Earth Eaters Come In Schools

Earth Eaters Come In Schools

My mobile phone alarm sounded, but I was too deep in my sleep to hear it. So the missus threw her shadowless kick on me. I was up and out of the house in 10 minutes, army recruit style. Uncle Wong and Jimmy had asked me to join them for a fly fishing session on Christmas day. But the maid’s on home leave and the missus wanted to bring the kids out.
There was no rain today and the weather was just fine. A perfect day for fly fishing. The construction site had made the place a bit muddy. Uncle Wong had a miner’s lamp on his head. Adi and I tagged along the path he walked. Imagine 2 young men letting him lead the way. Okay okay I hear you guys, middle age men.

The river was flowing at full force and the water was clear as gin. I caught 2 peacock basses. Uncle was at the further end of the river and as usual catching most of the fishes. I saw a school of Earth Eaters swimming pass. I casted ahead of them and let the fly drift towards them. Four of them, maybe five swam toward it in a frenzy. The fly line straighten and one of them was at the end of the line. A small one. I lifted it out of the water, had a few quick shots with my Canon Ixus and released it back into the water. Good catch for my rusty arms and reflexes.

Adi had joined Uncle Wong at the far end. I moved over to take some photos of Adi.

Adi landed another Peacock Bass.

The fly came off after some trashing


Here's the fly again.

Earth Eater with a Paul Young Bamboo

New Zealand River Again

After a long hiatus from this scenic place, I have finally found time to chuck some feathers at the Peacock Basses in the river. I took a slow drive and reached the river just when the sun had creeped above the tree tops. The valve technician had done his job and the river is at full force. CY was at the waterfall. “Morning Billy, Uncle just got a sebarau“. I kicked myself for not coming earlier. At least I can shoot some pictures of this spectacular fish for my blog.

I rigged up my LeoRod with the Hardy Bougle spooled with a Scientific Angler Sinking 4 weight line and took up position near Uncle Wong. After some casts without even a nibble, I walk over to where Adi was standing. “They had been quiet since Saturday” Adi said, referring to the Peacock Basses. CY caught a few Earth Eaters near the big tree with his new Paul Young rod. Uncle, must have missed his baby, took over my LeoRod while he passed CY’s Aroner for me to have a feel of the beautiful bamboo. Nothing bite. A school of Peacock Basses just swam pass the fly ignoring it altogether.

CY must have seen the disappointment in my face and passed his Paul Young to me. I stood at the spot he was fishing and after a few casts, caught an Earth Eater. Fishing with this bunch of bamboo crazy guys is a joy. They give up their spot for you. The let you use their rod and give you their secret fly. When you caught a fish, they enjoy your catch as much you do, and they make you feel like you are the only one who had caught a fish the whole morning.

Breakfast at Ang Mo Kio. Then off to Uncle Wong’s house to see his new arsenal.


CY caught a few Earth Eaters near the big tree.


Anybody want to guess what is inside this stainless steel container. Winner gets a ticket to ..................

Tonkin bamboo culm. 12 feet in length each. I had placed an order for a 1 piece 6 feet #3 weight rod with 2 tips. CY bettered the order by placing an order for a 1 piece 12 footer rod with 3 tips. Now let's see how Uncle can fulfil that order.