BERKLEY DREDGER CRANKBAIT [BAHASA MELAYU]

Salam sejahtera semua,

Pada bulan Mei yang lepas,siri hardbait terbaru dari Berkley telah mula masuk ke pasaran Malaysia.Siri hardbait tersebut telah berada di pasaran US selama lebih kurang setahun dan terbukti berkesan bagi pemburuan spesis gamefish utama disana iaitu Largemouth Bass.

Terdapat pelbagai model hardbait dalam siri tersebut dimana setiap satu mempunyai fungsi yang berbeza.Antara model hardbait dalam siri tersebut adalah Berkley Dredger,Digger,Wild Thang,Cutter 90,War Pig dan Bad Shad.Setiap model ini mempunyai cara renangan berbeza,kedalam selaman berbeza dan saiz berbeza untuk digunakan pada situasi berbeza.Pilihan utama saya dari siri ini adalah Berkley Dredger yang akan menjadi subjek artikel ini.

 

Kenapa Berkley Dredger?

1.Selamannya yang curam & cepat (Mudah untuk sampai ke zon sasaran & kekal disana)

2.Bibirnya mempunyai sebuah pemberat yang membantu selaman (Rujuk point 1)

3.Rekabentuk badannya juga membantu untuk meningkatkan kebolehan selaman

4.Pilihan warna yang menarik

5.Castability bagus / sesuai untuk longcast

6.Sesuai untuk memangkah/memintas Toman ketika sight cast

7.Aksi renangan yang stabil dengan single hook upgrade,treble hook upgrade dan juga hook standard.

8.Hook standard yang tajam (Berkley Fusion 19 – sesuai untuk Peacock Bass)

9.Slow rise – kebolehan mengapung secara perlahan apabila dihentikan membantu mengurangkan risiko sangkut pada struktur

10.Harga yang berbaloi

11.Saiz yang kecil dan kebolehan menyelam yang baik tidak menyebabkan rasa penat selepas seharian menggunakannya

 

Saya tidak akan mengupas tentang sejarah disebalik design Berkley Dredger tetapi saya akan mengupas tentang kelebihannya dan pengalaman saya dalam menggunakannya.

Berkley Dredger terdapat dalam pelbagai saiz daripada 10.5 (5.7cm) sehinggalah 25.5 (8.2cm).10.5 dan 20.5 merujuk kepada saiznya dan kedalaman maksimum selaman iaitu 10.5 kaki dan 20.5 kaki.Saiz model Dredger yang dibawa masuk ke Malaysia hanyalah 10.5 (5.7cm,11.5gram).

Model Dredger 10.5 mempunyai kedalaman selaman maksimum 3.5meter.Dengan menggunakan tali halus seperti tali braided dengan diameter rendah,saya pasti kedalaman selamannya dapat ditingkatkan.

Ketika pertama kali melihat crankbait ini saya terus meletakkannya dalam senarai untuk menduga Blackbass (Lutjanus Goldiei) dan Siakap Merah/MJ di Sabah namun kelewatan mendapatkannya menyebabkan saya tidak dapat menguji kebolehannya dalam memburu spesis rakus di muara.Saya kemudian mengalihkan rancangan untuk menggunakannya di Royal Belum dan saya berpuas hati.Saya membawa dua biji Berkley Dredger ke Royal Belum untuk memburu Toman dan Sebarau.Saya telah menukar mata kail asal kepada single hook yang lebih kuat dan untuk yang kedua saya menukar kepada treble hook 4x.Kedua-dua crankbait tersebut tidak menunjukkan sebarang masalah untuk karauan perlahan,sederhana perlahan dan laju.

Antara kenangan manis saya dengan Dredger adalah kejayaan memecah rekod sebarau peribadi dan juga mendapat satu-satunya sambaran toman untuk diri saya di Royal Belum.Walaupun kumpau toman saya berpuas hati berjaya mendapat sambaran rakus.Ketika masuk ke satu kawasan teluk untuk sight cast toman,beberapa ekor toman timbul mengambil udara namun agak malu dan cepat menghilang.Selepas 20-30 minit berdiri saya terdengar bunyi toman timbul betul-betul di hadapan bot dan merasakan sudah terlambat.Saya membaling crankbait saya secara bersahaja walaupun sudah beberapa saat.Saya memikirkan toman tersebut telah menyelam dalam namun sebaik Dredger hilang dari pandangan,ia terus dihentam dengan rakus walaupun gagal hook up.Kemungkinan reaksi saya yang terkejut dan tidak menyembat menyebabkan matakail 4x tidak menembusi rahang keras toman.Ketika itu saya menggunakan setup Medium Heavy dengan tali 30lb dan leader 40lb.Kebolehan renangan Dredger tidak terjejas.

