The Rapala Insider: Malaysia Tackle Challenge Trophy 2009

The first few spots looked truly fishy - sunken timber all around. Typical Toman country. The choice lures selected were the 'resurrected' Rapala Fat Raps. What else but Fire Tiger! FG did the same and off we went firing at the many likely spots but to no avail.

After somewhat hundred casts later and some spot shifts, we came to this little cove. Spotted some surface activity: a pod of babies with a brooding mama! We proceeded to harass the pod of babies, hoping mama would lash out angrily but no such thing occurred.

"WHOOSH!"

The surface erupted near the bank in front of us. Instinctively I fired a cast over to the bank. The lure perfectly landed on the muddy bank and with a quick flip of the rod tip, it plopped into the water and was on its way wiggling back to the boat.

Almost instantaneously there was a big take! Strike! Rod bent over! Line zipping out of the Certate Hyper 2500 at blistering speed! A solid hookup!!

Easy does it.... just don't... get... SNAGGED!!!!

And horror of horrors, it did just that. It decided to head for the nearest tree stump and in a matter of seconds, I felt a headshake and the line went limp. The lure came back with the trebles opened. Big Sebarau hunting the pod of babies earlier? Mama Toman? FG and I never had a chance to know.... all I knew - I was 'bullied'.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. The fishing was tough. We met a few other teams whom also mentioned they had nothing much to show except for some baby Sebarau less than the qualifying 1kg mark.

Over on the other boat, YH and KH didn't have much happening either save for a few pieces of Sebarau on X-Rap. Still, some smallish fish was better than none! FG and I on the other hand picked up some tiddler Toman fry and a nice Sebbie on Fat Rap GFR and FT.

By 5.30pm, we had to head back to base. As we landed, we were informed that Team Season Tackle had landed a 5.5kg Toman - the heaviest Toman for Day 1.

to be continued....