Location: Taman Botani Negara, Shah Alam
Date: 9th August 2016
Time: 10.30am - 1.30pm
Directions: Just Waze- Taman Botani Negara Shah Alam and proceed to the dam via car referring to the map provided at the entrance
Report:
Firstly, the location of the paypond itself has caused many confusions. The location I visited has many names, such as Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam, Bukit Cerakah, Taman Botani Negara, and Taman Pertanian Negara. All these refer to the same venue, but the park itself covers a large area. What we are interested in is the dam located in the heart of the botanical garden.
The dam splits the pond into 2 locations, the upper dam and lower dam. At the time of writing I chose to fish at the upper dam, as fish there are smaller. I brought my ultra light set-up and did not want to go home with a broken rod or reel like the last time at Harmoni's. The lower dam has bigger fish, but covers a larger area as well. The upper dam pond spans the area of about 3 to 5 football fields, and is a large area to cover. Boats are available to be rented but you can only use a paddle as it does not come with a motor.
The species of fish available here are typical paypond fishes, with the exception of rohu, there are Patin, Pacu, Keli, Tilapia, Amazonian Red-tailed Catfish, Snakeheads (Toman or Haruan), and Peacock Bass. The upper dam consists mainly of Pacu, so prepare your wire rigs or add a pin or snap clip-swivel before the hook to avoid your line getting bitten off. It is heard that a 9kg Pacu roams these waters so your main line has to be up for the job. I brought a 35-lb mono-filament main line and even the small guys could break it a few times.
Being a strictly CnR pond, your catch must always be released no matter the weight. I recommend using hooks with no barb on it to ease the releasing process. It is relatively cheap, at RM30 per rod with another RM10 for every additional rod, you can fish here from the opening hours to the closing time. The pond's operational hours are as follows:
Tuesday to Sunday: 8.30AM to 5.30PM
The dam is closed on Mondays, except for School and Public Holidays.
Anglers are not rewarded in any way if they land a fish. Not even a leader-board is set up. However, the best part of fishing here is that you don't need to wait long before something takes your bait. The fishes are are wild and not fed. So they will eat almost anything. I brought chicken hotdogs as bait. Cut up into small dice-shaped pieces and left them out of the fridge overnight for the smell to develop. You can use plain bread, they'll take it even if it's unflavored with the usual paypond friendly Pandan or strawberry flavors. But the best bait here is fresh chicken intestines or gizzard.
I cycled up to the dam, made my payment, and got to work instantly. Setting up the rod is quick with my telescopic ultra light rod. I tried casting a few plastic lures to test the waters as the pond allows the use of artificial lures. No luck. Switched to the classic "Bait-n-Wait" game, hooked some hotdog pieces to a 2 hook set-up, cast in the middle, and not long after, I already have bites on the bait, but it took a few more minutes before the hook is taken and I have a fish on. Reeled him in and it was a Pacu. In under 10 minutes! They are smart fishes though, as they will dive for cover then hooked, and will swim around pillars and logs to snag your line, so be sure to control their direction when fighting them, I lost a few fish from such quick maneuvers. Nonetheless, the 3 hours I spent there got me 4 Pacus with a few more lost from line snagging or my 60-lb mono leader being bitten off. It is recommended that you cast further in the pond, past the midway point, as they are known to hide further into the dam.
I finished using my bait and proceeded to the Tempered-Garden, another of the parks attractions.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts:
Very positive review of this pond. Being in a national botanical garden, it is as close to nature as it can be. A very good place to start fishing and learning the essentials as fish here eat almost anything you throw at them, and you don't have to wait for long before something takes the hook.
Photo Gallery:
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| Panoramic view of lake. |
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| The jetties, fishes will dive under and snag your lines to be careful when fishing here. |
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| Bikes parked near the shade. |
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| View of entrance from shade. |
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| Pacu teeth. |
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| Bait used: chicken hotdogs. |
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| View of entrance area. |
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| Me about to release a Pacu. |
