Growing up, I have always found myself enjoying National Geographic documentaries. With fishing shows always being the ones that catch my attention, I eventually decided to give it a try in the December of 2014. Using a $1 handline, hook and sinker rig bought from NTUC, I landed a small toadfish at Bedok Jetty - a spot that is no stranger to any angler. Little did I know, that one fish I caught at the young age of 10 would be the start of a hobby that would (hopefully) stick with me for a lifetime.

However, besides the occasional trips to Bedok Jetty, I remained rather inactive in the hobby, mostly due to my young age and long travel time to the spot. That was until about 3 years later, in early 2018. After realising that a classmate of mine did freshwater luring, I got interested and began doing some research on it. Watching the then limited, but available videos on YouTube about it. Landing my first peacock bass right before the start of the June holidays that year, it was at that moment when I knew this was the hobby I wanted to pursue in the long run.

As a sentimental person, I have always felt that rods and reels are more than just hobby equipment. They hold memories and tell stories. With more than 15 reels and close to 20 rods in my collection, I do sometimes feel like selling some of my less frequently used ones. However, more often than not, as soon as I pick up that dusty rod or reel, it all comes back. That overwhelming feeling of nostalgia, the priceless memories of a time that suddenly did not seem so bad after all. Especially for tackle that I frequently used during a particular stage in life, just the thought of that rod or reel could unlock the once forgotten memories of that era. And it is for this reason that I do what I do. 

Servicing reels to me, although primarily to supplement my expenses, is something I find deeply meaningful. Knowing that I improve the overall fishing experience of my clients and help them create great memories, I feel like this is a trait that all anglers have in common. Regardless of type of fishing, freshwater or saltwater, baiting or luring, all of us just want to have stories to tell and good times to look back on - and some of the greatest memories lie in the tackle used to create them.