Di satu teluk yang lain pula saya menyasarkan sebarau dengan menyasarkan tebing berbatu dan berstruktur (buluh,pokok dalam air).Bot diletakkan selari dengan kawasan sasaran tersebut dan crankbait dikarau amat laju untuk mendapatkan kedalaman maksimum dalam cubaan menarik perhatian sebarau keluar.Saya menggunakan setup finesse dengan tali Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon 15lb untuk mendapatkan kedalaman maksimum walaupun berisiko tewas sekiranya sebarau kasar menghentam gewang saya.Setelah beberapa cubaan saya berjaya memecahkan rekod peribadi dengan sebarau berskala satu kilo.Pada hari yang sama juga saya berjaya mendapatkan sambaran rakus di tepi bot ketika melihat sekumpulan sebarau bermain air agak jauh.Kumpulan tersebut kelihatan seperti saiz idaman.Cubaan long cast tepat ke sasaran dan saya terus mengarau laju sehingga ke tepi bot.Seekor sebarau yang cuba menyambar di tepi bot tidak mengena pada single hook.Mungkin bukan rezeki saya.Banyak lagi yang boleh diceritakan,namun saya akan tamatkan review saya disini.Untuk tips penggunaan Berkley Dredger,anda boleh menyambung bacaan di bawah.Pada ketika ini rancangan saya dengan Berkley Dredger adalah untuk menduga spesis penghuni kawasan pantai dan tembok berbatu di Bintulu.Spesis air tawar seperti sebarau juga dalam senarai..hehe.

Tips penggunaan Berkley Dredger:

-Gunakan mainline dengan poundage rendah/diameter kecil untuk kedalaman selaman maksimum supaya ia kekal di kawasan strike zone lebih lama

-Aksi renangan lebih stabil dan kedalaman renangan lebih bagus dengan menggunakan single hook

-Karauan laju berserta ‘jerk’ atau sentapan akan membuatkan Dredger menyelam lebih dalam pada beberapa ketika dan teknik ini sesuai untuk sebarau

-Untuk trolling anda juga boleh menambah satu dua ‘jerk’ bagi membuatkan Dredger menyelam lebih dalam

-Untuk Peacock Bass,gunakan karauan perlahan dan berhenti satu dua saat sebelum menyambung karauan.Ulang sehingga anda mendapat sambaran. (Sasarkan kawasan ambush point bagus seperti tebing samai,drop off,struktur)

-Karauan perlahan dan berhenti ketika melanggar struktur membolehkan Dredger terapung dan terhindar dari tersangkut.Teknik ini juga popular untuk mendapatkan sambaran dari spesis seperti Peacock Bass dan haruan yang bertindak balas apabila gewang melanggar struktur.

-Untuk sight cast toman,baling sedikit jauh dari kawasan toman timbul dan karau perlahan.Kebolehan selaman Dredger yang amat baik akan memintas dihadapan toman tersebut.

-Untuk memburu sebarau jeram,gunakan tali dengan diameter kecil bagi mengurangkan rintangan air dan meningkatkan kedalaman selaman.

 

Sekian dari saya,terima kasih kerana membaca dan jumpa lagi di artikel akan datang.

Saya peminat warna natural

Berkley Dredger 10.5

Dredger 10.5,Abu Garcia Revo LV7 dan Berkley Lightning Rod X-Energy

Rekod sebarau peribadi bersama Berkley Dredger.

Berkley Dredger 10.5

Dredger 10.5 & Sebarau.Saya peminat warna natural

Bibir dengan pemberat ini menjadi kelebihan untuk Dredger

Sedikit kenangan dari toman.Walaupun hentaman kuat,kemungkinan toman ini hanya dapat mematuk sedikit sahaja kerana terlalu gelojoh.Karauan perlahan

Dredger 10.5 & Sebarau

Dredger dan setup finesse saya di Tasik Banding

Dredger 10.5 – Kedalaman maksimum sekitar 10.5-11.5 ft

Antara hardbait lain dalam siri hardbait terbaru Berkley

Fantastic Air Kuning Giant Snakehead/Toman by Dr.Kelvin Khaw.Thank you for the pic!

 

Peacock Bass fishing in Air Kuning,Perak

Hello everyone,

Back in October & November 2016.I had the chance to fish Air Kuning,Perak for my first time.Ask any avid angler about Air Kuning and you will hear about Peacock Bass and Giant Snakeheads.Air Kuning has become a prime arena for Peacock Bass fishing in Malaysia.Get your techniques right and with sustenance you might end up with some lunker Peacocks.I wrote for Fishyology.com and the articles can be read in the following links (Part 1 & Part 2).It has been around 7 months and I finally caught my first Air Kuning Peacock Bass recently.The article is coming.

