The Asian Angler - April 2015 Digital Issue - Malaysia - English

The Asian Angler Asia’s AnglingLifestyle Magazine

April 2015 Issue

Salmo Seeker Your Travel Companion

A Case That Ups The Ante VFOX Robinson RB 04-M

Okuma’s Saltwater PowerhouseThe Okuma Azores

Made For Ultra Light AnglersRod Ford Lust Area Master

The Small And PowerfulRyobi Mini Power

Knowledge: Let’s Talk About Bearings | Introducin’: Zaco Lures

Something Sinister Is HappeningRod Ford Sinister Azahar Ebek Special

1

- Made using high quality materials - Spring loaded covers - Quality latch - Waterproof - Adjustable compartments

Brilliant Tackle Sdn. Bhd.No. 27, Jalan IMJ 4, Taman Perindustrian Malim Jaya, 75250 Melaka, Malaysia.

Tel: +606-334 4555 Fax: +606 336 2211 Mobile: +6012 631 3561 (Whatsapp available) Email: [email protected]: http://www.brilliant-tackle.com/

Robinson RB-04MQuality And Good Looks In A Case

- Made using high quality materials - Spring loaded covers - Quality latch - Waterproof - Adjustable compartments



Robinson RB-04MQuality And Good Looks In A Case

7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9aIpEXUJTE

Email your videos to [email protected] together with your name, contact number, and addresss. Open to all citizens of Malaysia & Brunei.

OAG Worldwide Sdn. Bhd.No. 5-1, Jalan Setia Dagang U13/AJ, Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.Emaill: [email protected]


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Want A Reward For Catching Fish?Shoot a video of you catching a fish on any

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9

My fellow anglers and friends,

Welcome to the April 2015 issue and we hope that you enjoy reading The Asian Angler. We have received emailasking why do we test products in pay ponds as the fishesthere are easy to catch and do not represent the real thing.

Well, we’ve actually had to explain this many times (including other questions) and the reason is that it all depends on what we want to find out. Take for example a fishing rod, we want to see how it flexes, bends, cast, etc. Although the fishes in pay ponds are easy prey (not always true) it meets our objectives of wanting to know these points.

Another thing to note is that pay ponds are basically like labs where we can experiment and test things out in a somewhat controlled environment, something we can’t do out at sea or at a lake. Let us take reels for example. We want to know how smooth the drag is with a real fish, how tough the drag is, how well it cranks, etc.

Yes, we can do so at sea (and we do too) but we can test max drag pressure at a physi-cal lab too using a meter and a skateboard as well as some dumbbells. But with a fish it is more fun and one gets to experience the reel. Same can be had out at sea or a lake but to get similar answers with a lower risk of not catching anything significant enough with the money spent, it makes sense to use payponds doesn’t it?

Honestly we would prefer to be testing exclusively out at sea or at a lake but with little bidget to work with, dwindling fish stocks, and a need for answers, payponds are still valid labs.

Well, I hope you enjoy this issue. Thank you for your support and happy reading.

Cheers,PhilEditor In Chief

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13

Test DrivesPhilemon Foo

Testing Grounds: Pak Din Freshwater Fishing Pond

Series: Salmo Seeker

Model: Spinning 8’

Length: 8’

Lure Wt.: 8-20g

Line Wt.: Not Specified

Configuration: 4 Pieces (Travel Rod)

Opponents: Patin (Shark Catfish / Silver Catfish)

Abu Garcia Salmo SeekerYour Travel Companion

Abu Garcia Salmo Seeker

Anglers who love to travel will love this rod. The Salmo is a good looking 4 piece rod. Put together it they all add up to a length of 8 feet and yet still feels lightweight. It is a classic looking rod with high quality cork handle sandwich-ing a modern designed reel seat.

15

30 Ton Graphite

It lightweight is contributed by a few factors and one of them is the 30 Ton Carbon Graphite blank that is both lightweight and powerful with a strong sturdy backbone. The blank is also slim and sexy which makes it a real looker (we had anglers admiring the rod while we were fishing during our test).

17

Weight Saving

Designers of the Salmo Seeker certainly went about looking for ways to cut down some fat and to do so they decided on going with lightweight LS guides that allow for smooth flow fishing lines, is well balanced and gives better recoil power quality cork handles, as well as a reel seat with lots of holes cut out. These all certainly help reduce the weight of the Salmo Seeker.surface.

Weight Saving

19

The Salmo Seeker comes with a cordura tube with ample protection for each and every piece of the rod. The cordura tube is also designed with colours tailor made for the Salmo Seeker, including the embroi-dery of brand, series, and logos.

Sleek Package

Sleek Package

23

Tackle UsedReel: Abu Garcia Promax Spinning 3000h

Line: Stren Sonic Braid 20lb

Leader: Berkley Vanish 20lb

The Salmo Seeker certainly cast very well shooting balls of dough to good distances. When the bait got whacked the Salmo Seeker easily sets the hook and then it goes into gladiator weapon mode. It fights very well with a consis-tent backbone power despite being a four piece rod.

*Unfortunately we were not able to do a lab test for this rod.

Field Test

Verdict

Rating: 8

Built QualityFinishingErgonomics (Feel)BalanceWeightComponents (quality)CastabilitySensitivityPower

If you are in the market for a travel rod that is great for bottom fishing or casting out heavier lures, the Abu Garcia Salmo Seeker is certainly one to consider.

Rating: 7

33

Mono Cap. Braid Cap. Max Drag Max Drag Line Retrieve WeightModel Material # (yds/lb) (yds/lb) Bearings @ Strike @ Full Gear Ratio (in)High/Low (oz)

SQUALL LEVER DRAG 2-SPEED

• Lightweight graphite frame and sideplates• Forged and machined aluminum spool• Stainless steel main and pinion gear• Dura-Drag® washers virtually eliminate hesitation, even under extreme drag settings

• Quick-Shift™ 2-speed system• 4 Shielded stainless steel ball bearings• Double-dog ratchet anti-reverse• Line Capacity Rings

TM

Our Dura-Drag® material contains a special Phenolic bonding agent that prevents premature breakdown

to water. We then pretreat each drag washer with a special compound developed by PENN engineers.....

The stainless steel gear train in our Squall Lever Drag reels doesn’t get much tougher. Machined from stainless

steel and drilled out for weight reduction, these gears offer the perfect combination of strength and speed.

SQUALL ® LEVER DRAG 2-SPEED

SQL16VS 1292936 1090/15 • 725/20 • 540/30 1490/30 • 1040/50 • 865/65 4 20 lbs 26 lbs 4.5:1 / 2.1:1 39/18 38.5SQL30VSW 1292937 1395/20 • 1035/30 • 595/50 1995/50 • 1660/65 • 1435/80 4 24 lbs 32 lbs 4.2:1 / 1.8:1 41/18 47.0SQL50VSW 1292938 1550/30 • 890/50 • 565/80 2485/65 • 2145/80 • 1835/100 4 30 lbs 40 lbs 2.9:1 / 1.5:1 33/17 55.6

PENN Squall The Squall Lever Drag 2-speed reel allows anglers to step up to the big

game tackle with confidence. PENN’s proprietary Dura-Drag system results

in smoother start up and virtually eliminates limitations, even under extreme drag settings. A Stainless Steel gear train and our Quick Shift 2 speed system provide the perfect combination of strength and speed. With this reel in hand big pelagics don’t stand a chance.

Pure Fishing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (515617-X) Tel : +603 7832 3380 (Hunting Line) Fax : +603 7832 3340 Email : [email protected]

AVAILABLE INLEFT HAND

FATHOM LEVEL WINDModel Material # Mono Cap. (yds/lb) Braid Cap. (yds/lb) Bearings Max Drag Gear Ratio Line Retrieve (in) Weight (oz)

FTH20LWLH

1259867

320/17 • 260/20 • 230/25

675/20 • 500/30 • 350/50

3+1 30 lbs

4.3:1

24

19.5

FTH25LWLH 1259868 330/20 • 290/25 • 220/30 650/30 • 450/50 • 380/65 3+1 30 lbs 4.3:1 24 20.0

VERSA-DRAG™ - By rearranging the sequence of the keyed metal washers and eared a wide range of drag settings without additional parts.

LEVEL 1Light Drag Range

up to 10 lbs. max dragMedium Drag Range up

to 20 lbs. max drag

LEVEL 2Heavy Drag Range up

to 30 lbs. max drag

LEVEL 3

FATHOM LEVEL WIND

• Full Metal Body and sideplates• Marine-grade bronze alloy main gear • Precision-machined stainless steel pinion gear• Versa-Drag™ system with HT-100™ washers

• 3 Shielded stainless steel ball bearings• Instant anti-reverse bearing with silent back up ratchet• Stainless steel TiN coated levelwind system• Reversible Harness Lugs on 40 & 60 sizes

PENN Fathom The PENN Fathom Level Wind’s heavy duty contruction and powerful 4.3:1 gear ratio makes it a true workhorse and favourite of charter boat Captains. It is designed to handle extreme abuse day-in and day-out. Whether you are bottom-fishing or casting live baits, the Fathom will stand up to the hardest fishing conditions. A full metal body and sideplates keep precise gear alignment under heavy loads. Powerful HT-100 Drag System.

Pure Fishing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (515617-X) Tel : +603 7832 3380 (Hunting Line) Fax : +603 7832 3340 Email : [email protected] 35

Test Drives

Philemon Foo

Rod Ford Sinister Azahar Ebek Special - Signature RodTesting Grounds: Exotic Pond (Rawang)

Series: Sinister Azahar Ebek Special

Model: RFSN632 / 592S-L J (Light Jigging)

Length: 6’3” / 5’9”

Lure Wt.: 100g Jig

Line Wt.: PE 0.8-2.0

Configuration: 2 pieces offset (butt joint)

Opponents: Amazon Red Tail Catfish, and Asian Red Tail Catfish

Rod Ford Sinister Azahar Ebek Special - Signature Rod

There are lots of signature series products around the fishing world endorsed by professional anglers and captains. However, it is very seldom one comes endorsed by a captain in Malaysia. This is rod is one of them, endorsed by none other than the cra-zy hardcore jigging captain, Azahar of Pekan (a coastal town on the east coast of the Malaysian Peninsular).

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Crazy Hardcore

Crazy Hardcore

Yes, crazy hardcore! Azahar is a well known old salt here in Malaysia. An-glers who frequent Pekan would most likely have heard of him. He is known to have broken even the most durable of fishing tackle with his hardcore fish-ing activities and style. Being such an angler he does have in mind the type of rods that he finds most suitable to fish in waters that he is familiar with.

39

Picking up the Sinister Azahar Ebek Special for the first time I was both de-lighted and surprised. Delighted that it felt light and surprised that Azahar found such a rod suitable to his fish-ing. I thought he would prefer some-thing heavier with a slightly faster tip. After fishing with it I now know why.

* Ebek = Diamond Trevally

LightWeight Fun

LightWeight Fun

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Blue And Sporty

Blue And Sporty

With a plethora of black or dark co-loured rods in the market, the Sinister Azahar Ebek Special breaks the mo-notony coming in blue with carbon fi-bre wrapped up sportiness. The black EVA adds on to the visual cues as well as being ergonomically comfortable to grip.

43

The Sinister Azahar Ebek Special rod is like a convertible car. When the sun is burning, keep the roof up. When you want the wind in your hair, let the roof down. This rod comes with two handles. A longer split EVA handle for jigging and a shorter for casting (spin-ning).

Dual Purpose

Dual Purpose

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Field Test

The rod looks good and feels great but how will it perform? Without a trip out to sea I decided to go ahead and test the rod at my usual testing grounds, the Exot-ic Fishing Pond in Rawang, Malaysia, the coliseum where angling gladiators fight a host of monsters such as the Amazon red tail catfish to the giant Mekong catfish of the land of smiles, Thailand.

*The rod has proven itself out at sea after the time of writing.

