Month: May 2020

Getting the msg heading to Perak – Chapter 1

Posted on by madzimbo_admin

Chapter 1 – preparation heading to  air Kuning, Perak

It’s Christmas eve 2016, my phone is going crazy WhatsApp msg after msg. D is asking if I want to go with him up to Perak to some of the old tin mines to hunt for Peacock Bass and Giant snakehead on the 26th of December. Naturally, this is not normally an issue but, on this occasion, it was a bit more difficult as we had only just arrived in Malaysia in September of 2016. I had to go find all my fishing gear in one of the boxes in storage. Also, as we had bought a wreck of a house in Seputeh that we were about to start renovating. If you would like to know more on that go check out lilangelness.com you can see it under project 65.

Back to the Fishing. D is Malaysian and a well-grounded down to earth guy, who loves his outdoor activities and is always up for a fish. The only thing with D he is a more spur of the moment type of guy but never the less I agreed and took him up on his offer to go to Air Kuning in Perak, Let’s face it the last time I fished in Malaysia I got beaten by the Lake, so with that in mind I decided that I was going to make amends and get my first Peacock Bass.

I couldn’t get much information on where we were fishing as Perak is full of old disused tin mines so I decided I wasn’t going to overthink it this time; I would just wait and see. I kept my tackle selection simple; Rod one a Shimano light action rod paired with a Shimano Scorpion 71hg, spooled up with 10lb Spider wire braid; Rod two was a Shimano medium action rod paired with a Shimano Chronarch Ci4+ 151hg, spooled up with 30lb Spider wire braid; Rod three a Shimano medium-heavy action rod paired with a Shimano Chronarch Ci4+ 151hg, spooled with 40lb Spider wire. Lure wise I kept that simple learning from my experience at Tasik Prima I decided to fish to my strengths, surface lures, shallow runners, deep divers, a whole lot of Spinnerbaits and some 3-inch grubs as trailers for the Spinnerbaits. With my fishing tackle sorted into a backpack bag, I just had to sort out a bag as we were staying over for two nights.

Christmas came and it being our first here in Malaysia we had an absolutely fantastic time with family and eating more than we should. This was an exceptionally special Christmas for us as in previous years we would just have it amongst the four of us unless family came out to spend it with us; so even though it that was nice it also felt lonely and that’s not what Christmas is about.

The 26th was upon me but instead of waking up with the sparrows, I was able to get up at my normal time of 07:00. I only had to get to D’s house at 11 am. This was all very new to me as normally I would be up before the sparrows heading off to fish but this is what fishing is about just taking it leisurely. It didn’t take long for the time to pass by and before I knew it, I was packed and heading to D’s house.

When I arrived at D’s house, I had to unpack my vehicle and put my gear into his 4×4. We grabbed one of his roof topper boats and loaded it onto the roof of his 4×4, locked it down, put a little 5hp mercury outboard in the back with the trolling motor loaded up the battery for it. We were set and ready to go on our three and a half-hour journey.

 

Chapter 2 – Air Kuning

Tasik Prima, City fishing KL – Chapter 2

Posted on by madzimbo_admin

TASIK PRIMA, CITY FISHING KL 

Chapter 2 – Day of fishing and conclusion

The day has finally arrived to go to Tasik Prima, city fishing KL, and it was 05:00 a.m. I am up and ready to try do battle with Tasik Prima to catch my first Peacock Bass. The guide arrived at my in laws house to collect me at 06:30 a.m. I very quietly headed downstairs to where my fishing tackle were by the front door. With a quick check of my fishing gear, the reels were on rods, line run through the rod eyes, line tied off to rod eye were ready to be tackled up. Before leaving I had time for a quick cup of coffee.  Ah just can’t beat a nice cup of coffee in the morning.

