The Asian Angler

July 2013

Asias Angling Lifestyle Magazine

ABU GARCIA REVO MGXTREME

RYOBI SLAM
The Sci-Fi Reel

Salmo Hornet Crankbaits Skill Enhancers Test Driving

GT-Zero Greatness Sufix 832 Advanced Superline
Salmo Hornet Lures

Fishing With Soft Plastics Part 1

Knowledge Wise
Understanding Fishing Rods Part 2

Sportin The Sailfish The Asian Angler Reports

Angling & Outdoor Recreation Fair 2013
1

Elite8
GEAR RATIO

BIGSHOOTER COMPACT
GEAR RATIO

8.0:1

8.0:1

Weight : 170g Brake System : IVCB-VI Max. Drag : 7kg Ball Bearings : 9+1 HPCR Bearings Line Capacity : 14lb -100m

Elite8
GEAR RATIO
SJ

Weight : 239g Brake System : MAGTRAX II Max. Drag : 7kg Ball Bearings : 7+1 HPCR Bearings Line Capacity : 20lb -100m

BIGSHOOTER COMPACT
GEAR RATIO

MJ

8.0:1

8.0:1

Weight : 236g Gear Ratio : 8.0:1 Max. Line Retrieve/turn: 83cm Max. Drag : 7kg Ball Bearings : 7+1 HPCR Bearings Line Capacity : PE 1 : 200m (narrow spool)

GEAR RATIO

8.0:1

Weight : 197g Max. Line Retrieve/cm : 83cm Max. Drag : 5.5kg Ball Bearings : 7+1 HPCR Bearings Line Capacity : PE 0.8 : 200m (narrow spool)

GEAR RATIO

8.0:1

(COME

VERSIZE S WITH O

D GEAR)

Weight : 170g Brake System : IVCB-VI ADVANTAGES OF NARROW SPOOL (Revo SJ/MJ) Level Wind Position Max. Drag : 7kg When fighthing with the fish, the line that peels out of the reel will cause much friction with neighbouring lines on spool. Ball Bearings : 9+1 HPCR Bearings Steep Angle Gradual Angle By narrowing down the spools width, the angle from the line to the (more friction level wind will be more gradual. Thus, the line peels out smoother Line Capacity : 14lb -100m(not steep) between the vs. existing spool
because there is less friction caused on the line spool. lines on the The narrow spool is not only ideal for casting game, but also for spools) vertical jigging style. This will ensure the jig sinks smoother and faster.
(less friction between the lines)

Y) Weight : 239g ACT BOD P M O C UP WITH : MAGTRAX II EN I Brake System L O V RE E TOUGH H T F O Max. Drag : 7kg (DEBUT Ball Bearings : 7+1 HPCR Bearings Line Capacity : 20lb -100m

Normal Spool

Narrow Spool

MJ
CHAMPIONS CHOICE
Endorsed by Japanese Pro-Anglers
Pure Fishing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (515617-X)
No. 36, Jalan Kartunis U1/47, Kawasan Perindustrian Temasya, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor. Tel : 603 - 5032 9288 (Hunting Line) Fax : 603 - 5032 9388 Email : info@my.purefishing.com

SJ

MJ

SJ

Weight : 236g Gear Ratio : 8.0:1 Max. Line Retrieve/turn: 83cm Max. Drag : 7kg Ball Bearings : 7+1 HPCR Bearings Line Capacity : PE 1 : 200m (narrow spool)

GEAR RATIO

8.0:1

Weight : 197g Max. Line Retrieve/cm : 83cm Max. Drag : 5.5kg Ball Bearings : 7+1 HPCR Bearings Line Capacity : PE 0.8 : 200m (narrow spool)

GEAR RATIO

8.0:1

ADVANTAGES OF NARROW SPOOL (Revo SJ/MJ)

When fighthing with the fish, the line that peels out of the reel will cause much friction with neighbouring lines on spool. By narrowing down the spools width, the angle from the line to the level wind will be more gradual. Thus, the line peels out smoother because there is less friction caused on the line spool. The narrow spool is not only ideal for casting game, but also for vertical jigging style. This will ensure the jig sinks smoother and faster.

Level Wind Position

Steep Angle (more friction between the lines on the spools)

Gradual Angle (not steep) vs. existing spool (less friction between the lines)

Normal Spool

Narrow Spool

The Choice Of Champions

11

How Best To Experience The Asian Angler Magazine

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New Way To Navigate The Asian Angler

Weve made it easier and fun for you. Click on pages you would like to go to here at the Contents Page. To return here after reading the article, click on the Back To Content tab found at some of the pages. Knowledge Wise: Anglers Havens: Avillion Port Understanding Fishing Rods Part 2 Dickson Page 112
Classifieds Page 366

Rod Ford Custom Video Page 68

BP18 - 396 Rue de la Prcision - 74970 Marignier - France

Thomas Stroker Video Page 52

Sebile Video Page 340

Watch Sebile In Action

Like Us On Facebook www.facebook.com/theasianangler (Official Page)

ABU Garcia Logo Hunt:

Congratulations to our 5 hunters who have won prizes from Abu Garcia. 37 Abu Garcia Revo Logos Found Skill Enhancers: Fishing With Soft Plastics Part 1 Page 132

Test Drive: Rod Ford GT-Zero Blank

Page 162

Page 20
Value for money imported lures by Guvnors Gear
Page 19

Get Your Free POCode Page 37

Test Drive:Salmo Hornet Lure Page 54 Fishin-Tech Fly Tyer (Free)

Happenings: Anging And Outdoor Recreational Fair 2013 Page 254

Test Drive: Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Page 38 Introducin: New Abu Garcia Revo MGXtreme Page 70

Introducin: Ryobi Slam

Page 86 Page 344

Product Features Page 356

Fishy Tales: Back To Biwako Part 2 Page 242

Sporting Fishes: Viper VenomII The Indo Pacific Extreme Sailfish Page 364

Page 224

15

My fellow anglers and friends,

This months issue came out a little late as we wanted to include an article on the Angling and Outdoor Recreation Fair 2013 that was held from the 28th to the 30th of June 2013 at the Shah Alam Convention Center. It was a good fair as I got to meet up with a lot of angling buddies from around the country. The turn out was really good too judging by the feedback of some of the participating tackle distributors. In this months Test Drive we tested the Rod Ford GT-Zero blank, Sufix 832 Advance Superline and Salmo Hornet lures. We also played with the Abu Garcias new Revo MGXtreme of which is really light and Ryobis Slam of which is a reel that emerged from a sci-fi movie in our Introducin section. I didnt get much time to fish due to the haze and most of my fishing buddies decided to stay indoors as well. So July should be a good month to do more fishing. We at The Asian Angler also take this opportunity to wish our muslim friends selamat berpuasa as we head into the fasting month this July. Thank you all for your feedback, encouragements, and ideas that we received via email and also thank you for your support. We will continue to improve The Asian Angler magazine as we soar towards the future. Thank you and happy reading. Cheers, Phil Editor In Chief

For All Your Office Needs

Stone-Mashe

Stone-Mashe Sdn. Bhd.

L-1-2, Pusat Perdagangan Kuchai, No. 2, Jalan 1/127, Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. Contact: 016 202 2635 Email: ann@stone-mashe.com

17

Its Time To Catch The Big Ones!

Purveyor Of Fine Lures

www.facebook.com/GuvnorsGear www.guvnorsgears.com guvnorsgear@gmail.com +6013 - 3520095

Auto Reign Sdn. Bhd. 11 Jalan PJS 1/21A, Taman Petaling Utama, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +6016-722 1800 Fax: +60 3-7785 2800 Email: autoreignsb@gmail.com

Almost An Obsesssion...
19

Test Drives

Rod Ford GT-Zero Blanks

By Philemon Foo

The main part of a rod is the blank and

there has been a lot of talk lately about a blank called the GT-Zero blank by Rod Ford. When a something gets that much attention it tickles my interest and I decided to check them out.

21

Pushing Boundaries
Being a rod designer myself and have designed countless of rods for a few big international brands, I do dabble quite a lot in rod blank technology. The GT-Zero blanks uses Nanotechnology and pushes its boundaries just a little further. Nanotechnology strengthens many surfaces. I have seen pieces of plastic drinking straws turned almost into steel just by applying a coat of nanotech coating during the time when nanotechnology was making inroads into the world of fishing tackle.

23

GT-Zero blanks uses nanotechnology by infusing them into the resin that is used to bond graphite sheets together instead of coating the blank directly of which allows the blank to remains flexible and still sensitive. This also allows for a thinner wall without sacrificing strength.