Field TestReel: Ryobi Mini Power 500

Line (1): Monofilament 8lb

Leader: Eagle Claw (monofilament) 14lb

Line (2): Berkley Fireline Fused 20lb


47

Superb C

aster

I cast out baits on two different lines dur-ing the test. First was an 8lb monofila-ment line since it’s a PE0.8-2 rated rod. It cast superbly well with such a light line but unfortunately I lost two fishes due to line stretch + a forgiving tip making it im-possible to set the hook.

I then removed the 8lb line and filled with 20lb fused line and 20lb fluorocar-bon leader. The rod still cast really well giving me (and another tester) very good distances casting out baits averaging 12 grams... and we started catching fish.

49

Every rod has some shock absorbing qualities and so does the Sinister Azahar Ebek Special. When a fish hits, this rod takes up shock to about 20% of its length (from the tip) first without much pressure on the fish. It then piles on the pressure to about 40% (from tip) and that is where we feel the backbone start to work.

Shock Ab

sorbers

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Being rated with a maximum power of 20lb we were able to bully most fishes dragging them out of the danger zones with relatively high drag settings. Need-less to say we didn’t fight any ebeks but we fought rather big Amazon red tail catfish-es and they are good fighters. On average we pressured the Sinister Azahar Ebek Special to about 55% length from tip be-fore tiring out the fish.

Subduin

g Monsters

Subduin

g Monsters

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LAB Test

LAB Test

Back at our lab we put the Sinister Aza-har Ebek Special through a pressure test to see how much pressure it can take. For this test we decided to measure the bend sections. We noticed that power kicks in at about 40% curve from the tip register-ing about 5lb and continued all the way up to 16lb and that is when we enter into scary territory.

Reel: Abu Garcia Promax Spinning

Line: Berkley Fireline Fused

Poundage: 20lb

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To Go Or Not To Go On

We pulled further back a little but the me-ter didn’t move and we were somewhat worried. We contemplated forcing the rod further and we decided not to. We feel that we have reached the peak (power ef-ficiency peak). We may be able to squeeze out an additional 4lb but risk breaking the rod.

To Go Or Not To Go On

59

%

5

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

5lb

7lb

9lb

13lb

11lb

15lb

Backbone Power Range

Rod Bend

16lb

Power Curve

Power Curve

20

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Tip Rod Bend % Butt

Backbone Power Range (lb)

61

Verdict

Rating: 8.5


Verdict

The Rod Ford Sinister Azahar Ebek Spe-cial one rod that Malaysian angler’s can be proud off. It is a signature rod designed in collaboration with Azahar, the hardcore jigging captain. More importantly is that it is light weight, looks good, casts well, and manages the fight well.

The lows would be its somewhat forgiv-ing tip that makes hook setting difficult especially if you’re using monofilament lines with relatively good stretch / absorp-tion. My recommendation will be to use braided lines or very close to zero stretch monofilament with this rod, and have loads of fun.

63

Test Drives

Philemon Foo

Rod Ford Lust - Area MasterTesting Grounds: Lake Prima (Selangor, Malaysia)

Series: Lust

Model: RFL622ULX-S

Length: 6’2”

Lure Wt.: 2-9g

Line Wt.: 2-10lb

Configuration: 2 pieces

Opponents: Red Devil Cichlid, Peacock Bass, Catfish

Rod Ford Lust - Area Master

Lust is an emotion or feeling of in-tense desire in the body...

Lust can certainly be for anything. Despite the sexy silhouette of a Bond (as in James Bond) girl sitting on her hiney, I am going to take the Rod Ford Lust as a rod lusting for some action; I meant light fun fishing action and not any other whippee whoopee sort of thing.

67

For Ultra light Anglers

For Ultra light Anglers

The Lust is made for anglers that en-joy carrying knives to a gun fight. It is not about winning the fight but evad-ing bullets, leaping behind barrels at super speeds, and throwing the knife from whatever place or angle so accu-rately that it knocks out the opponent upon impact. Well, maybe not like that exactly but there is a lot of fun chal-lenging reasonably big fishes on very light tackle; like the handicap scoring system in golf.

69

The Lust is certainly one of those rods with cosmetics that are done just right without being overbearing nor under designed. It comes in a pleasing matte green and pearl white colours with black and gold threads. Its blank is slim leading all the way down to its er-gonomically contoured EVA handles.

Classic Sexiness

Classic Sexiness

71

There are a lot of ultra-light tackle rods that are made like noodles (there are noodle rods for your info.), however, the Lust is not one of them. The blank is designed with a butt section using graphite with a high carbon content giving it stiffness and power while the tip is graphite with higher glass fibre content for its whippy sexiness (slow action).

Such a system allows for great amounts of absorption should the hard fighting, bait stealing, finned monster decides to drop gear and engage turbo, allow-ing time for the line and reel to coordi-nate reducing the chances of breakage. Yet, giving good amounts of power to play the fish instead of just having a line connected to the fish without ca-pability of doing anything else.

Not A Noodle

Not A Noodle

73

Fuji In Use

Fuji In Use

When it comes to ultra-light fishing I personally prefer rods equipped with good quality Fuji components espe-cially its guides and reel seats. With very thin lines in use, a guide that dissi-pates heat the fastest (most efficiently) simply enhances the angler’s chance of winning by reducing line damage and burst off. Fuji guides have proven to do just that (dissipate heat fast).

75

Field Testing

Reel: Shimano Nasci

Line: HI-SEAS White Lightning 6lb

Leader: Unknown

Field Testing

77

Lusting for distance I stood on a boat in the middle of Lake Prima in Puchong, Selangor (Malaysia) with the Lust in hand and whipped out 1” and 1.5” soft plastics attached to little jigheads (to-tal weight about 2.5 to 3 grams). The Lust can certainly cast light weights giving good distances. Of course the thin 6lb mono played a part too, no doubt about it but the Lust can cer-tainly cast.

Easy Caster

79

Fish Fighting

Well, I didn’t catch anything gigan-tic but with its whippy tip and power stored in its butt section, playing the red devils become serious fun. None of them were above a kilogram but still they gave a good and fun fight running into snags . The Lust is forgiv-ing enough allowing them to run but when the curve reaches the butt sec-tion, pressure builds up and they can no longer run. I had copious amounts of fun.

Fish Fighting

81

Lab Torture

Reel: Abu Garcia Promax 2500H

Line: Berkley Big Game

Poundage: 15lb

We put the Lust through the pressure test to get its power range and to see if it will be able to achieve its rated 2-10lb.

The Lust started engaging power at about 40% curve at about 2lb and eas-ily reached 10lb at about 90% curve (10% from butt / fore EVA grip) with-out any acoustics and scary feeling. With confidence we pushed on until we touched about 11.5lb and decided to stop giving it the thumbs up.

Lab Torture

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%

5

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2lb

4lb

8lb

6lb

10lb

Backbone Power Range

Rod Bend

11.5lb

Power Curve

Power Curve

20

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Tip Rod Bend % Butt

Backbone Power Range (lb)

85

Rating: 8


Verdict

If you are going shop to shop asking for 2lb lines and settling for 6lb be-cause 2lb are not easy to come by, this here is the rod for you. It is like the iconic Fiat 500 in the motoring world. It is not made to win F1 races. It is made for the sake of having fun. Thus the Lust is certainly a fun rod and it can most certainly whip... err... your light tiny little lures out and help you win fights.

89

Stainless Steel GuidesStrength and durability with corrosion resistant properties

Combo Model # saP # action length Pieces lure Weight Reel Capacity: Mono PflPUR-662Cbo 1265684 Medium 6’6” 2 1/8 - 5/8 oz. 35 Size 145 yards / 8 lb.

PURIST GRAPHITE COMBO ROD• IM-8 graphite for lightweight and increased sensitivity • Stainless steel frames with stainless steel inserts • Split grip cork handle reduces weight and provides better balance

10

Model # saP # Capacity: Mono Capacity: braid Max Drag Gear Ratio Inches-Per-Turn Weight1325 1265678 115 yards / 4 lb. 145 yards / 6 lb. 8 lb. 5.2:1 22.4 7.3 oz.1330 1265679 115 yards / 6 lb. 150 yards / 8 lb. 10 lb. 5.2:1 25.2 8.6 oz.1335 1265680 145 yards / 8 lb. 200 yards / 10 lb. 12 lb. 5.2:1 27.4 10.3 oz.1340 1265681 195 yards / 10 lb. 230 yards / 14 lb. 16 lb. 5.2:1 30.2 11.3 oz.

• 9 stainless steel ball bearings• On/Off instant anti-reverse bearing• Lightweight Hybrid construction provides the strength of an aluminum body without the weight

• Machined ported and double anodized aluminum spool• Smoothed sealed carbon fiber drag system• Solid Aluminum Bail Wire• Sure-click bail provides an audible signal when bail is fully opened and ready to cast

• Anti-twist titanium line roller• Convertible Left and Right hand retrieve

Hybrid Body SystemThe Hybrid Body System uses both aluminum and graphite body components to provide the best of both worlds.

10

14 THE SMART CHOICE™

Pflueger Purist (Pflueger Purist)


Stainless Steel GuidesStrength and durability with corrosion resistant properties

Combo Model # saP # action length Pieces lure Weight Reel Capacity: Mono PflPUR-662Cbo 1265684 Medium 6’6” 2 1/8 - 5/8 oz. 35 Size 145 yards / 8 lb.

PURIST GRAPHITE COMBO ROD• IM-8 graphite for lightweight and increased sensitivity • Stainless steel frames with stainless steel inserts • Split grip cork handle reduces weight and provides better balance

10

Model # saP # Capacity: Mono Capacity: braid Max Drag Gear Ratio Inches-Per-Turn Weight1325 1265678 115 yards / 4 lb. 145 yards / 6 lb. 8 lb. 5.2:1 22.4 7.3 oz.1330 1265679 115 yards / 6 lb. 150 yards / 8 lb. 10 lb. 5.2:1 25.2 8.6 oz.1335 1265680 145 yards / 8 lb. 200 yards / 10 lb. 12 lb. 5.2:1 27.4 10.3 oz.1340 1265681 195 yards / 10 lb. 230 yards / 14 lb. 16 lb. 5.2:1 30.2 11.3 oz.

• 9 stainless steel ball bearings• On/Off instant anti-reverse bearing• Lightweight Hybrid construction provides the strength of an aluminum body without the weight

• Machined ported and double anodized aluminum spool• Smoothed sealed carbon fiber drag system• Solid Aluminum Bail Wire• Sure-click bail provides an audible signal when bail is fully opened and ready to cast

• Anti-twist titanium line roller• Convertible Left and Right hand retrieve

Hybrid Body SystemThe Hybrid Body System uses both aluminum and graphite body components to provide the best of both worlds.

10

14 THE SMART CHOICE™

Pflueger Purist (Pflueger Purist)

OAG Worldwide Sdn. Bhd.No. 5-1, Jalan Setia Dagang U13/AJ, Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.Emaill: [email protected] 91

Ryobi Mini PowerModel Tested

Series: Mini Power

Model: 500

Testing Grounds: Exotic Fishing Pond


Test Drives

Ryobi Mini Power Philemon Foo

93

Light tackle fishing is fun. Small reels, thin rods, thin lines, and small lures; all the things to spice up one’s fishing. What if we were to take one a small reel, mis-match it onto a bigger rod, and throw it into a fight with big fishes? Why not? So we did... More on that later.

Small Wonder

Small Wonder

The Ryobi Mini Power is a small well built reel with the body, plates, etc. be-ing built of a material called NCRT of which is a Titanium + Carbon materi-al that is claimed to be 20% lighter and 40% stronger than normal plastics. This give the Mini Power good amounts of rigidity felt especially at the stem and side plates.

97

Looking Neat & Tough

Looking Neat & Tough

The Mini Power looks neat and tough with its oversized bail-wire that looks like a kangaroo bar of a 4WD vehicle (ra-tio to size). The bail-wire hints to what the Mini Power can handle and when we see such hints, we want to know if it can indeed handle what it hints it can handle.

