Part I: Buying/selecting tamban hooks

This section is meant for the interest of those who wants to tie their own tamban hooks. (Skip to the next section to find out how to jig for tambans) There are many reasons to tie your own tamban hooks. It is definitely cheaper to tie your own than buying them of the shelf. But the tradeoff is time and effort tying the rig.

They are also typically harder to tie because

• There are feathers that need to be tied to the hooks
• The hooks are small and harder to grip
• There are many hooks to be tied to a single rig

In all, there's alot of effort to be put into tying your own tamban jig but it gives us the freedom to customize our own rig. We can experiment with different ways of tying and choices of hooks, lines and feathers to see which give the best results.

Off the shelf tamban hooks aren't bad and is a solution for those who do not have the time or want the hassle of tying it themselves. They're a mixed bag and you need to find the right one to know which one works. For best results, go for those that are hand-tied and sold in local tackleshops. They usually come in simple and plain packaging.

For commerical made tamban hooks, they come in wide variety and some of them are tied very differently. Each uses different types of presentation to attract fish. Here's a few typical types:

• Plain hooks with flat sides that reflects light
• Feathers, fibres attached to the hook
• Fish skin, synthetic skin attached to the hook
• Luminous paint and beads
• Reflectors, luminous sinkers

Other characteristics of a tamban jig to consider

• Overall length of the rig
• Number of hooks
• Trace and interval lengths
• Swivel included
• Quality of hook - hook sharpness and rust resistant
• Line poundage and knot used

Here are some typical commercially sold tamban hooks you can buy from tackleshops

So which type should I buy?

Well, most of sabiki jigs you buy from tackles will work when the tambans are plentiful. Most anglers will tell you to go for the feathered ones over the synthetic fish skin types. White and green are the most common and effective colours for catching tambans. Don't be greedy to go for those sabiki jigs tied using thick lines, they're less effective than those tied with thin lines. Those hand-tied ones that are sold in tackleshops are usually preferred, they come in a less attractive packaging and usually sell for about $1.50. If you're fishing for tambans at Bedok Jetty, there are people selling hand-tied sabiki jigs as well.

>> Part II : Tying your own tamban hooks