Toast fly

Toast fly, the one we usually use in Taiwan for catching Carp, is not very common in Western area. It is made of wood foam, which is uaually used for cleaning cars and tables. When we use it, the fly is floating on the surface, like a dry fly. As a carp is targeting it, you can see the carp approaching the fly and slowly open its mouth. Then, swallow the fly very slowly.


The strategy to catch the carp by this moethod is spread many small real toast cube on the water surface. Then, observing the surface if there is any carp rising. As you see a carp rising, then you have to target it and cast you fly on the path which carp will go through. Finally, you catch it in your fly and photo it in your camera.

Hook: TMC D100 #8
Materials: Wood foam, EVA foam, strong glue

Simple! right

Flooding brings fishes

Does anyone remember that lots of culters introduced by people carelessly have been living in Jade reservoir many years? Recent years, after flooding or typhoon, many culters living in Jade reservoir have been carried to the downstream of ShinDen Creek because of the unstopped water from the sky. Therefore, I like to fish in this such kind of spot every year and to encounter some good size fish.

Of course, this year is not an exception. After Morrak typhoon my friend and I went to a secret spot, only few people knowing it. Today the fishing tackle is lure rod with vibration and spoon. Because we have many experiences of fishing culters, choosing a correct place is not so difficult. Both of us totally fished over 30 pieces within 2 hours in a sunny afternoon. We collected some fishes in a small pool, just wanting to demonstrate this place has some beautiful fishes.

Conclusion is introduced fish, culters, have really been well getting used to the water. It means that the invasive fish problem is very serious. Although we still have fishes to catch, enjoying the feeling of fishing is not the only thing we should care. Actually, catching more and more culters in ShinDen creek is not a positive matter. Environment loading is limited. It can only support the fix number of creatures within a place. A group becomes bigger, which means other groups are getting small. To be an angler, we cannot be so selfish. Just caring about feeling of fishing without considering other responsibilities is not a good attitude to an angler , not matter in Fly fishing or Lure fishing.

A terrible typhoon made thousands of families seperated!

In the middle of August a middle-class typhoon called Morrat devastated southern Taiwan. Huge rain fell down to the ground, causing a serious flooding and destroying many families. This typhoon stayed close to Taiwan almost three days, carrying rich rain drops to devastate southern Taiwan. Some villages were covered by the sand-stone flooding, which killed hundreds of people unconsciously.

I usually appeal that we should protect our environment more positively otherwise our environment will not protect us one day. Many people think I just want to make a high-sounding talk. However, the fact is the fact. It will not be changed forever. After this disaster, can we reconsider what we have done before? Anything we should change? Or we still keep the current circumstance and wait for another damage coming?

Extreamly hot weather caused thousand of fishes dead

In the early of Auguest, the weather in Taiwan is extreamly hot. Continuously hot weather and low water level caused the teperature of river water getting high and high. Then, many fishes happened a lack of oxygen sympton. They did not swim in the riffle water, just stay in the shallow and peachful water. Even I came close; they still did not take any move. I observed their eyes and found that their eyes were with red colour. I guessed they would not be alive soon.

Every year this kind of things happen again and again. Does it mean this is a nature disaster or human-made disaster? Lack of enough vegetation and plants, the rivers very easily become flooding when the flooding season comes. Instant heavy raining cause the speed of water getting into the river too fast just because no tree can stop the rain drop for a while. This problem makes the water flowing speed faster; then, it will also bring the mud and sand flood later.

Reconsidering this problem, this disaster is natural or human-made.....

Show off and Greed

These days I just surfed a Taiwan's lure fishing forum. A topic just attracted my eyes. This topic is called" A beautiful and comfortable fresh water fishing day". As to a fishing lover, such kind of topic definitely would make me to put my attention on it. After clicking the topic, the content is a lurefisher fished up some Zaccos by using lure. Then, he took all fishes he fished up back to his home. And, this topic caused an unfinished argument between catch-and-release and take-back. When I was seeing this, I really felt that Taiwan is an undeveloped country. The thought, attitude and behaviour of Taiwanese completely fall behind to US.


Hundred yeas ago, there were abundent of fish resource in US, especially in Yellow stone park. Many fishers really enjoyed the fun of fishing there, but they did not respect to the environment and fishes. Every time they could harvest; however, they did not need the fishes they caught. Then, they just threw the unneeded fishes into the litter. Following years fish resource declined significantly. America fell into a long dark fishing era.

Experienced a such absurd period in US, US government started to think about how to imporve the circumstance. Then, the situation gradually became better and better. Till about 50 years ago, Lee Wulff had set the catch-and-release concept into action. US then progressively went forward the river management.

From US fishing history, it is really needed to give our government an appeal. Before the nature resource get exhausted, please put a little attentions on the fishing management. Doing some bagging limite regulation or setting catch-and-release area....

Bad tradition causes bad habit

It is really needed to mind the attitude, especial for famous people. Lure fishing has been prevailing no matter in EU, US or JP. I found a strange habit that most of lure fishers like to the hold the fish by the teeth or mouth as they hooked the fish. This habit is mostly seen in bass fishing. Lure fisher really likes to hold the mouth of bass to show how they are good at fishing. However, it has to be considered that if all fishes are suitable to be held.

Bass, the special construction of its mouth, might be suitable to be held. But, I really doubt that if the mouth of the fish would dislocate due to the holding. I am not sure if any one has done any research in this area. If the mouth of fish is over bended, will it be dislocated?

Actually, showing the hooked fish to other fishers is not a matter needed to be critisized. I believe everyone has the desire to express his or her vanity. I am not an exception as well. However, if we re-think about this habit of holding mouth of fish, is that a really good and suitable method to show how you are good at fishing?

We need to think about how we can pick up a balance between human and nature. No body considers that this fish might be dead even after releasing due to the bad habit of holding fish's mouth. Dislocation may cause the fish cannot feed; then, the only way this fish must go is "die". A fisher with conscience must be thinking about this, mustn't it? We don't want this fish die. We hope this fish can be alive; then, we can encounter each other in another day. How do you think?

Teaching Biology to primary school students

Environment protection is somehow usually ignored by Taiwan government although they always say they try their best tending to change and protect Taiwan nature environment. Government, doubtless speaking, owns the most resources and have the biggest power to plan and change the current cirumstance. Ironically, they've not put much their attention on this area. Only some local county governments are devoted to the nature environment protection. PinLin, a countryside of Taipei city, the origin of Jade reservoir, is a place full of beautiful scenery. The local primary school has a plan to teach their students understanding the environment, not only in PinLin but in other places.

The picture shows that one of my friends called Ren took some PinLin students to WaiShuang Creek,; then, conveyed the Green concepts to these cute students. We always believe that the correct kit education should be started from the young. Only they develop their environment protection concept in their mind as they are young. Taiwan might have a better future after 2 or 3 decades.

These children live in the beautiful, clean and peaceful place, Pinlin. They can easliy compare what is better and worse. They clearly said to us that the water in PinLin is much better than it in WaiShuang Creek. They told us they don't want their home becomig like that. They will make efforts to protect their hometown. Never let people to destroy it.

Do something small for the future. Building the correct concepts for our decendant.