99

Smooth Performance

Smooth Performance

The Mini Power is a smooth perform-er. It comes with a smooth drag with-out any sticky feeling. Crank the handle and feel the smooth rotation of the ro-tor with hints of light gear feel. Balance wise, it feels okay with slight wobble.

101

LAB Test

Rod: Rod Ford Sinister Azahar Ebek Special

Model: RFSN632/592S-LJ

Power: Light Jig


Line: Berkley Fireline Fused 20lb

Back at our lab we put the Mini Power through a pressure test to see how much it can take. It claims to have a modest maximum drag of 3kg or 6.6lb. We gave it a little push and it very easily touched 3kg. The drag remain very smooth at 3kg. Since we could still increase the drag we decided to do so. Lo and behold we managed to squeeze 11.5lb (5.2kg) out of it.

I do agree with Ryobi’s claim of 3kg. 3kg would probably be the best or optimum pressure for the Mini Power to be set at. At such a pressure the drag remains smooth, the bail-arm and rotor does not flex till the point of feeling weak, and the reel still has power to crank in fish without feeling clumsy.

Pressure Test

105

Field Test

Rod: Rod Ford Sinister Azahar Ebek Special

Model: RFSN632/592S-LJ

Power: Light Jig


Line (1): Monofilament 8lb

Leader: Eagle Claw (monofilament) 14lb

Line (2): Berkley Fireline Fused 20lb


Being a reel made for light tackle fish-ing we decided to mismatch it with a light jigging rod (still in the light cate-gory right?) and fish it at our usual test-ing pond, the Exotic Pond in Rawang (Selangor, Malaysia). We started with 8lb mono but gave up on it due to dif-ficulties of setting the hook due to line stretch. We lost a few fishes initially.

We decided to remove most of the 8lb monofilament and reeled in 20lb braid-ed line from another reel we tested that day. Such mismatching could mean two things. One, we run out of line as we could not put in much line. Two, we break the reel as the line breaking strength is a lot more than what the reel can handle.

We set the drag to about a turn before the maximum / lock and cast out the bait. We were battling Asian Red Tail Catfishes and Amazon Red Tail Catfish-es, and the Mini Power performed real-ly well. Smooth drag but enough to tire out the brute fast and more than enough cranking power to bring it to reel in the limited amounts of braided line.

Mismatching

The Ryobi Mini Power is a small pow-erhouse of a reel that allows for lots of fun and yet has enough power to man-age larger opponents that may seem to be too big for it to handle... some-what like the David & Goliath fight. If you’re into light tackle fishing, this powerhouse is something to consider.

Verdict

Rating: 7

Attributes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 XBuilt qualityErgonomics (Feel)WeightSmoothness RotationDrag SmoothnessDrag StrengthBail-arm ToughnessLine ManagementSpeed (Retrieve)BalancePower

115

Sizes: 500 & 800

Max Drag: 3kg

Gear Ratio: 5.2:1

Weight: 165g

Ball Bearings: 6+1

Line Cap.: 500 (0.131mm dia. - 210m) / 800 (0.165mm dia. - 175m)

Features: NCRT Material, waterproof drag knob, stainless steel thread bail-arm, Hi-intensity titanium main shaft.

Published Information


117


Email your videos to [email protected] together with your name, contact number, and addresss. Open to all citizens of Malaysia & Brunei.







Want A Reward For Catching Fish?Shoot a video of you catching a fish on any

ZMAN Lure saying “Yeah! ZMAN!“ and we’ll

send you packet of ZMAN lures for free.

119

Test Drives

Okuma’s Knight: The Mighty Azores

Okuma’s Knight: The Mighty Azores Philemon Foo

Series: Azores

Model: Z-65S

Testing Grounds: Exotic Fishing Pond


121

The Mighty Knight

In last year’s ICast Okuma brought out on a stallion its knight, the Azores. The Azores is a powerful reel made to subdue saltwater giants bringing them down to their knees, I meant tails. How well does it do this? Well, we are about to find out.

The Mighty Knight

123

A Spinning Beginning

A Spinning Beginning

Okuma’s beginnings are in spinning reels and over the years they have de-veloped better and better reels. The Azores is born out of all these years of experiences and improvements along the way and just by the feel and looks alone one can tell that within its dull metallic grey body lies a very serious powerhouse.

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Picking up the Azores one can feel its weight. The armour is no light toy, and inside this armour sits a power-ful knight ready to take on any battle. The Azores feels super tough refusing to flex at its weakest points such as the stem thanks to its rigid aluminium die-cast body and plates giving it this otherworldly toughness.

The Knight And His Armour

The Knight And His Armour

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The rotor and bail-arm feels seriously tough too with a super thick bail-arm wire held together by tough, solid, and rigid bail-arms. Being rigid is a seri-ously good thing especially when the opponent is tougher than nails, per-haps somewhat stronger than an ox, and can move at speed cheetah’s only dream of.

Checkout That Muscle

Checkout That Muscle

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The language of power encapsulates the entire reel from the stem to the bail-arms on to the body all the way to the handle. The Azores is equipped with a seriously rigid and solid handle. At its end site a huge handle knob that sits perfectly in my hands. This pow-er handle is made to crank up mon-sters. I may seem to be exaggerating and I would like to highlight the word SEEM.

Power and More Power

Power and More Power

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When you’ve got so much power in your hands what do you do? Test them out of course. To do that we head to our secret lair where we have tortured many warriors of such and quite a few who look the part but cannot play the part have come to eternal rest.

Test Of Power

Test Of Power

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Rod: Penn Defiance (Boat Rod)

Model: PDBC601XH A

Power: Extra Heavy (XH)

Line Wt.: 30-80lb

Line: Berkley Big Game

Poundage: 40lb

Lab Test

The Azores has a max drag rated at 40lb. With that in mind we plugged it up to our nasty drag pressure meter and started the torture process. The drag flowed smoothly all the way till it passed the last readable number on our meter and continued. Its smooth-ness begin dipping at about 38lb but we still had not maxed out yet. It maxed out at about 44lb (4lb above rated).

Under Pressure

Under Pressure

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Rod: Abu Garcia Tournament K

Model: TKS602H A

Power: Heavy

Line Wt.: 10-20lb

Line: Berkley Fireline Fused 20lb


Field Test

To see how well this knight performs in bat-tle we took it to the Exotic Pond in Rawang (Selangor, Malaysia) where monsters lay in wait for a ferocious battle. Before going on, I want to make known that the Azores is a saltwater class reel made for much larger and harder fighting fishes and we are testing it here just to get a feel of its performance.

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Controlling Dictator

I had the drag up to about 60% and waited for a brute to bite. It didn’t take long before I was locked in battle. The rod bent and I set the hook. To test the power of the Azores I got into a steady / stable stance, placed the rod butt on my tummy, proceeded to tighten the drag slowly. To cut a long story short, the Azores’ drag didn’t need maxing out and we were literally dragging in brutes ala tug-of-war.

Controlling Dictator

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The Azores performed well having a powerful drag bullying fishes. During the tug-of-war with the brutes, no flex was felt and this is just how tough the reel is. It is well balanced with close to zero wobbliness. It certainly is not the lightest not is it the smoothest reel in the market but then again it is not priced at the levels of Mercedes Benz type reels.

What Else...

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The Okuma Azores is all about power and tough-ness. Its playground is certainly out at sea or per-haps at freshwater ponds where huge giant Mekong Catfish lay in wait to show off some muscles and perhaps drag an angler or two into the water. So, if you enjoy bullying fishes and fish mainly by flexing your muscles, don’t give the Azores a miss.

Verdict

Rating: 8.5

Attributes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 XBuilt qualityErgonomics (Feel)WeightSmoothness RotationDrag SmoothnessDrag StrengthBail-arm ToughnessLine ManagementSpeed (Retrieve)BalancePower

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZlD1JCteIo

Watch A Video

• DFD: Precision Dual Force Drag system

• Precision click drag adjustment for more precise settings

• Multi-disc, Carbonite and felt drag washers for DFD

• 6HPB + 1RB corrosion resistant stainless steel bearings

• Quick-Set anti-reverse roller bearing plus ratchet system

• Dual anti-reverse system for maximum security

• Precision machine cut brass pinion gear

• CRC: Corrosion-resistant coating process

• HDGII: Corrosion-resistant, High density gearing

• ALC: Rigid diecast aluminum body, sideplate and rotor

• MSS: carbon Mechanical Stabilizing System

• Machined aluminum, 2-tone anodized spool with LCS lip

• Machined aluminum handle arm for added strength

• Hydro Block water tight drag seal

• Heavy duty, solid aluminum bail wire


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Extremely Smooth

Handles knots well

More durable than normal nylon lines

Zenith POWER SOFT FLIGHT FLUORO NYLON



Good shock absorption quality

Handles abrasion well

High quality leader

Zenith POWER SOFT FLIGHT FLUORO NYLON



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Abu Garcia Sapphire Crest New Launches The Asian Angler / Mr Bassin’

Anglers who’ve been stung by the trav-el bug, I bring you good news. Abu Garcia recently launched a series of travel rods and this here is one of them, the 10 feet Sapphire Crest.

Abu Garcia Sapphire CrestSeries: Sapphire Crest

Model: Spinning 3m

Length: 10’ / 3m

Lure Wt.: 35g

Line Wt.: Not Specified

Configuration: 3 pieces - Travel Rod

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Classic European Design

Classic European Design

One look at the Sapphire Crest and one can tell that it has its roots in Eu-rope. It’s simple basic and classic de-sign cues gives it that distinct look coupled with the high quality cork handles and butch looking blank.

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IM6 Blank

IM6 Blank

The Sapphire Crest comes with an IM6 Carbon Graphite blank giving it sturdiness and being a 10 feet long rod, this is an important factor. The tip is not whippy and it can certainly cast baits to very good distances with good amounts of control as tested re-cently at a Pak Din Freshwater Fishing Pond in Bukit Antarabangsa, Kuala Lumpur.

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Lightweight & Strong Guides

Lightweight & Strong Guides

The Sapphire Crest comes with the SS304 guide system that is said to be 20 time tougher than normal guides and about 55% lighter in weight. It certainly allows line to flow through them pretty smoothly.

*As of time of writing no fish were fought / caught on this rod.

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Comes With Tube

For more information contact Pure Fishing Malaysia at: Tel : +603 7832 3380 or email [email protected]

Comes With Tube

The Sapphire Crest comes with a nice looking cordura tube with separated segment giving each piece its own space protecting them from hitting against each other’s guides of which could cause damage especially during travel.

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If you are into ultra light tack-le fishing or finesse fishing, this Pflueger Microspin UL reel is one to consider. It looks and feels good with a gold coloured spool and whitish beige coloured graphite body.

Pflueger Microspin New Launches The Asian Angler

Note: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

Pflueger MicrospinNote: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

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Light Weight & Smooth

Light Weight & Smooth

As with many ultra light tackle reels, the Microspin UL is light weight and feels balanced. It is also a pretty decent performer with smooth rota-tion and drag that maxes out at 6lb of which is great for ultra light fishing.

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The Microspin UL comes with a wooden handle knob that gives it the classic look. The wooden knob not only enhances its looks, it also gives it a classic feel.

Wooden Handle Knob

Wooden Handle Knob

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Wooden Handle Knob

Wooden Handle Knob

BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB: 130/6

BRAID CAPACITY M/MM: 140/0.13 90/0.20 45/0.23

ANTI-REVERSE FEATURE: Instant Anti-Reverse

Bearings: 4

RETRIEVE RATE: 19.6

MAX DRAG LB: 6

REEL SIZE: 20

For more information contact OAG Worldwide at Tel : +603-3358 6003 or email [email protected]

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Line comes off Pflueger’s large arbor spool in larger coils, ensuring less memory in your superline and taming the most stubborn fluorocar-bon lines. The Hybrid aluminum/graphite construction contributes strength, while keeping weight to a minimum.