25

Added Toughness
The GT-Zero blanks are also built using three 3 layers of high modulus graphite sheets of which makes the blank tougher. Although doing so adds some weight to the blank it still remains lightweight which is great. These three layers make the blank tougher and stronger and thus makes this blank a tough performer.

27

Lab Testing
Rod Ford Customs built a rod using the GT-Zero blank and I had the opportunity to test it. The GT-Zero blank that I tested is a 6-12lb medium light action 6 one piece rod with camouflage EVA handles. The GT-Zero did pressure test with a total weight of 2.25kg on the bounce (1) of which has an estimated force weight of about 5.66kg which translates to about 12.4lb of which meets its specified weight of 6-12lb. From what I have seen, this blank is able to handle more.

29

Test Driving On The Edge

I tested this rod on two occasions. Once at a pond near a friends house where I cast out lures to see how well the rod cast and it cast really well. The GT-Zero blank has a powerful tip (for its weight class) and it cast out lures effortlessly.

31

It also helps with the fish fighting, leveraging the battle over to the anglers side as it did during my test at the Exotic Pond. I had a friend with me during the test and he too felt that controlling the fish felt easier on the GT-Zero blank. During the test drive at the Exotic Pond there was a time when we had to drag one of the Amazon red tail catfish away from the waterwheel and the GT-Zero did it without hesitation. This proves the power of the rod.

33

The Verdict
There are many rod blanks in the market and the GT-Zero stands out amongst the better blanks. It is also a good value for money blank that is strong, has power, and proven to be able to handle more than claimed. If you are looking towards custom building a rod and you are looking around for a good blank to use, do consider the GT-Zero blank. It is a blank that can take the bashing of a monster fish. Of course every rod has its limits. The difference is how far the limits are from the specs.

35

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37

Sufix 832 Advance Superline

By Philemon Foo
I seldom get to test drive fishing

Test Drives

lines but recently I was asked if I have tested the Sufix 832 Advanced Superline. Well, I did not and thus I decided to do so. With some help from friends I managed to put the Sufix 832 Advanced to the test.

39

Whats Claimed
Sufix 832 is claimed to be the strongest, most durable braid in the market that comes in a small diameter. It also uses R8 Precision Braiding of which means that it comes with a construction of 8 fibres of which are made up of 7 Dyneema fibres and 1 Gore Performance Fibre at 32 weaves per inch. Well, that is a mouthful. One thing that caught my attention is actually the term Gore Performance Fibres. What is the use of having a strand of Gore Performance Fibre in the line?

Gore
Gore is actually a company that deals with a polymer called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Bob Gore discovered expended PTFE (ePTFE) of which is a remarkably versatile polymer that has since been used in very demanding environments including clothing worn on expeditions to Mt. Everest and electronic cables that transmits signals from Mars.

41

By rapidly stretching PTFE under the right conditions created a very strong, microporous material of which exhibits an amazing array of properties such as: Strength (high strength-to-weight ratio) Chemical inertness Biocompatibility High thermal resistance High chemical resistance in harsh environments Low flammability Low coefficient of friction Low dielectric constant Low water adsorption Good weathering properties

43

Gore + Fishing Line

Sounds interesting right? But what does it do for the other 7 strand of Dyneema fibres and the angler using them? It short, adding Gore fibres to fishing lines creates a stronger, smoother, and tougher fishing line. What I see here is a strong core (Gore fibre) being the support of 7 Dyneema fibres of which is one of the smoother line materials.

Test Driven To The Gore

So far everything sounds promising and nice. With all these in mind I had to put the Sufix 832 to the test. The first thing I did was to test its claimed Strength. In my hands lie a 150yds, 10lb Sufix 832 braided line with a diameter of 0.20mm (claimed to be equivalent to 4lb mono). Well, I will not be putting the Sufix 832 against other brands as I have got nothing in my hands to compare it to. Thus it will be challenging the very claims that are made on its box.

45

Straight Line Break Test

A straight line break test basically means testing the line without a knot. This is not the best test to do for any line because we always use at least one knot when we fish. However, I decided to do this test as there are a lot of line manufacturers that use this method of test to determine the break limits of their lines. Using my drag checker to get the break poundage, I wrapped both my hands with a very thick piece of cloth and wrapped a few rounds of the line on them. I then yanked the line as hard as I can in opposite directions breaking it in the process. The line broke at close to 12lb which means that it broke about 2lb above the claimed 10lb.

47

Knotted Line Break Test

The next test is closer to real time fishing where we tie a knot on the line. As braided lines are known to cut itself, an appropriate knot to use will be a knot that is recommended to be used for braided lines. The knot I went with is the Palomar Knot. Using a Palomar knot tied to a large snap at one end and wrapping my other hand with a thick cloth and lines I gave it a hard yank. This time it broke at close to 10.5lb of which is still above the claimed breaking limits of the line.

49

Fishing With The 832

We tested the Sufix 832 at the Exotic Pond and after 3 hours of fishing and landing numerous fishes I noticed that the line had little bits of fibre like fur but the line remained strong but casting felt smoother. This reminds me of one of my favourite superline.

Verdict
I like how the Sufix 832 line performed. It met the stated line break test claim and it is a good line to use. It cast pretty well and it remained strong despite breaking into tiny furs. One thing to note is to lubricate the line well when tying knots especially uni to uni.

51

Est. since 1976

Having waited years to catch your trophy fish, you would leave nothing to chance. That is why you need a Thomas Stroker rod that is made specifically for you, using only high quality components. Thomas Stroker is not just a brand, but my name on every Thomas Stroker rod. When I put my name on a rod, like you, I too will leave nothing to chance.

MAIN SHOP: 531A, JALAN PERSISIRAN PERLING 1, TAMAN PERLING, 81200 JOHOR BAHRU. TEL: +607 2309531 H/P: +6019 7251340

BRANCH: 21, JALAN, 1/1, TAMAN BAIDURI, 81200 JOHOR BAHRU. TEL:+6072411022 H/P: +60156120195 EMAIL : thomaslee@jdartac.com website: http://www.thomas-stroker.com

Click Here To See Sample Click Here For Free POCode

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53

Salmo Hornet Lures By Philemon Foo

It has been said many times that the reason lures come in so many shapes and colours is because they first need to capture you the angler before they have a chance at catching fishes. That is what people say but the fact is that certain fishes do remember colours and lures thus creating the need for more designs and colours.

Test Drives

55

I have been on trips where all proven lure designs and colours failed and the ones that caught fishes were lures we never even thought of using or colours that didnt strike us as colours to use. A case in point is my trip to Royal Belum last year (December 2012 issue). All my favourite lures and colours caught nothing. The ones that did were lures we did not think or using.

57

Salmo Hornet Lures

Recently I got a bunch of Salmo Hornet crankbaits and test drove them at a nearby pond. I just wanted to know how well they will swim since they are divers. I was also hoping to catch a fish or two whilst on this test drive. I had with me six Salmo Hornet crankbaits. Three of them are 5cm / 7g and the other three are 6cm / 10g with a diving depth of 2 to 3 meters and 3.5 to 6 meters. They are all floating deep diving lures. The Salmo Hornet crankbaits are reasonably easy to cast but more importantly; how well will they swim. So I cast them out and retrieved them at varying speeds being slow, moderately fast, and like crazy fast. Each of these speeds will force the lure to perform differently underwater due to the varying pressure placed on

59

Slow Retrieve
Reeling the lure in slowly at a speed enough to feel slight vibrations didnt spring much of a surprise except for one and that it started touching bottom at a relatively fast pace or at least I didnt expect it to reach the bottom that soon.

Moderately Fast
These lures were hitting the bottom of the lake really fast. They are not just deep divers but fast divers as well. At this speed I am feeling strong vibrations in my hands and I can feel every bump that the Hornets hit. At this speed the Hornets manage to hold on to a tight swimming line without swooping left or right.

61

Crazy Fast
Now I was casting out the lures and cranking them back as fast as I can as if afraid that they would be taken by a fish. No, there are no sebaraus in this pond and I doubt any fish in there would be bothered with a speeding lure but I wanted to see how it performed. Well, the vibrations were strong and the lure was digging the bottom in s very short time. However, the reliability of the lures to swim in a straight line constantly had diminished. Most of the time, they swam tight and followed a straight line but there were times when they veered left (also right). All lures have their limits and when we push them over their limits we have to expect them to go crazy on us and the Hornets did but they didnt do it all the time.

63

Driving Fishes Crazy

We know that the lateral line is the place where the nerves of the fish come together. They can sense vibrations with the lateral line. The Salmo Hornet will definitely drive them crazy with the amount of vibration that it emits. I have not actually done any serious fishing with the Salmo Hornet lures due to reasons pertaining to environmental issues and time but what I can see so far is that it is one of those lures that will be catching fish. We will catch some fish with them really soon.

