Sikecil molek (ultralight) dan kenangan silam
First impression – licin beb!. Kili HE500 ni kecik, comel-comel je, lebih kurang besar tapak tangan. Tapi jangan pandang sebelah mata 😆 itu aku je yang berhak buat! – ringan tapi rasa solid. Bila pusing handle dia, memang terasa smooth habis, macam butter. Drag system dia sedap, tak ada rasa tersangkut.
Kerapu Singa
Kalau hanyut, sampai Pulau Tekong, Singapore
My fishing spot & tidur
Hajimemashite!
Sebarang nun, Masjid Tg Buai
Monster tamer
I bought this ultra light reel to replace my old Okuma 2000 series. That reel was more than just gear – it was memory. Aku berjaya naikkan ikan dengan Okuma tu even in its defective state, and every trip, every cast… was with my late wife, Neny. She's gone now, but the memories are still vivid – her laughter on the boat, her quick hands setting the hook, her smile when I landed a big one.
I always remember her smiling, loving that pareo dress I bought for her in Bali & another piece, when we went shopping in Bandung. Tersipu malu tapi happy, twirling with the sea breeze, her trusty Nikon camera, slung around her shoulder. That last trip in Pulau Bidong and Perhentian was something else. And it’s moments like that—simple, magical, warm, full of love—that come flooding back on stormy nights by the water.
While I was the family photographer, no one else took my photos artistically the way I liked – except Neny. Dialah satu-satunya faham angle kegemaran aku, mood yang aku nak. Maybe now, Husna – my second daughter – is the one person Yang mewarisi bakat mamanya. Ada sentuhan Neny dalam shot-shot dia. Gambar-gambar Nenylah bukti, selama kami gi mengail – tak pernah kumpau!
On the recent trip, I barely slept. Deme semua lena berdengkur dalam ruang terlindung atas rumah rakit. Aku sorang je kat luar, atas kerusi convert camping murah yang boleh bersandar – bawa khas dari rumah. Langit dgn malam penuh bintang & bulan purnama.. tapi dalam hati, ribut. I sat there quietly fighting away tears, remembering Neny’s soft voice, always reminding me to do and be my best for the family. Yang tahu aje, tahu.
Thanks, Fizi, ajak Along join trip kali ni. I really needed this. Sejak awal tahun asyik home-office, buku, research… ulang-ulang. Semua makin berat lepas my trusted mentor, quit his job. Mendoakan yang terbaik, untuk this guy, dimana sahaja anda berada...
And then earlier that afternoon – there was drama. One of my lines kena hentam dengan bullet submarine. Double hook-up lak... Satu besar… satu lagi, BESAR BAGAK. Aku dapat rasa hentakan dia....perghhh! Panic mode terus on. Dalam kelam kabut tu, yang paling besar terlucut – berderau beb!. Kalau lekat betul pun, aku rasa rod baru aku tu takkan dapat bertahan. Based on experience, rod murah yang sensitif tu lagi banyak bagi hasil. Huhu. Tapi thrill dia? Tak dapat dibayar dengan duit.
Trip ni jugak bagi ruang kat Abin – my son – try out memancing sendiri, rasa sendiri apa syoknya memancing ni. Finally dapat juga dia reel in tangkapan dia sendiri – yeah, seekor kerapu bersaiz sedang. Seronok bukan main budak tu. Iyelah, dah lama aku janji nak bawa dia. Tapi tiap kali ada trip, ada je halangan dan conaan – cuaca buruk, tertinggal peralatan, kadang penat sangat. Mau masuk tiga tahun janji tertangguh walaupun dah sampai ke spot. Kali ni, dapat juga. Siap dia pow Pak Lang dia makan lobster pulak… adus!
So when I bought this HE500, it wasn’t just about replacing a tool – it felt like closing one chapter, and nervously opening another. Mixed feelings? Yes, of course. That Okuma reel, bought as a self wedding gift, saw years of travel, fishing spots from freshwater lakes to open sea. And Neny was always there, sharing the thrill, snapping photos, soaking in the sunsets. I'll keep Okuma sebagai ingatan kasih sayang berkekalan abadi. Only if parts are still available, it will not be retired...
But this little reel – it's my way of keeping that fire burning. Pancing ikan, jalan-jalan, enjoy the adventure, ambik gambar, sama-sama dalam susah Dan senang – benda yang kami dua suka sangat. With the HE500, I’m not just fishing. I’m continuing a journey, ikut pesan Neny, tetap pergi kerja, untuk anak-anak... as if Neny never left me at all. Even in the eye of the storm, I am at home.
Pros:
* Size kecik, senang bawak
* Handle grip sedap, getah jenis padu
* Reel body nampak premium walaupun harga bajet
* Pusingan smooth, almost silent
Bonus: RM20+ je!
Cons:
* Mungkin drag power limited sikit for big pelagics...size 500 tapi stopping power 20kg....mau patah rod udang!
* Belum test durability long term
Final word:
Kalau kau tengah cari reel kecil untuk ultralight setup, atau backup reel yang ringan, HE500 ni memang boleh masuk list. For me, it's more than that – it's a new chapter, a new companion for my solo trips, with echoes of old memories riding every cast.
Tight lines always, Neny. Like all the AlMulk recitations sebelum tidur yang kita hafaz bersama, this one’s for you!
p.s. : Alhamdulillah, I really slayed it this time round. Got my commendation email from my bosses for job well done.