Pflueger Arbor New Launches The Asian Angler


Pflueger ArborNote: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

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8 Bearing System - Corrosion resistant stainless steel ball bearings

Hybrid Body - Aluminum body with a graphite body cover, lightweight strength

Aluminum Spool - Lightweight, durable, spool design

Sealed Carbon Drag - Sealed system, always lubricated, always smooth

Aluminum Handle - Aircraft grade alumi-num handle, extreme durability

Large Arbor Design - Large arbor reel in-creases casting distance and minimizes line twist

Soft Touch Knob - Soft touch rubber knob provides excellent grip and comfort

Models Available7435

7450


ZMAN Pop ShadZ™ New Launches The Asian Angler


ZMAN Pop ShadZ™Note: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

Constructed of high floating, 10X Tough ElaZtech material, this first-of-its-kind soft plastic surface popper sports a cupped face that pops, spits, and chugs along the surface for maximum fish-call-ing attraction. Buoyant enough to float even a heavy gauge hook, its baitfish pro-file accurately mimics a number of fresh- and saltwater forage species.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz0cnbRdpho

Watch A Video


Features • Unique soft plastic popper design thanks to super buoyant ElaZtech material

• Cupped face and side-to-side walking movement creates strike-provoking surface action

• For best results, rig weedless with a heavy wire 4/0 or 5/0 offset EWG style hook

• Ideal for a number of fresh- and saltwater species, includ-ing bass, pike, stripers, snook, redfish, seatrout, and more!

• 10X Tough withstands violent surface strikes and being ripped through surface cover

• 5” length, 3 baits per pack, available in 8 vibrant topwater colors

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Designed to be paired with the Finesse TRD, Finesse ShadZ, or Hula StickZ to create the perfect Ned Rig, the Finesse ShroomZ jighead sport a custom wire keeper welded onto the hook shank that not only makes rigging a breeze, but holds ElaZtech baits securely without the need for gluing. The unique keeper, coupled with the extreme durability of 10X Tough ElaZtech, creates a near bul-letproof package that will fish-after-fish for hours on-end without the need for re-rigging.

ZMAN Finesse ShroomZ™ New Launches The Asian Angler


ZMAN Finesse ShroomZ™Note: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

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• Designed for Midwest finesse style fishing, aka the Ned Rig

• Ideal for use with any small ElaZtech baits

• Unique wire keeper is welded directly to the hook shank to make rigging simple and hold ElaZtech baits securely

• Mushroom-shaped head blends seamlessly into finesse baits and is preferred by top finesse fisher-men

• Built around premium, high carbon black nickel hooks

• Available in 1/15, 1/10, and 1/6 oz weights for a variety of finesse scenarios, both deep and shallow

• Offered in 4 colors, 5 jigheads per pack

Features


The Finesse TRD (The Real Deal) is designed specifially for the Mid-west finesse style of fishing, more commonly known as the Ned Rig, which has been gaining momentum nationwide as a subtle and easy-to-master, yet amazingly effective, pre-sentation. While savvy anglers have been modifying ElaZtech baits for years to create perfect baits for Mid-west finesse fishing, the TRD pos-sesses the ideal finesse profile in a ready-to-fish package. A softer ElaZ-tech formulation and custom salt content allow the TRD to exhibit the precise sink rate, lifelike action, and irresistible feel that expert finesse anglers have learned result in longer holds and increased hook-up ratios.

ZMAN Finesse TRD™ New Launches The Asian Angler


ZMAN Finesse TRD™Note: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

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Features • Specially designed for increasingly popular Midwest finesse technique, aka the Ned Rig

• Custom ElaZtech formulation and salt content to provide the ideal sink rate, lifelike feel, and unique flutter desired by top finesse fishermen

• Dimpled texture provides an increased realistic feel

• Designed to be fished on Finesse ShroomZ jighead

• Very easy to fish, perfect for beginners and children

• Employed by tournament fishermen in tough conditions

• Effective on a variety of species including largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, bream, crappie, white bass, drum, catfish, walleye, and more!

• Super tough ElaZtech construction

• 2.75” in length, available in 8 colors

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Looking for a case to put you terminal tackle? The all new VFOX Robinson RB-04M Case is one to consider. It comes with high quality plastic and it is built tough to with-stand all types of weather. It is wa-terproof and will keep your terminal tackle dry should it fall into the water or should you get caught in a heavy downpour.

VFOX Robinson RB-04M Case New Launches The Asian Angler


VFOX Robinson RB-04M CaseNote: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

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The Robinson RB-04M looks re-ally good being well designed and it comes with rubber footings to reduce sliding. Inside the case are compart-ments that are adjustable to fit your terminal tackle, and these compart-ments are protected by clear plastic covers that stops them from drop-ping into other compartments.

For more information call Brilliant Tackle at +6 06 334 4555 or visit their website at www.brilliant-tackle.com

The clear covers are spring loaded and will flip open when you unlock the latch. Being clear also allows you to see what you have in each com-partment without having to open up the covers only to find out that you have got the wrong compartment open.

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Fishing lip grips are essential these days. The VFOX Fishing Lip Grip FLG-09 is a high quality fish-ing lip grip that is well designed and looks really good. It is made of alu-minium giving it the lightweight feel and strength.

VFOX Fishing Lip Grip FLG-09 New Launches The Asian Angler


VFOX Fishing Lip Grip FLG-09Note: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

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It comes with a rubber grip that al-lows you a firm and good grip with-out reducing the slippage especially with the weight of a large fish at the other end.

The FLG-09 uses a trigger to open and close the clamps making it easy to manage especially when you’ve got a fish by the water wanting to get away while your other hand is hold-ing on to your fishing rod, as you try to insert the clamp of the lip grip into the fishes mouth.

To help ensure that the lip grip is not lost the FLG-09 comes with a spring type lanyard with a carabineer that can be attached to your belt or to any area that is convenient and comfort-able to you.


We spend good amounts of money on our fishing equipment and it is important that we keep them safe and that includes out fish-ing reels. VFOX recently launched the VFOX Reel Bag SBR-2001 M for round reels.

New Launches The Asian AnglerNote: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

VFOX Reel Bag SBR-2001 M


VFOX Reel Bag SBR-2001 M

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The SBR-2001 M is made of neo-prene which give some protection. It has absorption properties that absorb shock and at the same time protects the reel from damage. It is also easy to put on as it uses Velcro straps to secure reels in place.

New Launches The Asian AnglerNote: Products in this section have not been tested by The Asian Angler magazine

The VFOX SBR Rod bags are designed to keep you rods safe es-pecially during transportation. They act as protective shell made of EVA. Many a times rods are damaged dur-ing transportation when they hit against something hard. The VFOX SBR Rod Bags are made to eliminate such damage.

VFOX SBR Rod Bag SBRB-3068 & 2068


VFOX SBR Rod Bag SBRB-3068 & 2068

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VFOX SBR rods bags come in vari-ous lengths and configuration. One uses a flip type cover with a Velcro strap that straps around the flip to keep the rod within safe and secured. The other uses a zip that zips all the way from one end to the other. It opens up all the way. The one with the zip comes with a strap as well for easy or convenient carrying about.

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When it comes to cases for your terminal tackle such as swivels, snaps, hooks, split shots, etc. there are quite a few in the market but this case, the VFOX Robinson RB-04M cer-tainly takes the cake. If I were to be a secret agent, this would be the kind of case that I will be fishing with.

What A Case

VFOX Robinson RB-04M

Introducin’The Asian Angler

What A Case

VFOX Robinson RB-04M

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Well Designed

Well DesignedWhen it comes to such cases, most of them are just normal plastics with a cover, and that’s about it. Most of them are pur-pose built and thus look boring most of the time. The Robinson RB-04M is designed really well somewhat like a weapons case or a case someone would keep plutonium in.

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Good Locking MechanismWhen it comes to such cases, most of them are just normal plastics with a cover, and that’s about it. Most of them are pur-pose built and thus look boring most of the time. The Robinson RB-04M is designed really well somewhat like a weapons case or a case someone would keep plutonium in.

Good Locking Mechanism

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Spring Operated Covers

Spring Operated CoversOpen up the case and you will see more covers. Push on the latches and the covers spring open. All covers work this way giving the Robinson RB-04M a very classy look and feel. What’s more im-portant is that each individual compartments are sealed really quite tightly. Hooks and small snaps will not be able to travel to other compartments freely.

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Adjustable Compartments

The compartments are adjust-able by removing the separators. Should you have a need to bring along longer or larger hooks, snaps, etc. all that needs to be done is to remove the needed separators to make the compart-ments larger. This adds to prac-ticality.

Adjustable Compartments

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Waterproof Goodness

Waterproof Goodness

Another thing that I like about the Robinson RB-04M is that it is waterproof. A rubber goes around the rim of the case and when the case is shut tight, the rubber blocks water from sip-ping in keeping our hooks, snaps, etc. safe and dry inside.

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Conclusion

The VFOX Robinson RB-04M looks great and feels really good. It has the feel of up market high-er priced cases. What’s great is how it works and it is certainly a case that will like to have with me on my fishing expeditions.

Conclusion

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Zaco Crank CF75M

Introducin’ The Asian Angler

Zaco Crank CF75M

ZACO CF75M bait naturally gives a sense of dimensions and impressively re-duces air resistance. By using a combina-tion of tungsten and steel balls for weight balance system, ZACO CF75M secures out-standing casting distance.

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Additionally, it was built with the detailed calculation of the optimal lip angle that oc-curs right after the landing. Through these excellent designs, it minimizes the reflection of light from any angle, and enables wob-bling action from even subtle movements.

Adding rattle inside the body embodies a realistic vibration and wavelength that a bait fish makes and it delivers to further places in order to effectively attract bass. The Crank comes with our company’s self-developed distinctive colors that have prov-en to catch fish. Crank series adopts durable and sharp treble hooks approved by all cer-tificated tests.

Specifications

Specifications

Body Length: 75mm (3”)

Weight: 19g (2/3oz)

Buoyancy: Floating

Running Depth: 2 - 3m (6.6 - 9.8ft)

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FEATURESBest in Class Quality

Hand Spray Process with Durability

High Quality Paint with Visuality

Internal Holographic Foil

3D Holographic Eyes

High Strength Treble Hooks

Tungsten Ball with Long Casting Design

Glass Rattle Inside

For more information please refer to: http://www.theoutdoorlure.com/zacocf75m/





3D Holographic Eyes


Tungsten Ball with Long Casting Design

Glass Rattle Inside


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Zaco Minnow SP70S

Introducin’ The Asian Angler

With a carefully designed thin tail part, ZACO SP70S reaches the target water level in a short period of time. Also, what has been put into consideration is the weight balance for the sake of improving its carry distance. The appropriate balance of wig-gling and wobbling can easily attract target fish.

Zaco Minnow SP70S

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Using a proper line allows suspension time for a user to take advantage of. The SP70S come with our company’s self-developed distinctive colors that have proven to catch fish. The SP70S adopts durable and sharp treble hooks approved by all certificated tests.

SpecificationsBody Length: 70mm (2-3/4”)

Weight: 6.4g (7/32oz)

Buoyancy: Suspending 16ºC (60ºF)

Running Depth: 0.7m (2.2ft)





3D Holographic Eyes


Glass Rattle Inside


SpecificationsBody Length: 70mm (2-3/4”)

Weight: 6.4g (7/32oz)

Buoyancy: Suspending 16ºC (60ºF)

Running Depth: 0.7m (2.2ft)





3D Holographic Eyes


Glass Rattle Inside


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Skill Enhancers

Fishing With Spoons Part 4 - Basic Presentations: Let It Fall

Fishing With Spoons Part 4 - Basic Presentations: Let It Fall

Spoons are so very versatile. There is no such thing as only one way to present a spoon unless of course you only know of one way to do so. I believe that we need not discuss casting as I believe all of you know how to cast. We’ll focus on “fall” also called “drop” action which is when the spoon breaks the water’s sur-face and falls to the bottom.

Philemon Foo

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Factors To Note

There are certain general factors that we need to con-sider here and they are the size of the spoon, the weight of the spoon, and the design. For the purpose of this article I will refer to the teardrop designed spoon (be-ing a very common spoon).

