Graeme Christie | Tuesday, 12 May 2026
was the time of the year when I'd been very busy. Christmas time. My children are getting older and holidays as a family are changing. They had their own ideas and wanted to go with their own friends. I'd been doing a lot of casting practice with Paul, and he'd suggested that the snakehead fishing was excellent if I had an opportunity, the quicker I could get up there the better. Both Paul and I knew that my casting, while a lot better, still had some flaws, particularly around accuracy. I knew the fish were hard. But nothing like catching up with someone you respect and appreciate in a spectacular location like the Malaysian jungle.
Very short notice. I put together a flight, Paul had availability, and I was off. Paul is a wonderful host picked me up from the airport, and we set off to Gerek and then off to where the boat was parked up. Countries you've never been to are always fascinating to visit. Much new to be seen and observed. Different ways of life and bits of history that I knew a little bit about but didn't quite visualise. For example, there are still signs in the north of Malaysia of a military outpost reflecting past conflict.
I had been looking forward to the fishing. I'd read all the articles and watched Paul's videos and knew that while it was hard, being an optimistic type, I thought I would perform well. Paul's quick to get you into the fishing. You're out on the boat, and very quickly we found the snakeheads and very quickly I discovered how accurate I had to be with the cast. These fish were not going to be caught easily. Snakeheads breathe air. They come up for a gulp, then go down. That gulp is the window the cast has to land in front of them while they're up, or you're casting at the spot they used to be.
We fished long days. Paul is enthusiastic and is up for the game. It keeps you in it and keeps you on it, and we kept looking, kept going. I love that approach and was into it. The first fish I caught was on a day where it was raining. I was feeling a little cold, which even near the equator I realised was unusual, so I put on a jacket. When it comes to rain and fishing, that boosts my confidence, I was feeling like we would get something. Sure enough, banged out a cast. It was spot on. The fish came charging and ate up the fly. Paul, mostly to himself, had been calling it the frog from heaven — the fly that was apparently going to fix everything. Stripped. Fish on. Then the battle. The bit I was ready for. I had even bought the eight-weight rod from Paul, as I knew my odds of breaking it were significant, and there is nothing like owning something to take at least a bit of the pressure off yourself just in case you do break something. I fought it hard, kept the line tight. Stumps close at hand — you don't let a fish run far in here. We landed it. Two to three kilos. Fantastic fight, beautiful fish, and back in the water to go look after its young.
In the days that followed we cruised around and caught more fish. By Paul's count we were at one, but mine was two and a half. The half didn't really count, too small to count, but counted enough to count as a half. I kept my own tally, more generous.
The jungle didn't let you forget it. Monkeys - Gibbons - Elephants and other unknown wild life around the houseboat sorting out what they could get into. A snake crossing in front of the bow. Rain coming through.
We kept fishing, searching for babies and their parents. The lake is large and at times windy. It isn't always easy to get yourself in a position to cast, and the moment you need to cast you're not ready. The pressure of it plays on you. But it is a fantastic challenge, and it also improves your casting markedly.
Day five. Six in the morning, the air is already warm. We were out scanning. A fish broke the surface the small commotion of a head coming up for air. Waited for the gulp. Fired the cast. Got it close enough this time. Bang. Fish on.
This one didn't get to run. Stumps everywhere, and Paul behind me coaching — angle down, keep the pressure, don't let him near that one. Somewhere in there he narrated to the camera that I had developed my own special technique for playing a snakehead. He said it generously. We landed it. Decent size. Beautifully marked. Back in the water.
The cast had been right. That was what I'd come for!