Tight lines
Links:
Part 1 – http://www.fishyology.com/2016/10/air-kuning-perak-29-oct-2016.html

Part 2 – http://www.fishyology.com/2016/11/air-kuning-perak-12-nov-2016.html

SPIDERWIRE STEALTH GLOW-VIS BRAID [REVIEW]

Hello everyone,welcome to my second review article on this site and first review for 2017.Let’s jump straight into it with the technical aspect of the line.Here’s information from the official Spiderwire site.

• Fluorescent brighteners illuminate line above water, low vis green disappears below water
• Enhance ability to watch line and detect bites that may not be felt
• Unique package with thin profile – Less Weight! Less Waste!
• Color-Lock coating technology
• Dyneema® PE Microfiber construction is strong, smooth and round
• Fluoropolymer treated microfibers – shoots through guides like a bullet!
• Whisper quiet for “Stealth Attacks”
• Resists “diggin in” on reels

“SpiderWire Stealth® Glow-Vis Braid™ is made from Dyneema®, The World’s Strongest Fiber! Each size is uniquely colored with special colorants that reflect ultra-violet rays above water for high line visibility, but will not reflect below water to provide the low visibility green that fish are less likely to visually detect. Braid constructed to provide the ultimate strength with the thinnest diameter for smooth and quiet performance. The no stretch properties of Dyneema PE fibers provides incredible sensitivity to instantly detect bites and structure.”

275m spool

Here’s my take on some of the technical aspects. [Based on my experience with the 30lb spool]
Fluorescent brightener – out of the pack,the line may seem like a dull green colour but put it into the sun and it will look a bit better.This really enhances the visibility on the water especially when I do heavy cover fishing in areas packed with hydrilla.Seeing my line move a bit is a good indicator when a fish takes my lure on bites that I do not feel.

Color-Lock coating technology – the colour retains.I abuse my line well especially when going for snakeheads.Any piece of structure that’s in the water will probably have my line rubbing against it.And for people that have fished with me,they will know I like to cast hard and just whack it.This will either result in a good long cast or a baaaad backlash – and damaged line.So far I have had minimal backlash (my fault) and the line hasn’t been damaged.The colour retains throughout long periods of use.At the moment I have my Revo Rocket’s spool filled with 30lb Spiderwire Stealth Glow Vis braid which has been on there for roughly 2 months,and it looks as good as new.
Fluoropolymer treated microfibers –Spiderwire says it shoots through guides like a bullet..yes sir,it does.My favourite line for bombing baits far out.The coating seems to make it go out smoothly,even with 30lb line I can make a good cast with a weightless 3.8” swimbait.

Whisper quiet for “Stealth Attacks”  – this is right too.I think the coating has something to do with it.You won’t get that rough feel you get from fishing with regular braid,though it is not as good as you can get with mono or fluoro but for braid,it is impressive.

Resists “diggin in” on reels – I have lost many lures due to line digging in (Not Spiderwire).At one time I lost roughly $400 worth of lures when 3 or 4 of my lures snapped off in a row due to line digging in.This is one thing I fear,but it hasn’t happened with the Glow Vis Braid on my spool.Even on a hard cast with a backlash the line doesn’t dig in.When I pull a snag it doesn’t dig in too bad as well.

Now,time to talk about my time with it on the water.The first time I fished with it was during an Abu Garcia luring competition back in May 2016.Out of the pack,it feels smooth and round.Before travelling,I had a new setup and I had a spool of 30lb Spiderwire Stealth Glow Vis braid to put on my Abu Garcia Revo Rocket paired with the 10-20lb Abu Garcia Veracity Pro.The competition was held at Sepayang Dam,Rompin.A notorious heavy cover and power game location in Malaysia.It is a place I fear,but I eventually fell in love with it.The evening before the competition I went boating with the Purefishing family at the dam.Here’s a little info on how the dam is like.It is packed with standing timber,logs,screwpine islands and a ton of weeds.98% of the time will be spent on fishing in thick weeds with frogs and other stuff that Giant Snakeheads will attack.The rule for locations like this is to have a locked drag,as Giant Snakeheads will strip line and head for structure at any given chance.Even with a locked drag.Once I was on the water,I literally forgot about my setup.In my mind,I had to stop any fish I hooked and so I forgot about over working my setup..my plan was to pump anything I had with no mercy..and that was what I did.On my first hooked Giant Snakehead,it stripped line as my drag was at 90%.Within 6 seconds flat,it was in a snag and I lost it.My lure came back without a fish.My leader and mainline scraped against all the structure in the area,but both held up well.On my second fish,it managed to stop my heart for a bit as it ran slightly to the right,rubbing my Glow Vis braid on structure once again.I pumped it back with no mercy and I managed to turn its head and pumped it straight to the boat.This was a decent sized fish above 1kg and the line held up.On both the first and second fish I was tortured when I heard the line scraping against structure.The structure wasn’t covered in any moss which probably could reduce the friction.Later on I hooked into my 3^rd fish which was pumped back with a locked drag.Its last attempt to dive beside the boat into structure and weeds was rather successful as my line was tested once again but I managed to pump it back up just in time to be netted.That was my first experience with the Glow Vis braid,and the line is nothing short of bad ass.I’ve used it for a few months chasing all kinds of species and it has proven its capabilities very well particularly for heavy cover snakehead fishing.This line stands up to Spiderwire’s tag line “Nothing Gets Away”.For the performance and price,it is a line worth having for some hardcore usage.After the evening boating sesh I cut off a few meters just to be safe before the competition.On the next day,I continued using it and endured a bad backlash while casting with my buddy Isaac when I made a mistake during a hard cast.The line was fine and ready to be back in action after clearing the backlash.