65

What I Like
The Salmo Hornet lures (Crankbaits) are fast divers and are quick to reach the bottom. They also hold a very tight line and can be reeled reasonably fast without issues. They emit strong vibrations underwater (depending on speed). Well, its time to put them through a more serious test. Do stay tuned for the August issue.

67

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69

Introducin
Abu Garcia Revo MGXtreme
By Philemon Foo

The first time I laid hands on the Abu

Garcia Revo MGX, I told myself that I had to have one and I did. It was one of the lightest bait casting reels around then and it was definitely the lightest bait casting reel that I ever had.

Now comes a reel that is better and lighter than the MGX and Abu Garcia calls it the MGXtreme. Looking at the reel and feeling it in my hands I must say that the good guys at Abu Garcia could not have given it a better name.

71

Missing Weight
To make a super efficient, super fast car go even faster what do the engineers do? They remove weight and that is exactly what Ferrari has been doing. While making fishing reels lighter dont really make them move faster, they sure as hell make them sexier and in demand. Thus the Abu Garcia Revo MGXtreme weighs in at only 4.9oz (MGX 5.4oz). Again unlike Ferrari, this feat wasnt achieved by removing unneeded luxuries such as the air-conditioning, floor mats, etc. In fact the MGXtreme has everything that its predecessor has. So where did the missing weight go to?

73

Breaking The Code

Checking out both reels I think I managed to break the code. The magic lies in the bearings. Both reels have 10 bearings (9+1 bearings). The MGX has 9 HPCR (High Performance Corrosion Resistant) stainless steel bearings + 1 roller bearing, while the MGXtreme has 7 HPCR stainless steel bearings, 2 ceramic light spool bearings, + 1 roller bearing. That I believe is the answer.

75

Performance Enhanced
Ceramic bearings have been known to be smoother than normal stainless steel bearings thus the madness of anglers upgrading their bearings to ceramics. While I never got the opportunity to actually fish with the MGXtreme I managed to give it a few cast on dry land and I believe that the ceramic bearings in the spool was the magic. Every casts felt smoother and the distance achieved is better. Abu Garcia made a smart decision to use ceramic bearings at the spool of which really enhances the performance of The MGXtreme and not changing other bearings to ceramics of which would have push the cost up a lot.

77

79

Hot Looker
Fast cars dont just go fast. They look sexy and hot. They make a statement and they lead people to sin by provoking jealousy, instilling envy, and sometimes starting deadly competitions. That too the MGXtreme does. It looks hot and it turns heads. It will leave those who do not have one green with envy with a dash of jealousy, and when you mess with the Joness; you know what you need to do.

81

Thought Provoking
So you have the Revo MGX. Should you also get the Revo MGXtreme? Well, the MGXtreme performs better, looks sexier, is lighter, and is new. So what do you do? Are you the type who will provoke your friends to jealousy, driving them green with envy, and making them wish they didnt meet you today or are you the one who will be provoked by such a friend? That choice I shall leave to you.

83

Features:
10 bearing system 7 stainless steel HPCR bearings + 1 roller bearing 2 additional CeramiLite Spool Bearings provide improved casting performance One piece X-Mag alloy frame Carbon Matrix drag system provides smooth, consistent drag pressure across the entire drag range C6 carbon sideplates provide significant weight reduction without sacrificing strength and durability IVCB-IV (Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake) gives very precise brake adjustments allowing anglers to easily cast a wide variety of baits Infini II spool design for extended castability and extreme loads Compact bent carbon handle provides a more ergonomic design that is extremely lightweight Round EVA knob provides improved grip for improved cranking power Aircraft grade aluminum main gear provides weight reduction without sacrificing durability
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85

Introducin

Ryobi Slam
By Philemon Foo

87

In the world of reel technology, we

have come a long way. There are now all sorts of materials being used and they come with sophisticated technology. It was not long ago when graphite was the main material used for many brands of reels.

While many reel brands are toying around with more sophisticated materials, Ryobi continued to improve on graphite technology.

89

Strong Yet Light Graphite

Graphite bodied reels are known to twist especially nearer the reel foot. Many an angler have dreaded this disadvantage especially when there is a brute at the other end of the line. Ryobi managed to change that. The Ryobi Slam is a lot more rigid and it is lighter than most graphite reels.

91

Try twisting its reel foot and the Slam feels somewhat like a metal bodied reel minus the weight. It doesnt twist nor does it flex. This is important as it gives added confidence while you are in a challenging battle with a brute. However, the rotor area of the reel is not as rigid as the reel foot but even then it is more rigid as compared to most other graphite reels and will not be an issue when fished within limits.

93

Sci-Fi Design
The Slams design is quite extraordinary. With nice air vents in the rotor area and an upsidedown teardrop designed area for the Ryobi logo; the Slam looks somewhat sci-fi. This design definitely reduces the weight of the reel whilst giving it a superb look. The aluminium spool design reminds me of blades on a turbo prop engine. Not sure if they used them to propel spaceships but they look good. Ryobi added some sportiness by placing a layer of carbon fibre under them. The drag knob complements the design well too.

95

97

One other interesting find is the handle arm that looks like a piece from a chess set. I just cannot put my finger on which piece it came from. It looks like it could be a pawn and yet it also could be that of a castle. Pawn or castle it looks simply lovely.

99

The sci-fi design cues continue all the way to the bottom of the reel where the one-way switch sits. It is chrome in color with a sharp triangular piece cut out exposing the reel body beneath.

101

Slamin Performance
Being sci-fi or futuristic in design only pushes me that far. To drive me further it needs to perform well. As such I put it through its pace inside my secret lab. The Ryobi Slam is a smooth reel as with a lot of other modern and good reels these days. This can be felt with the turn of the handle. It is also well balanced with a tiny bit of wobbliness which goes missing once it has lines reeled in and attached to a fishing rod. Drag pressure is almost silky smooth but wait. The smoothness of the reels drag is usually disrupted by pressure; say that of a running fish. I simulated this in my lab, increasing the pressure by increasing the drag force, and stripping line out. This is what I found.

103

The drag remained smooth to about 9lb (4.1kg) of drag and then it deteriorates a little. Too little to be worried about as it is still considered smooth if comparing to many other reels. The smoothness of the drag actually detiororates more at about 11.25lb (5.10 kg or somewhere there) and maxes out at 11.5lb (5.22kg).

105

This means that the Ryobi Slam actually does what it claims to do of which is to enforce a maximum drag pressure of 5kg and it did it with .22kg extra.

My Thoughts
Well, the Ryobi Slam has proven to be a good reel and it definitely is pleasing to my eyes. It performs well (if not I wouldnt have written about it) and it is one tough reel for a graphite bodied reel. Unfortunately I havent had the chance to test it out on a significant fish but so far I like it.

107

What I can say is that if the Slam were to be by another more popular brand, with an increased price tag, but with everything else the same; it will be a record sales breaker just because of the brand. However, good things are happening in Ryobi and they are getting there. So if you are in the market for a good reel and brands dont really matter to you, this reel could very well be your gem.

109

Features:
Sizes: 1000 Ratio 5.1:1 Max Drag 2.5kg Weight 213g Bearings 6 2000 5.1:1 2.5kg 215g 6 3000 5.0:1 5.0kg 247g 6 4000 5.0:1 5.0kg 249g 6

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111

Knowledge Wise
Understanding Fishing Rods Part 2
By Philemon Foo

Last issue we looked at the

anatomy of a fishing rod. In this issue we will go deeper and look at the rod blank of which is the one thing that you will find in every type of rod be it telescopic, casting and spinning rods, or the pole.

113

The Rod Blank

The main part of a fishing rod is the rod blank. The rod blank is the long cylindrical tube or tubes where all the other components are attached to. Rod blanks are made of things such as carbon graphite sheets, fiberglass, bamboo, and nano-Bio-fibers (from carrots). The rod blank comes in various actions and strengths as well as lifting power. The blank can be broken down to basically the tip section of which is the thinnest part and the butt section of which is the thicker section of the rod. Within the blank lies the backbone of the rod. Before other components are attached to the rod, the rod builder will first locate the back bone and with that, fix components around it.

115

There are fibreglass rod blanks and carbon graphite composite rod blanks. Fibreglass rod blanks were the norm many years ago until the birth of the carbon graphite composite blanks. However, fibreglass rod blanks do have a following today. For now let us first look at the fibreglass blanks keeping carbon graphite blanks for future issues. Note: there are also bamboo rod blanks and other specialty rod blanks using various fibres but we will not dwell on them as they are not the norm.

