The Carbon Masterpiece 💎

For Senses Pro Tester Yusri Yusuf, success is found in the details. The Senses Counterblow V3 features an advanced "Overlapping Multi-Axis" technology that makes the blank lighter and more responsive than ever before. This allows Yusri to detect subtle changes in lure vibration, ensuring he knows exactly when a Giant Snakehead is following his bait. It’s the difference between a missed opportunity and a photo-worthy trophy.

Complementing this sensitivity is the Senses Mojiko PE line, which slices through the water with minimal drag. During a recent expedition, Yusri used a "Surface Commotion" technique, creating a wake that mimicked a struggling frog. The Mojiko’s round 8-strand profile ensured his casts were silent and long, reaching the most remote corners of the lake. When the water erupted, the Counterblow V3 and Mojiko worked in perfect harmony to bring the beast to the boat. 📸✨

The Fish: Giant Snakehead (Toman)

Scientific Name: Channa micropeltes

• The "Freshwater Great White": The Toman is the largest and most aggressive member of the snakehead family. It is a top-level apex predator known for its "vicious" strikes and a set of razor-sharp, canine-like teeth designed to tear through prey.

• Size & Power: These monsters can grow up to 1.5 meters in length and weigh over 20kg. In Malaysia, they are legendary for their "freight train" runs, often snapping inferior lines or bending hooks with their sheer muscular force.

• Breath of Life: Unlike most fish, the Toman is an obligate air-breather. It possesses a "labyrinth organ" (suprabranchial chamber) that acts like a primitive lung. This is why you see them "rise" to the surface for a gulp of air—a key moment for anglers like Yusri to spot their location.

• Protective Parents: They are famous for their parenting. They guard a "ball" of bright orange fry (juveniles) with extreme aggression, often attacking anything—including boats or humans—that gets too close to their young.

The Habitat: Wild Reservoirs & Deep Jungles

In Malaysia, Toman are typically found in deep, still, or slow-moving freshwater bodies like Tasik Temenggor (Royal Belum) or Tasik Kenyir.

• Heavy Structure: They love "the heavy stuff"—submerged timber, fallen trees, and thick weed beds. They use these as ambush points to hide their massive bodies before launching a high-speed attack on passing fish, frogs, or even birds.

• Low Oxygen Hardiness: Because they can breathe atmospheric air, they thrive in stagnant, low-oxygen swamps and peat lands where other fish would struggle to survive. This gives them a massive predatory advantage.

• The "Boil" Zone: Anglers often target them in "boiling" spots—areas where the water erupts as a Toman hunts or where the "mama" Toman rises to protect her fry. This requires gear like the Senses Counterblow V3 that can handle the high-pressure environment of snag-filled waters.

To master the hunt for the Giant Snakehead (Toman) in wild Malaysian reservoirs using your Senses gear, you need a combination of stealth, timing, and raw power.

Here are the professional tips and techniques used by experts like Yusri Yusuf:

1. The "Rising" Technique (Sight Casting)

Toman are air-breathers. Success often depends on your ability to spot them when they surface for air (called "rising").

• The Tip: Watch the water surface for a "swirl" or a bubble. Don't cast exactly where the fish rose; cast 1–2 meters in front of its travel direction.

• The Gear Advantage: The Senses Counterblow V3 is engineered for "Ultimate Balance," allowing you to hold the rod for hours and make a split-second, pinpoint cast the moment you see a rise.

• The Line: Use the Senses Mojiko Flash Green color. It helps you visually track exactly where your line is relative to the fish's movement in dark water.

2. Managing the "Heavy Cover" Fight

Big Toman head straight for submerged timber or "reba" (fallen trees) the moment they feel the hook.

• The Technique: You must perform a "Power Hookset." As soon as you feel the strike, reel in the slack and strike hard—twice if necessary—to penetrate their bony jaws. Keep your rod tip high to lead the fish away from the roots.

• The Equipment: This is where the Spiral Cross multi-axis carbon of the Counterblow V3 shines. It provides the "backbone" to stop the fish's first run without the blank twisting or snapping under high torque.

