Sa bass 2016 07 july by SABASS

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Art of Bass Fishing

JULY 2016

ISSUE 183

Winter Bassin’ How to…

Walking the Dog

Fishing:

- Jerkbaits - Extreme Conditions >> CREDIT CRUNCH >> BIBBERWEERBAARSHENGEL >> DOES SIZE REALLY MATTER? >> TIGHT WOBBLE FOR WINTER BASSIN’

FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BASS FISHING

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BASICS “Bass Fishing – An Intro” MicropterusSalmoides, commonly known as largemouth bass, are widespread in Southern Africa. MicropterusDolomieu, commonly known as smallmouth,bass are also found in Southern Africa, but are not as widespread – Richard Grant

CLASSROOM

TACTICS “Big Spoons for Big Bass” The Ben Parker Magnum Spoon from Nichols has created a firestorm in the US fishing industry lately. – Mark Bilbrey

STRATEGIES “Small Things” Small things make all the difference in bass fishing – Rudi Dreyer

July is supposed to be the middle of winter and at most fishing venues it will not be easy to catch bass. It also plays mental games on anglers and all anglers will experience some emotional highs and lows. As long as we are on a roll it will be great, but when we hit a low it can be mentally hard. It is much harder getting out of that syndrome of “can’t get a bite; where’s the fish; I should have stayed home and saved the money”. The difficulty comes when you need to break a slump and get back on a roll. When fishing for bass competitively it will certainly come with highs and lows because there are always winners and losers. For some anglers who earn a living in winning tournaments the lows will be even harder. I think there are very few sports that have so much pressure on participants to succeed as professional anglers, especially during cold winter months. The amount of confidence varies with each angler, but all of us rely on it, at least partially. This is mostly because athletes in many other sports know they are getting a fixed salary regardless of the outcome. Coming back to bass; fishing is a huge mental game. If a team or anglers are on a roll it’s very difficult to beat them. We have all seen how difficult it is to overtake them on the leader board. It seems like they can’t do anything wrong. If you have experience it for yourself; it is wonderful when you are on top of the world. It just gives you that extra confidence that won’t let you down. Unfortunately there are also those anglers that fold under the pressure and do not enjoy the pressure of tournament fishing. I personally enjoy the pressure and believe most of the anglers that are fishing tournaments are doing it for the excitement; the adrenalin rush and the pressure. The pressure can help you to make decisions and make you do things that are typically not done in search of a positive outcome. When you are under pressure it forces you to take a stand and live with the consequences of your decision. Yes even during tournaments. It is never an easy choice but try to learn from it so that you are better prepared for the next time. Pressure may not always culminate in something as easily seen as that decision, but it is definitely a factor in every decision we make on the water. Bass are not uncatchable but just a bit harder to catch in winter. Having a look at all the articles from the contributors in this issue we can all learn more ways to have the upper hand on theses little GREEN fish. By sharing our experiences and information will help make us all better anglers. Bennie Wiese / Editor

ADVERTORIAL “Lure Strategies – How to get the most from Sensation Lures” To me bass angling has always been about the excitement of having so many choices of lures and colours to outwit a little green fish, but it seems most anglers are missing out on many different techniques, instead choosing to sling some form of plastic worm for bass.

“The Forgotten Topwater” Many years ago one of my friends introduced me to an awesome p topwater bait – Bennie Wiese

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01 38 56 50

UNIVERSITY

BASICS

“Sight Fishing” I caught my first bass in 1987. A monster of only just over a kilo! – Shandon Hawman

“Morning, Noon and Night” For many people who are starting to fish, it may seem intimidating. You may be struggling to find sure footing for where to start with this new and wonderful hobby. – Hannes Lindeque (Jnr)

BASICS “A Basic Guide on Boat and Outboard Selection for the Novice Angler (Part 1)” In the modern day and age of bass angling, it is becoming more evident that the modernized bass boat is becoming more of a necessity than a requirement. – Joe Mendes

CLASSROOM

“Short- or Long-Shank?” What is one of the most over looked things that we miss when we are searching for the perfect hard bait? – Hendrik

“Die RompslompSeisoen” Vir ‘n menigte hengelaar is daar basies net vier seisoene in ‘n jaar. – Philip Kemp

“Vicious Fishing Line” Vicious fishing line was inspired by the everyday angler. Today’s angler deserves quality, durability and reliability in their gear and Vicious delivers all of that with attitude.

MY CAST Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results GEAR UP READERS-go-BASSING

LIFESTYLE – Boating & Birding – “Glossy Ibis” Glossy Ibis

DESTINATION – Kam K ‘Bati ‘B i River Ri Lodge L dg d

SABAA NEWS 40 41

>> Northern Division Junior Bass Angler >> Southern Division Junior Bass Angler

INTERNATIONAL KLASKAMER

ADVERTORIAL

>> Bassin’ in Europe

BESTEMMING 54

>> Aloe Rock - Waterberg

READERS’ COMPETITION 01

>> Subscribe and win with COBB

>> SA Bass Readers Competition – Raylite Ultimate AGM Battery

Win with GRIP Hooks

MONTHLY GIVE AWAYS

TOURNAMENT NEWS “Clanwilliam Winter Bass Classic 2014” Clanwilliam Dam is South Africa’s premier smallmouth bassing venue, where the 26th Clanwilliam Bass Classic was hosted by the Western Cape Bass Angling Association. – Craig Fraser

ITAGS Takes you directly to the SA BASS website.

ADVENTURE “MATCH MAKING 4X4” 4x4 has taken many people to the outskirts of the earth and it has brought pleasure to many people.

ON THE COVER “Willie Swart” Image: Hannes Lindeque

SA BASS 03 November 2014

CLASSROOM

TACTICS “Big Spoons for Big Bass” The Ben Parker Magnum Spoon from Nichols has created a firestorm in the US fishing industry lately. – Mark Bilbrey

STRATEGIES “Small Things” Small things make all the difference in bass fishing – Rudi Dreyer

“The Forgotten Topwater” Many years ago one of my friends introduced me to an awesome p topwater bait – Bennie Wiese

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01 38 56 50 63

UNIVERSITY

BASICS

“Sight Fishing” I caught my first bass in 1987. A monster of only just over a kilo! – Shandon Hawman

CLASSROOM

“Short- or Long-Shank?” What is one of the most over looked things that we miss when we are searching for the perfect hard bait? – Hendrik

“Die RompslompSeisoen” Vir ‘n menigte hengelaar is daar basies net vier seisoene in ‘n jaar. – Philip Kemp

MY CAST Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results GEAR UP READERS-go-BASSING

DESTINATION – Kam ‘Bati River Lodge

“Clanwilliam Winter Bass Classic 2014” Clanwilliam Dam is South Africa’s premier smallmouth bassing venue, where the 26th Clanwilliam Bass Classic was hosted by the Western Cape Bass Angling Association. – Craig Fraser

>> Northern Division Junior Bass Angler >> Southern Division Junior Bass Angler

>> Bassin’ in Europe

BESTEMMING 54

>> Aloe Rock - Waterberg

READERS’ COMPETITION 01

ADVERTORIAL

TOURNAMENT NEWS

LIFESTYLE – Boating & Birding – “Glossy Ibis”

SABAA NEWS 40 41

INTERNATIONAL KLASKAMER

>> Subscribe and win with COBB

>> SA Bass Readers Competition – Raylite Ultimate AGM Battery

Win with GRIP Hooks

MONTHLY GIVE AWAYS

ITAGS Takes you directly to the SA BASS website.