The usual problem with braid is fraying.After a while using it in some places that would usually damage line,it sustained little damage (minimal fraying which is not obvious) but I think the strength wasn’t compromised as I managed to pull lures off snags with opened hooks.The sensitivity is great as well.Even with 30lb test I had no trouble picking up bites and putting in solid hooksets.

Summary on the Spiderwire Stealth Glow Vis Braid
For the value it is a line worth having.It casts very smoothly,has incredible strength,sensitivity and it is durable for hardcore usage.You can rely on it to go after that dream catch.

Thank you for reading,tight lines!

-The line I fished with is the 30lb Spiderwire Stealth Glow Vis braid.For the Malaysian/South East Asian market it comes in the 114meter(Rm60)/275 meter spool (Rm100+).

-Thank you Purefishing Malaysia for the opportunity to fish with such an amazing product.

-For feedback on how I can improve and other questions,please drop a comment below or e-mail me at swimbaitfreakfishing@gmail.com

Spiderwire Stealth Glow Vis Braid – ready for some serious work!

So happy to catch fish of this size.

Solid 600grams plus snakehead,pulled out of cover and above a snag which it got stuck in.Impressive power

Nice long cast,and fish is on!

Heavy cover snakehead..whacked it out from behind a piece of wood

Smooth line that allowed casting lighter lures

Lost this one,but I surely pumped it hard before it eventually made it to structure.

First Sepayang Giant Snakead,pumped hard with the Glow Vis braid!

Spooled and ready to rock

Packaging of the old 114m spool

Mini Amazon – Kg.Beng,Perak,Malaysia

Check out my article for Fishyology.com on my trip to Malaysia’s Mini Amazon back in January 2016.(http://www.fishyology.com/2016/01/kg-beng-mini-amazon-perak-30-jan-2016.html).It was a great one day trip (and my first solo trip) with the crew of Fishyology.com.The views,the people and the experience made it a great trip.One of my fondest memories of the trip was the 3 a.m sky as we arrived.Walking along the banks of Chenderoh Lake in complete darkness with absolutely no light pollution was amazing.The sky was a beautiful painting of thousands of stars on an endless canvas.My neck hurted that night from staring up to the sky.The views as we exited a main river section and entered the labyrinths to hunt down Peacock Bass was spectacular as well.Screwpines,hydrilla mats scattered and dense jungle – it was truly Amazon-like.Pictures of the trip are available on Fishyology.com & Mr.Andrew’s site (https://agriffinandrew2.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/kampung-beng-perak-30-01-16/) .I might upload more of my shots here.Please refer to the bottom of this post for any updates of photos or videos of the trip.I am planning to write on some tips I learned during the trip as well,stay tuned.

I would like to say thanks to Fishyology.com’s founder,Mr.Noru for the opportunity to join the team and write.It is an honour to be able to hone my skills with Malaysia’s leading angling site.

Do check out Mr.Andrew Griffin’s short summary of our trip.It was a pleasure to fish with him and I sure had an overdose of fishing videos along the journey to Kg Beng thanks to Mr.Andrew.Here’s a little bit of what you can read from Mr.Andrew’s website:

“The fishing group was made up of Noru, Badrul, and a young Malaysian angler, Amirul Irfan, making his first solo venture. We travelled up late on Friday evening, finally arriving at our destination at around 3.30am in the morning.”

 

“The place itself was stunning – the views were magnificent. We fished hard for the morning session, but didn’t catch anything and only had a few strikes, including missing two snakehead hits on weedless frog lures in an overgrown backwater section of the river. I was completely knackered by the lunch-break and we all, with the exception of the youngster, took a long nap before the second in the afternoon. This session was a complete blank. But, once again, the scenery was a privilege to see and be part of.

As I said, the trip was a blur to me because of my tiredness, and my story of the trip is given in the following photographs. However, Amirul has given a comprehensive write-up of the trip here:

http://www.fishyology.com/2016/01/kg-beng-mini-amazon-perak-30-jan-2016.html

This is a great place and I will definitely return to give it a second try sometime in the future.”

Tight lines