3. Working the "Fry Ball" (Mama Toman)

When you see a "ball" of orange fry, the parents are lurking nearby to protect them.

• The Technique: Use a "Disturbance Retrieve." Cast your lure past the fry ball and retrieve it through the middle or the edge. Use a lure that creates vibration or noise (like a propeller lure or a deep crankbait). This triggers the parent's territorial aggression.

• The Tip: Be patient. The "Mama" Toman might not strike on the first cast. It often takes 5–10 repeated casts to "annoy" her into a strike.

4. Lure Action & Retrieve

• Stop-and-Go: If using a sinking lure or soft plastic, a "twitch-twitch-pause" retrieve mimics a dying fish. Most strikes happen during the pause.

• The Senses Mojiko Advantage: Because the Mojiko line has near-zero stretch, you feel the "thump" of the strike instantly. In the deep reservoirs of Royal Belum or Kenyir, that instant feedback is the difference between a catch and a snagged lure.

5. Stealth and Boat Positioning

• The Environment: Wild reservoirs are quiet. Avoid dropping things in the boat or using the outboard motor too close to the target area. Use a trolling motor or paddle to get within casting range.

• The Tip: Approach from "downwind" so the wind doesn't push your boat over the fish's holding spot.

To catch a trophy Giant Snakehead (Toman) like Yusri Yusuf, timing your trip with the environmental conditions is just as important as having the right gear. Because these fish live in freshwater reservoirs, they aren't affected by sea tides, but they are highly sensitive to water levels and sunlight.

Here is the breakdown of the ideal conditions for your next hunt:

I. The Right Time: Dawn and Dusk

• Prime Windows: The most active feeding times are early morning (7:00 AM – 10:00 AM) and late afternoon (4:30 PM – 7:00 PM). 

• The "Midday Slump": From 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, the sun is at its peak. While Toman still rise for air, they often retreat to deeper, cooler water or thick shade and become less likely to strike lures.

• Night Fishing: While rare for lure casting, Toman can be caught at night using bait, but most professionals prefer the daylight to "sight cast" at rising fish.

II. The Weather: Overcast is King ☁️

• Cloudy Days: Toman feel more secure and are more aggressive on overcast days. In these conditions, the "bite" can last all day long rather than just at dawn. 

• Light Rain: A light drizzle often triggers a feeding frenzy. However, avoid heavy thunderstorms—the loud noise and pressure changes usually push the fish deep and make them "shut down."

• Post-Rain Spawning: In Malaysia, the Monsoon seasons (typically Oct–Dec and Mar–May) trigger spawning. This is the best time to find "fry balls," where the parents are extremely territorial and easy to trigger with the Senses Counterblow V3.

III. "Tides" in the Reservoir: Water Levels 💧

Since reservoirs are inland, they don't have daily lunar tides, but they have Seasonal Water Levels:

• Rising Water (Incoming): After heavy rains, the water level rises and floods the grass/bushes. Toman move into these "new" shallows to hunt frogs and insects. Use weedless lures here.

• Falling Water (Outgoing): As the water recedes, fish are forced out of the grass and into "funnels" or drop-offs. This makes their location more predictable for anglers.

• Low Water (Dry Season): During the dry season (Jan–Feb), the fish congregate in the deepest pools near submerged timber. This is the best time to use deep-diving crankbaits and the high-abrasion Senses Mojiko line.

I. The Rod: Senses Counterblow TR 

The Counterblow TR is designed for anglers who prioritize precision, feedback, and technical lure play.

• Technical Casting. If you are working lures like jump frogs, crankbaits, or minnows where "rhythm" and twitching are key, this rod excels. It provides a more balanced fight, reducing the chance of hooks pulling out of the fish's mouth.

• Target Use: Perfect for "Powerfishing" heavy lures or extracting monsters from the thickest "reba" (snags).

