Lure and Bait Fishing Tips For Pacu in Empangan Air Kuning (EAK)

Although the name of the place is Fly fishing and Lure Casting Center, the use of bait are regularly deployed by anglers fishing here.

This post is inspired by Daniel who had some questions about lure and bait fishing for pacu in Empangan Air Kuning (EAK).

More information about Empangan Air Kuning (EAK) Fly fishing and Lure Casting Centre

Lure Fishing For Pacu

Smaller lures work better, lures around 50-70mm. As with lure fishing in many other places, different colours may work better on certain days and not be as effective on another day. Having said that, light coloured lures appear to be generally preferred here from white to chartreuse. It may be good to try some dark coloured one when the light coloured lures are not getting hit.

Use very light braided line on light spinning rods, this will be better for casting small light lures. Longer rods will also get you extra distance although may not be best when fighting a bigger fish.

Lure Action

One of my preferred lure and action are slow sinking lures (e.g.: countdown lures). Cast out, wait for it to sink – count each time to work different depths on next cast, lift-pause-drop-retrieve and repeat. Basically a slow up-down/lift-drop action and zig-zag if viewed sideways. Strikes often happen during the drop.

Floating lures may also work. Cast out and let it sit for a few seconds on the surface. See if any fish was attracted and approach/swim under the lure. Twitch and pause…wait. Very slow retrieve on surface and pause every now and then.

Sinking lures, let sink…retrieve and pause…repeat.

Popping Pacu

On some days, the pacu in here will eat poppers even but this is not too common. On days like that anglers present will have an amazing day catching many fish.

I’ve seen days when pacu was hitting poppers one after another. But those days are rare.

White poppers seem to work better. The way to fish them here is similar to the above when fishing with a floating lure.

Once the popper lands, pause for a few seconds and observe. Pop, and pause. Repeat till recast.

Best Time for Lure Fishing

EARLY! Your best bet is getting your lure out there before anyone else. If I arrive early morning I’d cast a floating surface lure out.

Once there are other anglers about or fish have been caught, the pacu here often quickly become a lot harder to fool.

These fish, and fish in other similar catch-and-release fisheries will learn and become more and more challenging to catch.

Lure fishing is all about persistency and having confidence in the chosen lures, plus being observant. Many often give up too soon or are too doubtful.

There are no one method that guarantees bites. The above methods have all worked and we just have to try and hopefully find something that works on that particular day.

Bait Fishing Tips

Some days nothing seem to work and that’s when bait fishing may be your cup of tea. It’s difficult to refuse natural food.

The most popular bait in EAK are bread, Gardenia brand seem to be the most popular.

Some use chicken skin, chicken liver or chicken heart. Chicken innards (intestines) are not permitted.

Use only single debarbed hook. Treble hooks and multi-hook rigs are not allowed.

When using bread or other bait, it is common practice for anglers to chum the area and cast out their bait to the same spot.

If using bread, most will float and if you can find a way to make your hooked bread to float in the strike zone, you’re in the game.

Bread are lightweight and can be a challenge to cast out far.

The challenge in EAK is often you need to get the bait further out towards to the middle of the pond and place your hooked bait on target.

Once the fish have become wary they will often not come anywhere close to the edge of the pond.

Another popular food in EAK are crickets. Herein lies the same challenge, crickets are almost weightless and very difficult for a bait fisher to cast out.

Lure And Bait Fishing

If you’re interested to try both in EAK, my suggestion is to cast lures when you start especially if you arrive early, before switching to bait fishing.

Catching pacu and nearly all fish on lure will always be more challenging but when you succeed, it is also an immensely rewarding feeling.

Popular Techniques

You will often see fly fishers deploy certain very effective techniques. Bread or live crickets are used as surface chum.

They then wait for the pacu to start feeding on the surface (very visual) before casting out their lightweight flies that imitate bread or bug imitating flies, such as crickets.

The advantage these fly fishers have are their “lures” float, are often the right size and the skilled casters can cast quite a distance out where the feeding zone is, AND accurately, too.

Conclusion

The above described methods often also work in other fishing ponds stocked with pacu and patin e.g.: Saujana D’Rimba fishing pond, etc.

Happy fishing and good luck. If you have any questions or anything to add on, please leave a comment below or contact Juan Wei.

Tight lines and get out there!