Kuan's Keane Emotion Quad at New Zealand River

New Zealand River with Kuan’s Keane Emotion Quad Bamboo Rod

After so many days of rain, rain and more rain, we have a clear sky today. Uncle Wong, Kuan, Ady and I took a slow stroll towards the New Zealand River. The valve technician as usual was fast asleep today and the river did not flow. So no Sebaraus for me again………. as usual. But we have the orange tinted Star Aldebaran in the Constellation of Taurus as companion and the Planet Venus shining brightest behind us as we walk the path towards the river. Man……… what a beautiful day for fly fishing.

The sun rose slowly over the horizon and the peacock basses “woke up” and feed. The feeding frenzy was crazy and fish after fish was caught and released. I had the usual misfortune of missing the “big” one because the smaller ones were faster and got my fly first before the sluggish “big fellow” could grab it.

Uncle Wong and I took turns to try out the new Keone Emotion Hollowbuilt Quadrate 7.5’ 2/2 5wt fast action Bamboo Rod Kuan acquired recently. Matched with a champaign coloured Classic Hardy Bougle Limited Edition the set up is simply beautiful. The rod casted sweetly and the accuracy was excellent.

Coffee and Wanton Mee as usual at our favourite stalls at Leban Hawker Centre. There after, to Uncle Wong’s house to view his latest arsenal of bamboo making equipments.


A really hungry Peacock Bass.

Sun's just over the horizon. Couldn't really capture the beauty of it because of the limitations of the camera. But it is one of the reason I fish so early in the morning.


A small peacock bass can bend the Zhu rod like this


First of the few today


Fly is fish's mouth


Zhu Rod MacRitchie #3 Weight


Zhu rod and Tea Stick Classic Fly Reel


The fly right up in the throat


Nice size peacock bass


Zhu Rod


Nice fish or fly


Close up of the fly


Kuan trying to catch a crocodile. Nah he's after the peacock basses.


Uncle Wong changing spots


Nice and beautiful morning


Little bit of Nimbus clouds. But I think the weather should be fine today


Cirrocumulus clouds. Beautiful day for fishing


Uncle Wong admiring Kuan's Quad Bamboo before casting it.


Billy look! Fish on already


Fish on for Uncle Wong


Uncle Wong caught a palm size Peacock Bass with Kuan's new Quad Bamboo Rod and Hardy Bougle Limited Edition (81 of 100). Beautiful rod and reel.


Uncle Wong delicately released the peacock bass


Peacock bass eating frenzy


Steady as he goes


Lefty Kuan


Kuan concentrating on a pod of peacock bass


Kuan casting at the river "mouth"

New Zealand River Fly Experiment

Ah Hoe Coffee Stall after New Zealand River

It has been a long time since my last expedition to the New Zealand River with Uncle Wong for our Bamboo Rod Bashing. This morning, we have a Bamboo Crazy fly fisherman in Kuan CY. He brought along his Argentine hand made Hollow Macello 5 Weight Bamboo Rod with Bamboo ferrules for its opening ceremony with a fierce New Zealand River Peacock Bass. I was a bit hesitant to try such a beautiful rod and was afraid I might break it with my rough-hand rough-leg casting. But Kuan made sure I had a go at it.

I was trying out my newly designed fly. This fly was designed to look transparent or translucent like the shrimps at New Zealand River. I had the whole fly wrapped in mono with a series of flat knots covering the entire dressing. Why? At the New Zealand River, the action can be a non-stop heart stopping experience. Fishes are landed so fast that sometimes you don’t even have the time to strip or straighten the fly line when a Peacock Bass at the other end just grab the fly and “run”. Releasing the fish quickly usually means using a pair of pliers or forceps which ended up destroying the fly dressing so quickly that the fly will be “botak” after several greedy Peacock Basses.

The mono wraps passed its test with flying colours. The whole fly is still in good shape and I think it would take a long time before it could be “botaked” like the rest. I made two versions of it. One that is neutral where the Specific Density or Specific Gravity is concerned. (Of course the measurements are estimated only with a glass of water on my fly tying desk.) But the fly will not float nor sink quickly. It will go where the sinking line go and stay at that depth. The other version is a fast sinking. The retrieve for the sinking fly is such that occasional 2 second stops are allowed for the fly to “dive”. Most Peacock Basses whacked the fly on the “dive” today.

Two fly design experiments conducted successfully today.

The verdict: Awesome!

The two prototype flies are presented to Kuan.

Kuan joined us for our usual breakfast and downloading of lies at Ah Hoe’s territory. We also had the usual Wanton Mee. Big bowl for me and Kuan. Uncle Wong only can manage the smaller bowl. The coffee from Ah Hoe is as expected. Hot with the familiar smell of freshly ground coffee beans. The beans were grounded days ago, I believe. But somehow he had always managed to keep them coffee smelling fresh when served.

Uncle Wong invited us to his house and showcase his arsenal for his bamboo assault. Planing forms, high quality bamboo planes, bamboo wrapping thread winder, guide making machine ……………….. I forgot the rest.

When I left his house, I was saying a silent prayer to whoever was listening.

“I shalt not fall into temptation.”


This Zealand River Special Fly.

First expedition of the year 2006. Newly designed fly. New Hardy Bougle Reel. New Scientific Angler Sinking Fly Line. And my old faithful AJ Thramer Hollow Built Bamboo Fly Rod. This place welcome me with some awesome non-stop action.


First peacock bass of the morning


The flash is too bright or the sky is too dark?


Gave this fly to CYK for despatch to somewhere in a foreign land.....???


A pattern from nowhere. I'll call it the New Zealand River Fly


This fly is hot


Look at those big eyes


This fish didn't put up a fight. By the look of the unproportionally big eyes, it has got to be a stunted specimen


Bending AJ Thramer


Peacock bass on Bamboo, Hardy Bougle


A fly I concocted during the few weeks of hibernation from fishing.


Hardy Bougle


MY new Hardy Bougle, new sinking fly line and my old faithful Hollow Built AJ Thramer. An awesome combination.


I think my thyroid is back. The photographs are getting the jerky blur


This peacock bass tangled itself in a twig and I was fooled into thinking it was the big peacock bass that had got the fly.


Still cannot free itself


All tangled up


This peacock bass swirled round the twig and char-bee-hoon the leader.


The twig that fooled me.


AJ Thramer Hollow Built and Hardy Bougle


Close up of the mid water fly


Another peacock bass


A small Peacock Bass


Close up of the fast sinking fly.


Breakfast with Uncle Wong and Kuan at this regular place.