Bamboo designed graphite pole blank.

117

Fibreglass Blanks
Flexible To The Core
Fibreglass blanks are more flexible as compared to carbon graphite composite blanks. Remember a certain advertisement by Shakespeare where the rod was bent into a U? That is the flexibility of fibreglass rods. Needless to say that the thicker the section of the blank is the less flexible they become. Being very flexible, fibreglass rods tend to lack power (tip section recoil also known as slower comeback rate) that helps or rather leverages the fight towards the angler allowing him or her, the benefit of playing the fish with lesser effort without sacrificing the amount of force placed on the fish.

One of the earlier ABU Garcia rods made of fibreglass. This one here is brand new and unused.
119

Another disadvantage of being very flexible is that the angler will need a lot more effort to set the hook. If you are onto a hard jawed fish, setting the hook with a fibreglass rod will be really tough. On the other hand, being very flexible and soft does have some benefit to the angler and that is the ability of the rod to absorb sudden jerks of the fish during the fight giving the angler a more constant feel and control of force.
121

This is what the fibreglass blank looks like.

There is another good thing to having such flexibility. Being flexible and less rigid, fibreglass rods are a lot more difficult to break. That is one of the reasons why fibreglass rods of old can still be found today. I do have some of these rods that are actually older than me. Not all fibreglass rods are soft and very flexible. There are stiffer fibreglass rods as well but when the stiffness goes up, so does the weight.

DAM fibreglass rods, one of Germanys finest.

123

The Weight Factor

Fibreglass rods are also heavier than carbon graphite composite rods with makes it less suitable for certain types of fishing such as lure casting. The other disadvantage is that building longer rods will also mean adding more weight of which would make fishing with it a chore instead of a relaxing sport. Being a heavy weighted rod may not be a problem for bottom fishing as the rod is left in a rod holder most of the time, unless you happen to be one who holds on to the rod with the fishing line touching your finger, but for the lure caster; such weight will be a major disadvantage.

Metal ferrule, once a must for all fibreglass rod joints. As fibreglass easily expands, they were used to maintain the diameter of the blanks to ensure that the rod blanks can be inserted.

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There are anglers who love using fibreglass rods for casting and for good reason too. Despite being heavier than carbon graphite rods, fibreglass rods are softer thus making them great with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, spoons, etc. as it gives them a more natural presentation. Note that carbon graphite composite rods can be made to have such action too thus more anglers move towards them.

Almost clear or rather transparent tip of a fibreglass rod.

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What A Bulk
Fibreglass rods are also bulkier (thicker) as compared to carbon graphite composite rods of the same action and poundage. This makes fibreglass rods less attractive to modern day anglers. Well, fibreglass rods can be made good looking but it is simply us the anglers being used to thinner rods that make them less appealing.

A fibreglass rod blank.

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Easy On The Pocket

One of the most appealing things about fibreglass rods are that they are not expensive and is very affordable. The costs of making such blanks are lower as compared to that of the carbon graphite composite blanks. Whatever the blank preference there is no right or wrong. It is just a preference. Next issue we will step into the world of carbon graphite blanks, something I assume more readers use these days.

Modern day fibreglass rods.

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Skill Enhancers

Fishing With Soft Plastics: Part 1

By Philemon Foo

In the sport of fishing, we

anglers use various types of baits to catch fish. Most use things like meat, dough, innards of certain animals, fish, prawns, squid, etc. Then there are those that use artificial baits such as plastic lures, metal spoons, spinners, metal jigs, feathers, flies, rubber baits, etc. of which are considered a more advanced form of fishing.

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Beginning with this issue we will explore soft plastics also known as soft baits. We will look at how to use them effectively. We will also look at why they are effective at catching fish.

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Bits of History
Contrary to popular believe, soft plastics are not a new thing. In fact they have been around since the 1950s. They were not as refine then as they are today. In days of old, soft plastic lures were indeed quite stiff being made up of hard rubber. They did not have the sexy movements of todays soft plastics. It was only in the 1970s that soft plastic baits started to actually become soft and flexible with tail movements spearheaded by lure manufacturer Mister Twister who patented the curly tail concept. Soft plastic baits have come a long way since utilizing secret formulas of scent, fish food, special plastic compounds, etc. There are also environmental and organic soft baits that will dissolve in water after a certain amount of time such as Berkleys Gulp! soft plastic baits. Pro anglers have been a great help with the developments of soft plastic lures adding in ribs, special movements of appendages, hybrids (mixture of hard and soft components on a lure), etc.
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Types of Soft Plastic Baits

Soft plastic baits are designed to mimic certain types of food that fishes eat. They include grubs, worms, bait fish, lizards, frogs, insects, crawfish, shrimps, etc. There are indeed a lot of varieties to choose from based on designs and colour combinations. There are also scented soft baits like Gulp! by Berkley as well as soft bait of which scent can be added to. You, the angler, are spoilt for choice.

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Grubs
Soft plastic grubs are one of my favourites. I never go fishing without them. I used them for saltwater as well as freshwater fishing. I am not alone. A lot of anglers like them too. What makes them effective at catching fish? Looking at the design of the grub, they have a rounded body of which could be either ribbed or smooth. They also have a tail (some have two) that is either curled or straight with a sexy action.
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Worms
Worms come in various types and sizes. There are the earthworm designs, crawler designs, sea worm, etc. What makes them attractive is their designed and texture. Being elongated they can be manipulated to move in various ways thus creating various more natural looking action.

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Bait Fish
Bait fish comes is a lot of varieties such as minnows, pogy, eel, goby, shad, etc. They also come in numerous sizes and colour. Many of the soft plastic fishes comes with a paddle tail but there are also those that are T tailed or forked tailed as well as curly tails that gives that sexy curly action.

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Lizards
Lizards as the word applies look like lizards. They come in many colours and sizes. They normally come with sexy curly legs (four of them) and a sexy surly tail to attract fish. When in the water the lizards look like they are swimming or struggling and thus fish get attracted to them.

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Frogs
One of the first soft plastic baits that I used is the frog. The one I used then looked very much like a frog and it caught a lot of snakeheads. Soft plastic frogs these days come with curly legs and they work absolutely well too. These soft plastic frogs come in sinking and floating varieties and can be played like live frogs. You can cast them on lily pads, hop them about, drop them is water, etc. I cannot count how many times I had my soft plastic frogs get hit by a snakehead when they drop from the lily pad into the water.

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Crawfish
Crawfish basically mimic the real ones that live in the rivers or lakes. They have pinchers and legs that move about as if to protect them as in the wild. Soft plastic crawfish uses its pinchers to attract fishes as these pinchers move about in the water.

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Shrimps
Shrimps are another type of popular fishing bait. Soft plastic shrimps are also well known to produce various species of fish such as mangrove jacks, groupers, and barramundis. There are other designs such as crabs, mice, fry, salmon eggs, crickets, roaches, bugs, and many more that are proven to catch fish.

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Are Soft Plastics Effective?

Soft plastics are some of the most effective artificial baits ever created. Other than mimicking the movement of live baits, they are soft of which feels a lot more like natural food as compared to hard plastic lures, metal spoons, and jigs. Fish tend to hold on longer to soft plastic baits as compared to hard bodied lures.

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Soft plastics are also effective as they can be rigged weedless and cast into areas where hard lures tend to get stuck in such as weeds, underwater snags and structures, etc. This means that the scope of fishing is wider. Soft plastics also dive faster than deep diving lures and they can reach depths that deep diving lures cannot. This point has been proven many a time as well when hunting for the giant snakeheads (toman).

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A Whole New Game

Many anglers have tried fishing with soft plastic baits and failed to catch fish with them. The reason is because they are not familiar with managing soft plastic baits. Just like hard bodied lures, soft plastic baits have its own methods and techniques of play.

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You cannot walk the dog with soft plastic baits and you cannot have a hard plastic lure sit on a piece or log and hope to catch a fish without movement. In the next issue we will take a look at some techniques of using soft plastic baits. After all it is a totally different sport of fishing and thus makes for the need to learn new things.

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Avillion Port Dickson

By Philemon Foo

Anglers Havens

and an avid angler, we tend to spend most of our time away from the family. We dont do much together during the weekdays as putting food on the table is one of the priorities in life.

As a hardworking economy building person

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Being such a person, I want to spend as much time with my family when I bring them for a holiday and definitely want to enjoy my sport of fishing as well. Thus the resort that I look for is a resort that allows us to have fun spending time together as a family with activities for children and parents, as well as allowing me to do some fun fishing.

View from the balcony at low tide.

