Return of the wild river bass

NSW Aaron Roddam

We have sweated through one of the wettest summers in years, but the bass stayed on the bite and despite all the rain we still managed to catch a lot of solid fish for the season.

Australian bass, also known as a ‘golden slab’, are keenly fished for as they are an outstanding sportfish and are extraordinarily powerful for their size. I have spent the better part of the past decade chasing this aggressive freshwater beast in waterways surrounding the Illawarra and NSW South Coast.

In this article I will offer answers to the most asked questions about bass fishing. I will also share some tips and tricks that taking most hardbodies, soft plastics and surface lures. have helped me along the way, which will hopefully help you land yourself some mighty Australian bass.

It’s easy to think of all the rainy weather this summer as a hindrance to fishing, but the rain has actually been very beneficial. The extra water has flushed an abundance of bugs, worms, spiders and all other insects into the water system and this, in turn, has created a natural food source that the fish have come flocking to. At times like this, when the fish are busy feeding and taking every opportunity to grab an easy meal, they won’t miss your lure. A strike is pretty much inevitable.

The author with a 45cm bass pulled out from a very small stretch of water. These hardy fish can be found in surprisingly small bodies of water.

WHERE TO TARGET?

Australian bass are primarily found in freshwater, along the eastern coast of Australia, all the way from Queensland to Victoria. It is important when targeting bass (or even bream) to always stay within the strike zone. For example, fallen trees or deep pools adjacent to deeper fringes of river, or close to thick vegetation. Locations like these are awesome hiding spots for fish seeking shelter, or lying in wait to ambush their next meal.

A lighter weighted line teamed with a slow sinking lure is the ideal set up for this close structure fishing. That is because the suspended lure will hang in the face of the fish longer, thereby enticing a strike. Be ready for it, and hang on!

WHAT TO USE?

This predatory fish loves to eat terrestrial creatures such as crickets, cicadas and spiders, as well as lizards, frogs and even ducklings. Whilst bass can be taken on bait, a more rewarding and enjoyable experience is targeting them on lures. They will strike at pretty much anything, depth. To ensure it keeps its fish-like swaying action, tie the lure to the end of your leader using a non-slip loop knot (also known as a kreh loop knot) as this will allow the lure to swim and move more freely with a natural look.

WHAT IS A GOOD CHOICE OF LURE?

Small crankbaits can be pricey when fishing for bass, especially if you keep losing them to snags. Despite that though, they are a great investment and there’s a huge range of colours and styles to choose from. The trick is knowing which colours and styles to choose.

A great lure hint to help you land that trophy bass is to pick something that mimics their natural food source (e.g. frogs, small baitfish or a lure with a realistic look and action) as this will fool any bass into a strike. A good lure size to stick to is between 35mm and 70mm, though often the bass aren’t too fussy on size. If the fish aren’t striking, try using a lure that creates a lot of noise or action. And finally, always try to keep to natural colours such as mottled browns, greens, silver and bronzes. times, but when they are biting they will pretty much take anything in front of them. They can be caught on many types of soft plastic lures, such as curl tails, paddle tails, crayfish and even on spinner blades. There is a huge range of different styles and colours on the market and, when fished properly, the majority of these lures can be extremely productive. When it comes to the size of the soft plastic, I personally don’t use anything over 2” when fishing around structure. I recommend avoiding heavier jigheads where possible. It’s better to stick to around 1/16oz.

When fishing at dusk or dawn during the summer months, floating lures are by far the best choice of lures for surface hits. Crackerjack’s Wobbler Frog is one of my favourite lures for surface hits because this lure mimics a realistic frog wobbling across the water. The bass just love it!

Trolling for bass can be effective using big bib diver lures or diving crankbaits on a slow paddle towed behind a kayak, or a slow retrieve from a boat in deep water. This is a sure way to cover a lot of ground in a short time in the hunt for bass in large impoundment dams such as Windemere or Danjera.

The big bibs on the lures allow the lure to dive deep, plunging it to its designated

Another great lure for surface fishing is the Jackall Pompadour. The action from its wings creates a waddle-like effect, which looks like an animal skipping across the water, enticing a strike.

Summertime also brings on the call of the cicadas – an insect irresistible to bass. Tiemco have a range of Soft Shell Cicadas that are quite effective on these bronze battlers. When you hear the cicadas singing it’s a clear indication of which lure to use.

DO SOFT PLASTICS WORK?

The simple answer is “yes”, they absolutely do work! Bass can be fussy at

This weight is important, as the slow descent through the water gives you more chances to get a hook up. You want the lure to be suspended in the water column for as long as possible, increasing your chances of catching a fish. However, remember that if you leave it too long you run the risk of getting snagged or busted off around a snag.

WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO FISH FOR BASS?

As with most other fish species, bass will usually feed at dusk and dawn. As a general rule, these are great times to head out.

However, it’s also a good idea to keep track of the weather systems in the area, as these too can affect your chances of landing a bite. When fishing I always keep in mind the good old saying “1020, the fish are plenty”. This is, of course, referring to the barometric pressure and the feeding pattern of fish.

Bass can sense the impending rise or fall of a pressure system. On a rising pressure system (1020hPa and above) bass can change their feeding patterns and often feed heavily and act aggressively, but as the pressure reaches its peak they tend to stop feeding.

On a low pressure system (anything below 1020hPa), since there is less pressure in the air, their internal air bladder is allowed to expand, therefore putting pressure on their stomachs, which turns them off the bite.

Fishing My Local

The Illawarra region is home to many, many keen freshwater and saltwater anglers. I am one such angler who loves both styles of fishing. Above the 30-million-year-old mountain range of the Illawarra escarpment, you will find the Southern Highlands. This is where the freshwater heads downstream, and around these areas you can find trout (brown and rainbow), as well as the odd river cod. As the running waters head downstream over the escarpment to the foothills of the Illawarra, there are many running rivers to explore, and these rivers are the places to start your search for bass.

In my experience, the harder it is to reach your fishing spot, the better your chances of reaping rewards. It’s great when a waterway is relatively unknown/ unfished, because any bass you find will not be familiar with lures, and this will increase your chances of a catch. As a bonus, you may end up finding a hidden gem to take a refreshing dip in after tackling boulders, tree roots and the many other obstacles you may come across in these areas.

As the water continues to flow to Lake Illawarra, the place where the fresh meets salt is called brackish water, and this is where the bass travel to spawn. Often anglers targeting bream or flathead have picked up a bycatch of bass in these waters. Some diligent research on Google Maps can reveal these places to anyone with a keen eye, but before trekking out into unknown landscape, be aware that many of these spots can be on private property.

STAY SAFE

As always, safety comes first, so you should always let someone know where you are going. Packing adequate water and food supplies, along with dressing appropriately (layered clothing and walking boots), is essential on any expedition around these areas. Remember to always be aware of flash flooding in and around your local river systems. It might not be raining where you are, but further up the waterway could be receiving torrential rain which won’t take long to reach your fishing spot. Have a plan in place for such an emergency.

Hard Work Pays Off

Once you start, Australian bass fishing is a sport you will find difficult to give up. You will likely be pushing your limits trekking up muddy rivers, across paddocks and through thick bushland where no one has been before in search of the ultimate fishing spots. Encountering mosquitoes, spiders and snakes – not to mention the leeches – is not everyone’s cup of tea, but once you start reeling in those cracker Australian bass, all this hard work will definitely be worth its weight in gold.