Rapala has come a long way since the day Lauri Rapala created one of the first artificial fishing lures in 1936, which would later become the original floater.
Today the largest lure maker in the world has many other reputable tackle brands under its umbrella. Namely VMC, Sufix, Plano, Okuma and Williamson lures.
Though Rapala lure has been around in the South East Asia market for a long time, organizing this seminar in Kuala Lumpur must reflect its recognition of the growing demand for artificial lures regionally.
An old Fat Rap
Having an event of this nature on a Saturday at a shopping area appears to be a good move. But May 1st being Labor Day may see the crowd thinned as some may have taken the opportunity to make holiday plans over the weekend, especially anglers.
I have to congratulate Fred Goh and his Rapalero teams for the effort of making this event happen. It was also my first meeting with Fred as we’ve only interacted online before this.
Most internet-using fishos in the region would have seen Fred’s presence on the many fishing forums and social networking sites such as Facebook and the Rapalero blog.
I also managed to catch-up with CS Fong, the editor of Rod & Line magazine who was there to cover the event as well.
THE CROWD
We were there early at 08:30 not knowing what to expect. There were about 5 other participants waiting patiently at the lounge area. The crowd soon started to flow-in and the little lounge area started to get stuffy and smoke-filled.
There should have been Q-ropes to organize the registration but the crowd size was manageable for the first morning session. The seminar session started at around 09:45 and the crowd managed to fill about one third of what I guess must be 300 seats available.
THE DISPLAYS
There was a small collection of products on display outside the seminar room. There wasn’t much interaction between what was displayed and the crowd from my point of view. Apart from a screen showing lures being used mainly for bass fishing there wasn’t much ‘going-ons’.
Plano corner
Visitors checking out the product display
The Williamson lure wall in the background looks sparse
Okuma rods on display. Saw a guy picking one up an bending the rod tip against the ceiling to check-out the flex!
THE SEMINAR
The Rapala team must be applauded for bringing in speakers from their respective brands to the seminar.
There wasn’t much to take-away from the seminar proper as it was more like an introduction of the respective brands.
Aku Valta, Managing Director, Rapala Australia Director of South East Asia Distribution, introduced Rapala and briefly took the attendees into their production and R&D facilities through a slideshow.
Hiroshi Takashi of Storm lures shared a little about what he thinks makes a fish bite a lure. Funny thing is he did not actually talk about Storm lures but shared some of his fishing secrets in his own quirky Japanese-French influenced way.
Miriam Lee shared with everyone the history of how Sufix fishing lines came to be and what made their lines different from others which was good as I’m sure not many knows about this less illustrious sister-brand of Rapala.
John Bretza in the typical American style however, managed to stoke my interest in the Okuma brand of reels. I have been observing this up-coming reel make in recent years but until recently is not very convinced of its performance and quality.
John’s presentation certainly provided some good insights into how the reels are constructed to high-standards and made me decide to take one for a spin soon.
The Okuma Makaira big game reels look impressive
Different models on display
OTHER ATTRACTIONS AND DISTRACTIONS
The winner of a Rapala lure design competition was announced, Mingmon. He was the proud receiver of a sponsored fishing trip to Australia but I guess the real prize would be seeing his designs actually being used on Rapala lures. Well-done Ming!
It was kind of puzzling though as not much publicity was done to promote said contest.
Lucky winners of the giant Rapala lures
Five large Rapala lures were also given away as lucky draw prizes, which was a real treat to the fans. Congratulations to the four guys and sole lady too.
I couldn’t help but wonder what is the real reason of half the attendees’ presence. Mobile phones were going off all around the room reminding me of a surround sound cinema.
Many were seen walking in and out of the room and I noticed many who were obviously not listening to the speakers. Either they have no idea what was being said or perhaps they’d rather be fishing somewhere.
And there was this kid who I swear was giving his own seminar from one end of the room that I just do not know where to focus my attention. Not to mention those who talk loudly just outside the door of the seminar room! I was surprised the organizer was too polite to do something about them.