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How these factors affect the spoon is in the way it falls or the fall action. Spoons of different weights and sizes have different fall actions. Generally larger spoons with larger surfaces will have wider flutter, wobble, glide, etc. as compared to smaller spoons.

Lighter spoons may not drop slower than larger heavier spoons as lighter spoons usually have smaller surface areas and thus may drop faster due to lower amounts of resistance from the water. Smaller spoons usually have narrower flutter and shorter glides. Spoons of dif-ferent sizes also gives out different acoustics (noises) and bubble trails underwater.

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Indirect Factors

The indirect factors include the weight of the hook used, hook type (single or treble hook), weight of ac-cessories used such as swivels and snaps, as well as the buoyancy of the lines (leader and main) used.

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Tank Tested Spoons

Most spoons(those that go through tank testing) are tested with the hook that it comes with. Most of the time we change these hooks to better hooks or hooks that we are comfortable with such as single hooks, and doing so may change the action of the spoon.

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Balancing Issues

Changing the weight and size of the swivel and snap does affect the spoon’s action too. Using heavier or lighter swivels and snaps will shift the weight in either direction (towards the swivel and snap or away which is usually towards the hook).

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Line Buoyancy

Leaders and mainlines used have a certain degree of buoyancy. Braided lines tend to float. Fused lines and monofilament lines will sink at various rates. The fast-est sinking lines are fluorocarbon lines and certain new technological advanced fused lines. All lines have different sink rates. Line diameters too affect sink rate. These too effects the action of the spoon during the drop.

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Environmental Factors

For those not in the know, saltwater such as the sea, does affect spoons differently as compared to fresh-water. Things tend to have better buoyancy out at sea due to saltwater being more condensed as compared to freshwater. Then there are also currents to consider (rivers and sea) but let us not get too hung up on all these.

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So What Now?With all that we have discussed thus far, my recom-mendation before you make that cast is to first not worry too much about what you have no control over. Second, drop the spoon in the water in front of you and see how it drops (action).

Take a mental note of its drop rate (speed). Drop the spoon about 3 feet from the tip, place the spoon on the water’s surface and drop your rod tip to about a feet from the water surface while you mentally count how long the spoon reaches the bottom (where you feel the weight of the spoon on your rod tip).

Next, drag the spoon left to right or vice versa at dif-ferent speeds to see the different swim actions. This will give you an idea of how your spoon will swims during the retrieving process of which we will discuss in a future article.

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Why Is The Fall Important?

Yes, I have fished with many angler who cast out spoons and start retrieving right when the spoon hits the wa-ter. It is not wrong to do so. But many a times fishes take spoons during the drop as it makes its way to the bottom. As it drops it wobbles, flutters, glides, etc. and should there be a nearby fish, chances are it may hit your spoon.

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Fishing Different Water Columns

Another reason is to allow your spoon to reach a cer-tain depth (water columns) before cranking it back. Say for example, you see fishes hanging out at about 5 feet beneath the water’s surface and you want your spoon to swim close to them. What you will have to do is to wait for your spoon to drop till it reaches the said water column before you retrieve.

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Know Your Drop Rate

As mentioned earlier, I highly recom-mend that you test your setup and spoon’s drop rate. When you know your spoon’s drop rate you can do a mental count during the “wait,” somewhat like fishing with a countdown lure; for it to reach the wanted water column before you start retrieving.

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When Not To Drop

There are times when allowing your spoon to drop to the bottom can be a risky affair and you may not want to take that risk. This is when you are casting to areas where hard snags like logs are present and you’re using treble hooks. Chances of snagging onto a log is really quite high and you thus you may decide not to risk it.

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Personally I prefer to use single hooks as doing so re-duces the risk of getting snagged and losing your spoon quite significantly. This allows me to fish along snags and catch fishes hiding amongst them. Do think about your setup as well such as rod power / action, line lb, etc. should you decide to cast towards snags.

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Pics courtesy of MGFA, Pure Fishing

Pics courtesy of MGFA, Pure Fishing

Conclusion

To help you remember to allow your spoon to drop keep this in mind... Cast, Wait, Retrieve. When you are fishing in water such as lakes, dams, out at sea, etc. you have the option of allowing your spoon to drop to the bottom. Unless it is really snaggy and you cannot stomach the lost of your spoon, try allowing your spoon to drop.

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Let’s Talk About Bearings: Part 1 Knowledge Wise

Let’s Talk About Bearings: Part 1 Philemon Foo

Bearings, one of the more important factors a lot of anglers use to consider how good a reel is. I have overheard without intentions of eavesdrop-ping that this reel is better because it has more bearings than the other one; or you should get this reel because it has got more bearings.

What Are Bearings?

So, what are bearings? Bearings are in gener-al little things that could be shaped like balls or cylinders that helps to reduce friction between parts. In general that is what bearings really are but then why are they so important that anglers use them as a means of judging how good a reel is?

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Fishing And HeatOur reels work really hard when we fish. It works hard when we are casting (bait casting reels es-pecially). They work hard when we retrieve our lures or baits. They work hard when we are fight-ing fishes. They even work hard when we are spooling in lines, removing lines, etc. When they work, friction amongst parts creates heat.

Big game anglers that play with turbocharged high performance fishes can attest to how hot a reel can get when in battle. Reels have burnt with parts inside breaking mid fight. Some reels get so hot that they could lightly burn one’s skin. Thus you sometimes hear stories of people pour-ing water on their reels mid fight to cool it down. Heat is caused by friction.

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Why Use Bearings?

First off, I want to make clear that personally I am not a believer in the “more bearings is better gospel.” I believe that the efficient use of bearings is more important than the amount of bearings. That said, bearings are super important because they help to reduce friction thus reducing reel breakage mid fight. They also help with stability and balance.

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Types Of Bearings Found In ReelsInside your fishing reels there are basically 3 types of bearings and they all have a role to play. These bearings are:

Radial BearingsRadial bearings are found on reel shafts that sup-ports spools, side plates, handle knobs, etc. They allow for smoother operations. When one talks about how smooth a reel is, this is one of the con-tributing factors.

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One Way BearingsOne Way Bearings are needle roller clutch bear-ings that are designed to move only in one direc-tion. The one way bearing is normally placed at the side plate of the handle area. The use of one way bearings is as the name suggests, to allow smooth movements in one direction.

Ball BearingsBall bearings are basically balls that are placed at places such as the areas that support the shafts in certain reels, inside certain handle knobs, to sup-port certain worm gears, etc. They are of course sound inside radial bearings.

All these bearings are made using various mate-rials such as steel, stainless steel , and ceramic of which we will cover in later magazine issues.

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Bushings Vs. Bearings

Remember earlier on I said that I am not a be-liever in the gospel of more bearings means bet-ter reel? The reason is because for certain reels more bearings may not be better. One example is saltwater reels. Certain parts in saltwater reels are more prone to getting wet with saltwater.

Being corrosive in nature, saltwater can and will rust even expensive good quality stainless steel. For reasons of such some reel manufacturers use bushings instead of bearings for these parts and it makes sense maintenance wise.

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Simply Adding Bearings

Another reason is that there are manufacturer who add bearings just for the sake of adding bearings to create a better image of their reels (some only claim to have that many but actu-ally don’t). Doing so brings no benefit but there is the additional weight and maintenance issues to think about (rusting bearings breaking up and causing damage to other parts for example).

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High Quality ReelsThere are high quality reels with lots of bearings like the Shimano Stella that comes with 14+1 bearing. A lot of time, effort, and money has gone into making them better reels and the bearings used are placed there functionally to give one the ultimate of smoothness and feel as well as better durability to parts. In such instances I agree whole-heartedly with the amounts of bearings needed.

So Now You Know So now you know why bearings are important and having more does not always mean better. What’s more impor-tant is functionality. This article should also give you new found respect for your reels. Take care of them well and they will in return take care of you.

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News Worthy The Asian Angler

Power CollaborationGood custom rod builders can build really good rods but they may not have enough clout to work with rod factories to have them mass produced at a good price point. Rod brands on the other hand can make very good rods at affordable prices but these rods are normally not as finely tuned as those made by a specialized custom rod builder.

Dream TeamRecently MGFA (Malaysian Game Fishing Anglers) joined forc-es with a very well known rod builder, Kenny of Extreme An-glers, who has build rods for many anglers from many countries around the world, and whom himself fishes a lot. This collabora-tion completes a very powerful puzzle bringing finely tuned rods to anglers at mass production prices.

Power Collaboration

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MGFA

There are high quality reels with lots of bearings like the Shimano Stella that comes with 14+1 bearing. A lot of time, effort, and money has gone into making them better reels and the bearings used are placed there functionally to give one the ultimate of smoothness and feel as well as better durability to parts. In such instances I agree wholeheartedly with the amounts of bearings needed.

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Kenny Extreme Anglers

Kenny is a hardcore angler and have been building custom rods for a long time. As the name Extreme Anglers go, Kenny is known for building fine tuned rods working with a very sound knowledge of blanks, precise guide placements, etc. and has cre-ated rods to handle extreme fishing.

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Having A Chat

We recently had a chat to discover why such a collaboration happened and it made a lot of sense. First of all, such a col-laboration will make the country (Malay-sia) proud and has the potential to change the future of fishing. Here is our chat with Mak of MGFA & Kenny of Extreme An-glers.

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Chat TimeWhy did MGFA decide to collaborate with Extreme Anglers?

MGFA and EXTREME ANGLERS share the same goal and vision. Our goal is to build a local brand and make it global. We want anglers around the world to recognize Malaysia as a country that is able to produce and engineer quality prod-ucts. This to me is the most important element in our part-nership.

To build a brand with international recognition, the core product itself needs to be really good and to serve func-tionality. It must be engineered to outperform many and sit on par with the best. And finally, innovation is the key for survival in a competitive environment and Kenny’s in-depth knowledge is our asset to open that door.

Kenny is the most technically sound person I know in the industry, be it about fishing equipment or the sport itself. When Kenny talks, he talks with many years of experience. He is also very hand-on and is constantly at the forefront of changing global trends. He does not derive knowledge from GOOGLE or catalogues.

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What is the difference between Kenny’s design and the others?

Kenny’s design focuses on functionality while many other rod makers fo-cuses more on the form (outlook / design) making them attractive, easy to produce, and easy to mass market.

In our collaboration Kenny will handle the technical parts of building the ZEN ZAGAN of which includes the guide system, handle construction, blank engineering and material, and the action as well as the power of the rod; hence the term CUSTOM STANDARD.

In Malaysia, there is a lot of misconceived idea about custom rod building. Many anglers build custom rods for the sole purpose of owning a piece of his favourite rod that no other angler can purchase off the shelf. There are also some anglers who chance upon a blank that they like but is not pro-duced into a complete rod for them to purchase. They thus purchase the blank and have a rod built for them.

But when it comes to EXTREME ANGLERS, a custom built rod is made to outperform mass production rods that are found off the shelves. First off, the blank and its character must be made for a certain type of fishing tak-ing into consideration the length, the blank action, lb ratings, and materi-als used.

The next but also very important aspect, something of which many do not fully grasp, is the guide settings. Many just follow the Fuji catalogue as long as Fuji guides are in use, or they will refer to popular fishing rods available in the market to ensure that nothing will go wrong. However, these may not always be the best settings for the said rods.

Each and every blank has its own character although they may share the same length or lb rating, and with different characters one will have to set the guides differently to optimize the performance standards of the blank according to the fishing application it is built for.

When both these factors are combined, we get what we call a rod with high functionality or an well rounded rod; a rod that is light for its class, well balanced, sensitive and responsive to work lures or jigs, and ultimately delivers enough power and comfort during battles with fishes.

What type of jigging rods are local anglers (Malaysian anglers) most interested in and what is demanded of these rods?

Most local anglers want their jigging rods to be light, thin or fine (smaller in diameter) as they move towards using smaller reel sizes and lower line lb. Many anglers have started enjoying the challenges of fighting a big fish on smaller tackle as well as the effectiveness of smaller jigs.

