomplishment

ZW as normal was the first to score a good hit. He caught a big one at the corner and from where I was standing, it was putting up a good fight. Soon, a big fellow was proudly seen displayed. His fly had passed the acid test.

Patrick was still getting nothing on his 2nd attempt here at LSR. However, he kept trying and trying. And heaven rewarded his persistence and he too hit on a good size one. I was about 100m from him and I could hear a yell that he had got a PB. But he made the mistake of not setting the hook properly and the PB was lost just as he was about to lift it up to the grass patch. We all saw it and yelped in despair as the PB swam away. Too bad that he did not manage to get a pic of it. But he too passed the fly tying test :)

Pat trying out my fly rod

I also brought along my fly rod and let the guys try out fly rod casting. I was not good myself but from what I read, I tried to teach them how to cast a fly line. Most agreed that it was pretty fun.

The children that gave us power.

Man who caught the Earth Eater

ZW and I continued our PB fishing into the afternoon at Kranji after lunch but was badly put to shame by baiters that scored 3 good size PB in just 15 minutes. We had been like cast our flies for hours with no bite whatsoever. Water was still that greenish murky look that was common at Kranji. On the way back, a baiter (on worms) caught a beautiful earth eater. When can I get that on fly? :(

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What Happened To My Flies?

Last week, I had quite a number in the group going to LSR to test out my wonder flies that I was so lucky with. I had tied some flies before hand and handed it out to them in anticipation of them catching plenty of PBs. However, that time round the fishing was very poor. Unlike the previous week where we could see small PBs chasing the flies, this time the flies were just swimming and getting wet without any action. Water also didn't look as clear with kind of a murky look. However, there were some experts at the Jetty and they got some impressive catches of a big PB and later on a humongous Mummy Toman. Seemed that he was using Yozuri surface cruiser.



"I am taking video arh"


"How shall we cook this fish arh?"


This week, ZW and I went LSR again to try flies one more time. Unfortunately, again the water very bad. And it started to rain. We all moved to the Jetty shelter. Kind of repeat of last week. After the rain stopped a little, I cast out my clouser again and got a big take. Up came a good sized PB. So my flies still got a bit of juice and can still work. I noticed that the fishes would bite after the rain. ZW got some small ones and managed to bring back one to put into his aquarium.



A father and son team were fishing on our left side and the boy was very lucky today. They were casting out a float rig with a fly (white feather with bright yellow body). The boy caught a two palm sized PB and later topped it with another big PB. His father was certainly very proud of him.

So Many Fishes, So Little Time

My smallest PB ever


As planned, I met ZW for a short PB session. Pat had to work and couldn't join us. Objective was to help them get their very first PB in Singapore. A came along with his Dr Ng and a few other children. Naturally, the children all had great fun playing with each other.

His catches got bigger and bigger






Peering into the water, I was wondering if the small PBs were still around. After a few casts, my doubts disappered and we confirmed that they were still there in numbers. ZW soon landed his first ever PB, breaking the curse of the zero for Singapore fishing. Although small, it was already an achievement. We started counting the score but when I got to 4:3 or something, we totally lost count. There were too many catches, but small ones. A also managed to land one or two.

Urgh..so heavy


I gave my Papa power one to catch this


At the end of the session, I was a little disappointed that we didn't hit any large ones, as those would really put up a good fight. But given the effectiveness of the technique, it was only a matter of time.

The mischiveous Dr Ng


A beautiful fly that I need to learn how to make. It was very effective

Return to LSR

Of late, I hadn't been productive in LSR ever since the construction started. Thinking that the construction had affected the water, I didn't try very hard in PB fishing. The few times that I brought ZW for fresh water fishing, we didn't get anything.

But just last week when the sun was shining brightly, I discovered to my utmost surprise that there were indeed plently of baby PBs around. From the clear water, I could see them zooming into my lure. But since the lure was much bigger than them, there wasn't any hookup. Intrigued, I decided to come back this morning to try again.

Knowing that PBs are best gotten on flies, I decided to swap my lures for flies. Since they are small, the hookup chances might be better. Indeed in a 40 minutes session, I got quite a number of bites, and even gotten a small PB. Later, the fly got stuck onto a rock and I burst my line.



I returned home and decided to put my long acquired fly tying vise to use. It had been sitting in my cupboard for the longest time since I bought it last year. Following some instruction from the internet, I tied 2 poorly done charlie. One even was not knotted properly and the lines came loose. Nevertheless, I was eager to put them to the water to test test. Wife was displeased and give me just a window of half an hour or else.