As the guide pulled up outside the gate, I carried my tackle to his car and we exchanged the normal pleasantries. I loaded up the car and we set off to Tasik Prima. Sitting in the front seat of his car, we chatted for a bit but could not help wonder at the back of my mind what this place was going to be like as I had only seen it on google maps. Thoughts raced through my mind on whether I would catch my first ever Peacock Bass today and what I should use first. Before long, we arrived at our destination but it was still dark outside and the grass was damp and through the trees I saw Tasik Prima’s water, it was like glass with the reflection of lights shining off the water from nearby buildings, birds were chirping, sounds of insects and the odd frog croaking away. With my Rods and Plano trays in hand, I made my way down to the little make shift jetty and saw the boat that we were going to be using. It was basic and small but it’ll do just fine to get the job done or so I had hoped.

As the sun started to break and lift the night shadows, I started to see more of Tasik Prima. Fish were rising in the distance, and the guide shouted, “Frenzy! Frenzy!, Come we go!”. Surface lure tied on I opted for a small prop bait to imitate the bait and the fish attacked. On the other rod I tied on a zoom super fluke. As we approached where the fish were boiling the guide killed the motor but the boil up or frenzy as it’s called here had stopped. Nope its moved so we move and as the guide fired up the little 5hp motor the frenzy stopped again. I soon noticed there was no trolling motor on the boat. It quickly became clear to me that the fish had quickly learned the sound of an outboard motor.

We opted to sit quietly to wait and see, the frenzy started up again and with my rod in hand, brakes reduced on my spool and spool tensioner slacked off, I made my first cast. Bugger 30m short of the target but I work the little prop bait back to the boat but nothing. I cast again, and again it was short of its target area. I reel in not bothering to work the bait back the boat, then pick up the medium light action rod with the zoom super fluke on, adjust the reel for the cast and out the fluke flies, boom right on target. I am twitching the fluke back making it skip and dance on the surface like a fleeing bait fish, bang a small peacock hits it but hasn’t taken it fully so I keep working the fluke back to the boat to see three small Peacock Bass following it. Cast after cast the same thing happened, I knew the Zoom super fluke was too big but I was hoping a bigger one would find it appealing enough but nothing happened. I took the fluke off and tried using a Rapala, then a jerk bait but still no luck.

As the sun rose higher in the sky the fish started to head deeper. I was told we are going to move and I should tie on a jig so I did. We worked the weed line and I used spinner baits, a jig but nothing, not even a little tap tap. Tasik Prima was playing hard and wasn’t going to let me get a fish easily. Higher the sun rose the hotter it was getting and it was already 11:00 a.m. 100 plus in hand, I replenished and re-hydrated from the sweat pouring off my forehead, my shirt drenched with sweat but still no fish. The wind started to pick up much to my relief and in the distance, dark clouds were forming and heading our way, so I figure we had a couple of hours to fish before the storm hits. I pushed on and still no fish, I know they were there but I just could not get them to bite, and eventually we called it a day as the rain started to fall, I cooled down with a sigh of relief.

Tasik Prima, city fishing KL had won this time but I will master it one day.

 

CONCLUSION 

I was unsuccessful my first-time fishing in Malaysia at Tasik Prima, city fishing KL, as this was due to fishing a heavily pressured body of water, guys on the banks fishing and boats all over. But I made a fundamental mistake when I had taken the wrong rods as I should have used a light action or an ultra-light action rod, as that would have enabled me to cast the light lures further than using the rod selection I took with me. I should have used a drop shot or a small Carolina rig but I never brought any with me. Some days fishing you get it right, some days you don’t, but those days that you don’t get it right are days not a wasted, as you are learning to make yourself a more better-rounded angler.

D.J.B.

 

Tasik Prima, City fishing KL – Chapter 1

Posted on by madzimbo_admin

TASIK PRIMA, CITY FISHING KL 

Chapter 1 – preparation and arriving in Kuala Lumpur

Before arriving in Malaysia, I had booked my fishing trip with a local guide, who had given me some advice on what to bring beforehand. Tasik Prima is an old mine and not a huge place, but it does receive a lot of fishing pressure. With this information and help of google maps, I did some research on Tasik Prima and I knew I was going to have to fish finesse.

