One more time

I woke up early, made breakfast and packed most of the camp. Paul came just on perfect time to help with big tarp and so on. Idea was that I will fish whole day and Paul will go to the town pick up Satu and do laundry. 

I had good feeling about last fishing day, even I was tired, I had faith. First I checked bay where I lost big fish and fly, there was nothing. I continued thru narrow channel, behind that I knew few spots with fish and maybe just maybe set of babies still around.

There was absolutely no wind and everything looked perfect. I drove slowly thru channel and after that started to look around for freerisers. Front of me there was set of stumps which I knew could be good, I looked behind and I saw rise. I slowed down and shortly I saw another one. Freerisers, when I turned boat there was wind starting to blow just in the area where risers were. I got my rod ready and went closer to risers.

Then I realize that was set of babies, I saw babies rising and I got warmed up. Then one adult rising and my brains went off again and muscles took command, cast, and just millisecond before fly landed, other adult was rising also. Great shot for first riser, I started to plopping and the other one turned to the fly.

First riser had the look but the other had more to say. It turned to fly, came slowly.... and I was plopping, then fish speeded up and my thought was now it will take the fly. It was killing move from fish... It was coming furious, now it will open the mouth and take it..... what the fuck, fish stopped like to the wall, no open mouth, no take, just stop behind the fly and it turned around. Arghghhhhh... voi vittu saatana perkele...

I had short breathe and saw them rising again, one adult was spooked and other one had more normal behaviour. I started to go after babies and adult, I knew that my chance was gone and yet I wanted to try. I had few great shots but no reaction. I spent way too long with them, 1,5 hours. Eventually I had funny follow from other adult, they both returned to the babies and had "normal behaviour". I had great cast once and one adult returned from deep and just followed fly about one meter underneath, I could see how it was looking fly but had no intention for take.

After that I saw one fish coming from my right side, I had fly waiting for riser as I had seen one on that area. Suddenly I saw fish swimming towards to fly, first I looked that it is snakehead but soon I realised that it was gourami. And it was big one, I would say 4 kg. It swam under fly, stopped and I could see how it looked fly... and it was thinking... not today, that is not my lunch and then it was gone.

I changed place, found freerisers but couldn't get shot as those were fast divers still. I saw set of babies again and went after them. Those were moving fast and I couldn't see pattern, until it was too late. I "parked"  boat in good spot where I thought that I will reach babies when they rise next time.... yep... well parked, babies rised against boat with adult and game over.

Day was getting hotter, next spot, found freerisers, didn't get shot. Next spot... that would be spot from yesterday evening. I was exhausted, It was fucking hot, I hadn't drink anything while concentrating fishing for 4 hours in row. I came on spot and saw only one small fish, at same time on other side of the bay, I saw risers. I went to have a look. Plenty of risers and they were rising more or less in open water. Wind was rising again, I placed boat that I could control area... And what the fish are doing... of course rising against boat. I spooked 5 fish in two minutes. 

This is not going well. I recognised one couple from previous evening, so they are here now. I got one good shot, but late, as fish were again fast divers. I moved on, saw set of babies in open water and some risers but those were fast ones.

With heavy thoughts I gave up, Satu and Paul were coming from town and I was totally out energy. It was 5 pm and I have been fishing 8 hours in row. Maybe I should return one more time to the lake in future.

In the evening Paul came to have dinner with us in resort, there was also suprise birthday party for me. Next morning we headed to Pulau Perhentia for all inclusive holiday.

It was great 3 weeks of fishing, not easy one, yet great. Problem is that I want to go back.

Have a nice weekend and go fishing

Mika from Finland