ADVENTURE “MATCH MAKING 4X4” 4x4 has taken many people to the outskirts of the earth and it has brought pleasure to many people.

ON THE COVER “Willie Swart” Image: Hannes Lindeque

SA BASS 03 November 2014

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Contents REGULARS &

SA BASS Magazine

is published monthly (12 issues per annum) by WJ Lindeque cc t/a BB Print (CK99/23366/23)

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Clifton Hack, Derick de Bruyn, Dewald Viljoen, Gerrit du Toit, Gordon Brown, Hendrik, Joe Dreyer, John Badenhorst, John Bulpitt, Kevin Lofstedt, Lourens Joubert, Marco Grobler, Philip Kemp, Reed Eastman, Roger Donaldson, Rowan Timmer, Rudi Dreyer

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04 SA BASS July 2016

the country’s people (including the youth), and to the practical conservation of the country’s natural resources. Copyright is expressly reserved and nothing may be reproduced in part or whole without the permission of the publisher. All enquiries regarding editorial correspondence, manuscripts and photographs should be directed to: editor@sabass.com Address contributions to the editor. Manuscripts, photos and artwork will be handled with care, but their safety cannot be guaranteed. Enclose a stamped, self addressed envelope with all editorial submissions. The publisher and editorial staff are not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy or copy right of the material provided for publication in SA BASS magazine. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this magazine, the publisher does not accept responsibility for omissions or errors or their consequences. Readers are advised to use this information with the understanding that it is at their own risk. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, editorial staff or SA BASS Society.

CLASSROOM “Extreme Conditions Call for Extreme Measures” Around three years ago I had the opportunity to interview Ken Golub, pro angler from Pittsburgh, USA – Bennie Wiese

About SA BASS magazine:

SA BASS, which is editorially and financially independent, is a monthly magazine catering exclusively for the bass angling community in Southern Africa. SA BASS is distributed country-wide by RNA to outlets, not only in South Africa, but also in Namibia, Swaziland and Botswana. SA BASS is designed as a specialist bass fishing publication and has catered for a well-defined niche market since April 2001. It enjoys the support and endorsement of non-government organisations, but is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Our mission is to promote bass angling as a socially acceptable and popular outdoor recreational activity, and in addition, to encourage acceptable angling ethics. As such, SA BASS provides pertinent information on a wide range of subjects. These include providing a platform for informed debate on issues affecting the sport of bass angling, providing information on bass angling strategies and techniques, bass angling waters and opportunities, and also creating awareness of new products. Within this editorial mix, due consideration is given to developing the sport among all

MASTER CLASS “Winter Bass Fishing: Jerkbaits” I find it very interesting to do research on the web. – Japie Botha

PROMOSIE “Bibberweerbaarshengel met Sensation vir die oewerhengelaar” Jy maak ‘n groot fout as jy dink dat die winter nou maar net die tyd is om jou stokke weg te pak en jou solank te begin voorberei vir naweke op die rusbank voor die televisie met ‘n beker stomende koffie – Philip Kemp

CLASSROOM “Slowing Things Down” Ever since I started fishing as a kid, I’ve always subscribed to the notion of smaller is better. – John Badenhorst

MASTER CLASS “Walking the Dog Around the Scrub” Sweeping statements aren’t really my thing, but there truly isn’t anything quite like the thrill of fishing “walkthe-dog” style lures. – Roger Donaldson

Audited Circulation Figures: SA BASS / 9LV.RRUV¶ FLUFXODWLRQ ¿JXUHV DUH DXGLWHG E\ D WKLUG SDUW\ UHJLVWHUHG ZLWK WKH ,QGHSHQGHQW 5HJXODWRU\ %RDUG RI $XGLWRUV ,5%$ 'HWDLOHG FLUFXODWLRQ ¿JXUHV DUH DYDLODEOH RQ UHTXHVW

CLASSROOM

TOURNAMENT NEWS

MASTER CLASS

MASTER CLASS “Winter Bassing” Now you may not be a big believer in the climate change theory... – Kevin Lofstedt

“Mission106-2 The Fight Back Begins” Rod was visiting Albert who stays at the Falls and ran into a long shadow

“Winter Kayaking” As I faced my first winter as a kayaker and I looked towards the internet for advice on just how to tackle this, shall we say, less than kayak friendly season. – Dewald Viljoen

MY CAST

Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results

GEAR UP

LIFESTYLE – Boating & Birding – “Bat-Hawk”

DESTINATION – Rain Fram Game & Lodge

CLASSROOM “Tight Wobble for winter bassin’” Fishing with one of my fishing buddies, Mike Hussun, he showed me some lures that he imported from Japan – Bennie Wiese

BOATING

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

ROD BENDER

“Winter Time Bass Fishing!” Bass fishing is an activity that can be enjoyed year round. – Schalk Gordon

BASS ADDICT “Does Size Really Matter?” It all depends on who you speak to when it comes to the debate on size. Sure, many will continue believing that bigger is better, but how much truth is in that statement? – The Bass Addict

CONSERVATION “Fish Kill” Hundreds of dead fish have been pulled out of the Vaal River and Loch Vaal and dead fish continue to be seen floating on the water.

“Fishing the FLW” At the age of fifteen I started bass fishing. The addiction got me hooked when I caught my first bass reeling in a stick bait, not knowing much or anything at all about jerking it – Neels Beneke

“Credit Crunch” Budget bassin’… we’ve all been there. Fishing on a budget is hard – Hendrik

SABAA NEWS 39

INDUSTRY NEWS

FLY FISHING “Catch & Release” Here are essential tips for catching, handling and releasing fish safely. – Ralph Radford

>> WCBAA Outdoor Outreach Programme

>> Garmin® echoMAP CHIRP Series >> New Kroko Skinfilm® & Kroko Fingerfix®

ITAGS Takes you directly to

SA BASS “My First Full KBT Season” After spending six months in Mauritius, proceeding matriculating in 2014, I was overwhelmed with excitement for one thing, the KickBoat Trail (KBT). – Jean-Michel Gravenor

the SA BASS website.