Among the door-gifts are a 610m spool of 34-pound Sufix monofilament line and a Strom crankbait. A staff member was kind enough to exchange the coupon for a friend who had to leave just before the end of the seminar to attend to his children at home. But some who came with soft-plastics were surprised they were unable to exchange them for the Storm lures as advertised.
It didn’t help that the poster ad only stated the exchange of Gewang (in Bahasa) and in Chinese language. No English to state hard bodied lures only. Too bad for those who do not read Chinese and Malay. And what does Gewang even mean? Doesn’t it say artificial lure? Those who could not exchange their soft baits were told to come back later with hard bodied lures! Are they nuts? Go through all the hassle just for a lure? Having said that, aren’t the lure supposed to be just a door gift and the exchange a token? Isn’t this done with the purpose of promoting Storm lures? And what do they want to do with the old hard bodied lures exchanged that they insist on it? Recycle or Rapala staffs want to field-test them? Strange.
Part of the crowd listening attentively
OVERALL
There were no ‘Tips and Tricks’ to be had at the seminar. This would have been interesting especially for Rapala and Strom lures. Even for Sufix lines. For example new lure explained, types of lures that have been successful for fishes of the region accompanied by photos, choice of lures/colors/lines, etc.
It would be great if Rapala will make this an annual event. But they will need to improve on the program. Most notably what new knowledge attendees will be able to take home with them?
it was good until some unconsiderates start chatting and walking around outside the corridor. MKH
Hmm, the thundercrank madflash they were giving out was TCM08-573 golden flourescent red right? Also the sufix line I saw my brother got was only 27lb and about 530m or so. Are you sure they were giving everyone 610m 34lbs? :(
I also feel sorry for those who couldn’t exchange lures due to their lack of details regarding the exchange of lures. That is poor informing on their end or whoever did the poster ad, they should at least given some leniency since it was *their* fault in the beginning for the lack of clarity. What are they going to do with those exchanged lures anyway? If they really wanted to promote and educate they should have given away the lures for free together with the Sufix line.. Shocking really. I sent 3 lures but I am certain I am only going to receive 1 darned lure *sigh*, I guess I’ll find out in the morning later. At least I *should* have 3 spools of sufix line :x [I made my brothers and mom go hahah]. Thumbs up to the thundercrank madflash though, I’m really looking forward to trying it out.
Ok just to recap – I got my 3 thundercrank madflash lures :D and yes they are TCM08-573 (gold flouro red). I swapped them for a seahawk trolling hard lure, 1 bakau soft plastic swimbait (orange one with some kinda jig head for weighting inside connected to the tip ring and only one treble hook on it, about 10-12cm long), and 1 plastic superior frog (6.5g, white with black & white skirt). Also the Sufix line I received was 27lbs @ 830m. I’m happy though I wish it was 34lbs and 830m instead hehe.
Hi JK, we went for the morning session and ours was 610m of 34-pound Sufix lines.
Did you attend the afternoon session and did not get your lure exchange on the spot?
Still, good of them to give you the lures later on.
Yeah, it was an interesting one but i was a little disappointed with the rapala exchange ,It was not stated that we were to bring hard lures for the exchange and they very quickly avoided the issue by diverting us to the free lines.Surely Rapala would have had allocated the budget for the gifts.I suspect that they were trying to keep the exchanged ones for themselves. ………….Well trust Malaysian staff
I didn’t personally go, my brothers and mom went in place of me because I’m not in KL at the moment. I told them to go to the morning one asap otherwise the lures and line might run out or the lures cannot be exchanged. I did question myself on whether it was specifically hard or soft but since they never mentioned it I tried my luck anyway and boy was I really lucky that they managed to get them all exchanged for me. I felt envious when they mms’ed me pics when they were there.
