Prawning is a comparatively easier sport. For those who are interested in taking up fishing, or are trying to interest their girlfriends/wives/partners in fishing, this is a good alternative to start them with.
Unlike fishing pay ponds, prawn ponds provide all the tackle necessary to haul a catch home. From the rod, bait, keep net and even the plastic bag to bring the prawns home, everything is included and you can just make your way there empty handed. Moreover, prawn ponds are usually shaded so the girls would not have to worry about their complexions…
Baits
Prawn pond operators usually provide chicken hearts or cockles as baits, but don’t limit your creativity! Other common baits include chicken liver, worms, baby catfish and assorted small longkang fish. Some people swear by their killer baits, but which is the most effective? I would suggest to start with the bait provided. During your time there, observe the ones with the most catch. Move around and glance surreptitiously at their baits – are they using the provided bait or did they bring their own?
Cut the bait given into small pieces, about 2mm by 4mm. Ok, that’s a little too exact. Well, think about the size of a prawn’s mouth and look at your hook. The bait should be big enough to be spotted by the prawn and small enough to be hooked onto the tip of the hook, allowing only the tiny end of the hook to poke through.
Depth
Some people dip one end of their rods into the pond. This is to check the depth of the water. As the float is usually secured with a rubber band and is adjustable, it is good to confirm what height your float should be at, so that your bait dangles temptingly at the bottom where most of the prawns are.
Technique
Drop the hook into the water and observe the position of the float. Different ponds use different floats but the function is the same.
No matter which, they should become vertical as your bait just touches the bottom of the pond.
1. Move your bait by very slowly sweeping the rod around while keeping your eye on the
float.
2. When the float becomes slightly submerged, it might be a prawn pulling on your bait.
(If the float starts moving on its own accord, follow it till the prawn stops moving.)
3. Move the tip of your rod till it is vertically above the float.
4. Slowly lift the rod
a. If the line is slack and you don’t feel any tension, lower the rod and continue your
sweep;
b. If the line below is taut and you feel a light tension…
5. Give a quick upward flick of your wrist.
a. If there’s no prawn, quickly lower your rod into the water to prevent your flying hook
from hurting others near you. (You may have hooked onto something else at the
bottom.)
b. If there is a prawn hooked, the rod would be bended in a nice curve and you can feel
the tugging of the prawn as it struggles.
Alternatively, you can maintain the line in tension while the prawn is feeding and let it hook itself on. When the line starts tugging, the prawn is already hooked. Personally, striking to set hook is preferable, as there is a higher sense of satisfaction and you don’t need to wait for the prawn to nibble on the bait.
6. Slowly pull the prawn near you; it is ok to allow the prawn to ‘fight’ as a tired prawn is
less likely to escape when they are being pulled near you.
7. Lift the prawn out of the water. Yeah!
NOTE: Do NOT give a sudden strong pull using your arm instead of your wrist when you strike. If there’s a prawn, you may lose it because the hook might not set in time as your arm motion is slower than the prawn releasing its grip on the bait. Or you may set hook on the prawn – but it will fly out right smack in your face. Be considerate, flying prawns are not welcomed by the people standing near you.
Un-hooking
Many freshwater prawns come complete with pincers. Do not underestimate them. They can give a mean pinch, especially when your hook is still in their mouths! Using a pair of scissors, cut one side of the pincers, or the entire claw, away. This would make it much easier to remove the hook without worrying about the waving pincers.