Of course what Malaysian anglers enjoy most is the fight more than any-thing else. We tend to fight hard, fast, and aggressive with high drag set-tings and that sometimes results in rods breaking. Many prefer a rod that can take a fair amount of abuse, as well as a rod that allows the angler to focus on the fight having full confidence in his tackle giving him zero fail-ure.

How many series are there in the new ZEN ZAGAN stable?

5 series – 16 models. These models are:

SLOW TWITCH – PE 1-3 Standard Jigging / Bottom Rod

METAL MAYHEM – PE 2-3 Standard Jigging / Bottom Rod

MICRO MANIA – 0-6-1.5, 0.8-2.0 Micro Jigging – But also able to take 40gm

OFFSHORE SHOOTER – Boat casting – Sinking Minnows, Poppers, Spoon

Good for TENGGIRI, DORADO, GT, QUEENFISH

SLOW PITCH 6’6” PE 1-3 , PE 2-4 – Slow pitch game

What are the advantages of the new series?

The advantages of this new series is the ability to handle many different fish-ing techniques applicable to coastal boat game fishing. Any angler to owns a set of Zagan rods is considered fully equipped to fish for many parts of our waters.

Every model shares two common characteristics in its blank construction of which are being lightweight and powerful. If you have use any one of the models and you like it, I am very confident that you will end up falling for the rest.

What is the purpose of developing this new series?

The purpose of this new series is to allow our anglers to fish with using the many varieties of techniques that they are exposed to and to give our salt-water anglers a fishing rod that is specifically designed for our local con-ditions, techniques, and game fishes. We believe that this will enable our anglers to fish better and enjoy the fishing experience better too.

Many reputable rods in the market are made without focusing on our mar-ket and our anglers, but their place or country of origin. Therefore they may not be the best rods made to handle our game fishes as well as our lo-cal fishing conditions.

Will there be further collaboration between MGFA & EXTREME ANGLERS to develop new rod series?

MGFA and EXTREME ANGLERS next collaboration will be the GTZERO ready built rods that will be tuned by Kenny. We will also collaborate on a new brand of which will be an ongoing project.

Conclusion

Well, the future is exciting. I am excited with the possibilities that this col-laboration will bring to our fishing scene.. Better rods, better performance, and better prices. We are patiently awaiting.

VIPER STING (HIGHEST STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS)

With light tackle picking up steam, the new Viper Sting rod is poised to give light tackle anglers a lot of fun. The Viper Sting is lightweight and built tough using high quality graphite blanks and thus is able to manage many species of fish while not be-ing overly rigid thus allowing anglers loads of fun.

Highlighting

VIPER STING (HIGHEST STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS)

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Confident Handling

The Viper Sting’s EVA is ergonomically de-signed in such away to give you the most comfortable of grip while you are fishing. Care is also put into the weight of the EVA as the Viper Sting is a well balance rod and rod balancing is a delicate process, thus it is important to ensure that balance is main-tained despite shaving off weight at the EVA.

Confident Handling

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Quality Built

Quality Built Viper Sting rods are carbon rods that are well designed and sporty being adorned with carbon fiber wrap, quality Fuji com-ponents, high quality EVA handles, and quality graphite blank.

Baitcasting

VS562MLB 6-12LB 6-17G

VS561MLB 6-12LB 6-17G

VS602MLB 6-15LB 6-20G

VS602MB 8-17LB 7-21G

VS601MLB 6-15LB 6-20G

Spinning

VS602MS 8-17LB 7-21G

VS662MHS 8-20LB 7-25G

VS702MHS 10-20LB 10-30G

For more information contact MGFA at +6 07 8619 289

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Lucky Draw ContestIn just four steps and you could win yourself any of the prizes below

1st Prize - FX-400N(AccurateReel)-1pc

2nd Prize - 7435(PfluegerReel)-1pc

3rd Prize - 6930-1pc(PflugerReel)-1pc

4th to 30th - OAG RM50.00 Voucher for buying Zman products that are

available in OAG Worldwide Sdn. Bhd.

All you need to do is to:1. Take a photo of your catch using any ZMAN products (must be clearly

seen).

2. Download the Lucky Draw Contest Form.

3. Answer 3 simple questions, place the photo of your catch, and the proof of purchase.

4. Send your entrant to OAG Worldwide Sdn. Bhd. No. 5-1, Jalan Setia Dagang U13/AJ, Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Tel: +603-3358 6003

Terms & Conditions

1. This lucky draw contest is open to all citizens of Malaysia and Brunei, except for employees / staffs or OAG Worldwide Sdn. Bhd., immediate family members, and other parties involved in this contest.

2. This lucky draw contest will be held two months once starting1st February 2015 to 31st January 2017.

3. Participants can send in multiple entries. All entries must include a OAG Halo-gen Sticker that comes on the packaging of all ZMAN products including ZMAN soft baits, ZMAN DieZel Spin, Chatterbait, JigheadZ, Shaky HeadZ packaging as proof of purchase. All entries are accumulative.

4. All entries must include personal details.

* The organizer will not be responsible should prizes sent out not reach the winner of the said prize.

Terms & Conditions continues on the next page.

1st

2nd3rd

4th

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5. All entries must be complete with photo, answers, OAG Hologram Sticker, and personal details.

6. All entries must reach OAG Worldwide by the 30th of each contest month.

7. Any incomplete entry and late entries will automatically be disqualified.

8. All photos submitted will be the property of OAG Worldwide Sdn. Bhd. and participating in this lucky draw automatically consents the used of said photo-graphs to be used in any legal way by OAG Worldwide Sdn. Bhd.

9. The organizer reserves the rights to substitute prizes with any other prizes of same value should the need arise.

10. The organizer reserves the rights to change or amend any rules, terms, and regulations at any time without prior notice.

11. Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable for cash.

12. All decisions made by the organizer are final and no correspondence will be entertained.

Hologram Sticker As Proof Of Purchase

Hologram Sticker As Proof Of Purchase

Questions:

Select True or False on the following question:

a) Zman is USA brand.

True False

b) Most of the Zman products are made in the USA.

True False

c) OAG Worldwide Sdn Bhd is the sole distributor of Accurate Fishing Pro ducts, and Pflueger Products in Malaysia, and OAG Worldwide Sdn Bhd also carries Zman , Smith and Hots Products.

True False

Personal Information:

Name (as in NRIC/IC): _________________________________________

IC (Identification Card) number: __________________________________

Contact Number: _____________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________

Correspondence Address: ______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

Lucky Draw Contest Form

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The Asian Angler Stuffs And Goodies

SOG Knives

From bluegills in a farm pond to tuna on the high seas, the rewards of fishing are when you catch that prized dream fish and when bait fish-ing we need to slice bait sometimes. This fillet knife helps to do just that quickly and expertly with a limber, non-stick, SOG sharp stainless steel blade designed to transform meat into bait.

The SOG Fillet Knife is everything you want in a fillet knife. SOG’s pur-pose-driven fillet knife is definitely a keeper. The soft grippy handle and the flexible non-stick blade gives you maximum control and comfort while filleting. The included hard molded nylon sheath has a built-in single-stage sharpener, line cutter, and holes for easy drainage. The SOG Fillet Knives come in two blade lengths: 6.0-inch for smaller fish and 7.5-inch for your all-purpose fillet use.

Website: http://www.sogknives.com/

Note: This product may not be available in some markets.

SOG Knives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kPnD_kw2aY

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Columbia North Plain™ Waterproof ShoesAn incredible value, this lightweight, versatile shoe delivers performance and durability in a package that won’t break the bank. Aggressively lugged rub-ber soles provide superior traction while the waterproof-breathable bootie membrane keeps you dry. On top, a combination of suede, textile and webbing keeps feet secure and protected. A true all-rounder, this shoe is ideal for a vari-ety of trail-based activities from hiking to running.

CONSTRUCTION:

• Techlite midsole for lightweight cushioning

• Omni-Grip rubber for optimal traction on all surfaces

• Combination suede leather, textile and webbing upper

• Waterproof-breathable bootie membrane to lock moisture out

• Aggressive Omni-Grip non-marking rubber lugged outsole

• Waterproof materials and construction method

• Weight: size 9, ½ pair = 12.6oz / 357

Website: http://www.columbia.com/mens-north-plains-waterproof-BM3896.html


Columbia North Plain™ Waterproof Shoes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnMc2PjvoPU

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Ricoh WG-M1 Waterproof Action Camera Live out your adventure with the all-new WG-M1. The latest addition to the WG series combines the features you love, including waterproof, shock-resistant and coldproof assurance plus the ability to capture class leading high-resolution images and motion activities. With the ultra-wide angle lens, users are sure to capture an array of outdoor activities from underwater adventures to daredevil outdoor fun. Waterproof up to a depth of 32 feet and cold resistant to temperatures as low as -10°C, the WG-M1 is ideal for the adventure seeker.

With the equipped Wi-Fi connection, sending still images and movies from your smart phone is made easy for uploading to your favorite social media site. With the WG-M1 you’ll be able to capture dynamic Full HD movie clips with a realistic sense of depth. The rugged, heavy-duty design which offers large but-tons and controls for ease of use, mimics that of the other WG series cameras. Equipped with a 1.5-inch color LCD monitor, you can easily check real-time images during both still-image and movie shooting modes. The WG-M1 is the must-have camera for the thrill seeker looking to capture the world around.

Website: http://www.us.ricoh-imaging.com/digital-camera/WG-M1_Orange


Ricoh WG-M1 Waterproof Action Camera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev0F2-i5EbU

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Get Your Kids FishingAn Initiative By The Asian Angler Magazine

Fishing is a very healthy sport. As anglers we enjoy fresh air, we experience nature, we improve our analytical skills, we absorb vitamins from the sun, we expend our minds, we learn about the environment, etc.

There are so many benefits to fishing and we should reduce our kids addiction to video games, computer games, playing with mobile devices, etc. We should get them to interact more with our environment and teach them a thing or two about life and living life.

With this in mind we hope to encourage you to take your kid(s) fishing and have dedicated a sec-tion of our magazine to Junior Anglers.

Junior Anglers

Get Your Kids FishingAn Initiative By The Asian Angler Magazine

* Picture courtesy of Pure Fishing339

Junior Anglers

Marching Through March

By Amirul Irfan

Marching Through March

Overall, March has been great. The weather was hot and water levels dropped but I man-aged to hook a few fish. Pressure from other commitments such as school has limited my fishing time but I still have the weekends. No-tice the mount of soil at the end of the ‘steroid’ pond?

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The back of the ‘steroid’ pond has a different view now. I presume that it will be cov-ered, so I have decided to start my snakehead relocation pro-gram. From the beginning of March I have caught and kept snakeheads, and will relocate them to other locations. Other fish species will be included.

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Bashing through the jungle to reach a spot with lots of tree stumps, snakeheads and peacock bass.

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I have failed to pluck any fish out of this area. I tried fishing the Berkley Havoc Pitboss, but I failed to set the hook after a Giant Snakehead took it. There are some peacock bass lurking around in this area too.

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The anticipation of fishing topwa-ter lures is exciting. Seeing ‘tor-pedo’ shaped wakes going straight towards your lure can make your heart stop for a while. I am a top-water fan, and I am sure that will never change.

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30cm Striped Snakehead on the Ra-pala Countdown 5 in Golden Albur-nus. I decided to match the hatch as the fish in the steroid pond are very spooky and I was successful. The tight wiggle and baitfish profile of the countdown is perfect for fooling wary snakeheads.

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Rapala Countdown 5 in Hot Tiger. This snakeheads was fooled by my younger brother right before we left. Another lure added to my favourite list.

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Juvenile striped snakehead caught with a worm in just 10 seconds. The low water level and high temperatures made the fish passive so I had to use bait. Back to basics can be fun.

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A tilapia caught on worms too. Fighting it with 4lb Berkley So-lutions mono is fun. It pulled my bobber around and put up a great fight until I had it in my hands. Now it is in my aquar-ium feasting on shrimps while waiting to be relocated.