It was raining earlier on, but when I reached LSR, the rain had stopped. But the seats were rather wet. I hastily setup my rod (and I even missed one guide). Water was not as clear as before in the morning. Out when my fly #1 and in 10 minutes, I had a hookup. However on the way up, I dropped it. Guy fishing next to me gave me a smile. I noted that he was doing bottom as well as doing some casting with a yellow fly once a while.







I tried again and in yet another 10 minutes, I had an electrifying hit. WHAM! Something that I hadn't experienced for a long time. The hookup was solid as the fish was big. Enjoying the fight, I eventually subdued it on my 6lb line/8lb leader and brought it up to the grass patch for some photo taking. All these within the allocated wife allowed time. The rest of the folks fishing were so stunned to see this guy coming, and leaving with a catch in 20 minutes flat, while they were still tossing out their lures. Above fishes all returned back to the water to fight another day.

My girl was so impressed and asked me to tie more flies to sell on the internet. haha.

1st Fishing for 2009

Being the new year, I was hoping to start it well with a good catch. I had arranged with ZW to do some early morning luring at LSR. It had been some time since I have been luring here, since the construction started at the stretch on the left. However, LSR had been a rather productive spot previously and I was hoping that it would reward us with a good catch of a PB or two. Since it was the first time ZW was doing fresh water luring, it would be a good experience.

Reaching there at the ungodly hour of 6+am, there were already quite a number of people fishing. Probably some had stayed over the night. Most of them were baiting. We kept to our own corner casting out our lures. But there were no bites entirely, even though we saw some water movement every now and then. I saw a belida coming up for air and diving back again.



However, the baiters did have some action and managed to bring up a huge mummy Toman. We were impressed, certainly a big fish. The toman was caught on live soon hock baits. Quite a surprise to me as I thought it was usually catfishes as bait.

We lured till the sun came up till about 8am. Still nothing. We changed to flies to increase our chances, but yet again nothing. Conceding defeat, we left that day without getting our first fish for the year.

LSR - End of my dry spell

D resumed her swimming lessons, and due to that I would be normally be near LSR during Sundays. Seeing that I had gone fishless for sometime, perhaps it was good idea to go back to boot camp for some training and practising.

LSR fishing had sort of degraded due to the kayaking activities, particulary during the weekends. Seeing that most of the activity was near the Jetty, I positioned myself near the other end next to the country club. Sun was a little hot, and I tried to get whatever shade under the tree where I can. I started off with my little River2Sea Sub crank

PB summoning harmonica music


After some 10 casts or so, I was starting to get discouraged. The weather sort of turned nice, with some dark clouds gathering. It did drizzled for a little while, enough to give some sort of reprieve from the hot sun. I changed to my nippy 3D-150, hoping to change my luck. Just as I was thinking of going back empty handed again, I felt the all familiar thud. I had a fish on! Trying to maintain pressure on it, I turned my back shouting to the children to get the camera. But alas, this fish had the good idea of leaping out of the water to do a somersault. That somehow did the trick as I didn't give a good enough strike. Lure came loose and rubber banded back into the water. Argh! From the water surface, I could see that it was quite a small sized PB, (abt 500g?). That accounted for the poor setting of the hooks.

Heaving some sighs, I continued fishing to hope for another chance. Normally in a session, a strike was quite good already. And I had to lose it.

Moving towards to the further end, I tried casting and casting again. Suddenly, with my shades on, I visually saw 2 PB (one bigger, one smaller) scouting the water near the edge. Instinctly, I edged the lure right into their path. Interestingly, I saw the bigger PB looking at my lure, and springing into action to snap at it. The fish was like 5 metres away from me. I gave a yank, and I had it for good. Quickly, I dragged it out onto the walkway, and the fish was mine.







The baiters around me were quite impressed, seeing that this silly guy trying to fish with a plastic actually got something. I took some pictures quickly and tried to remove the hooks, as I wanted to release the fish. About 3 minutes later, I gently put the fish back into the water, and it immediately dashed away from me as fast as it's fishy tail could take it. Thanks to it, my luring confidence has returned. :)

Day Off Luring at LSR

It was back to LSR for a quick luring exercise. Today, I had to walk being a normal weekday. From Khatib MRT, it was quite a distance. I would put it at 1Km from the Jetty. Reaching there, the weather was nice and cool at around 4+pm. Water was murky, and I was hauling up lots of weeds. Tried out my 2 new river2sea lures, the yellow middive, and the yellow crankbait. Crankbait action was kind of weak, and didn't have any takers. The Middive also didn't work today. After 1/2 hour, no action at the Jetty. Only once saw a lethargic PB coming to sniff at my lure.

