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Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI) is the No. 1 Eco Island Lake Lodge in Malaysia!
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How To Fish For Snakehead or ‘Toman’

I’d like to share my experience on how you can catch a snakehead or ‘Toman’
as we Malaysians call them.

Before I go any further, allow me to share a bit about myself. First and
foremost I am not a fishing person or a ‘kaki pancing’. Prior to my first visit to
Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI), I have never gone fishing my entire
life let alone hold a fishing rod. At first glance to me fishing is a boring activity
as most of the time it requires you to just wait until the fish bites the bait.
Well that was before my first fishing experience at TTDI back in December
2006.

Our friend that brought us to TTDI was adamant that we tried to fish for
Toman. He told us that fishing for Toman is different and it is more thrilling as
we do not wait around but we go and hunt them. After a lot of persuasion, off
we went Toman hunting!

To catch a Toman you need the right bait. For the Toman in TTDI the best bait
would be live catfish (‘keli’). You hook up the live keli on your hook and it must
be hooked properly so that when you cast the keli would not slip away. At TTDI
you are lucky because our trained people know the best way to do this. Let
them do it for you.

I still remember that day. We were in one of the lagoons and waiting for signs
of the Toman. The Toman fish will need to go up the surface as they require
oxygen. Every time they pop up on the surface they will make a bubble on the
surface. That is what we need to look for.

When you see the bubble, you have 3 to 5 seconds to cast your bait towards the
bubble. The first time I went fishing for Toman that was exactly what Idid.
Guess what? I got a bite and we pulled up a 3 kg plus sized Toman. It was huge
and frankly speaking everybody on the boat got scared when we tried to pull it
up. It was big and powerful that the moment we reached for it, it bit off the
fishing line and escaped! What an experience! Since than we have returned to
TTDI a few more times to go Toman hunting. In fact we even have our own
fishing rods. Even my wife caught a few Tomans!

Discover Yourself at www.temenggor.com

Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI) is the No. 1 Eco Island Lake Lodge in Malaysia!
 Discover Yourself at www.temenggor.com
Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI) is the No. 1 Eco Island Lake Lodge in Malaysia!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

So here are a few things that will be helpful for you if you plan to go Toman
hunting at TTDI.

1. Make sure you have the right fishing rod for Toman. You can ask the
place you buy your fishing rods and make sure that it is suitable for
Tomans.
2. The bait that you use is catfish or ‘keli’ which you can get at the Gerik
wet market at a very cheap price. Get the small size ones. Make sure
they are alive!
3. You can fish for Tomans around the island especially at the back of the
A-Hut chalet areas. Please ensure that you inform our team that you
want to fish for Toman so that they can help you out. Please take note
that we only allow catch and release as we are preserving the place.
4. The best way to go Toman hunting is to take up our fishing packages
whereby you go out to Toman spots around the lake with a boat and a
guide. For these fishing packages you need to book in advance when you
book your TTDI package.
5. Once you have your bait fixed now you just need to wait for the Toman
air bubbles.
6. The moment you see the bubble you need to cast the bait towards the
bubble. You only have a window of 5 to 8 seconds to do this. The
objective is so that the Toman will be able to detect the live ‘keli’
which your bait and go for it.
7. Keep on casting as you see the bubbles.
8. When you feel a bite, let it go first. If you see your rod bending down,
than you know that a Toman has gotten the bait.
9. Now what you need to is to reel the Toman in. You need to be patient as
you need to tire the fish first. They have a lot of energy. Make sure you
position yourself well on the boat. Don’t be surprised if you are pulled
over board. It can happen!
10. We have had people who lost their fishing rods.
11. Once you manage to get the Toman up, take a good picture with you and
your catch and than release it back. We want to preserve the place for
others and for future generations to enjoy.
12. Last but not least enjoy and have fun!

Discover Yourself at www.temenggor.com

Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI) is the No. 1 Eco Island Lake Lodge in Malaysia!
 Discover Yourself at www.temenggor.com
Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI) is the No. 1 Eco Island Lake Lodge in Malaysia!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

The following are some picture gallery of people Toman hunting. You could be
the next one. Enjoy!

No Picture Description
1 This lady caught a Toman with
virtually her first attempt at
fishing!

2 Using our fishing package you will

be brought to locations that are
known to have Tomans.

3 Even the whole family can come

with you and experience Toman
hunting together! Just make sure
the kids stay quite so that they
don’t scare away the fish.

Discover Yourself at www.temenggor.com

Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI) is the No. 1 Eco Island Lake Lodge in Malaysia!
 Discover Yourself at www.temenggor.com
Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI) is the No. 1 Eco Island Lake Lodge in Malaysia!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 A Toman caught!

5 This young man caught one and he

is pretty happy with himself. We
can guarantee you, regardless of
the size once you get one you’ll be
hooked! The experience of fighting
the toman is worth the patience.

6 The Toman is brought up on to the

boat. Luckily it is just a small one.

7 Fighting and reeling the Toman in.

Trust us; the Toman will fight you
to the end. The big ones are really
strong. We even have incidents
whereby the fishing rods are taken
out and literally thrown into the
water!

Discover Yourself at www.temenggor.com

Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island (TTDI) is the No. 1 Eco Island Lake Lodge in Malaysia!