SA BASS “Paint Me as a Villain The diaries of the smallmouth bass” The summer weather is nice and warm outside. You are surrounded by massive stretch of fynbos vegetation – Sibusiso Yokwana

ON THE COVER “Tight lines” Image: Elandi Botha SA BASS 05 July 2016

>> SA BASS MASTER CLASS

‘

Winter Bass Fishing:

Jerkbaits

find it very interesting to do research on the web. There is so much to read and it is so easy to learn something new on an interesting topic. Our CEO said that “the day you stop learning is the day you stop leading”. I recently read an article about the history of Lauri Rapala the founder of the Rapala group. One of Lauri’s sons said that his best memories were those times when they fished together. When it was cold they would take a break from fishing, go to shore, start a fire to warm up and eat sandwiches prepared by their mother. This definitely gave me the inspiration to focus on jerkbait fishing in this winter article, something that we are not always comfortable with in winter but it surely can be very rewarding.

History on jerkbaits Jerkbaits belong to the family of lipped minnow lures. The original jerkbait was the Rapala Floating Minnow. It became a sensation when introduced in America in the late 1950’s. It was a revolutionary fish-catcher. Rumours are that even when Lauri Rapala challenged his army friends in a fishing contest his handmade lure out-fished their dynamite technique. Lures like the Rebel Minnow and the Cotton Cordell Red Fin soon followed after 06 SA BASS July 2016

>> Japie Botha*

the distribution of Rapala lures had started in America. Legendary lure designer Cotton Cordell said that he did not have the money to buy Rapalas so he built the Red Fin. The Red Fin also became an immediate success. “People who were the first to use Red Fins caught fish. If you didn’t have a Red Fin, you caught nothing.” Every time I pick up my jerkbait rod I get excited! I will share some of my experience and confidence with jerkbaits and how to use jerkbaits. I will also explain what I believe the correct gear is for jerkbait fishing as well as the different types of jerkbaits especially for winter time bass fishing.

The pause will pay I think many novice anglers do not have the confidence to use a jerkbait the way it should be used. However, I believe that many of these anglers can perfectly walk a top water lure from side to side or use a popper-type lure successfully. The Red Fin and original floating Rapala were best used on the surface. The way anglers used to retrieve it back then, was to cast it out, let the water settle a bit, pop it 3 or 4 times, and pull it under water and let it pop up to the top again. Pop it 3 to 4 times, wait a bit again and pull it under water again. For some reason the fish liked it on top.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

Lauri Rapala

The original Rapala floating minnow

SA BASS 07 July 2016

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

Lauri Rapala

The exact same applies to jerkbait fishing and I definitely get most of my bites when the jerkbait is paused like a top p water lure. Instead wa of m making a splash popper when like a The Cotton Cordell Red Fin you jerk iit, a jerkbait will dart from one side to the other exactly l lik like a spook-type k lure and a panicked baitfish. The action I use to work a jerkbait is nothing different from my top water lures. A bass will hit the lure as the lure sits motionless in the water but sometimes they may also take it when it starts to move. It is therefore up to the angler to determine what the bass want on the day.

Winter time With both poppers and jerkbaits you can pop-pop-pop the popper much faster with shorter pauses when the fish are active. You can also wait longer between pops or jerks when the fish are less active. One of the important things that I constantly have to remind myself of is to not force my way down onto the fish but to understand what they want on the day. You can simply start on your favourite area and make multiple fan-casts even with a constant retrieve. If you 08 SA BASS July 2016

are not getting any bites you can start to work the jerkbait a bit slower and slower. I once left my jerkbait suspending for more than a minute in an area where I knew the fish were and eventually caught a fish. It does not sound like a long time but with a jerkbait it felt like a year!

Gear to throw jerkbaits I will use a spinning rig with 15lb braided line and a four foot 10lb fluorocarbon leader when I used very small jerkbaits, and a bait casting rig with 12lb fluorocarbon for my bigger jerkbaits. I do not use monofilament because I want the jerkbait to suspend and not be pulled up by the monofilament. Monofilament is great for top water and Carolina rigs because it will help the lure to float. When it comes to rods I like to use a shorter rod. The reason for this is because I want to be able to jerk the rod down and have control over the rod movement and the line. The biggest trick is to have slack line immediately after you twitched your lure even after multiple jerks. This will give you the maximum side to side action that you actually want to get from the jerkbait. A shorter rod will give you more control and a longer rod will give you more distance. I use a 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;9â&#x20AC;? medium action rod with a fast action. It is rated 8 to 15lb and can be used for most of the jerkbaits that I use.

Jerkbaits for winter fishing Tackle companies are constantly busy with research and development of new lures because it is the only way they will have something for the anglers that is new and will put them

Suggested Retail Price

ahead of the rest. We therefore have quite a range of different jerkbaits that can be handy in winter time. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start with sinking minnows. With these lures you countdown to reach deeper water, something that can be very effective. Other lures are deep-diving, fast-rising jerkbaits that may be jerked through cover and will rise up out of snags when paused, often getting hit on the rise. This is similar to what many floating deep diving crankbaits do, except in a long, slim body with a jerking retrieve. This leaves us with what most anglers use today, slow-floating, slow-sinking and suspending jerkbaits that are the most popular kinds today. I prefer the new deep diving slow-sinking range of jerkbaits in winter because it gives me the best of everything that I need to locate and catch fish.

To recap If you think of fishing a popper or spook under water with the same gear and the same lure actions, you will be fine. As with top water lures, the key is always to instantly let slack back into the line after the twitch. You can pause a lot longer with either a popper or jerkbait than most anglers will wait; it is amazing how long an interested fish may wait before it bites. There is no wrong way to work a jerkbait in winter as long as it goes slow with frequent pauses. Get those jerkbaits ready and go and experiment on the water, it is still the best way to learn! *Japie Botha is a well known Protea bass angler.

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Bookings are essential! We have limited spots available as we like to keep the number of campers at a minimum, to ensure that every child gets the necessary individual attention and guidance. Please call Wilma on 087 808 5406 or 083 306 2718 to book your spot. For more information visit www.sabass.com or e-mail wilma@sabass.com

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>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

Around three years ago I had the opportunity to interview

Extreme Conditions

Ken Golub, pro angler from

10 SA BASS July 2016

Pittsburgh, USA. After the interview he shared some off his secrets and how he manages so many wins by locating catchable suspended bass and using the punching technique in different conditions.