Moved to the boating area, cast and cast. Again, pulling in lots of weeds. Saw a man using live catfish for Tomans at the boat jetty. PBs all not around. Where the hell they gone to? 6pm, gave up, packed and go.

Had been fishless for the last 3 consecutive sessions. :(

Luring at Reservoir, part III

Weeds! Irritant...but fishes are there bacause of it


Good old humbug was wasted spectaculary this morning with a sudden strike this morning at LSR. I just reached the place, and Andrew and Elyn joined me shortly after. I got a call from them, wanting to join me at a Park to bring Pynn Pynn for a stroll. After setting up my trusty Yellow humbug, cast, cast, cast. And on the third cast, retrieved back till 10 metres from the bank, a "smallie/biggie?" came out of nowhere, took a hit, made a noisy splash, and took off with my humbug. My leader broke and lure went heaven and was never seen again. Argh! But I was careless and to be blamed as I was using quite a thin leader (4lbs), and realized that I had forgotten to loosen my drag.

But that morning, the action was good. Water was quite clear and still. From the bank, we could see a few PB "sniffing" and following the lure. A and E went quite surprised too. But after that incident, I switched to a white Middive. But it might have been the wrong color for that moment, caused after that, all quieten down. I let Andrew had a go, but his didn't quite have any peace as PP started wailing and crying.

Rod came back to me. I did a switcheroo to the Gold X-rap. This lure was meant for Sebarau, but nevertheless, gave it a shot. Cast for about 20 mins, nothing. But all of a sudden, a good take, and rod connected and a fish was at the other end of the line. But from the feel, not that big. Fish surfaced in a while, and it was another PB. Kind of smaller than last week's one, but still a good take. At least it proved that this Gold lure was quite effective.



We took some pics, PP with it as well and released the fellow unharmed. A was quite expert in handling the fish, and released it quite professionally. For me, I would have just tossed the fellow in. :P Search for bigger PB to be continued. Hoping to get a 2kg one this year :))

New sign advising the public not to release animals into the reservoir








BREAKING NEWS: - Man drown in LSR in Kayaking incident. No wonder on the way back, saw policemen running about. :o

Scene of LSR around that time

Luring at Reservoir, Part II

Since I had my yellow humbug, I had been trying and trying to get something. It should be a good lure from what I read, but somehow, nothing from it so far. This morning, as usual, D got swimming. The morning turned out quite hot, and I wasn't quite in the mood for luring. But after some breakfast, I thought to do a quick one at LSR.

The last week weed clearing seemed to have made the place quite littered with floating weeds. Casting out my lure, 7 out of 10 times, I would be hauling back the lure entrapped with weeds. This would have minimised the chance as the lure would lose all action after stumbling on to weeds. So, whole morning, cast and cast, but nothing positive. However, I spied 2 times small PB following my lure, and once, a quite a big PB checking out the lure. In my haste to re-cast, I had gotten char bee hoon a few times. Must really remind myself not to be too kan cheong. Quite sickening to miss the chance due to bird nest.

A and D arrived at the park with their packed lunch. Around 12+pm, I walked back to where they were sitting and almost wanted to pack. But seeing that A was doing her cross-stitch, D was reading her comic, I carried on for another 15 mins or so at the new spot.

I tried to vary my speed. Seemed that when I retrieved fast, the lure would be running quite fast for any fish to catch it. I slowed it a little and adjusted until the action was quite ok. But somehow, today, the lure didn't seem good. It might be due to the dead knot that I used to tie it to the leader.



Just as I was quite disheartened at the prospect of going back with zero again, my line suddenly connected with a small PB. It struggled a little and made a jump. Line got slackened and I lost it! Argh....but that somehow encouraged me. I thought now that the trick was not to retrieve too fast. Make the lure more natural. So out the lure go and cast and cast....Just as I was like down to my last few attempts....I felt a strong take. But I wasn't too sure at that time. It might be another clumps of weeds. But on my retrieve, there was a postive reaction and the line spooled out a little for a couple of seconds. Wow, fish on! I tightened the drag and managed to lift up a wiry thrashing PB. Composing myself, I carefully got hold of the line and swung it up on the land. With a dull thud, the fish was landed. And what a beauty. This is the biggest PB to date that I have gotten. *big smile*.

Luring at Reservoir

TC was keen in a spot of reservoir fishing and so we made plans to visit LPR this morning at 7am for PBs or Tomans. But unfortunately, water was very calm, but occasionally disrupted by a patrolling boat that sent huge waves splashing on the water bank. I was trying to sight for tomans, but no luck at all.



