Reaction strikes
When targeting well fed tomans, sometimes appealing to their reaction rather than hunger can be a more suitable approach. In a recent spot which I found, the tomans were very well fed by a constant source of keli (catfish) being released by a temple nearby. Although they were interested in the pencils and minnows we threw at them to mimic baitfish, few of them hit our lures. Many only followed the lures rather than aggressively attacking it, probably due to the fact that they were not actually hungry, rather only following out of curiosity or aggression. By switching to noisier and flashier lures like buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, the tomans were drawn to it out of their aggression rather than hunger, and much more strikes were received compared to more subtle lures. This makes buzzbaits and spinnerbaits very effective search baits, as they are able to cover vast amounts of water in a short amount of time while triggering strikes which is key in patterning where and what the tomans are attracted to. This holds true when approaching toman fry balls too, getting their guardians to strike out of aggression and the need to protect their young rather than hunger. The guardians of fry ball in new spots are usually very aggressive as they have not faced high fishing pressure before, and slow cranking crankbaits through the fry ball can easily trigger an aggressive take within the first few cast. However, it is still important not to spook the fry ball’s guardians as they might choose flight over fight when placed in a difficult situation. Parking the boat further from the fries and casting ahead of them before slowly retrieving the lure into the fry ball has proved the most effective as the parents are less spooked and therefore more aggressive.
Note: Always release giant snakeheads back to where they were landed so that they can continue to protect their young from other predators.
To conclude, toman havens still do exist in Malaysia. I must admit it is difficult to take the first steps to explore a new spot, especially with no prior knowledge of the terrain. However, mind-blowing topwater explosions and sheer brute force of the toman can still be experienced amidst the wild and untouched lakes, but only if you take the first step needed to find them. So, go and explore, step out of the usual comfort zones, you never know what might be waiting for you in the next lake you explore!