EXTREME CONDITIONS Call for Extreme Measures >> Bennie Wiese*

t is no secret that thick vegetation can hold a lot of bass and big ones as well. On television and videos it looks very easy as the angler pulls bass out from the heavy matted grass without breaking the rod on a hot summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day. So what does this heavy pitching have to do with cold weather fishing? Many anglers will go and fish their deep winter fishing spots where they have confidence in their go-to techniques. I will agree that the conventional tactics will work in most cold conditions. Also basics will work now and then, but when there are extreme conditions it will call for extreme measures. For example; when there is a cold front most anglers will go finesses and target the weed edges and scattered weeds. As an alternative, fish the middle of dense vegetation because bass will look for the most comfortable place there is. I am convinced that if you put the lure in a bassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; face you can trigger the bass in taking the lure. Then why not in the middle of vegetation? Even the bait fish will pull in and what more do bass need? Most of the time the bass will be

Most of the time the bass will be suspended just below the thick vegetation. suspended just below the thick vegetation. If it is shallow, just let the bait go through and yo-yo it. In deeper vegetation let the bait also go down to the bottom and shake it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying that it will work every time, but one day while everyone else are landing rats the conventional way, you will have an awesome dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fishing. That sounds easy but you will need a heavy bullet sinker to get your offering through the cover. Now we need to get the bass out of the thick and normal tackle wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do. To be frank; if you are the type of angler that prefers to fish weightless, or Mojo rigs then this approach is not for you. This approach uses extreme tackle to get to those big fish through the grass. Use 1Â½ to 2 ounce weights, thick line, a heavy action rod and a fast ratio reel to match it. Simulate the forage living in the thick vegetation and match it as close as possible. You will have to punch through that thick mat and entice the dormant bass to bite. Then set the hook and pull the fish out. Your equipment will be essential; no doubt about that.

Argon Argo A rgon n Fi Fish Fishing shin hiing gR Rod Ro d t 6OJRVF DPNCJOBUJPOT PG )J UP .JE NPEVMVT 6OJR 6O JRVF VF D DPN PNCJ CJOB OBUJ UJPO POT T PG PG ) )J J UP UP . .JE JE N E NPE NPE PEVM VMVT VMVT T SBQI SB QIJU JUF F XJ XJUI UI H HMB MBTT TT T TDS DSJN JN U UIS ISP ISPV IS P HIPV PVHI PVU U UI UIF F HSBQIJUF XJUI HMBTT TDSJN UISPVHIPVU UIF CMBOLT OLT OL T t 4UZMJTI NFUBMMJD CMVF FOBNFMMJOH CBMBODFE TI NF NFUB UBMMMMJD JD CMV MVF F FO FOBN BNFM FMMJMJOH OH C CBM BMBO BODF DFE E XJUI SBX DBSCPO FYQPTFE CMBOL GPS FOIBODFE TUSJLF BX X DB DBSC DB SCPO F SCPO FYQ YQPT PTFE FE C CMB MBOL OL G GPS PS F FOI OIBO BODF DFE E TU TUSJ SJL JLLF EFUFDUJPO FDUJ FD UJPO PO PO tt ,JHBO ; UBOHMF GSFF TUBJOMFTT TUFFM GSBNFT XJUI .BDSP TJ[FE ,JHB ,J HBO O ; ; UB UBOH BOH OHMF MF G GSF SFF F T TUB UBJO JOMF MFTT TT T TUF UFFM FM G GSB SBNF NFT NF T XJ XJUI UI . .BD BDSP SP SJO SSJOH HVJEFT JOH H HV HVJE JEFT FT T t 8FCP SPDL TPMJE SFFM TFBUT GPS ZFBST PG TFSWJDF 8FCP 8F CP S SPD PDL L TP TPMJ PMJMJE E SF SFFM FM T TFB FBUT UT G UT GPS GP PS Z ZFB FBST ST P PG G TF TFSW SWJD JDF F ,JTUMFS T PSJHJOBM )PPL )BOHFS LFFQFS t ,J ,JTU TUMF MFS S T T PS PSJH JHJO JOBM OBM BM ) )PP PPL PPL LL )B )BOH ) OHFS FS L LFF FFQF QFS S t 5FDIOJRVF TQFDJÃ¶D BDUJPOT BOE QPXFST 5FDI 5F DIOJ OJRV RVF F TQ TQFD FDJÃ¶ DJÃ¶ JÃ¶D D BD BDUJ UJPO POT T BO BOE E QP QPXF XFST ST &OHJOFFSFE GPS TFSJPVT QFSGPSNBODF PO UIF UPVSOBNFOU t &O &OHJ HJOF OFFS FSFE FE G GPS PS T TFS FSJP JPVT VT Q QFS FSGP GPSN SNBO BODF DF P PO O UI UIF F UP UPVS VSOB OBNF NFOU OU USBJM USBJMJM USB

Tackle When Ken left for the States he presented me with an Irod Genesis II fishing rod. This rod can handle up 2oz weights and has the back bone to turn almost any bassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; head around. The rod mustnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be too stiff as you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to rip the hooks from the bassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mouth. You need to turn them around and out of the structure. Locally there are only a few rods available that can do the job and that is affordable. Pair your rod with a high ratio reel, a strong drag system and high abrasion line. Many anglers prefer to fish braided line, especially when fishing in thick vegetation. The advantage of a high ratio reel will be that you can make more flips at the end of the day which can make a difference.

Ma Magn gnes esiu ium m II F Fis ishi hing ng R Rod odss Magnesium Fishing Rods (BSZ SZ -PP PPNJ NJTh ThT T / /PS PSUI UI ' 'PS PSL L $P $PNQ NQPT PTJU JUJF JFT T (F (FO O 4 4. . 4V 4VQF QFSJ SJPS PS t (B (BSZ -PPNJThT /PSUI 'PSL $PNQPTJUJFT (FO 4. 4VQFSJPS .PE PEVM VMVT VT ( (SB SBQI QIJU JUF F CM CMBO BOLT LT X XJU JUI I ,J ,JTU TUMF MFS S T T TJ TJHO HOBU BUVS VSF F iS iSBB .PEVMVT (SBQIJUF CMBOLT XJUI ,JTUMFS T TJHOBUVSF iSBX CPOw CP Ow M MPP PPLL DBSCPOw MPPL FFM M TF FF TFBU BUT T XJ XJUI UI , ,JT JTUM UMFS FShT hT F FWB WB 4 4NB NBSU SU 'P t 'VKJ SFFM TFBUT XJUI ,JTUMFShT FWB 4NBSU 'PSF (SJQ E XJ XJOO OOJO JOH H "N "NFS FSJD JDBO BO 5 5BD BDLM LMF F . . t "XBSE XJOOJOH "NFSJDBO 5BDLMF .JDSPXBWF HVJEFT DPOW DP OWFO FOUJ UJPO POBM BM T TJ[ J[FE FE H t 4NBMMFS DPOWFOUJPOBM TJ[FE HVJEFT XF DBMM UIFN .BDSP (VJEFT 5PQ 5P Q EF EF t ,JHBO 5JQ 5PQ EFTJHO FMJNJOBUFT MJOF XSBQ t *U -PPLT MJLF B NJMMJPO CVDLT XJUI HPSHFPVT OFPO $IBS USFVTF UISFBE XSBQQJOH $VTUPN 8JOO (SJQ IBOEMF EFTJHO QSPWJEFT B TUJDLZ HSJQ JO BMM XFBUIFS DPOEJUJPOT

