"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it."
Norman Maclean

Saturday, August 28, 2010

John Brough Hollow Built - 2/2 8'0" #4

Rod: John Brough Hollow Built
Owner: Teo Yong Yun

Serial Number: HH271
Maker: British Bamboo Rod Maker John Brough
Length: 8'0"
Line Weight: #4 weight
Sections: 2 Piece 2 Tip
Weight:
Taper:
Action:
Reel Seat:
Handle: Cigar Shaped
Metal: Blued Nickel Silver
Guides: Snake Guide & Tip Top
Stripping Guide:
Wraps:Translucent Wraps Red Tipped
Comments:

Custom made this rod after getting the John Brough from the Classic Fly Rod Forum.

John Brough Hollow Built Bamboo Rod




















Serial Number HH271. So small I almost missed it.

Nyukon the Brough with this small Peacock Bass on the 26th September 2010.

A very hugh Peacock Bass took the first fish I caught.

(Click on the pictures for more.)

Saturday, August 07, 2010

Nyukoning The Downes 8-Footer

CY was poisoned last week with photos of sebaraus and 3kg temensises. So met up at the carpark and off we went to sebarau country.
I bought my Downes 8-footer to try out at sebarau country. Caught some small temensis to nyukon the Downes 8-footer. CY got a big zebra tilapia. But it was Peter the Great who make the news. One day he'll start a fly fishing guiding business. His charges will be very reasonable. He will charge by the meter while you fish.
Nyukon the Downes 8-footer with this little temensis.



CY was trying to get a sebarau or a 3kg temensis for the Brandin. This 2.5 pound zebra tilapia gave a good fight.

Peter The Great. Again made the news. 6.5 pound Temensis.

Sunday, August 01, 2010

My First Sebarau

It was raining heavily this morning when I woke up at 5.00 AM. Waited for the rain to stop, but it didn't. Going to the fishing spot in such weather is terrible, with the trees falling. Peter and Ronald are hardcore fishermen. They went in all weathers. I went back to sleep reluctantly.
Asked Peter if he was going again in the afternoon. He SMSed back - 3.30 PM. I completed my chores quickly and was there early. 10 minutes later Peter arrived. There was still a slight drizzle.
After catching many temensis babies, my fly line char-bee-hoon. I managed to clear the mess and was taking in the flyline with two hands when I got "stuck". Then it went sideways. "Stuck" flylines don't go sideways. It wasn't jerking like the earlier catches when the temensis were at the end of the line. It kept going left and right. No jerks, it just went. Peter shouted, "Sebarau". I was excited and brought the fish in as quickly as I could. It was indeed a sebarau. My first sebarau. After so many years of trying to catch one, I caught 3 today. Man! What a day.

Caught it with the Brooks Payne 100 rod. The best casting rod in my arsenal.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

LJ Downes - 2/2 8'0" #3-4

Rod: LJ Downes
Model: 8012
Maker: America Bamboo Rod Maker LJ Downes
Length: 8'0"
Line Weight: #3-4 weight
Sections: 2 Piece 2 Tip
Weight:
Taper:
Action: Medium
Reel Seat:
Handle: Cigar Shaped
Metal: Nickel Silver
Guides: Snake Guide & Tip Top
Stripping Guide: Agate Stripper
Wraps:Translucent Wraps
Comments:

Saw this very nice rod at an affordable price.

LJ Downes Bamboo Rod
















(Click on the pictures for more.)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Two More for The Miyuki

It was pouring dogs and cats yesterday. Some low lying areas were flooded. Trees fell, causing traffic chaos all over the place. I was drunk on friday night and slept through the havoc. CY and PH had to cancel their expedition to Temensis Country.
Peter, Ronald and I went to a more relaxed place today. Water gushing and Peacock Basses in frenzy. Peter, like Uncle Wong caught all the Peacock Basses leaving only 2 each for me and Ronald.

Two beautifully coloured Peacock Basses on the Miyuki rod.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

John Brough "Fairy"

After reading some comments about double taper lines, weight forward lines and triangular taper lines casting differently, I decided to bring the John Brough "Fairy" rod to try out the casting.
First, I put a #4 weight, WF line on it. Casted ok, but the feel wasn't what I would have liked.
Changed to a reel with a #4 weight, DT line on and tried again.
The feel was much more better and I was more comfortable with the DT line even though the line weight is the same.
I could cast further with ease.
A very smooth feeling, much better than the feel I had while I was casting the Brough with a WF line.
Caught several temensis peacock basses.
The biggest was 1.5 pounds on the boga grip.

