Royal Belum - Casting Trip 2010

This time only three of us went for a fishing trip at Tasik Banding and we called this trip as A Crazy Casting Trip. The date was 26 to 28 February 2010. The agreed 'theme' was - Casting and Casting till you don't know where you cast! in a three straight days. It was myself, Lan and Fikry. amongst the three, this is my first experience joining such trip and being reminded not to ask to get ashore! would worry I could not stand the endurance! he he..

Departed from Bangi around 8pm, we reached Gerik Town at around 1 am. There are few budget hotel at RM90.00 so it goes at RM30.00 each. We left all the grubs brought from KL in the car just brought up fishing attire for tomorrow and toothbrush of course!

After performing solat subuh the following day, we headed for breakfast and bought some ice. Journey to Tasik Bandung (Royal Belum's jetty) from Gerik town took about 20-30 minute. Reached Tasik Banding jetty almost 9.45am and Brahim, the local orang asli boatman already waiting for us. The boat engine starts at 10.00 am and with high hopes the boat brought us into the door of experience!

As usual, we have to report to an army camp for verification and soon after clearance sought, we start hunting for spots. The epic start here! The spoons and/or artificial lure were hooked to the breaded line!

The first few spots.. no response but none gave up. As we entered Sungai Kenarong about 3.00pm, situation differs. It looks like we entering Sebarau Playground. At that spot, a huge (almost 4 kilos) Sebarau got caught in Lan's line. We was like almost stunt, the Sebarau was quite huge... it has been quite sometime we do not catch that size.


We have been casting since morning and reaching camping site not far from the first Sebarau was caught. And, we decided to take a break and load all packs on land. Lunch, which was pre packed was taken on boat.

5 star meal treatment in the jungle. That leave is Kedondong shoots, introduced by Brahim the boatman, my 1st time experienced. Nice soury taste. It is a balance diet somehow.

Our tent was set about 4.30 pm. It was quite hot so we decided to get ourselves wet. We prepared dinner early. That afternoon, we prepared our gears for night bottom fishing as well. We caught few smaller Sebarau before dark and start to change to bottom fishing as the suns fall.

We headed back to camp site around 11.30 pm. Myself and Lan continue to bottom fishing just apposite the camp site. The Baung's response was good... and my watch shows almost 2 am. We managed to caught few good size of baungs that night. I wish I can stay till morning because as the bait reached onto bottom of the river, our rod start to shiver! ... but need to spare / charge some 'battery' for tomorrow endurance! One thing for sure, Lan never stop buzzing about his catch till he asleep!

Alarm was set at 6.00 am however I was the only one who awake! hence I continue another 30 minutes dream then after I heard Fikry asking everyone to wake up!!!!

After solat, we straight headed for yesterday marked spot! This time, the luck is with me..it's my turn now. I landed one huge Sebarau as well. Second day we managed to caught few fishes including Toman as well (I caught that too he!he!).

We fish until night as well, however, the catches was not as good as the 1st day. Our conclusion is the water is too clear and an ideal fishing condition is after rain when the water is slightly muddy/cloudly.

Brahim the boatman

The third day water got even clearer so the chances to catch more fish slimmer. Somehow we managed to get few Sebarau and Lan landed a quite a size of toman on the way back to jetty. Fikry landed few sebarau as well.


We departed from tasik Banding jetty at 3.30pm, had dinner at Gerik and reached home around 12.30 am. That trip was really acknowledged as an unforgettable casting trip. I don't mind for repeat. Hope the to get better catches next time!