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Weekend Escape
Port Dickson, being only an hours drive from the city of Kuala Lumpur is my ideal weekend escape. The drive is easy and before my daughter starts asking one of the worlds most famous travel question, are we there yet? we would be driving beside the beaches of Port Dickson. In this escape we packed some sandcastle building gear, swim wear, sun glasses, electronic devices, my fishing gear, and our cameras, and we headed to Avillion Port Dickson; an award winning resort.

The spa. Children are not allowed within the vicinity.

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Sailing Stable
Avillion Port Dickson has rooms both out at sea and on land (garden). Being an angler I opted for a room out at sea of which is called a water villa. It is like sailing without the need for sea legs. There is need to wobble about deck like an intoxicated drunk while showing off various stances from the Kung Fu flick; The Drunken Master.

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The water villa we stayed in is beautifully designed with an elegant mix of a kampong bungalow and a luxury villa. With big airy space, a king size fourposter bed and a large daybed; I was floating on cloud 8. I reached the 9th cloud when I saw the bathroom.

A bed fit for a king. Nice cozy room.

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I love bathrooms without roofs. They give me a sense of freedom. Dont get me wrong. I am not one of those who would go nude in public but this large bathroom with a roof that leaves a huge space to a beautiful view of the sky and a large opening to the sea below presses all the right buttons.

Open-air shower area. What a way to refresh.

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The water villas are definitely for you if you enjoy relaxing to the sound of waves and the sea breeze. I do but for me, air-conditioning is a must and thus these villas are just right. They come with sea breeze, the waves below, and airconditioning, truly a piece of heaven.

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Artistic Endeavour
Few very exclusive hotels and resorts have an art gallery. The one in Avillion is called Art Space. I do like art although I do not know much about it. What I appreciate is really the ability of the artist to give life to a piece of blank canvas.
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Kids Hangout
There are lots of things to do at Avillion and kids have their own place called the Kids Cabin. My daughter spent a lot of time here and the more time she spent there, the lighter my pockets felt. She did batik painting, sand art, painted a clay coin box, played video games, etc.

Helpful recreation staffs are on hand to help with activities.

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She practically had the entire place to herself during the late afternoon to evening. It was at night, after dinner that all the other kids came here.

Not many kids during the day. Well, its a beach resort. They are out having fun.

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Two Beaches
In the mornings at about 11am, we headed to the beach and spent about two hours there building sandcastles. Well, that is all my daughter wanted to do at the beach. The sea was rough and she couldnt play in it anyway.

Tumasek Beach, a beach to relax at.

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There are two beaches at Avillion Port Dickson. One for relaxing and building sandcastles; the one we frequented called Tumasek Beach. The other beach is called Riau Beach where the water sports or sea sports activities are.

Waterbee; human powered water crafts.

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Swimming Pool
Avillion has three pools that are open 24 hours. The family pool (Village Pool), the kids pool, and an adult only pool (Cochin Pool). Sounds like my kind of pool but nothing much adult happens there. Its just a deeper pool where quietness and tranquillity is respected.

Cochin Pool: adults only pool.

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Anyway, we spent a lot of time at the family pool and the kids pool where there is a waterslide. With a daughter in tow, entertaining her and ensuring her safety is my priority.

Family pool. All pools are open 24 hours.

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191

Messing With Animals

One of the highlights for kids is the animal feeding time that starts at 10am every day. Right after breakfast we made our way to the pet farm. There are rabbits, chickens, peacock (free roaming throughout the resort), and turtles. While my daughter went crazy feeding the animals I was busy shooting them with my camera.

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The peacocks tend to roam about the resort grounds. I saw them at the tennis courts, on the roof top of my villa, at the beach, etc. They are one of the most photographed birds in the resort. Anyone with a camera or a mobile device that has a camera function stood around them eagerly awaiting for it to spread its tail feathers.

This peacock was waiting for me outside my chalet.

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Other Activities
There are other activities that we did not go for and they are kayaking and paddle water crafts called water-bee(s) due to the rough seas brought about by the southwest monsoon. There is also a gym and air-conditioned games room that has two foosball tables and video games.

Waterbee, human powered jetskies and paddle boats.

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Spa
There is a spa at the Avillion Port Dickson that is built out at sea. It is the most relaxing area of the resort. Children are not allowed at the spa area. The spa has an outdoor deck that I will definitely build for my beach estate some day. I am allowed to dream and I am dreaming big.

The lovely deck at the spa. I so want one.

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Photographers Haven
Avillion Port Dickson is a haven for photographers especially if you love macro photography and natural photography. There are lots of flowers, plants, and animals for you to shoot. However, photography in Avillion Port Dickson comes with restrictions.

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Avillion is a place that prefers to protect the privacy of its guests and thus puts some restrictions on photography about its grounds. It is okay to bring along your camera but keep your lenses focused on plants, flowers, and animals, instead of random humans that are unknown to you and without permission.

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Fun For Anglers

Being an angler I brought along some soft baits and some squid for bait. I also borrowed a crab cage to teach my daughter a thing or two about crabbing, something she wanted to do whilst in Australia but we didnt have one while the other crabbers did.

Lots of crabs and they are easily caught on rod & line. We also had a crab cage just for fun.

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During my stay at the Avillion Port Dickson there were two tide changes daily. The water started coming in at about 7am maxing out at about 11am and then again at 7pm and maxing out at about 11pm.

I am onto a fish. Lots of fish too.

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I noticed that the best time to fish is with the tide coming in. We caught a lot more fishes during these times as compared to other times, even the highest tide. Fishing practically slowed down (no rocks or structures that I could cast to from my balcony) during the high tide but the fishes were more significant.

Juvenile fish caught on squid bait.

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We caught a lot of crabs and fishes on rod and lines. I have never caught so many crabs on rod and line before. Most of the crabs actually get hooked in the mouth except for one that got hooked at its claw.

A good size sand crab (also known as flower crab) caught off the balcony. It got hooked in the mouth.
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After a while of fishing at the balcony I decided to stop when I gained too big an audience. I decided then to try fishing from the bathroom.

When I started drawing too much attention at the balcony, I have an alternative fishing spot; the bathroom.
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I have never fished from a bathroom (Kenyir boathouse toilet not counted) and this is surreal. I had my bait in the water while I soak in the tub, took a bath, and when the other guests staying at neighbouring water villas decided to watch me fish.

Lots of little fishes caught on apollo rig. Bathroom fishing aint bad.

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A Resort For All

My family and I had a superb holiday at Avillion Port Dickson of which had loads to offer and if fun. Honestly I could have spent my entire holiday just chilling out in the water villa, fishing from the balcony, the bathroom, and crabbing. However, a holiday is for everyone and thus we all got to do what we like and more importantly we got to spend lots of time together.

Hooked on to another good size crab at the bathroom. This one got hooked at one of its joints.

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Things To Bring
Should you decide to holiday at Avillion Port Dickson the following are things that you should bring. Wet clothing Sandcastle tools (if you like building sandcastles) Hat and sunglasses Suntan lotion Insect repellent (sand flies at the beach) Fishing equipment (rods and reels can be rented)

Another place to relax at, the Steam and Sauna Room.

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luxuries fused with the nostalgic yester-year exquisite chalets and villas Malay fishing village architecture concept.facing

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223

Sporting Fishes

The Indo Pacific Sailfish

By Philemon Foo

The Indo Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)

is one of the game fishes that visit our waters in droves. This fish turned the sleepy little town of Rompin into a game fishing town making it the sailfish capital of Malaysia.

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Need For Speed

The sailfish is the Ferrari of sports fishes. They are one of the fastest swimmers in our waters and making them an exciting opponent that is guaranteed to make reels scream when they run after taking the bait. They are known to hit speeds above 60mph (more than 100kph). Not only are they exciting, they also look great with a bill and beautiful dorsal fin that looks like the sail of a boat that stretches almost the entire back, hence why they are called sailfish.

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Food Wise
Sailfishes feed on a variety of smaller fishes as well as squid. In Malaysian waters they feed on Big eye scad (selar), Indian mackerel (kembong), Crimson jobfish (kerisi), etc. thus making them some of the more sort after baits for sailfish fishing.

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Attacking Prey
Sailfishes paralyze their targeted prey by hitting them with their bill before eating them. This is commonly seen when a group of sailfishes attack a school of baitfish. They would charge toward the school of baitfish and slash at them with their bills. The lucky ones escape unharmed where as the less fortunate are left behind as food.