Weight Punching weights are available in different sizes from Â¼oz (10g) to 2oz (50g) in lead, brass and tungsten. Tungsten changed bass fishing in a big way. It has a smaller profile compared to lead and brass weights. I use the smallest weight that can to do the job. If you are using clumsy, heavy weights it can sometimes punches the hook out of the bassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mouth. There are many basic punch weight designs on the market but the one from Miller offers a compact and tactically superior way to penetrate heavy cover. The weightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sharp point penetrates vegetation with ease.

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Hook and knot When fishing this technique it is a must to have heavy duty straight shank hooks. The reason; straight shanks have closed eyes and work best when you use the Snell knot. When tied correctly the hook’s point will kick out at ninety degrees when set. Your hook up ratio will be much higher. Another advantage of using the Snell knot is that you are not making any sharp twists or turns. It means the Snell knot does not reduce the line’s breaking strength the way other knots do.

Lures, colours and skirts

Quantum Accurist casting reel with the flipping button

Every angler will have his favourite lure whether it is a creature, paddle tail or straight type bait. Don’t go and use lures you don’t have confidence in. Personally I prefer beaver type lures and baits with a slot on the belly to hide the hook’s point. Lures like Brush Hogs and paddle tails will sometime out fish the beaver type baits. The beaver type lures displace a lot of water and will sometimes be the key in getting the bite. There is no limit to which colours to fish. It is all about having confidence it the bait you are presenting. Match the colour of the bait fish where you are fishing. Black and blue, brown and orange have always been reliable combinations; even electric blue has worked well for me, especially in clear water. In the upper parts of the Vaal River white and chartreuse combinations will also work well when the water is a milky-white colour. It is important to use the correct skirts with your punching weights. It will help the lure to slide easy through the vegetation. The skirt also makes the bait a bit more bulky. Some anglers will add rattles but I cannot say that it will really make a difference.

Punching technique

Extreme Conditions

Who knows what size bass hold underneath thick vegetation like this?

Tied correctly the hook’s point will kick out at 90 degrees when set 12 SA BASS July 2016

Punching is a combination of pitching and flipping. Pitch or flip the heavy weight accurate on top of the vegetation. The goal is for the heavy weight to hit the surface first so it will “punch” through the thick vegetation. Most of the times the bass are suspending under the undergrowth and will quickly react to the right presentation. It is therefore very important to match the hatch – match the size and colour of the baitfish in the area. It will appear like the baitfish is feeding on the plant live. It is an advantage to use bait casting reels that has a flipping action. When you want to free spool the lure, you just push the thump bar and when you let it go it will stop in flight. You can also accomplish the correct action by using your thump to slow down the spool as your bait reaches the target area. The punch weight will stop in mid air and fall straight down. If the weight does not pull the lure through the vegetation use the rod’s tip and shake the line a bit. Little movement will now allow the weight to slide through. If it happens often that the weight does not punch through tie on a one size heavier weight. Keep contact with the lure while it moves through

the vegetation because you want to know when it clears the undergrowth. When you get to the bottom you will often feel the bass hit the lure right away. Most bites at the bottom will be very aggressive but some are very soft. You will notice that the lure has stopped moving. If you get any bites, set the hook and take control of the fish. Get it out Miller tungsten punching weights offer a compact and tactically and on top of the vegetation as swiftly as you can. If there superior way to penetrate heavy cover are no takers let the bait drop to the bottom and then yo-yo it there for a while.

How to Snell a hook t 4UBSU UP JOTFSU TFWFSBM JODIFT PG NPOPĂŤMBNFOU MJOF through the eye of the hook along the shank with the tag end of the line towards the bend of the hook. t ,FFQJOH UIF NBJO MJOF BHBJOTU UIF TIBOL VTF UIF UBH FOE and make four or five wraps around the shank and main line. t 8PSL ZPVS XBZ CBDL UPXBSET UIF FZF To Snell a hook t 5P DPNQMFUF UIF LOPU UVDL UIF UBH FOE CFUXFFO UIF The punching technique is an extreme measure and has shank and the line near the eye, and tighten the knot. proved that it will catch bass throughout the year under extreme conditions. You will need heavier than normal Final thoughts tackle to be successful in this method as incorrect equipment Many anglers are overlooking and leaving bass behind will break and you may drop the bass of a life time. because they are fishing difficult structures inadequately. So, if you are not getting any bites donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get tunnel Even when fishing is tough and bass have lock jaw, you can vision, change your tactics. use heavy weights to present finesse lures to those bass that all other anglers have left behind. Many times it will be the *Bennie Wiese is the editor of SA Bass magazine and an speed of the lure falling that will trigger the bass in biting. experienced provincial bass angler.

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14 SA BASS July 2016

baars vang as die baars neig na die donker dieptes? Ons moet aanvaar dat winterhengel nooit so maklik soos die ander seisoene kan wees nie. Vir die oewerhengelaar kan dit egter nog moeiliker wees, maar dit hoef egter nie so te wees nie. Daar is ‘n paar faktore wat die oewerhengelaar egter in ag moet neem as hy ‘n baars in die

winter wil aankeer en met behulp van ‘n klompie van Sensation se produkte kan die hengelaar beslis ‘n paar baars aan die hoek kry. Hier is hoe jy dit kan doen.

Epilimnion Baars lewe die grootste deel van hul lewe in water wat vyf voet en vlakker is. Gedurende die lente en somer is die eerste vyf voet water die warmste.

Die skrywer met ‘n wintersbaars op ligte gerei gevang

met ‘n dunner diameter om die langer afstande te kan gooi.