It was July 2015 and I finally managed to return to Malaysia since my last visit end of 2008 when my wife and I got married in early 2009. This time I was back on a mission and brought with me some of my fishing gear as I had learnt that Malaysia has Peacock Bass and I don’t have to travel far to hunt for them as they live right in the city of KL. Well, to be exact they can be found in Puchong.

 

I packed a medium action Shimano rod and I paired this rod with a Shimano Curado 151hg reel. Next up was a medium-light action Shimano rod with a Shimano Curado 51hg reel. Both reels were spooled with 10lb fluorocarbon line. Lure wise I had to keep my selection low due to flights and transporting them. I packed 2 Plano 3700 trays. Tray 1 had some small Rapala jerk baits and shallow runners with a small selection surface lure. Tray 2 I took some small Rapala deep divers, jerk baits, and spinnerbaits. Last to pack was a few packets of Zoom super Flukes. My lure selection was based on trying to match the hatch before I got there, but by using the information I’ve obtained from the internet and the local guide.

 

Arriving in Malaysia with a bit of my fishing gear was a breeze as nothing was broken and nothing missing. I must admit that I was relieved because there would be nothing worse than getting off a plane to find a rod had broken during the flight or your bag with your lures and reels were missing. After being collected at KLIA by my wife’s parents we headed to their house. Oh, how great it was to be back in Malaysia again feeling the heat hit you the second you walk out the aircond airport was like walking into a wall of heat, which felt fantastic. My eldest daughter was not so convinced with this sudden change in weather and a bit shocked at feeling the heat hit her as she walked out of the airport.

 

My fishing trip to Tasik Prima was scheduled for the second week of our stay in Malaysia, so we spent the first week back in Malaysia visiting friends and family and enjoying all the glorious Malaysian food. Malaysia is such a diverse multi-cultural melting pot and the biggest benefit is Malaysian food, which I have to say is out of this world. If you haven’t tried it you got to try it but be warned once you have tried it there is no going back.

 

As the days went by and my fishing trip was nearing, I asked my brother in law if he wouldn’t mind taking me to Kepong Tackle. Now, Kepong Tackle is probably the largest tackle store in Klang Valley. They have you covered from entry-level fishing gear up to high-end gear. So naturally, as any fishing enthusiast would, I had to go and have a see and I was not left disappointed. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to help. The great thing about Kepong Tackle is their pricing, which is decent and fair. I did not buy much but I got a few bits and pieces that I thought I could use at Tasik Prima.  Needless to say, I spent a good 4 hours in the shop looking at all the different tackle they sell.

Chapter 2 – Day of Fishing

 

 

Introduction

Posted on by madzimbo_admin

hello and welcome

Hello and welcome, and thank you for coming by and having a look at my site and finding your way to my blog. Well, that’s me the Mad Zimbo Angler. 

A little about how I came up with the name Mad Zimbo Angler. Well, it’s kinda easy. I always got told I am mad, not angry mad but more sometimes crazy mad. Zimbo is short for Zimbabwean and angler well I love my fishing and hey presto the Mad Zimbo Angler was born.

I am in my late 30’s now. I am married to a very loving and supportive wife. I have two beautiful young daughters who I love to the moon and back.

Malaysia is my home and has been for the last four years. I have decided to start this blog as I really want to showcase what Malaysia has to offer everyone with regards to fishing and outdoor life here. I also want to share my knowledge of fishing and to teach budding anglers out there.  I would also like to help local guides here earn a living by promoting their services in different parts of Malaysia to enable them to grow their businesses and be able to support their families. 

One of the great things about fishing is that it doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or what language you speak, fishing is a sport and/or hobby that can bridge gaps and language barriers. Through fishing, you are still able to communicate through hand signals and gestures, which has been my experience wherever I have fished in the world. Great time on the water can be experienced through exhilarating cheers of gaining a new personal best to the lows of losing a fish. Fishing is a universal sport, which does not have restrictions nor does it discriminate; as fishing is all about the angler, his rod, line, lure, water and fish.

Read more >