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I tried to fish for another tila-pia at the same spot but this juve-nile striped snakehead managed to steal the worms first. It made a run into some reeds and 4lb test was not enough. I had to get in and pull it out of the reeds with a plank.

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My youngest brother managed to hook this juvenile tilapia. They look great when they are small.

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This juvenile snakehead was caught on a live minnow in around a minute. Watching my float bob away after the snakehead took the minnow was tempting. The hook was small but it managed to hook the lip of this snakehead.

363

Climbing Perch caught on a worm. Bigger ones were nibbling hard but they managed to get away.

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Mr.Zul Ali, a friend I met at Uncle Jim’s tackle shop. He thought me some great knowledge about hampala barbs and snakeheads. During our short meet and fish session, I missed a few juvenile snakeheads but it was fun.

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Some snakeheads in the hold-ing tank. Currently I have 6 snake-heads waiting to be relocated. I feed them with shrimp and minnows I net at the ‘steroid pond’. Hundreds of shrimp can be caught in an hour by using a homemade minnow trap.

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The Berkley Powerbait Kasumi Craw never fails to produce. I used the green pumpkin colour for con-trast in the murky water on that particular day. I fished the craw at a fast pace on top of some hydrilla.

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I do not know what is that orange marking on this snakehead. It seems to be a healed wound, but I am not re-ally sure.

Super stoked for April , and I hope everyone reading this will have a great time ahead be it on the water or in an office (dreaming about fishing..). Please remember to stay safe while fishing. Recently I have heard of mul-tiple fishing related accidents. If you are fishing from a boat, wear proper gear and take necessary measures to prevent any accidents.

Tight lines and Happy fishing.

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Featuring

For more information please visit www.purefishingmalaysia.com

• 7 stainless steel HPCR™ bearings + 1 roller bearing provides increased corrosion protection• Carbon Matrix™ drag system provides smooth, consistent drag pressure across the entire drag range• Compact bent handle and star provide a more ergonomic design• 6 pin centrifugal brake gives consistent brake pressure throughout the cast• Synchronized level wind system improves line lay and castability• High capacity models available• Duragear 2 gear system provides increased gear strength for all fishing situations• Made in Sweden

MONO BRAID MAX GEAR INCHES HANDMODEL # SAP # CAPACITY CAPACITY DRAG RATIO PER TURN WEIGHT BEARINGS RETRIEVERCN-5600 1292709 Box 12 lb/135 yd 30 lb/135 15 lb 6.8:1 33 10.2 oz 8 RightRCN-6600HC 1292711 Box 12 lb/320 yd 30 lb/310 15 lb 4.7:1 23 11.8 oz 8 RightRCN-6601HC 1292712 Box 12 lb/320 yd 30 lb/310 15 lb 4.7:1 23 11.8 oz 8 Left

The international best seller got an overhaul. Increased stainless steel bearing count and the powerful Carbon Matrix™ drag system make the CS Pro Rocket Black Edition the choice for anglers looking for extra long castability and power.

ABU GARCIA AMBASSADEUR CS PRO ROCKET (Black Edition)ROCK-SOLID DURABILITY AND STYLE ENGINEERED FOR LONG DISTANCE CASTING

THE ABU ADVANTAGE

• 4 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing provides smooth operation• Carbon Matrix™ drag system gives smooth drag performance• Compact bent handle and star provide a more ergonomic design• 6 pin centrifugal brake gives consistent brake pressure throughout the cast• Synchronized level wind system improves line lay and castability• Made in Sweden

With 70+ years of notoriety, the next generation of Record reels continues the legacy of craftsmanship and design that has made this reel an icon. Improved Duragear 2 gear design and 8 bearing system deliver great casting performance and dependability.

ABU GARCIA AMBASSADEUR RECORDLEGENDARY POWER AND STYLE TO LAND YOUR NEXT RECORD

THE ABU ADVANTAGE

MONO BRAID MAX GEAR INCHES HANDMODEL # SAP # CAPACITY CAPACITY DRAG RATIO PER TURN WEIGHT BEARINGS RETRIEVE6500CSBPROROCKET 1292742 Box 14 lb/275 yd 30 lb/310 yd 15 lb 5.3:1 26 11.4 oz 5 Right


• 7 stainless steel HPCR™ bearings + 1 roller bearing provides increased corrosion protection• Carbon Matrix™ drag system provides smooth, consistent drag pressure across the entire drag range• Compact bent handle and star provide a more ergonomic design• 6 pin centrifugal brake gives consistent brake pressure throughout the cast• Synchronized level wind system improves line lay and castability• High capacity models available• Duragear 2 gear system provides increased gear strength for all fishing situations• Made in Sweden

MONO BRAID MAX GEAR INCHES HANDMODEL # SAP # CAPACITY CAPACITY DRAG RATIO PER TURN WEIGHT BEARINGS RETRIEVERCN-5600 1292709 Box 12 lb/135 yd 30 lb/135 15 lb 6.8:1 33 10.2 oz 8 RightRCN-6600HC 1292711 Box 12 lb/320 yd 30 lb/310 15 lb 4.7:1 23 11.8 oz 8 RightRCN-6601HC 1292712 Box 12 lb/320 yd 30 lb/310 15 lb 4.7:1 23 11.8 oz 8 Left

The international best seller got an overhaul. Increased stainless steel bearing count and the powerful Carbon Matrix™ drag system make the CS Pro Rocket Black Edition the choice for anglers looking for extra long castability and power.

ABU GARCIA AMBASSADEUR CS PRO ROCKET (Black Edition)ROCK-SOLID DURABILITY AND STYLE ENGINEERED FOR LONG DISTANCE CASTING

THE ABU ADVANTAGE

• 4 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing provides smooth operation• Carbon Matrix™ drag system gives smooth drag performance• Compact bent handle and star provide a more ergonomic design• 6 pin centrifugal brake gives consistent brake pressure throughout the cast• Synchronized level wind system improves line lay and castability• Made in Sweden

With 70+ years of notoriety, the next generation of Record reels continues the legacy of craftsmanship and design that has made this reel an icon. Improved Duragear 2 gear design and 8 bearing system deliver great casting performance and dependability.

ABU GARCIA AMBASSADEUR RECORDLEGENDARY POWER AND STYLE TO LAND YOUR NEXT RECORD

THE ABU ADVANTAGE

MONO BRAID MAX GEAR INCHES HANDMODEL # SAP # CAPACITY CAPACITY DRAG RATIO PER TURN WEIGHT BEARINGS RETRIEVE6500CSBPROROCKET 1292742 Box 14 lb/275 yd 30 lb/310 yd 15 lb 5.3:1 26 11.4 oz 5 Right

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PRECISION CASTING AND CONTROL IN THE ULTIMATE ROUND REEL

The PENN Squall Lever Drag 2-Speed is basically a graphite International and comes in the 3 most popular big game sizes. Made from graphite for its benefits of being both lightweight and corrosion resistant. The Quick-Shift 2-Speed and Dura-Drag systems have been perfected in our International reels and the technology has transfered downto the Squall platform.

PENN SQUALL LEVER DRAG 2-SPEED

THE PENN ADVANTAGE

THE ABU ADVANTAGE

• Lightweight graphite frame and sideplates• Forged and machined aluminum spool• Stainless steel main and pinion gear• Dura-Drag® washers virtually eliminate hesitation, even under extreme drag settings• Quick-Shift™ 2-speed system• 4 Shielded stainless steel ball bearings• Double-dog ratchet anti-reverse• Line Capacity Rings






SQL16VS 1292936 1090/15 • 725/20 • 540/30 1490/30 • 1040/50 • 865/65 4 20 lbs 26 lbs 4.5:1 / 2.1:1 39/18 38.5SQL30VSW 1292937

12929361395/20 • 1035/30 • 595/50 1995/50 • 1660/65 • 1435/80 4 24 lbs 32 lbs 4.2:1 / 1.8:1 41/18 47.0

SQL50VSW 1292938 1550/30 • 890/50 • 565/80 2485/65 • 2145/80 • 1835/100 4 30 lbs 40 lbs 2.9:1 / 1.5:1 33/17 55.6

TM

• 10 stainless steel HPCR™ bearings + 1 roller bearing provides increased corrosion protection• Machined aluminum frame and sideplates provides strength without excess weight • Carbon Matrix™ drag system provides smooth, consistent drag pressure across the entire drag range• IVCB-IVTM (Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake) gives very precise brake adjustments allowing anglers to easily cast a wide variety of baits• Infini II™ spool design for extended castability and extreme loads• Compact bent carbon handle provides a more ergonomic design that is extremely lightweight• Flat EVA knobs provide greater comfort and durability• Titanium coated line guide reduces friction and improves durability• Recessed reel foot allows for a more ergonomic reel design• Made in Sweden

MONO BRAID MAX GEAR INCHES HANDMODEL # SAP # CAPACITY CAPACITY DRAG RATIO PER TURN WEIGHT BEARINGS RETRIEVEMORRUMZX-3600 1292537 Box 12 lb/135 yd 30 lb/135yd 15 lb 6.3:1 28 7.34 oz 11 RightMORRUMZX-3601 1292538 Box 12 lb/135 yd 30 lb/135yd 15 lb 6.3:1 28 7.34 oz 11 Left

ABU GARCIA AMBASSADEUR MORRUM ZX

Not just any reel has what it takes to bear the Mörrum name - introducing the new Mörrum ZX. From its machined aluminum frame andsideplates to bent carbon handle and flat EVA knobs, no detail was spared in designing the ultimate round reel. Compact design coupled with the renowned IVCB-IV™ (Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake) system enables anglers to cast ultra-lightweight lures with precision, accuracy and control.


PRECISION CASTING AND CONTROL IN THE ULTIMATE ROUND REEL

The PENN Squall Lever Drag 2-Speed is basically a graphite International and comes in the 3 most popular big game sizes. Made from graphite for its benefits of being both lightweight and corrosion resistant. The Quick-Shift 2-Speed and Dura-Drag systems have been perfected in our International reels and the technology has transfered downto the Squall platform.

PENN SQUALL LEVER DRAG 2-SPEED

THE PENN ADVANTAGE

THE ABU ADVANTAGE

• Lightweight graphite frame and sideplates• Forged and machined aluminum spool• Stainless steel main and pinion gear• Dura-Drag® washers virtually eliminate hesitation, even under extreme drag settings• Quick-Shift™ 2-speed system• 4 Shielded stainless steel ball bearings• Double-dog ratchet anti-reverse• Line Capacity Rings






SQL16VS 1292936 1090/15 • 725/20 • 540/30 1490/30 • 1040/50 • 865/65 4 20 lbs 26 lbs 4.5:1 / 2.1:1 39/18 38.5SQL30VSW 1292937

12929361395/20 • 1035/30 • 595/50 1995/50 • 1660/65 • 1435/80 4 24 lbs 32 lbs 4.2:1 / 1.8:1 41/18 47.0

SQL50VSW 1292938 1550/30 • 890/50 • 565/80 2485/65 • 2145/80 • 1835/100 4 30 lbs 40 lbs 2.9:1 / 1.5:1 33/17 55.6

TM

• 10 stainless steel HPCR™ bearings + 1 roller bearing provides increased corrosion protection• Machined aluminum frame and sideplates provides strength without excess weight • Carbon Matrix™ drag system provides smooth, consistent drag pressure across the entire drag range• IVCB-IVTM (Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake) gives very precise brake adjustments allowing anglers to easily cast a wide variety of baits• Infini II™ spool design for extended castability and extreme loads• Compact bent carbon handle provides a more ergonomic design that is extremely lightweight• Flat EVA knobs provide greater comfort and durability• Titanium coated line guide reduces friction and improves durability• Recessed reel foot allows for a more ergonomic reel design• Made in Sweden

MONO BRAID MAX GEAR INCHES HANDMODEL # SAP # CAPACITY CAPACITY DRAG RATIO PER TURN WEIGHT BEARINGS RETRIEVEMORRUMZX-3600 1292537 Box 12 lb/135 yd 30 lb/135yd 15 lb 6.3:1 28 7.34 oz 11 RightMORRUMZX-3601 1292538 Box 12 lb/135 yd 30 lb/135yd 15 lb 6.3:1 28 7.34 oz 11 Left

ABU GARCIA AMBASSADEUR MORRUM ZX

Not just any reel has what it takes to bear the Mörrum name - introducing the new Mörrum ZX. From its machined aluminum frame andsideplates to bent carbon handle and flat EVA knobs, no detail was spared in designing the ultimate round reel. Compact design coupled with the renowned IVCB-IV™ (Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Brake) system enables anglers to cast ultra-lightweight lures with precision, accuracy and control.