II. The Reel Support: ABX Handle Set & Senses High Speed Ceramic Ball

While Senses and ABX focus on the rod and specialized upgrades, you should pair them with a reel that meets these specific "Toman-ready" requirements:

• The Internal Specs: Look for a reel featuring a Hagane-grade metal body to eliminate frame flexing under load. It must have a Cross Carbon Drag system capable of at least 5.5kg to 6kg of stopping power and a high-speed gear ratio (7.2:1 or higher) for rapid line recovery when a fish charges toward the boat.

• The ABX Handle Upgrade: Equip your reel with the ABX Handle Set with Aluminum Knob. Standard rubber grips can become slippery when covered in fish slime or water. The CNC-machined aluminum power knob ensures your grip remains absolute for "winching" a trophy fish out of thick vegetation.

• The Senses Bearing Boost: Swap factory spool bearings for Senses High Speed Ceramic Ball Bearings. Crafted with 440C stainless steel and SI3N4 ceramic hybrid balls, these are lighter and "slicker" than steel. This reduces startup inertia, allowing for faster peak spin speeds and the pinpoint accuracy required for "Sight Casting" at rising fish in the distance.

III. The Line: Senses Absorber 100% Fluorocarbon (Leader)

To compliment your braided main line, you need a shock leader that can survive a Toman’s serrated teeth.

• Product: Senses Absorber (40lb - 60lb).

Toman are not usually leader-shy, but they are abrasive. This 100% Fluorocarbon is much harder than nylon, providing a "buffer" against the fish’s teeth and the sharp barnacles on submerged timber.

IV. The Lure: Senses Kaido Shad 88FD or ABX Soft Frog

To trigger the strike, you need lures that can handle a 10kg+ bite.

• Senses Kaido Shad 88FD: A deep-field weapon. Its long lip plate allows it to dive deep into the Toman’s lair. It has a high-buoyancy feature so you can "knock" it against timber; when you stop retrieving, it floats up, avoiding the snag.

• ABX Soft Frog (Type 2): For the lily pads. Its weedless design and chrome blade create the surface vibration that drives Giant Snakeheads insane during the "spawning" season.

♦ The SENSES Counterblow V3: Redefining Performance and Versatility ♦   

The SENSES CounterBlow V3 is a highly sensitive baitcasting rod with a one-piece design, built for precision and durability.

Crafted with advanced Cross-X technology carbon tape in a multi-axis style, the CounterBlow V3 offers superior stability and exceptional handling in any fishing environment. Whether you’re targeting light strikes or preparing for a sudden big catch, this rod is designed to handle it all.

The SENSES CounterBlow V3 utilizes Fuji components. The Fuji Alconite K guide enhances casting performance, lifting power, and hook-setting efficiency, giving you better control with every cast. Unlike the V2, which uses the Fuji ACS reel seat, the CounterBlow V3 is now equipped with the Fuji PMTS reel seat, providing a more secure grip, improving sensitivity, and ensuring a better connection between you, the rod, and the fish.

The overall design features black, red, and gold accents, giving the CounterBlow V3 a noble and mysterious feel that enhances your fishing experience. It is also equipped with a new 3D SENSES logo plate at the bottom of the rod, adding a unique touch of style and elegance.

Each rod is specifically designed to meet the demands of today’s top fishing techniques, making casting effortless and offering the sensitivity to feel even the lightest strikes. The CounterBlow V3 is the perfect rod for any serious angler seeking ultimate performance.

Product Link

Introducing the SENSES MOJIKO PE/Braided Line X8, a premium fishing line designed with cutting-edge Japan technology. This high-quality line offers exceptional strength and durability, ensuring superior performance for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Its 8-strand construction provides a smooth cast, while the enhanced abrasion resistance offers reliability in tough conditions. Whether you're a professional angler or a hobbyist, SENSES MOJIKO delivers the toughness and performance you need for a successful fishing experience.

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Click on any of the items listed below to find out more on the product page:

Angler: Senses Pro Tester Yusri Yusuf

Rod: Senses counterblow v3 - Stratofortress 12-30lb

Line: Senses Mojiko 30lb