Die metabolisme van baars

Jy maak ‘n groot fout as jy dink dat die winter nou maar net die tyd is om jou stokke weg te pak en jou solank te begin voorberei vir naweke op die rusbank voor die televisie met ‘n beker stomende kofﬁe. Hierdie eerste vyf voet word die epilimnion genoem. Die epilimnion word gevorm deur die son wat die wateroppervlak verhit. Gedurende die laat herfs koel die oppervlakwater egter af as gevolg van die koue nagte en die dae wat korter word. Die koue water forseer die warmer water nou dieper tot ‘n diepte van sowat tien voet. Die epilimnion, of warmer water, sal dus nou tien voet en dieper wees. Gedurende middel- en laatwinter verlaag die suurstofvlakke egter in dieper water. Oewerhengelaars moet dus fokus op areas waar die water sowat tien voet diep is. Om so diep te hengel moet die oewerhengelaar sy aas verder kan gooi. Om dit reg te kry, gebruik ek Sensation se 7’3” Rubicon stok en lyn

Soos die watertemperatuur daal begin die baars se harte, net soos ander koudbloediges, stadiger klop. Die stadiger bloedsirkulasie veroorsaak dat die baars se metabolisme aansienlik stadiger word en hulle kos dus ook stadiger verteer. Dit neem ‘n baars omen-by vier ure om kos te verteer in 25˚C water en vier dae om te verteer in 10˚C water. Baars sal dus nou minder gereeld eet. Hulle sal ook nie baie energie vermors om agter ‘n prooi aan te swem nie. Daar is egter in die baarswêreld verskeie opinies oor die grotes van ase wat gebruik moet word. Sommige glo egter dat baars ‘n ekstra groot aas nie in die tyd kan weerstaan nie. Ander weer, glo dat ‘n meer finesse benadering met kleiner ase die antwoord is. Ek persoonlik glo dat die grote van die aas nie werklik ‘n rol speel nie, maar eerder die manier waarop die aas in koue water aangebied word. Vir my sal ligter sinkers en lyn beter werk. Dit is vir my belangrik dat die hengelaar moet let op die spoed wat die aas in die water na onder sak. Omrede die baars in sulke moeilike toestande geneig is om in die waterkolom te hang waar hy voel die temperatuur die mees draaglikste is, moet die aas nie te vinnig by die baars verby sak nie. Die oewerhengelaar moet die baars tyd gee om goed na die aas te kyk wat stadig by hom verby sak oppad bodem toe. Ek het een winter in die Vrystaat in yskoue water groot sukses gehad met Damiki Mr. Jumbo Junior grubs. Die stertjie help om die aksie nog stadiger te maak en werk veral goed gewigloos of met ‘n ligte tungsten Mojo sinker van Sensation sowat 30cm van die hoek af. Ons moet onthou dat die baars in die winter sy energie probeer spaar en ook baie meer traag is as hy agter sy prooi moet aanswem. Gelukkig is die meeste waterorganismes in die winter ook traag en nie net die baars nie. Ek verkies dus die baie ligte Mojostrop met 8 tot 10 pond breekkrag lyn in die oop water en twaalf pond naby dekking. Gewiglose ase werk ook baie goed. Geduld is egter die wagwoord en die hengelaar moet die gewiglose aas kans gee om tot onder op die bodem

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te sak. Daarna moet die aas soms tot ‘n minuut lank op die bodem gelos word voordat die hengelaar dit durf beweeg. Die baars, wat dan alreeds nader beweeg het om ondersoek in te stel, sal dan met die eerste beweging die aas optel.

Waar moet die oewerhengelaar soek na baars? Klipbanke is beslis een van die mees produktiewe areas om na baars in die winter te soek. Ek sal beslis na klippe wat bo die wateroppervlak uitsteek soek. Omrede die klippe langer hulle hitte behou is baars geneig om teen die klippe te gaan lê. Ek sal dus in die winter soek na vertikale struktuur in die water. Klipwalle (rip rap) is ook ‘n geliefkoosde area vir baars in die winter. Ek verkies om in die toestande loodkoppies met frokkies en treilers te hengel soos Damiki se Mamba jigs en Booyah se Bed Bug en Pig Skin jigs. Ruk-en-pluk kunsase, wat in die waterkolom suspendeer soos Cull-em se Jerk-1 en Jerk-2, veral die Silver Shad kleur, werk vir my ook baie goed. Die hengelaar moet ook nie die tyd van die jaar verwag dat die baars baie aggressief gaan byt nie. Die

hengelaar moet egter bedag wees op ‘n baie sagte vat van die aas. Hiervoor sal ek ‘n baie sensitiewe stok soos die Matador, Magma of Rubicon stok gebruik tesame met uiters sensitiewe flourocarbon lyn. Ek vind dat Gamma se Touch of Edge lyn van die mees sensitiewe lyn op die mark is. Indien die baars in dieper water suspendeer sal ek beslis ‘n Carolinastrop gebruik en hom stadig op die bodem hengel. Omrede temperatuur die tyd van die jaar so ‘n groot rol speel moet hengelaars ook onthou dat daar by ‘n inloop van die rivier ook moontlik warmer water kan wees. Ek het ook al baars gevang in digte watergras. Hierdie gras dien as ‘n sogenaamde kombers vir die baars, en is die watertemperatuur in sulke digte gras ook warmer. Wanneer die bodem van die dam gewoonlik ook ‘n donkerder kleur het sal dit moontlik ook die water temperatuur verhoog. Dit is egter ‘n wanpersepsie om te glo dat alle baars in die winter in dieper water gaan lê. Omrede baars nog steeds moet eet sal daar nogsteeds baars in die vlakker water na kos kom

soek. Ons moet onthou dat baars ‘n vlakwater roofvis is. Baars lê styf in die struktuur en om die aas, soos die Z-Hog van Zoom, met ‘n koeëlsinker (Texas) aan, in die dekking en struktuur in te gooi, en net so nou en dan saggies op te lig en weer te laat sak, sal enige dormante baars in die omgewing tot aksie laat oorgaan. Hou egter jou lyn fyn dop. Baars vat die aas baie saggies en sal soms nie eers met dit wegswem nie. Indien jy enigsins iets ongewoon voel óf sien (die val van die lyn) moet jy onmiddellik die hoek vasmaak. Ek wil dus elkeen van ons lesers wat nog nie die “ysbeer-ding” probeer het nie, aanraai om dit tog een of ander tyd die winter te probeer. Jy gaan dalk nie die eerste keer so suksesvol wees nie, maar jy sal weldra leer en kort voor lank is jy ook ‘n ervare winterhengelaar. Gebruik dus hierdie winter om te eksperimenteer en onthou: ‘n slegte dag langs die hengelwaters is nog steeds beter as ‘n goeie dag op kantoor. Ysbeergroete *Philip Kemp is ‘n gesoute swartbaarhengelaar en ‘n gereelde bydraer.