For more information please visit www.purefishingmalaysia.com377

Featuring

• Lightweight graphite frame• Machined and anodized aluminum spool• Built in linecounter for precise depth control (LC models)• High-strength marine grade bronze alloy main gear• Precision-machined stainless steel pinion gear• HT-100™ drag washers provide smooth drag under heavy loads• Stainless steel level wind• Stainless steel reel stand

Model Mtr # (Box • Clam) Mono Cap. (yds/lb) Braid Cap. (yds/lb) Bearings Max Drag Gear Ratio Line Retrieve (in) Weight (oz)

321GT2 1152017 Box 410/15 • 290/20 • 190/30 775/20 • 575/30 • 400/50 2 12 lbs 4.3:1 25 23330GT2 1152021 Box 450/20 • 330/30 • 250/40 900/30 • 625/50 • 525/65 2 16 lbs 3.6:1 26 27

• Lightweight graphite frame and sideplates• Forged and machined aluminum spool• High-strength marine grade bronze alloy main gear• Stainless steel pinion gear

• 2+1 Shielded stainless steel bearing system• Instant Anti-Reverse bearing with silent back up ratchet• Line Capacity Rings

SwitchbladeTM Harness Lugs

available on the SQL50LW


AVAILABLE INLINECOUNTER

Model Material # Mono Cap. (yds/lb) Braid Cap. (yds/lb) Bearings Max Drag Gear Ratio Line Retrieve (in) Weight (oz)

SQL15LW 1292939 320/15 • 280/17 • 215/20 580/20 • 435/30 • 305/50 2+1 15 lbs 4.9:1 28 16.2SQL20LW 1292940 415/17 • 315/20 • 290/25 865/20 • 650/30 • 455/50 2+1 15 lbs 4.9:1 28 16.9SQL20LWLH 1292941 415/17 • 315/20 • 290/25 865/20 • 650/30 • 455/50 2+1 15 lbs 4.9:1 28 16.9SQL30LW 1292943 455/25 • 370/30 • 285/40 1020/30 • 710/50 • 590/65 2+1 20 lbs 4.9:1 35 20.9SQL30LWLH 1292944 455/25 • 370/30 • 285/40 1020/30 • 710/50 • 590/65 2+1 20 lbs 4.9:1 35 20.9SQL50LW 1292945 435/40 • 320/50 • 285/60 900/65 • 775/80 • 665/100 2+1 20 lbs 4.0:1 32 24.6

The PENN Squall Level Wind reel is the sucessor to the GT series reels which have been around for decades and proven themselves on big fish. The Squall LW has all of the proven featurs of the GT series, with the addition of improved gear ratios and an Instant Anti-Reverse bearing, in a more compact package. Left hand sizes available in the 20 and 30 sizes.

PENN SQUALL LEVEL WIND

THE PENN ADVANTAGE

The PENN GT family of reels is one of the most recognizable on the market and perhaps the most capable all-around level wind reel available. The GT reels are available in models capable of everything from light-duty inshore bottom fishing to heavy-duty halibut models and that is why they are the standard reel of choice on charter and private boats throughout the country.

PENN GT LEVEL WIND

THE PENN ADVANTAGE

• Lightweight graphite frame• Machined and anodized aluminum spool• Built in linecounter for precise depth control (LC models)• High-strength marine grade bronze alloy main gear• Precision-machined stainless steel pinion gear• HT-100™ drag washers provide smooth drag under heavy loads• Stainless steel level wind• Stainless steel reel stand

Model Mtr # (Box • Clam) Mono Cap. (yds/lb) Braid Cap. (yds/lb) Bearings Max Drag Gear Ratio Line Retrieve (in) Weight (oz)

321GT2 1152017 Box 410/15 • 290/20 • 190/30 775/20 • 575/30 • 400/50 2 12 lbs 4.3:1 25 23330GT2 1152021 Box 450/20 • 330/30 • 250/40 900/30 • 625/50 • 525/65 2 16 lbs 3.6:1 26 27

• Lightweight graphite frame and sideplates• Forged and machined aluminum spool• High-strength marine grade bronze alloy main gear• Stainless steel pinion gear

• 2+1 Shielded stainless steel bearing system• Instant Anti-Reverse bearing with silent back up ratchet• Line Capacity Rings

SwitchbladeTM Harness Lugs

available on the SQL50LW


AVAILABLE INLINECOUNTER

Model Material # Mono Cap. (yds/lb) Braid Cap. (yds/lb) Bearings Max Drag Gear Ratio Line Retrieve (in) Weight (oz)

SQL15LW 1292939 320/15 • 280/17 • 215/20 580/20 • 435/30 • 305/50 2+1 15 lbs 4.9:1 28 16.2SQL20LW 1292940 415/17 • 315/20 • 290/25 865/20 • 650/30 • 455/50 2+1 15 lbs 4.9:1 28 16.9SQL20LWLH 1292941 415/17 • 315/20 • 290/25 865/20 • 650/30 • 455/50 2+1 15 lbs 4.9:1 28 16.9SQL30LW 1292943 455/25 • 370/30 • 285/40 1020/30 • 710/50 • 590/65 2+1 20 lbs 4.9:1 35 20.9SQL30LWLH 1292944 455/25 • 370/30 • 285/40 1020/30 • 710/50 • 590/65 2+1 20 lbs 4.9:1 35 20.9SQL50LW 1292945 435/40 • 320/50 • 285/60 900/65 • 775/80 • 665/100 2+1 20 lbs 4.0:1 32 24.6

The PENN Squall Level Wind reel is the sucessor to the GT series reels which have been around for decades and proven themselves on big fish. The Squall LW has all of the proven featurs of the GT series, with the addition of improved gear ratios and an Instant Anti-Reverse bearing, in a more compact package. Left hand sizes available in the 20 and 30 sizes.

PENN SQUALL LEVEL WIND

THE PENN ADVANTAGE

The PENN GT family of reels is one of the most recognizable on the market and perhaps the most capable all-around level wind reel available. The GT reels are available in models capable of everything from light-duty inshore bottom fishing to heavy-duty halibut models and that is why they are the standard reel of choice on charter and private boats throughout the country.

PENN GT LEVEL WIND

THE PENN ADVANTAGE

For more information please visit www.purefishingmalaysia.com379

Featuring

ROD FORD SINISTER EBEK SPECIAL

Rod Ford first ever collaboration with Azahar MJ, a fishing guide and boat captain of Pekan, Pahang. Greatly known for his prowess in hunting the Ebeks with metal jigs and wild mackerel chase, Rod Ford built coastal class saltwater jigging rods to Azahar’s own specification preference.

Each of the Sinister Ebek Special models come in dual handles. The extended with split rear end for jigging and a shorter full EVA handle for lure casting in estuaries, bay, coastal lines or around islands.

The perfection is in which each model is equally well balance with both handles.

ROD FORD SINISTER EBEK SPECIAL

381

The 7’3” model is made to execute long fall technique with fluttering metal jigs on a spin outfit. Though contradictory to what the native Japanese suggest to using a multiplier reel for this option; our local shallow waters of South China Sea allows the different setup combi-nation.

Constructed from 24TON + 30TON Carbon and equipped with stan-dard K SiC guides and Fuji ACM/VSS reel seats.

Comes in two section models with butt joint and dual handles.

RFSN732/692S-LJ PE1.0-2.0 JIG100g

RFSN632/572B-LJ PE0.8-2.0 JIG 100g

RFSN632/592S-LJ PE0.8-2.0 JIG 100g

For more information please contact:

MGFA (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Tel: 607-861 9289

Fax: 607-863 2189

Email: [email protected]

Featuring

ROD FORD HALFMOON ULTIMATE

A revival of a hit from 2010, the Halfmoon was a favorite among snakehead lure anglers then for its moderate action which cleverly impart better swimming action to deep diving minnows and a tough blank you can push to its limit during a do or die tussle.

Rod Ford designs the new Halfmoon with Carbon Veil concept; layer-ing the outer blank with additional carbon scrim to increase strength and toughness. This is visually evident with the wavy carbon pat-terns throughout the blank’s surface. A concept adopted by the older model too; difference lies in the finer finishing on the latter. Handle section is further wrapped with Aramid (Kevlar) for stiffness and cool factor.

ROD FORD HALFMOON ULTIMATE

385

Constructed from 24TON Carbon and equipped with standard K SiC guides and Fuji ACM/VSS reel seats.

Comes in only one section models.

RFHM561B-M

5’ 6” 6-12 L B 4-20G LURE MEDIUM ACTION WT : 110G BAIT

RFHM631B-M

6’ 3” 8-14 L B 6-20G LURE MEDIUM ACTION WT : 120G BAIT

RFHM631S-M

6’ 3” 8-14 L B 6-20G LURE MEDIUM ACTION WT : 120G SPIN


MGFA (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Tel: 607-861 9289

Fax: 607-863 2189


Featuring

Zen KON

Zen KON is a polyhedron shape jig that is designed for slow jigging approach and long fall method. Fishes usu-ally get excited and attack when the jig free fall with its enticing built in action. Comes in 2 different sizes ranging 20G &40G; Zen Kon offers 5 different colors in reflective laser effect which prove to be an effective visual attrac-tant for SW game fishes from afar. Color available: Blue smelt, Sardine, Dorado, Shinner, & Mullet.


MGFA (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Tel: 607-861 9289

Fax: 607-863 2189


Zen KON

389

Featuring

K-RU POPPop, Gurgling, slide and pushes water with each rod twitch, K-RU Pop float and maintain a horizontal profile even when motionless on the water. The enticing swimming leg action dur-ing retrieve sends lurking snakehead into frenzy, Made with TPR material, K-RU Pop is very lifelike and incredibly tough. Available in 7cm/4gm and 9cm/10gm with 3 colors to choose.


MGFA (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Tel: 607-861 9289

Fax: 607-863 2189


K-RU POP

391

Featuring

Rod Ford ATOM Tune Up Stage

Rod Ford ATOM Tune up stage rod designed for those crazy lure caster out there with made with quality composite graph-ite to make it light for long hours casting, sensitive and tough to suit the every challenging fishing environment where are the predator hiding. This Rod ford ATOM rod action which en-hances the lifting power with a handing feel while minimizing the fatigue and exhaustion experiences by the angler. FUJI component guide and reel seat.

Model available:

RFATCT501MRFB LINE 4-10LB LURE 1/8-3/8OZ



Rod Ford ATOM Tune Up Stage


MGFA (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Tel: 607-861 9289

Fax: 607-863 2189


393

Featuring

If life squid is the ultimate bait for sea fishing as what all saltwater anglers swear by; Rod Ford Loligos should make the ultimate metal bait for micro jigging and shore casting. 15gms in weight, the LOLIGOS flashes in day-light with its reflective laser sticker front and back body and glow in luminous green under dark conditions. The LOLIGOS slightly protruded fins imparts a irresistible swimming that provokes strike without fail. Either reel it in or let sink and jig it up. Highly effective for “Cencaru Kuda”.

Color Avalible: Green, Blue, Pink, Silver & Black.


MGFA (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Tel: 607-861 9289

Fax: 607-863 2189


395

Classified PagesCustom Rod BuildeR &

Reel and Rod RepaiRs

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Mobile:+6019 3122697

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MCin Huodan Float



The Asian Angler - April 2015 Digital Issue - Malaysia - English

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Transcript of The Asian Angler - April 2015 Digital Issue - Malaysia - English