| Monday: | Kalyn Hoggard |
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| Tuesday: | Paul Arden |
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| Wednesday: | Tracy&James |
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| Thursday: | Martyn White |
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| Friday: | Mika Lappalainen |
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| Saturday: | Rickard Gustafsson |
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| Sunday: | David Siskind |
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How about YOU go fund yourself?
Monday, 12 January 2026
I did it… I started a “gofundme” to help fundraise some of the expenses to go to the fly casting World Championships in Italy this August. The entire endeavor of competition fly casting is a humbling experience in many ways. Anyone that has spent much time trying to throw a 5wt fly line 100 feet understands all of the ways that your flaws can show up in a loop not traveling far. If you stand in the grass long enough, and you want to throw the MED as good as anyone, then you will need to overcome a certain about of shame. (maybe like me you struggle with it all the time) Let us not forget accuracy. You must take that same MED and false cast as straight as possible with your chosen loop and figure out, while false casting, how far you need to cast that tiny little fly so that it will land in that hoop right there, and then that one, and then that one, consistently. Now, I fancy myself as a pretty darn straight caster… until you make me perform 100 false casts in a round of accuracy. I would be ecstatic if 85% of my false cast loops did exactly what I wanted them to do, but heaven forbid a delivery cast get out of sync. That would be completely unacceptable. Maybe if I make myself a cat of nine tails out of busted leaders, flies, and rods, and I flog myself repeatedly every time I don’t make straight false casts, I might more clearly focus on my tracking concerns. (somehow, I have figured out how to threaten myself)
The season that never was
Tuesday, 13 January 2026
The lake level is seven, maybe even eight meters below where expected for this time of year and the Wet Season appears well and truly over. This could lead to some very low water levels later this year. In fact it’s low now. We shall see how that works out.
There are Snakehead with babies and Snakehead still spawning however, so that’s good. It also means Sungai Tiang is gin clear. So one option for Feb would be 3-4 days on the lake and 3-4 days on the river. Come March and April I’m looking to mostly base myself up the river to promote Sungai Tiang and give it broad exposure.
So if you fancy Mahseer fishing in the Malaysian jungle then get over here as quickly as you can! Email me!!
distancia de lago
Wednesday, 7 January 2026
Tracy and I have our first casting competition of the year in our sights – the CNL open event in Guadalajara, Spain on the 28th of February. We attended this last year and really enjoyed the Spanish hospitality, especially trying the local delicacy – pig's ears. These are delicious, but I suspect not great for your cholesterol levels. Along with trout accuracy, trout distance and ST27 (all to world championship rules), this event has a unique event with local rules – distancia de lago, or lake distance.
Badminton Anyone?
Thursday, 8 January 2026
This week's fly is the shuttlecock, another dry/emerger that's as at home on rivers as it is on still waters. It's by no means new, but it's less of an angler catcher than a lot of newer patterns.
Can't even think about it
Friday, 9 January 2026
This week has been going with same routine, and it's start to be boring. It is kind of nice as week has been little slower as Spanish are gone, which is awesome as weather is something that they couldn't handle so well.
People don't know how to wear clothes and that's it. They will have overalls which will easily keep you okay till - 30 celsius if you wear them right. People just have to look slim and nice and here we go, you all can't just be as handsome as I am killing it. Sorry folks.
Preparing for a snakehead trip
Saturday, 10 January 2026
I started to prepare for my trip about one and a half months out. Just when the days had become as short as they get. No sunlight before 9:00 and dark before 16:00. Often a lot of wind, and always cold. And rain. So limited time to train and not so favourable conditions. So I would say that Paul is right when he says that you must start three to four months out. And use the correct gear. I trained with a MED7 and a somewhat correct leader. It would’ve been better to practice with the line I was going to fish with, or at least as similar as possible. And get some good materials for the leader. I would suggest to practice with the leader greased up as Paul suggests, with axel grease. You will use that a lot in the jungle. You want a leader that floats as high as possible.
Barefoot
Sunday, 11 January 2026
I just spent nine delightful days fishing for snakehead with Paul. The first three he guided, getting me some great shots. Then we struck off separately and each fished on our own for the balance. The lake is low - Paul calls it the “Wet Season That Never Happened” - and babies were not nearly as plentiful as they were when I fished a little over a year ago. My numbers sucked. We don’t have to do stats here. Let’s not. Here’s my report card:
1. Snakehead shot is pretty good. Given a good opportunity they mostly went in.
2. Casting overall has become more efficient.
3. Baby sighting improved vastly over the last week.
4. Boat handling skills improving, and I feel ready but unproven - I was able to create few quality shot opportunities.
5. Fitness required to fish hard is still there.