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“Short- or Long-Shank?” What is one of the most over looked things that we miss when we are searching for the perfect hard bait? – Hendrik

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TACTICS “Big Spoons for Big Bass” The Ben Parker Magnum Spoon from Nichols has created a firestorm in the US fishing industry lately. – Mark Bilbreyy

STRATEGIES “Small Things” Small things make all the difference in bass fishing – Rudi Dreyer

“The Forgotten Topwater” Many years ago one of my friends introduced me to an awesome p topwater bait – Bennie Wiese

“Sight Fishing” I caught my first bass in 1987. A monster of only just over a kilo! – Shandon Hawman

MY CAST Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results GEAR UP READERS-go-BASSING LIFESTYLE – Boating & Birding – “Glossy Ibis” Glossy Ibis

DESTINATION – Kam K ‘Bati ‘B Batii River Ri L Lodge d

SABAA NEWS 40 41

>> Northern Division Junior Bass Angler >> Southern Division Junior Bass Angler

INTERNATIONAL KLASKAMER “Die RompslompSeisoen” Vir ‘n menigte hengelaar is daar basies net vier seisoene in ‘n jaar. – Philip Kemp

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BESTEMMING 54

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SA BASS 03 November 2014

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TACTICS “Big Spoons for Big Bass” The Ben Parker Magnum Spoon from Nichols has created a firestorm in the

CLASSROOM “The Forgotten Topwater” Many years ago one of my friends introduced me to an awesome topwater bait – Bennie Wiese

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01 38 56 50

“Short- or Long-Shank?” What is one of the most over looked things that we miss when we are searching for the perfect hard bait? – Hendrik

MY CAST Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results GEAR UP READERS-go-BASSING

LIFESTYLE Glossy Ibis “Glossy Ibis”

DESTINATION – Kam ‘Bati Bati River Lodge

>> SA Bass Readers Competition – Raylite Ultimate AGM Battery

– Boating & Birding –

UNIVERSITY “Sight Fishing” I caught my first bass in 1987. A monster of only just over a kilo! – Shandon Hawman

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Clanwilliam Dam is South Africa’s premier smallmouth bassing venue, where the 26th Clanwilliam Bass Classic was hosted by the Western Cape Bass Angling Association. – Craig Fraser

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18 SA BASS July 2016

just to have lost it for some reason unknown. As a lure developer and designer, I’ve spent many years out on the water, from exotic destinations to my very own backyard ponds in search of

those lovely olive and gold submarines. Only over the last 18 months and due to my direct involvement have I decided to venture into the realm of winter bassing and what a revelation it’s been. Last winter I decided to

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

(YHU VLQFH , VWDUWHG ÂżVKLQJ DV D NLG Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always subscribed to the notion of smaller is better. Some anglers might GLVDJUHH ZLWK PH RQ WKLV EXW WKLQN DERXW LW ZKDW ,ÂśP VD\LQJ GRHV KDYH PHULW take some finesse plastics for a test at Bronkies and low and behold, on my first outing myself and my partner got 31 solid fish for a session from 10am to around 4pm. We were using tiny finesse baits in the normal selection of colours like watermelon with a gold flake or watermelon with red or even with a green flake. Thinking that this might be a once off chance encounter, we waited and two weeks later landed 27 fine bass in about the same amount

of time spent on the water. Was this for real? A couple of weeks went by and once again on a bitterly cold morning we ventured out onto the water. You know the kind of morning Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m talking about, where the line freezes up in the guides, coffee remains hot for a grand total of ten seconds and pushing the boat out results in contact with 12ÂşC water that would even make an Eskimo raise his eyebrows. Getting into the boat, my feet were

burning from the cold and I was feeling rather miserable. Let me just add, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m originally a Natal boy and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do so well with cold up on the Highveld. The result? Once again, we slowly drifted onto a path of oxygen weed and dropped anchor. I rigged up a small minnow type of plastic with a small sliding sinker on a Carolina rig and the bait had hardly touched the bottom when I felt a gentle pressure on the line. I slowly lifted the tip of the rod to feel if it might be some snag or weeds only to have the tip of the rod give a small nod. With a flick of the wrist I set the hook and all hell broke loose. Using ultra light finesse for most of my angling these days meant that I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just winch the brute in. I played it carefully and a after a few heart stopping moments a fine fish of 2.4kg was on the end of my lip grip. I forgot about the cold and after a few pictures the fish was released to fight another day. For the rest of the day we worked a section around that weed bed that would probably be the size of an average swimming pool. We continued getting fish, plenty of fish and big ones too. In the late afternoon as the sun was getting slightly lower we started casting our baits out from the weed bed into open water and were rewarded with more fish than I could remember. Somewhere big, others were smallish but this action reminded me of a summer bite. After a hectic forty minutes it was as if a light had been turned off and we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even buy for a bite. With the sun getting lower and the temperature dropping we decided to call it a day. On the shoreline, where the shadows fell on the edge of the water, the grass had already started frosting up again for the coming night. Many anglers feel that the first signs of winter heralds the time to start winding down and putting gear away, to some itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a time to start servicing reels, replacing rod guides, sorting lures and the boats and of course spending many depressing hours on YouTube watching clips on how our counterparts overseas are having a good season because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting into SA BASS 19 July 2016

summer over there. We would sit and drool over their catches and imagine that in a couple of months we would be doing exactly the same. Or... maybe, just maybe you could venture out on a cold and miserable morning armed with the right lures and the right attitude and be kindly rewarded for your efforts. Straight off the bat I have to say though, winter fishing is not for sissies and trust me when I say that a couple of times while being out on the water, I could think of at least hundred better places to be at that very moment. The biggest fact to remember is that bass are predators and they are animals... with fins but the point is that they do not hibernate like bears and even some humans do during the cold months, they eat. Actually, they have to eat and if you’re presenting something that looks edible enough you will get a result. One has to be careful here to strike the best balance. I have logic behind my thinking and let me take a moment to explain... Okay, so bass have to eat but because the water is now colder and their metabolism has slowed to a crawl, they tend to take food that represents the absolute minimum amount of energy to chase and catch. They will hang around weed beds that are not too deep and with water clarity much better during winter, these weed beds tend to get a bit more sunlight. This sunlight gets reflected off the weed beds and in the case of oxygen weeds even absorbed by the weed bed and in turn the water temperature around these areas tend to be warmer by as much as three degrees. Bass have a tendency to hang around these areas for the added warmth. The added warmth allows other water creatures to be a tad more active too and in turn become prey to old bigmouth. In the later part of a typical winters afternoon bass like to move to the slightly shallower and warmer waters adjacent to weed beds or rocky areas for a quick browse and a snack. This magical time could last for an hour or 20 SA BASS July 2016