Around 8.30am, we decided to head for LSR for its better catch rate. But upon reaching there, there were quite alot of activity with people packing up after a major water conservation event. Also, there was a group of people doing some boating. And to add on, weed clearing seemed to be in progress. Water was all murky and full of weeds. So naturally, no bites at all. Mr Sun came on full force and we were sweating to the brows and got really uncomfortable. Around 10am, we called it off and returned defeated.



D wanted to play with Era after her swimming and we let them continue their time in the pool till 12pm. In the meantime, I dropped by upper seletar to try again with my yellow humbug. But as expected, nothing too. Clouds turned quite dark and it drizzled a little. So that was the end of the day. A fat zero.

Exercise at LSR, Admiralty West

Picked D after swimming, and went to LSR for some wetting lines. But time was short as I need to meet the PF at 12pm. So, it was just a 20 mins session with my newly bought Yellow Humbug. But got nothing, as expected, given the short time. Eyes of humbug dropped out.(it got no eyes to see my lousy fishing...:P) I repaired it using the eyes of another humbug that I didn't like(Pic with the repaired eye). This Yellow one was supposed to be a PB killer.

In the evening, A wanted to make her hair, went Marsiling beachfront for some casting with Gulp! shrimps. Saw lots of bait activity, but didn't get anything too. Water was quite high, and today, was lucky not to pull up any rubbish. But actually, plentiful of small fishes. Saw some mullets swimming around. And lots of crabs swimming and making circle ripples in the water.

Recce - LSR and Khatib Bongsu

Just usual, D had got swimming today. I did some luring in LSR with my new Rapala Gold X-Rap. As with the other x-raps, the action was good. This was the fresh water version. For a change, I attempted the left side of LSR, away from the Jetty. That was the edge to the country club, and was full of tall lalangs. Should be a good area. However, it might be due to the hot weather that I didn't get anything. But it was nice to see some birds dipping into the water for food. Might be small fishes there. There as an uncle casting out live catfishes for giant toman. But during the period I was there, didn't see him get any.

I was decked out in my light fishing gear and could move around with my rod with my backpack behind me. Seeing no action on the extreme left, I moved somewhere in the centre. However, also got nothing. But there was this about 3 feet carp just right in front of me. Few times, I saw it coming out of the water for big gulps of air. However, it was not possible to get carp on lure. My lure went by him with little interest. I thought it funny that this fellow wasn't quite afraid of me and hung around just under my feet for sometime.

The entrance to Khatib Bongsu


That afternoon, since I was around Yishun, I suddenly got this urge to explore the Khatib Bongsu that was in the papers recently. By now, it should have been closed to the public, but I thought of giving it a shot. By some shear luck, I managed to find the entrance. I hadn't been too sure whether it was Avenue 6 or not, but I drove around the area to look for any potential opening. Luck was with me and I spied the sign that said "fishing pond" in chinese. Well, well. Making a daff turn, I was enroute into Bongsu via a bumpy road.

The fishing pond signage


Scary video survelliance


There were a few cars that passed me on the way out. Seeing that they didn't quite shoo me off, I moved boldy onwards. However, about 5 minutes into the long road in, there it was, the official army "shoot on sight" signage. I was hesitent at that point. There was a guy on a bicycle following me on the way in. I stopped and asked him if it was alright to go in. He mumbled that it should be ok. Said there were people going in anyway.

Bumpy road


Shoot on sight!


Incoming red car


Finally, signs of human settlement


Trusting him, I drove in, risking to be shot at. A red car was on the way out, and mintues later, he was following me behind. Strange, were they army people or what? But he stopped at a clearing midway, and I was alone again. Another 10 minutes drive in, we finally came to the fishing pond that was the destination on the signage.

The fishing pond


2 wild children


The mangrove area


Flying heron dipping into the water


It was a nice and quaint village of sorts. There were a few household living here. However, the main business appeared to be the fishing pond. From there, we could see some people actually fishing. This must be the commercial fishing pond that I had read about in the forum. I hadn't thought of coming here before, as I didn't know that it was actually situated in a wild and quite untouched region in Singapore. Really, you could hardly see a scene like this anymore, unless you were in the army.

Hmm...nice humans


Another pose


We stayed around watching people fishing, but after 15 minutes, still no catches. A friendly dog appeared out of nowhere and was interested in the French fries that the children were having. We gave it some, and it was quite a friendly dog indeed.

Rain "Crab"


It rained a little and stopped abruptly. But no matter, as we were all cosy under some sort of fishing shelter. Seeing no actions from the angler there, we decided to make our way back to civilisation.

Quite a interesting place indeed. I thought of bringing the PFs there for a tour, but not sure if a convoy of vehicles in would surely have someone dispatch the army on us. Maybe, maybe...