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Lean Mean Fighting Machine

The sailfish is indeed a lean mean fighting machine. They are seriously muscular and powerful. They are also one of the most acrobatic fishes in our waters often leaping and tail-walking when in fight with an angler. Unfortunately they tend to fight until the point of death from over exhaustion. As such it is highly recommended that they be landed as soon as possible and if taking photos, to make the photo session as short as possible (within 5 seconds). When releasing the sailfish it is best to revive it properly before releasing it to ensure its survival.

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Fishing The Sailfish

They are found in our waters throughout the year but the season begins in the month of August all the way towards the December where their numbers increase. The best time to fish them is between the months of August to end October just before the sea gets to rough and dangerous to play in.

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They are caught out at sea thus a reliable boat with a very knowledgeable boatman is important. Knowing where they congregate is equally important as to the ability to position the boat at the location. Parking the boat right could make or break the fishing trip. The usual way of fishing them is live bait drifting where a live bait fish is allowed to swim out while the angler waits for a sailfish to hit it, take the bait, and run. Other methods of fishing the sailfish are popping, jigging, and trolling.

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Recommended Tackle
What I will be recommending below is a suitable setup for those who are new to sailfish fishing and thus may not be suitable to the old salt. Rods: Boat type, Medium Heavy action, 15-40lb to 20-50lb .wt, 6 to 66 length. Reels: Spinning size 6000 to 7000 Multipliers Size 7000 to 8000 Lines: Main lines Recommended to use braids, 40 to 50lb. Leaders Fluorocarbon, 50lb. Hooks: Circle hooks sizes 5 to 7 (bring along a packet of size 8 just in case) Bring along some Apollo rigs (smallest you can find) for catching baitfish as well as a packet of balloons to keep your bait from swimming to the bottom.

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Note: Sailfishes are dangerous fishes and will cause harm if not handled well. There have been cases where anglers were stabbed by the bill, slapped by its tail, etc. The bill has a lot of tiny little thorns that can injure you. Always wear a glove when handling them. Also refrain from holding them at the thinner section of the bill. For more information on fishing for sailfish or if you would like to book a trip, do contact me (Phil) at phil@theasianangler.com.

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Fishy Tales

Fishing With The Guvnor

Back to Biwako II Tackle Talk
By The Guvnor

After last months article, I had

some enquiries on the tackle for largemouth bass fishing. Though Im certainly no expert on the subject, there are some points that I reckon is worth sharing with the gang back home. Some anglers (including myself) would adopt a one size fits all approach, using any rod and reel combination for any type of lure fishing, mainly due to budget constraints. So the same set would most probably be used for topwater lures, crankbaits and even soft plastics. Although its no grave sin by any means and one would still catch and land those fish but consider this, a rod and reel combination or a series of combinations that are tailor made for a particular method that will give you that extra edge to fish and catch better.

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Initially, I was somewhat curious and found it somewhat odd that the professional bass guides had so many tackle on board. Whats wrong with just a couple? Theyd have different sets for crankbaits, minnows, soft plastics, rubber jigs etc. And dont you dare try to use the wrong combination for the wrong type of lures on their boats! Throughout the years I begin to understand more and more why this is so (ok,ok Im a little slow to learn).

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For example, back in 2006 when I first tried my hand at largemouth bass fishing, I was fitted with a Daiwa Kix spinning reel together with a Jackall Bros Poison rod, a combination that was a joy to use with medium sized jerkbait minnows (such as the TD Minnow), the preferred lure in Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes). But in my first trip to Biwako, in the middle of winter in 2010, we were recommended to use deep crankbaits capable of diving to 4 metres (such as the Tiemco Fat Pepper Plus) to get down to the where the fish are hiding in the weeds. At that time I was using a Shimano Scorpion baitcasting reel, though it was my favourite reel for toman hunting with topwater lures and fine for shallow diving crankbaits, I found it was really hard and heavy to work those large, deep crankbaits. At a ratio of 6.3:1, I was rather surprised that I was struggling throughout the day with that reel. In my recent outing to Biwako with Sham Piman, we roughly had the same conditions. The air and water was still cold and the bass was holding deep in weed cover, so it was another round of deep crankbaits, and this time we were armed with the Megabass Deep X-300 and Imakatsu IK 400. I discussed with Sham about my previous problem and he suggested the Daiwa Crazy Cranker. At a slow ratio of 4.9:1, it had the power to work the crankbait down deep really well.

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So even after a few hours of non-stop fishing, I did not feel at all fatigue with my Daiwa Crazy Cranker set up with a Nories Road Runner Voice rod (designed for crankbaits of course!) I reckoned I could have cast all day with that set up. My set for the rubber jig was a Abu Garcia Revo Elite Power Crank HS-L custom paired with a Nories Road Runner Outback Rod, the high 7.1:1 ratio of the reel was good to pick up slack line fast while the rod, made for rubber jigs, was light and well balanced to slowly and patiently work the rubber jig, the way it should be fished. Even the sensitivity and the responsiveness of the set played a huge role to detect those shy bites.

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Another thing to note was that we were always suggested to use 14 or 16lbs fluorocarbon lines, never braid. I would almost always use braided line for my toman fishing but in Biwako fluorocarbon is the mainline of choice. I suppose one would utilise the fast sinking properties of the fluorocarbon lines to be able to fish deeper. You can refer to Mays issue of TheAsianAngler to know more about fluorocarbon lines. As a summary, a proper set up does make a difference in the long run, sometimes its those small details that matter. Having the right tools for the job means better ergonomics, less fatigue and more time on the water. If youre not too busy resting your tired hands you can concentrate more on catching fish!

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Come catch your first largemouth bass! Summer time till autumn are good fishing periods, the weeds will be taller and you can catch them with surface lures like the ever favourite Megabass Dogx, Lucky Craft Gunnish or Ima Skimmer. Should you be interested, Sham Piman can sort you out for a memorable trip in Biwa and he can be reached at shampiman@gmail.com. Your lures and other tackle item can be sourced from FB: Sham Piman or FB: Guvnors Gear. Till then, tight lines!

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253

Happenings

By Philemon Foo
What would be the one fair

that almost all anglers love to go to? My guess is that it would be an angling fair. The Angling and Outdoor Recreational Fair was recently held at the Shah Alam Convention Centre on the 28th- 30thJune 2013. It drew a very good crowd of visitors, some even coming from as far away as Penang.

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TheAngling & Outdoor Recreational Fairis organised byRod & Line (English), Rod & Line (Chinese) and Pancing fishing magazines. This event is for fishing tackle brands to showcase their products and to let the anglers know of whats new and whats coming.

First speech given by the chief of Life Publishers.

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Let The Fair Begin

With the opening of the doors on day one the crowd rushed into the hall to their favourite booths to collect free gifts. As the gifts were limited, it was the battle of the fastest. After that the crowd kept growing in numbers. Parking spaces at the venue were full and we had to exercise our way to the fair.

En Ridzuan Ghazali, President of PeMM.

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I was invited to the opening and launching of the Angling and Outdoor Recreational Fair that started at about 3.30pm by Rod and Line Magazine. It was a good launch with fishes swimming (flying) about the area and children performing (later). The Angling and Outdoor Recreational Fair was launched with speeches from the top brass of Life Magazine followed by En. Ridzuan Ghazali, the President of Persatuan Memancing Malaysia (Malaysian Fishing Association) also on behalf of Tourism Malaysia.

Remote control floating fishes. Nice too look at.

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He thanked the organizers, the participants, and the visitors for being part of the fair of which is important to make fishing an important sport in Malaysia. It is the aim of the Persatuan Memancing Malaysia to push sport of fishing in to being a recognized sport by the relevant government agencies. Later they were given a blowpipe. Their mission: kill the large balloon that sits on top of all the other balloons. Kill that balloon they did and magical sparkling stuffs fell all the way to the ground. That marked the launching of the Angling and Outdoor Recreational Fair 2013.

The killing of the big balloon.

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Enjoying The Fair

The fair brought about visitors from all over the country and I had the opportunity to meet up with fellow anglers from Penang, Johor, Pahang, etc. most of which I have known for many years. It looked and felt like a gathering of friends.

The chiefs that made this event happen and VIPs.

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Lots To See
There are a lot of new, innovative and fun products on display by fishing tackle companies, outdoor companies, hotels and resorts, distributors of food, etc. Some of the more interesting ones that caught my eye is a beautiful boat by on display by Explorer Marine, remote control fishes that swim in the air, and the many fishing products.

Children putting on a play from The Little Mermaid, if not mistaken.

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Abu Garcias Fortress

Pure Fishing Malaysia showcased some of their new Abu Garcia rods and reels, range of soft baits and lines from Berkley, lines from Spiderwire, and Stren but what interest me most are the new baitcasting reels by Abu Garcia.

Abu Garcias booth displaying new products such as the Revo MGXtreme & Rocket.