@Chin – Yes it was the morning session. They said all the 3 spools they got for me were 27lbs @ 830m. Oh well beggars can’t be choosers lol. Still it’s way good enough for me :)
@hubert – they actually diverted? Wow lol. Yes I’m thinking someone pandai wanna keep all the extra lures :o
I especially enjoyed the stand up comedy by Hiroshi Takashi. I will forever remeber that if we cannot catch a fish with lure, then we might as well be an idiot or no smarter than a 1 year old baby.
So, the next time you make the first cast, try to get a fish! If you don’t, you are basically not engaging your brain before putting your tackle into gear.
Takashi-san, you know it no fun to catch fish with first cast. It make fishing no fun. You very funny Japanese.
:)
I didn’t personally go, my brothers and mom went in place of me because I’m not in KL at the moment. I told them to go to the morning one asap otherwise the lures and line might run out or the lures cannot be exchanged. I did question myself on whether it was specifically hard or soft but since they never mentioned it I tried my luck anyway and boy was I really lucky that they managed to get them all exchanged for me. I felt envious when they mms’ed me pics when they were there.
@Chin – Yes it was the morning session. They said all the 3 spools they got for me were 27lbs @ 830m. Oh well beggars can’t be choosers lol. Still it’s way good enough for me :)
@hubert – they actually diverted? Wow lol. Yes I’m thinking someone pandai wanna keep all the extra lures :o
I definitely want to make it to the next one. I hear some of the stuff like the rods and reels are only going to be available in like 2 months? Is that true?
Aiyah..Hubert, why didn’t you show them a very used “hard lure” in your pants? Demonstrate its wiggling and wobbling action and you could have walked away with a box full of TCM08.
:-)
Has anyone managed to get their hands on the thundercrank madflash and try it out yet?
I’m not sure if anyone here has the Thundercrank Madflash to test out.
We’ll keep an eye out.
Am not too sure about the new Okuma reels but the Rapala Rapalero rods could be on the shelves end May or early June. Perhaps some Rapala representatives could shed some light into this?
Sorry for the duplicate post, didn’t know the hosting went wonky lol. I have my eyes set on getting a Rapalero rod and I think my other family members are quite impressed by it too. I read on another site someone said even as soon as May 10th but all I can do is speculate for now (for the rods that is). I’m sure I’ll end up burning some money on other lures/tackle stuff while I wait… Oh I dare not walk into a tackle shop right now…
@JK,
Appreciated your comment as always. Funnily your comment did not get through our spam-guard. I have a feeling it’s because of the address you used :-)
Perhaps you can consider using another. Don’t worry as it won’t appear here.
I hope you can share with us your feedbacks if you do get a chance to fish with the new Rapala rods.
Ah changed it :)
I’ll let you guys know if I get my hands on a Rapalero rod. I’ve also got my thundercrank madflash but haven’t gotten around to testing it yet – the snakehead area I go to is full of garbage and snags at the moment which is magnified by the hard and heavy rain we have recently received in the last few days (location on google maps: 5.990185,116.097812). Hmm the satellite pic they are showing currently shows alot of vegetation there but I think they haven’t updated it to show the latest. It’s the part in the center of the map near the damn with alot of what looks like vegetation is actually some kind of water lily. Currently it’s been a little difficult (at least for me) to catch a snakehead there lately but that doesn’t stop me from trying at least. The water there cycles from black to something like teh tarik. Can’t wait to head out again and if the rain gets heavy I’ve got my trusty raincoat to bring along hehehe.
note: I revealed the snakehead location because it’s a very well known place to the locals here, no need to worry about the place getting ‘koyak’ :)
Look like a good spot to fish. With lots more surrounding the coast for other saltwater quarries.
Good luck with the fishing and hope to see some nice catches!
Hi All,
Pleasure to meet everyone at Rapala Fishing Seminar and thank you so much for all the great support and enthusiasm. Its a big pleasure to be working alongside with Rapala and finally we have our own Malaysian influence on a “LURE”. “It should be a proud moment for Malaysians, to have our own lure finishing that is designed for Malaysians. First Asian to be designing for a Finnish company”, said AMr. Loke (MD of Rapala VMC Asia Pacific)