COARSE FISHING MALAYSIA

Coarse Fishing Malaysia, Feeder Method – 31 DEC 2017

Happy New Year! I appreciate all the support and love through out 2017 and hopefully we will reach new heights in 2018. It is a long holiday at the end of 2017. I manage to spend some good quality fishing time with Tengku Izzuddin aka Guvnor who gives a quick tour of Coarse Fishing. I’ve read his fishing report few years ago in Sirip, when he was competing in a Match Fishing World Championship… Correct me if I’m wrong.. So, Coarse Fishing is a really big thing in UK & Ireland. I think even around Europe. It has it’s own specialized gears and outfits. Coarse Fishing stands on its own, and associated somehow with Carp Fishing craze that are trending for years across Europe. The first impression that I had was 3-4 long fishing rods, with electronic bite detection alarm, tents, ground-bait, specialized rigs and tools. Finally, let us not forget the chair overseeing a lake or river. Looks so relaxing.. but I have to be honest after the quick tour that I had. It was not what I expected. Before I start babbling more about Coarse Fishing. I think it will be nice to know some background of this fishing technique. I’ve taken the liberty to copy whats on Wikipedia.

Coarse fishing is a term used in the United Kingdom and Ireland for angling for coarse fish. Coarse fish are freshwater fish that are distinguished from game fish. Freshwater game fish are all salmonids – most particularly salmon, trout and char – so generally coarse fish are freshwater fish that are not salmonids. There is disagreement over whether grayling should be classified as a game fish or a coarse fish. Fly fishing is the technique usually used for freshwater game fishing, while other angling techniques are usually used for coarse fishing. The sport of coarse fishing and the techniques it uses are particularly popular in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, and as well as in some former British Commonwealth countries and among British expatriates.

The distinction between coarse fish and game fish has no taxonomic basis. It originated in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century. Prior to that time, recreational fishing was a sport of the gentry, who angled for salmon and trout and called them game fish. There was a view that other fish did not make as good eating, and they were disdained as coarse fish. Coarse fish have scales that are generally larger than the scales of game fish  and they tend to inhabit warmer and stiller waters.

If we take that context here in Malaysia. Species like Sebarau, Hampala Barb can be categorized as Malaysia game fish while other barb species are coarse fish. Still I think it is not an accurate statement as the distinctive segregation between coarse fish and game fish has no taxonomic bases. Coarse fishing even without the professional appearance and approach has long exist in Malaysia. Fishing with similar bait, technique and approach. I think “local” coarse fishing is more towards tackling the right “scent” or “rig”. After a quick tour with Guvnor, I think now I can differentiate between “local” and professional Coarse Fishing.

Pure Efficiency in Fishing

I think overall, Professional Coarse Fisherman would instill efficiency in their fishing. Its not what I had in mind like waiting for any fish to take up our ground bait. Your fishing operation has to be efficient. Literally you would have a Table right next to you. On top of that table you would have different type of bait. Today, Guvnor had some corn kernel, ground bait (wet and dry) and some bread. Fishing tools are also placed on that table and within your arm length. Then came the distinctive chair. Underneath it is actually your tackle box. its about 2-3ft high and has multiple compartment. In front of you, two dedicated pole to hold you fishing rod and another one your landing net. Everything is within arms length. The fundamental idea is, if the fishing time is about 5 hours, then you need to be able to ensure your line will be in the water as maximum time possible within that 5 hours.

Feeder Method

There are more than one technique in Coarse Fishing. Today, Guvnor would focus only on Feeder Method. The small and weighted cylindrical fishing tool, with mesh body made of either iron or plastic is called a Feeder. Obviously the tool helps us plant the ground bait at a desired single location in the pond. Coarse Fishing methodology emphasis fishing in a single location. We started off with our fishing at 40m, meaning to say that after our first cast with ground bait, we will aim our second at the same spot. Piling up more ground bait and bait at the single area.  This will concentrate the fish in one area and will try to get those fish pick our bait that has a fishing hook.

We use two different bait, ground bait from Matsumoto and mixed with some corn kernel. Ground bait some how attract the fish closer to our bait location and the corn will eventually been picked up by our target coarse fish. Its a good approach, congregating all the fish in one location and that will be the prime fishing spot.

Guvnor made his first cast and officially we will start fishing. I noticed he always timed his bait as soon as it reaches the bottom. Basically with the bait that we have at the end of the line, it doesn’t take long for the fish to take it. After three minute, he reel it in and start with new bait. Constant feeding process until finally we had our first fish. A Silver Barb.

Along the way we did change our approach a little bit. The fish stopped feeding for some time and we change our main bait from corn to bread bits. Coarse Fishing has a dedicated tool to punch and mold a bread into small bite size bait. As we use bread and the bait sinks slower than corn. The fish pick it up mid water and we had couple of Silver Barb easily. Soon it slowed down completely but there were still miss bite on the line. We continue on fishing and finally we landed 2 common carp. Finally it picked up our corn bait. As soon as we see the fishes mouth, it was badly deformed. Not sure why, but that explains it took a bit longer for the fish to properly pick it up. We also conclude when there is bigger fish around, this silver barb just went away into different spot. Coarse Fishing teaches you how to read this small indicators when you are out fishing. So that you can adapt to the changes with some good approach.

12.00pm sharp we ended our first coarse fishing session with Guvnor. I had learn so much from this outing, especially it helps me to understand more about coarse fishing. We had our holding net on the ground and it was fun to see that we actually caught a lot of fish today. Thank you to Guvnor who spend his day teaching about coarse fishing. Some it added a new perspective for me and teaches me new knowledge that day. Can’t wait to experience more maybe this time fishing with float.