This 1.5 pound temensis peacock bass put up a good fight. Bending the Brough all the way.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Brooks' Payne 100 Taper Bamboo Rod

Nyukoning my Brooks Bamboo
Went to the most secret spot in Singapore to nyukon my Brooks Bamboo Rod. The rod casted a #4 weight double taper line like butter. I could cast 40-50 feet with ease and I'm such a lousy caster. Definately could be more in the hands of a better caster.
"This is going to be your favourite casting rod, Billy." CY commented after trying out the Brooks on the pedestal for some temensis hiding in the weeds.
I caught some Temensis Peacock Basses with it. The biggest was about 2 pounds. The MV Brooks rod was strongly recommended by CY as the best casting Payne 100 Taper. It was also receiving a lot of recommendations in the Clark's Classic Fly Rod Forum.
Joe Bresco probably has the fastest finger in the west. From the moment I send an email to Coldwaters Collectables to the time I received the rod was less than a week. And that is after the rod was held in the customs for 2 days. Now that is what I call a speedy service.




This Temensis Peacock Bass is almost 2 pounds.

The Lesh Rod was Nyukon by this Peacock Bass.

(Click on the pictures for more.)

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

MV Brooks - 2/2 7'6" #4wt

Rod: MV Brooks - Not Available
Model: Permacane 043010
Maker: America Bamboo Rod Maker Mike Brooks
Length: 7'6"
Line Weight: #4 weight
Sections: 2 Piece 2 Tip
Weight: 3.6 oz
Taper: Payne 100
Action: Medium to Medium Fast
Reel Seat: Walnut Burl
Handle: Cigar Shaped – 3 Coloured Hardwood
Metal: Nickel Silver
Guides: Bronze Snake & Tip Top
Stripping Guide: Bronze-Housed Amber Agate Stripper
Wraps: Java Silk with Light Brown Tipping
Comments:
After reading a lot of of recommendations from Clark’s Classic Flyrod Forum,

and on CY's advice I bought this rod from Jim Bresco of Coldwater Collections.
These comments are taken from Coldwater Collection Site from which this rod was purchased:
MV Brooks Payne 100 – 7.5’ – 2/2 – 3.6 oz – 4wtThose in the know widely regard Mike’s Payne 100 as his best taper. This tastefully done rendition features Mike’s own Permacane impregnated shafts buffed to a fine luster and wrapped in java silks tipped light brown. Matched tips, 3 x 3 spiral nodes, and high quality furnishings including a bronze-housed amber agate stripper, bronze snakes and & tip tops. Smooth and tight fitting oxidized N/S ferrules give a resounding ‘pop’ when separated. The female ferrule is fitted with a replica Payne ferrule plug. Comfortable custom-made grip is with Purple Heart, Red Heart, and Yellow Heart hardwood accent rings at the nose and a mortised walnut burl seat fitted with oxidized N/S D/L'ing cap and ring hardware compliment the rod beautifully. Oxidized N/S WC. Folding ring HK. Comes with Mike’s standard sturdy green bag with two sets of dual ties and a brass capped green wrinkle-finish aluminum tube. This smooth casting wand has a brisk medium to medium-fast action and throws tight loops with precision and exhibits virtually no line bounce whatsoever. I really enjoyed casting it with a Cortland Peach 444 WF-4 and DT-4. Mike is a talented rod maker and accomplished fly tier who tied flies for the H.L. Leonard Rod Company from the late 1960’s to the mid 1970’s and has won a number of International fly tying contests. His flies grace museums all over the world. His rods may soon follow.





Mike Brooks Bamboo Rod
























10th July 2010.

Took the Brooks out and nyukoned it with a few temensis. The biggest was close to 2 pounds.

This rod cast a #4 weight line like butter. Can throw the line 50 feet with ease. No wonder it was recommended by so many fly fishermen in the Clark's Classic Flyrod Forum and strongly recommended by CY.









(Click on the pictures for more.)