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The Abu Garcia Revo Rocket and the Abu Garcia Revo MGXtreme of which is the lightest amongst the lot were on display. I wasnt the only one interested as the reel section of the booth was crowded.

New Abu Garcia reels on display.

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Fuji Workout At Sea Tackle

Visiting the Sea Tackle booth I saw this guy working out his arms with a unique machine made up of weights, fishing line, fishing rod guides, and metal cylinders. While I have no interest in a guys biceps and forearms I wondered what he was doing.

Sea Tackles gym focusing on Fuji guides.

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I walked over to the crowd and suddenly the line broke and one of the weights fell on the ground with a clank. It wasnt my fault. Anyway, fishing lines are not made to be used as cables for an exercise machine.

Workout going on. Fuji Executive from Japan trying to hide the intensity.

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The whole thing turned out to be one of the executives at Fuji showing off the superiority of the new Fuji guides as compared to a competitors guide. He also explained how the dissipating of heat by Fuji guides are important to fishing.

More people participated in the workout. Impressive guides.

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The Perfect Tackle

Megabass is one of the brands that attract me. What I like is their creative and crazy (in a good way) designs that are bold. They take a normal reel and make it great. Heck they even take a great reel and make it greater.

Megabass distributed by Perfect Tackle. Perfect Tackles chief, heading the team.

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Perfect Tackle showcased some of Megabass reels such as the Black Jungle and the lovely Zonda. They also showcased some beautiful Megabass rods, and their well known lures. My pockets are feeling lighter already. These designs make a statement. Use a Megabass reel or rod and you become part of this statement.

Very nice looking Megabass reels.

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A World Of Sure Catch

Surecatch World had on display they range of lures from Zerek and SureBite , accessories by Surecatch, rods by ATC, products by Mustad, reels by Penn, etc.

A good variety of products on display at Surecatch World.

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What caught my attention is this area that sits within the safety of Perspex. When someone spends RM50.00 at Catchbay, they are entitled to try out the Surecatch powerlift. What the participant will need to do to win a Surecatch Alectis light jigging rod is to lift the weight and guess the correct weight.

Fun time for a chance to win a rod at Surecatch World.

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A New Kind Of Bait At Yuen Yang Tackle

Whilst at Surecatch World I met with a friend who recommended me to check out this new bait that is available at Yuen Yang Tackles booth. This new bait is actually a new concept bait called Umpan Gam.

Yuen Yangs chief introducing the Umpan Gam bait to a visitor.

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Umpan Gam basically allows your dough bait to stay on much longer before disintegrating underwater. Another exciting feature of the Umpan Gam is that it can be moulded into different shapes.

Impressive bait that is well worth a try.

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For those who do not know this, Yuen Yang is actually the manufacturers of the famous dough bait called Bomb 286, one of the favourites amongst the bottom angling community.

A good variety of baits for the bottom angler can be found here.

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Hitting The Gs At Sang Lin Tackle

Sang Lin Tackle had Japanese models walking around and that would explain the crowd crowding there. Another reason would be these very impressive rods by GCraft of Japan.

Showing Of those beautiful Quantum reels.

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The Executive Director of GCraft, Toshiya San gave me a demonstration of how tough and powerful his rods are and they indeed are. What is impressive is that they are lightweight and they are tough.

Guvnor going gaga over the GCraft rods.

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Toshiya San later did a demonstration on stage and after the demonstration I overheard volunteers who volunteered to help with the demonstration, say impressive the rods really are.

Me trying to break the GCraft rod. GCraft 1, me 0 (zero).

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Commercial Pond Baits At Siam Fish @ G-Master

One of the brand names taking the commercial freshwater pond anglers by storm is Siam Fish by X-jigger. Siam Fish baits and scents have been making waves with its baits from Thailand.

The new cult of commercial pond fishing.

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Eastern Fishing Tackle

Eastern Fishing Tackle put on an impressive booth too displaying brands such as Awashima, Maguro, Starlit, Varivas, G-Tech, etc. They had on display a variety of lines, rods, lures, etc.

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Season Tackle
Season Tackle too drew a crowd with lucky draws and the Xzoga and Gawas rod range on display. Also on display and for sale are fishing lines and reels the they distribute throughout Asia.

Lucky Draw bringing in the crowd.

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Monster In The House At One Monster Tackle

One Monster Tackle drew a lot of crowd too. They displayed sexy EXO reels by Quantum, tough reels by Fin-nor, lines by P-Line, as well as a whole range of rods.

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One Monster Tackle also had for sale and on display lures by Lucky Craft and Quantum.

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When it comes down to team clothing designs at this fair, One Monster Tackle wins hands down.

One Monster Tackle chief happy with the crowd.

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Fishabiliti Wear
Also at One Monster Tackles booth is a clothing brand that has been making waves in Malaysia called Fishabiliti. Fishabiliti makes clothes using materials that keep you cool under the sun and many others. They are on their way to becoming what Columbia is in America, to anglers here in Asia.

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TCE Tackles
One of the largest booths belongs to TCE Tackles. Displaying as well as selling a large range of products from reels, rods, baits, to accessories used for diving and other water sports; TCE Tackles booth was crowded with lookers and buyers.

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Loon Fatt Enterprise

Loon Fatt, a fishing tackle dealer and distributor setup shop within the fair taking the opportunity to sell some fishing tackles. Anglers to the fair were indeed looking for good bargains and they flocked to booths that gave them the bargains they want.

Lots of fishing items on sales here.

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Lucy Fishing
Another Japanese brand called Gan Craft was at the fair. They showcased their rods and lures as well as huge poppers. These rods are impressive too. They are light and strong, packed with power.

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World Tackle
World Tackle had a booth at the entrance selling fishing products at low prices to anglers. There are combo sets displayed as well as fishing products such as lines, and individual reels and rods.

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The Voice Of Rivers KAGUM

KAGUM or Kelah Action Group Of Malaysia was at the fair too. They are there to create awareness of the importance of our rivers. They also sold clothes and had a lucky draw. In their booth also sat one of Malaysias (and Singapores) more famous fly angler fondly known as Uncle Amin. He was there to demonstrate fly tying methods.

When it comes to cleaning rivers, I dont think anyone has done more than KAGUM.
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PeMM
PeMM or Persatuan Memancing Malaysia or Malaysian Angling Association shared a booth with Tourism Malaysia. This also means that they are gaining better recognition by the government agencies and hopefully will one day have a loud enough voice to break into the stubborn ears of the authorities.

PeMM signing up participants for the Royal Pahang Billfish Challenge 2013.
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A Boat Out Of Water At Explorer Marine

Explorer Marines boat was definitely an attraction. They displayed a Fibrafort Style 205 boat at their booth. As more and more anglers add boating into their fishing lifestyles, boat distributors are becoming more

Nice boat. I want one.

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Fishes On Air
Being an angler, fishes always attracts me. Seeing anemone clown fishes and sharks floating about brought out the inner child in me. These remote controlled fishes (and an Angry Bird character) caught my attention. I walked over to their stand, picked up one of those fishes and had my picture taken. Later I decided to buy one for myself and gave them forced free advertising by having to walk this huge fish from the convention centre to my car which was parked about a kilometre away.

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Garmin GPS
Garmin had their GPS units and fish finders on display. Being one of the more famous GPS brands in Malaysia, they drew a crowd that would like to know more about these products and their use.

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Archery Range
There is an archery range built into the fair as well. A nice addition to have at an angling and outdoor fair. The company that set up this range also had on display some bows and arrows, real killing machines.

Someone brought a bear to the fair.

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Contest
The organizers and sponsors also organised a Winner Takes All contest where visitors to the fair are invited to guess the number of lures placed in a plastic box together with a few rubber balls.

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The many others

There are many other booths for visitors to visit and there is also free coffee (Coffee 888) which tasted really yummy by Syarikat Thong Guan Trading. This years participants list: Land Rover Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Bank Rakyat, Amnekay Teknik Sdn. Bhd., TCE Tackles Sdn. Bhd., Yes Fishing, Supratechnic (M) Sdn. Bhd., One Monster Tackle and Mighty Ventures, Abu Garcia (Pure Fishing), Sea Tackle, Loon Fatt Enterprise...

Land Rovers on display. One of their salesman told me that the green one of the right cost RM500,000. I think he ate too much nuts.

