Sunday, February 11, 2007

Toman Hunting

Today I went to the Western part of Singapore to search for Toman. I was told that this area have lots of Toman ranging from 500 grms - 8 Kg. My fellow fishing kaki (Thantos) was the one that brought me there.

I started out from my home at 6.00 am, drive to Yishun to buy live catfishes. A bag of 10 catfishes costs $7, reasonable enough, cause at my place they are asking for $1 each.

I used to catch small Toman fries at LSR but this area have huge Tomans. It will be an experience as I have not landed a Toman of 1 Kg. What an experience it will be! For this trip I will be using the Silstar - Ramrod with Zebco reel/ 20lbs mono-line.

We arrived at location at 7.00 am, the sun was about to rise and it was a lovely morning. We were greeted with many surface action. Excitement ran into our veins, Thantos was the first one to cast-out. A few minutes later, I made my cast and waited. My cast landed 10M at 11 o'clock and I leave the reel catch open. Thantos told me that when the line starts to move out quickly, let it go and wait for the proper timing.

He was right, 15 mins into the cast, my line started to reel-out, I was excited, heart beat faster and the andrenaline rush begins. I asked Thantos "Can you strike this one for me?". "OK" replied Thantos. He then showed me the way to do it. "Let the line go, wait till the line stop and tighten the line." said Thantos. "Let the rod down horizontally." said Thantos. "

Ok...hold it and STRIKE." said Thantos. Got it! The line was tight, reel drag was screeming, there was a fight going on. Then the Toman made it's first appearance by flying into the air. After 3 mins it landed at the side of the river bank.





Weight: 2 Kg.

My next cast, lasted 10 mins before another pull was seen. I did as told and this time the line was going out fast. Waited for the line to stop running and pulled! Wammp, bang..... Landed another one!

We left the place soon after that as our catfishes ran-out ---> what a day!
My first experience with a Toman.