TASIK PUCHONG PRIMA – 3 OCT 2016
It’s a long weekend and the whole team is out fishing. I decided to return back to Tasik Puchong Prima (prima) where it is known for Peacock Bass (PB) and Snakeheads (Toman) breeding ground. Trophy pictures been flying around showing fish is back in action really making my hands itch and it’s time to find the cure for it.
RECONNAISSANCE
Constant monitoring and observing other friend’s catch report at Tasik Puchong Prima has been my daily routine since I got to know that the PB is back in action. We did check with Jep, the rental boat operator about its progress and according to him the PB now is on heat. Hearing from him plus all the photos really making me excited and anxious to go out and renew my PB licence.
The past one year, Tasik Puchong Prima’s catch rate has been slow due to the abundance of bait-fish and the unpredictable weather. Luckily, this year. They are back and starting to show signs of recovery. The feeding frenzy period is between early morning and late afternoon. Jep did mentioned that the strong wind can disrupt the top water action and reminded us to use different types of lures at different time of the day / condition.
Ultra-light to medium setup equipped with variation of spin-fly, top water lures and soft plastic is the ideal arsenal for PB at Tasik Puchong Prima. Not to forget, There are Toman lurking around Tasik Puchong Prima too. Must be prepared in case if we see them rising up to the surface. To go around the lake, rental boat is available by the jetty or you can bring your own boat or kayak to fish around. The size of the lake is not that big hence it is easy to move around from one spot to another. Don’t forget your life jacket, safety first. You’ll never know when the unwanted happens
SPIN FLY / FEATHER TYING
Spin fly technique is the most effective way in catching PB. They somehow couldn’t resist the illusive movement of the fly lure. In fact if you have lures with hooks with feathers on, you have higher chance to catch them.
Knowing that is one of the tricks to catch PB. I went crazy over this. Searched the net on the design and started tying. To tie the fly lure/hooks, the essential equipment needed is the fly tying vise,bobbin tool and bunch of fur/flash.
Still new with fly tying, I try to be creative by tying crystal flash and fur on a 10gm white colored jighead. Made a couple of designs with different colors just to try out at Prima
THE HUNTING BEGINS
Excited, anxious and wondering whats the action going to be. I teamed up with Dr. Yan, Gerrard and Sandeep for this trip. With high hopes and anticipation of good day fishing, we met Jep by the jetty and started fishing around 7am. Onboard with me is Sandeep who is a new comer to Tasik Prima and new to PB fishing.
Close by to the jetty there is a lot of surface action going on. We quickly head to the spot and we have our trusty lures on but somehow nothing seems to bite. Probably those fish just trying to tease us. It is still early and the hunt continues. We continue to look out for top water action. This time I had my custom tied jighead on just to test if it works.
With a lot of action going on, I felt a light and subtle bite and started to reel in. A juvenile PB that’s what is it. Manage to bring it close to the boat and as the PB make its aerial show it manage to escape.
By late morning, the PB seems to disappear from the surface. Me and Sandeep non-stop casting and trying on every single spot that we know but sadly not even a nibble being felt.
I recalled another spot where I got my first PB during my last visit. We head across the lake and start casting our lures towards the banks.
There is a land fill activity close by the banks and the place is a bit noisy but most of the people who visit Prima will surely get a piece or two over at this spot.
I have my popper on while Sandeep is testing on his crankbait just to see if there is good action going on. Not very far from us is Dr. Yan and Gerrard casting. Zero catch from them still, after a short chat on where is the next spot we continued casting.
As the wind starts to slow down and more surface action can be seen. After my second cast towards the banks, Boom! something took my popper but it was not a clean hook up. I made a little twitch and again it strikes and my popper is nowhere out of sight. In my mind was like “okay, here we go. Finally a PB.!” but looking at the splash and the mad runs it made doesn’t feel it is a PB. Realizing i’m using a stock treble on the popper, I gently reel in and guess what.. It’s a Toman.!
What an awesome trophy, The fish is safely carried onboard, a few pictures, revived and released back into the water. The sun is blazing as we reach the end of morning session. All of us decided to retreat back to the jetty
SECOND HALF ACTION
A good place to rest and to exchange stories, that is what we need. With lush trees growing around the Tasik Puchong Prima jetty, we set up our hammocks to rest and wait for the blazing sun to ease off before we head out again. Lucky there’s a mixed rice stall close to the jetty. Sandeep took the duty of buying us lunch while the rest is setting up the hammock. Lunch is served, stomach is full, quick snooze just to kill off the aching hand after that countless cast made in the morning session and we are all set to go out again. Sadly Gerrard had to take off and Anep decided to join us for the second half of the day. We continue resting while waiting Anep to arrive. Me and Sandeep decide to head out first to explore the far end of Tasik Puchong Prima. Since morning action was very slow with only one Toman and couple of juvenile PB, both of us had our spin fly lure. The “confirm” lure.
The second half of the day, I decided to play more of “the boatman” role. Giving way for Sandeep. We head out to a place used to be water sports center at Tasik Puchong Prima. Spin fly all the way, we cast every corner to try out. Since the wind is still strong, we continue casting towards the banks for PB. As we move far away from the spot. Sandeep manage to hook on to an average sized PB. Big smile can be seen on his face when he landed the fish. After one shot with this catch and the PB is released back into the wild. A sign of relief.! phewwh.!!~
Meanwhile on board the other boat. Dr, Yan teamed up with Anep exploring spots that is close by to the jetty. Not new to Tasik Puchong Prima, they are familiar with the tricks and trades needed when fishing on these waters. First one to hooked on a PB is Dr. Yan. Few cast and twitches of the soft plastic really made the PB go crazy. It is fun to fish PB, especially when you are using light tackle. Using his trusty light setup. the action took quite a while before the fish is safely landed on board.
It seems that more action going on for Dr. Yan and Anep. Anep had his piece of PB after Dr. Yan had his. This time the PB had fallen for a sinking pencil which being twitched right at the bottom. Easy pleasy for Anep. The fish is safely landed on the boat, one trophy picture and safely released back.
It’s a quiet start of second half for me and Sandeep, the wind is not on our side. With a little action, we stroll around Tasik Puchong Prima exploring the far end just to see if there any action going on. With the hot sun blazing, we decided to take shelter by bushes on the side of the lake. While waiting for the wind, blind casting is the best thing to do. This gives us some time to check on our setup just to be sure that all is in good condition. Suddenly, the PB is back again. Though the water is a bit choppy, they still come up to the surface to play. We cast our spin fly out but sadly none is biting.The wind has slowed down, so we head back to the spot where I caught a Toman earlier.
The casting continues, a different technique being used. Few cast towards the bank and slowly retrieve the fly lure with a few gentle twitches and off the PB goes. It snatched the lure and head back into the structure on the bottom of the lake. By quickly retrieving, keeping the line tight and slowly bringing the fish away from the structures will reduce the risk of the fish escaping. It made an aerial show before decided to surrender. One quick snap of trophy picture, the fish revived and released back. PB licence renewed.!
As the sun starts to set, the hunt is still on. After the second catch I decided to let Sandeep to do most of the casting. Late afternoon, by the banks I saw the construction worker started to fishing by the banks. Common bait used is live prawn, bread or fish for the PB. What a stunning view.
It’s getting dark and we decided to call it a day. We head back to the jetty and start to unload the boat and head home. Overall it was a good outing. First time handling the boat for me, Sandeep caught his first PB and many2 actions for Dr. Yan and Anep. We hope the PB and Toman feeding frenzy stays through out the year for every angler to experience the Tasik Puchong Prima PB adventure.
