Newbie Fishing - Lesson 2

After some pondering, I decided that last night Rapala might be too stiff, especially for a lady. I had seen Jennifer (Eric's friend) with a connoisseur, and felt that it was just nice for light fishing. I called up the shop and asked if they had connoisseur, and to my delight, they do carry. They kindly agreed to make an exchange.

We met up at CV today, and shop did the swap, no questions asked. However, shakespeare connoisseur cost a little more, and we had to top up $6 for the price of $51. I had never seen it up close, and I was quite impressed with the quality. Fuji guides somemore. I might even get one myself to replace my ultra flexy Basslove.





So today was for lesson 2, to guide WC and J on how to manage their own rods. Before meeting them, I drove past by a newly renovated part at Car park 6. I had spied some cars inside some dirt road and was curious to check out the place. Turning in just after car park 7, there it was. With D's camera, I trekked into the dirt road to come to this opening. From the rubbish there, it was clear that people had been fishing here. The spot leads out to the opening of the canel, just starting into secret spot.

For lesson 2, we headed back to 6 pipes for another round of training. I wasn't too hopeful of other spots in Singapore, and 6 pipes was still on top of my good fishing spot list. We were there earlier than yesterday and was there from about 4+pm. However, weather was quite fine due to the cloudy sky. At some times, it could really be scorching hot here, as there was nary a shade. But wind was tremendously strong, and all our cast would get blown to the left. Due to that, water current was also strong, and there were times, I wasn't even sure if the sinker was hitting bottom.

After guiding WC and J on how to setup their rod, I cast out my line to the left side of the Jetty as usual.



Today however, due to the strong current, it was not easy to feel the taps of the fishes. Furthermore, the newbies were now using mono. So for a good part of the session, there were hardly any catches. I broke the ice by hauling in a nice grouper. This was my first grouper on regular apollo. Not too bad, I would say. I later got lucky again and hit a fair size Pasir2.

J got some luck, and landed a small Pasir Pasir without even feeling it. Nevertheless, it was an opening catch for her new rod. It was now left to WC to get one for himeself. However, time past rather quickly and soon light got dimmer. I took over the rod from WC and tried to at least get a fish to "bless" his new rod.

There was a strong tap, but I missed the hookup. Uncle on my right suddenly got a strong fight where he was trying just in front of the Jetty. It looked like a good fish from the way the rod was bending and trembling. When fish surfaced, it was a catfish, but I think close to a kilo one. Uncle grinned and said "tosat" meaning catfish in malay.



Just as I was losing my hope of hitting one, there was a strong tap, and I struck. Fish connected and it felt like a decent one. When fish landed on the ground, we saw it to be another eel tail catfish. Well, better than nothing. :). At least rod got something the first time. Since we don't really eat catfish amongst us, it was released.

By then it was already dark. Good thing I brought my torch this time round. Fishing wasn't too good, but that's what makes fishing interesting. There are good days, and there are bad days. After a bad day, one could always look forward to a better one.

Newbie Fishing - Lesson 1

I had promised a friend of mine Wei Chen to bring him fishing. I had racked my brain for a good starting off place. For newbies, going back with nothing would be a bad start. I had thought of Lab Park at first, but later found out that it was closed for renovation. I next thought of Six Pipes as the alternate venue. Perhaps it was just as well, as Six Pipes had more potential than Lab Park in the first place.

We met as planned rather punctually. WC came with wifey Jeanette, who turned out to be quite an enthusiatic student. :). They brought along their rod, and as I expected, nothing else. I had come prepared with 4 rods just in case such a thing were to happen. Being newbies, they were entirely new to this fishing thing, and it was no surprise.

I setup my short basslove for J, and my president for WC. Taking a tamban jigging line, I divided it into 2 to minimise the number of hooks that they had to bait with. Being quite a shallow area, jigging was not possible. Hence to maximise the chance, I baited the hooks with prawn meat.

After a quick casting lesson, J threw out her line. And within the first cast, she landed something. Wow, talk about luck. Fish turned out to be a good one, a Wrasse. Hm, these buggers not usually easy to catch due to their minuscule mouths. J was naturally all excited and did a cart wheel. After the customary photo taking, fishing proceeded on. WC cast out his line and then also on the first cast, got a tamban! Holy tornado. These students were good. I had never before gotten a tamban at Six Pipes.

Since the 2 of them had gotten the swing of things, I too rigged up my Black rose and cast out. I had wanted a slightly bigger catch, and rigged mine on a size 8 owner hooks, baited with about 1/2 a prawn meat. A while into the waiting, rod dipped and I got a decent fish on the other end. Reeling back, fish ran into the pipes and I was snagged. Argh...but I could feel the fish still struggling despite not being able to reel back the line. I played the waiting game, and finally fish ran out again, and was soon on the losing end. When it broke the surface, it turned out to be a slightly larger than my palm Silver Biddy (WuaBee). Hmm, I was expecting a larger fish. Not a bad fighter.

By this time, WC got another fish, and it was another wrasse. But they kept complaining that fishes were eating up their bait. I see, must be loads of Wrasse below. These are quick nibblers, and to catch them, one needed to have fast reflexes. J was having a dry spell after the first catch.

I threw out my line again, and took some time to help rig up an apollo rig with Gamakutsa hooks for her. But I didn't think I did a very good job as rig was a little too long on the bite leader. But seeing the darkening sky, it had to do. Out she cast and hoped for the best. But despite some bites, she was still not getting any. It might be my soft basslove rod. This rod, not easy to use due to the flexy backbone.

I took another take on my rod, and this one felt quite strong initially. When it broke surface, we all saw it to be a small brown ray. Just a baby. I took some photos and decided to release it. The moment it landed into the water again, it swam away happily.

WC now got another successful take and out came a Catfish. This one the eel tail variety. Not bad, but we decided to let it go. I too, not a fan of catfishes.

By now, sky was getting dark and we had to pack. To celebrate our success, we went CV for dinner which WC paid for, as a treat to me. But dinner came up to $75 just for some of the dishes from the zhi char, excluding the other side plates. Wah, felt bad that he had to pay so much. :P. After dinner, my 2 new students decided to get 2 new setups for their future fishing trips. I did my best to recommend them some decent outfit for about $200 for 2 sets. I narrowed it down to a Rapala and a Berkley Cherry wood. Well, starting out always quite hefty for any hobby...but still, some of my reels, already more than $200 per piece. :P. Hopefully they would continue to make full use of it and not give up. I had a hunch, they would be following me around quite often. :)

We shall meet for lesson 2 tomorrow.

Fishes we caught
1. Diamond Wrasse x2
2. Silver Biddy x1
3. Eeltail catfish x1
4. Brown stingray x1
5. Tamban x1