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Sunplay, Umpan Ulong Power Original, Yuen Yang Tackle Enterprise, Syarikat Thong Guan Trading Sdn. Bhd., Siam Fish @ G-Masters, Kickers, Eastern Fishing Tackle Malaysia Sdn Bhd., Kelah Action Group of Malaysia (KAGUM), Edaran Marine Centre Sdn. Bhd., Huskey Specialty Lubricants sdn. Bhd., Sang Ling Tackle, Surecatch World, The Season Tackle Sdn. Bhd., Universal Fitness and Leisure Sdn. Bhd. (UFL), Perfect Fishing (Megabass), Lucy Fishing Koubou,

GCraft models from Japan. Impressive.... rods I meant.

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Gameswear Trading, A Famosa Resort, Radii, Shinobe (M) Sdn. Bhd., JS Cycle Supply Sdn. Bhd., Astro, LA Sports Coporation Sdn. Bhd., Corezone, Glenmarie Cove Development Sdn. Bhd., Hotel Seri Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Garmin. Well, it was a good fair. Unfortunately a few big names were missing being Shimano, Daiwa, and Rapala. Hopefully we get to see them in the future fair.

Syarikat Thong Guan Trading giving out free coffee (brand 888). Really good coffee.

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BP18 - 396 Rue de la Prcision - 74970 Marignier - France

SURFACE

SUPER SHALLOW

SHALLOW-DIVER

MEDIUM-DIVER

DEEP-DIVER

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Contest Time

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations: Winners Of The Abu Garcia Logo Hunt

They have participated, they have hunted, and now they are winners. They hunted for 37 missing logos. Who are they? Ismail Abdullah - found 37 logos Mohd Shaiful Bin Haji Md Fuzi - found 36 logos Nik Amir Syazwan Bin Nik Azmi - found 35 logos Zulkifli Bin Jamaludin - found 35 logos Mohtar Bin Sabdin - found 30 logos All five winners wins a goodie bag of:

LOGO HUNT WINNERS

1) Premium Decals 2) Berkley Fishing line 3) Abu Garcia lure box 4) Abu Garcia lures/Berkley softbait 5) Abu Garcia cap 6) Accessories

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Fishin-Tech

Fly Tyer Free

By Philemon Foo
Step by Step Fly Tying Patterns
nity thus far and this will be our first. The reason that we have not done so is because we are not familiar enough with fly fishing. Anyhow, we are working on getting more coverage for our fly fishing community. Well, now you can tie your own flies anywhere you are. All you need to do is to download this application on your Iphone or Ipad and you have a fly tying guide book in your pocket.

We have not done articles for the fly fishing commu-

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Fly Tyer
For fly anglers and anglers wanting to take up fly fishing, being able to tie your own flies is a large part of the fly fishing lifestyle. Most fly anglers I know tie their own flies and some of these flies are really works of art.

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Fly Tyer is an app that helps fly anglers learn how to tie flies. If you are into fly fishing you may find this application useful.

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Fly Tyer shows you how to tie a few basic fly patterns in various categories including dry flies, wet flies, nymph, streamers, etc. Many of these flies are applicable in our waters.

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Fly Tyer offers you a comprehensive step by step guide on tying flies beginning with the items you will need, followed by how to tie the flies.

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I am an amateur to fly fishing and I do find this application interesting. If you are like me then this will be a good application to download and refer to.

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PRODUCT FEATURE (July 2013)

STREN SUPER KNOT Stronger knots for a better fishing experience Whether youre tying a double clinch or your own special knot, Stren Super Knot self-lubricating formula virtually eliminates breakage and knot failure. Super Knot is the rst self-lubricating mono ever invented and it is designed to tie stronger, easier knots that are built to take abuse and keep the pressure on big sh. Most line breaks occur at the knot, Stren Super Knot is designed to reduce, if not totally eliminate knot breakage.

STREN MAGNATHIN Amazingly thin, astonishingly strong Natural lure action and low visibility are two features that position Stren Magnathin as a top choice for clear water or line-wary game sh. Yet the de ning feature of this remarkable line is its exceptional strength-to-diameter ratio. Anglers can drop down a size or two without sacri cing strength. When strength, thin diameter and casting accuracy count, knowledgable anglers count on Stren Magnathin.

For Enquiries please call Pure Fishing : 03 5032 9288

For Enquiries please call Pure Fishing : 03 5032 9288

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Ofmer Propop Poppers

Ofmer Propop Poppers are easy to use, effctive and have been proven to catch fish. Featuring an enlarge cup that pops really well attracting predator fishes from nearby to investigate. Do get try them out. For more information on the Ofmer Propop Poppers do drop us a line at: Sea Tackle. Tel: 03-7875 9888

Ofmer Bad Dog Lures

Ofmer Bad Dog lures are great value for money lures. They walk well like other more expensive lure. Made of high quality material, the Bad Dog lures are a must have in your tackle box Do get try them out. For more information on the Ofmer Bad Dog lures do drop us a line at: Sea Tackle. Tel: 03-7875 9888

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Hemingway Elite 6000

Hemingway Elite 6000 is the next generation of high performance, high-value spinning reels designed for the serious fisherman. Featuring 6 ball bearings and designed with Hemingways strong Infinite Anti-Reverse and ultra-smooth drag, the Elite can handle species of all types with ease on a powerful gear ratio of 5.2:1. The lightweight graphite body makes the Elite one of the most comfortable spinning reels and is well suited for many types of saltwater fishing. Only 6000 Size available. Line Capacity (mm/m) 0.40/285. 0.45/245. 0.50/210.

MORIGEN 809 BEAK HOOKS

Morigen 809 Beak hooks are mean bait hooks, featuring a totally unique offset, super-sharp forged point for merciless instant hookup. XX strong and corrosion resistant black chrome finish, Morigens strength and lethal sharpness outlive any other carbon hooks in the market. Come in sizes suited for both freshwater and saltwater application. Crafted in Japan. Sizes: #12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0, 7/0, 8/0.

No.8/0

No.7/0

No.6/0

No.5/0

No.4/0

No.3/0

No.2/0

No.1/0

No.1

For Enquiries please call MGFA : 07 8619 289

For Enquiries please call MGFA : 07 8619 289

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Salmo EXECUTOR
Executor is a classic, beautiful shape and unique action lure which is a must in every anglers arsenal. Well proven on all types of saltwater and freshwater fisheries from small streams to large lakes and reservoirs. The Salmo Executor has landed Gold Orange Shinner (GOS)

Green Tiger (GT) On Left (SDR) On right (SR) Colours Available: Pearl Blue (PB)

Dace (D) Red Hot Perch (RHP) For Enquiries please call MGFA : 07 8619 289
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Advertorials
Viper VenomII Xtreme
Viper Venom II Xtreme is built tough with high impact resistant graphite for the demanding anglers in demanding situation. The Xtreme series boasts outstanding strength, sensitivity and strong hook setting power. With a strong backbone, the Xtreme takes on the freshwater arena and light coastal saltwater fishing with no mercy.

Model Available: Spinning: VVXT562MHS Line Wt: 6-15lb Lure Wt: 4-16gm VVXT602MHS Line Wt: 8-17lb Lure Wt: 5-21gm VVXT662MHS Line Wt: 10-25lb Lure Wt: 8-30gm VVXT702MHS Line Wt: 12-30lb Lure Wt: 8-38gm Casting: VVXT562MHB Line Wt: 8-17lb Lure Wt: 5-21gm VVXT602MHB Line Wt: 10-20lb lure Wt: 7-28gm VVXT632MHB Line Wt: 10-30lb Lure Wt: 8-38gm Jigging: VVXT631MHSJ PE#1-3 Jig Wt: 40-150gm Best Drag: 4kg VVXT632MHSJ PE#1-3 Jig Wt: 40-150gm Best Drag: 4kg
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For Enquiries please call MGFA : 07 8619 289

365

Classified Pages
Custom Rod Builder & Reel and rod repairs
Call: Kok Ming Mobile:+6019 3122697
THOMAS STROKER HAND CRAFTED RODS
Est. Since 1976
For more information please contact:

For Affordable Advertising Spaces Contact Us At phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628
Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628. Affordable Ad Space Available here. For More Information Please Email: phil@theasianangler.com or call +6012 883 1628.

Thomas Lee (Rod Builder) Mobile: +6019 725 1340

Main Shop: 531A, Jalan Persisiran Perlin 1, Taman Perling, 81200 Johor Bahru, Tel: +607 230 9531 Email: thomaslee@jdartac,com Website: http://www.thomas-stroker.com

The Asian Angler Needs You

Entrepreneur Inside Self Starter Willing To Learn Loves Being On The Road Loves To Fish If you have the above five points do email your resume to the email address below.

Want To Do Something Good For Our Fishing Community?

Loves To Fish Loves Playing With Fishing Gears Somewhat An Engineer Enjoys Writing Advanced Angler Email: phil@theasianangler.com Tel : +6012 883 1628

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