more and in some cases could be over in less than twenty minutes. The key is to be out on the water and to take note of the little things. Using a fish finder during winter has the advantage for the angler by indicating subtle temperature changes in water and if you can draw up a rough map of the area you’re fishing in, it should be pretty easy to find an area and narrow it down to where the bass are most likely to hold or forage. At places like Bronkhorstspruit and Rust de Winter, and due to water clarity in the winter months, finding ideal spots is pretty easy. As you cruise around the weed beds, try peering a little deeper... The ideal weed bed I’m talking about looks like SpongeBob had an accident in the water and will tend to be on the slightly deeper side of the normal weed bed. Once you have found an area of this spongy looking weed huddled against the bottom, it’s time to make a few casts. Here I gear down, to a 5’6” spinning outfit rigged Carolina style with a very small sliding sinker and where I would normally use bait in the four to five inch range. I have a small minnow of around two to three inches in size. Because of the water clarity this time of year I tend to make longer casts as not to spook off any holding fish in these areas. Letting the bait sink right to the bottom on the very edge of these weed beds and even in tiny pockets of weed has produced some incredible results. Once the bait hits the bottom, I give it a few seconds and then give the line a very subtle twitch upward or sideways, reeling in the slack that my twitch has created. All the time I would watch the line between the tip of the rod and where it enters the water for even the slightest movement that could indicate some interest by one of those that dwell in the deep. Sometimes the take would be so subtle that the line wouldn’t even move and only with the lifting of the tip of the rod a very light tap can be felt or in most cases a feeling of sponginess

is detected. At this moment I would strike and set the hook. Sometimes the take is anything but subtle with a heart stopping rip of the line and a definitive bend in the rod. In winter, the battle in most cases will be over quickly as even when fighting the fish tend to try and keep some energy in reserve. After a brief time the fish could be done and right next to the boat only to use that last spurt of energy to make a last ditch dash for freedom and if you’re unprepared, it will be game over. Smaller crank baits and even the smaller spinnerbaits will also produce results in the afternoons once the water has had a bit of time to heat up but keep your retrieve slow and relaxed. In the past, couple of seasons ago, some truly good fish have been taken at places like Homestead Dam in Benoni after sunset in the dark and with... poppers and floating frogs! Winter bassing can be tricky and daunting for those that try their hand at it for the first time. Use the guidelines I’ve provided and remember to use the smaller baits and the more refined finesse techniques. Fish slowly, take what you would think is slow and slow it down even further. Fishing in winter during a cold front is even harder because the wind then also becomes a factor to contend with but be patient. Venturing out during winter might not result in twenty fish but might just result in one good fish that could either win a tournament or even be your own new PB. Also keep in mind that although it is winter and the air is cold, the sun still shines and you can still get sunburnt during winter so stay covered and use some sunscreen. Venues that fish well during winter are De Hoop Dam, Bronkhorstspruit, Homestead, Rust De Winter, Inanda Dam and Loskop to name a few. Give winter fishing a bash and who knows? You might be pleasantly surprised. *John Badenhorst is from Wolf Lures, Flies & Feathers and a keen angler himself.

BASSIN KIDS OUTREACH PROJECT A Division of SA BASS Magazine & South African Bass Angling Sport Society

20 March March 2016 10 July -- 26 16 July 2016 We at SA BASS are inviting all avid young anglers between the ages of 7-16 years to join us for loads of fun and adventure. Venue: Boskoors Farm, 30km North of Pretoria on the Moloto Road.

>> SA BASS MASTER CLASS

Walking the Dog Around the Scrub

Sweeping statements aren’t really my thing, but there truly isn’t anything quite like the thrill of fishing “walk-the-dog” style lures. Now take that lure and finding a little scrub, underwater brush pile, or flooded tree branches and see how this will deliver even more electrifying possibilities. >> Roger Donaldson*

hen I look many years back at the first time I saw a Zara Spook in action I was not entirely convinced to say the least. A cigar shaped hard plastic bait with two or three treble hooks dangling conspicuously from all ends and painted eyes and design which resembled some creature out of one of the first Star Wars movies. Nevertheless, I watched on as Clive Harries retrieved the Spook between two shallow lying brush piles on Ghost House bank at Albert Falls Dam. There are two reasons why you cannot take your eyes of the lure; it’s important to watch the action of the lure to understand when to jerk and retrieve, and secondly, because it is utterly irrestable not to watch. The anticipation is not good for the heart. You know something is watching your bait from beneath. You sometimes find yourself holding your breath, and in return start feeling a little dizzy. Since that first experience on Albert Falls Dam it was hard not to fish a “walk-the-dog” lure for the rest of day. If the lure is attracting bites on a particular day then let’s hope your arms are fit enough, as the action will be a plenty and the size of fish will knock your socks off too. By why is this so? It’s the perfect situation for a bass – a creature on the surface which cannot see the predator below, the creature is also clearly struggling, almost unsure of the direction it wants to flee towards. Is there a specific time of day to fish these lures? I’ve certainly found that larger bass are wise and are weary of high sunlight. Therefore, the early morning hours (before sunrise), late afternoon, and over-cast days are predominantly more productive hours/times of the day. Why around the brush? Various creatures, including 22 SA BASS July 2016

snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, crabs and birds can be attracted to this structure to make use of it either for a place to seek safety, to perch upon, or for basking purposes. Naturally the bass will hang around these areas lying in wait of prey. Furthermore, the structure will also provide the bass with protection from potential predators and from the harsh sunlight. These are all factors that should be considered when trying to locate bass. In April 2007 I attended the Inanda Bass Classic and I won’t forget seeing Shandon Hawman leaving the launch site and rushing off to a quite bay, which I believe was close Harry’s Hole. Nevertheless, it was etched deeply into my mind when I saw him return to the weigh station before we’d even launched. He’d bagged the winning fish of 4,26kg first thing that very morning. When interviewing him that evening he kindly divulged that a Zara Spook fished along a shallow bank around scattered brush was the culprit. Anglers can expect good clarity in that part of the dam and just before sunrise this made for the perfect haunt to attract one of Inanda Dam’s monsters. Tremendous fishing examples of “walk-the-dog” lures around structure don’t end there by any means. The Midmar Bass Classic delivered the winning fish on a Zara Puppy quite a few years back compliments of KwaZuluNatal angler, Mark Holder if I’m not mistaken. These waters are slightly higher up in KZN and offer particularly testing fishing conditions. The cooler water temperatures and good clarity make it necessary for anglers to adapt techniques and apply more subtle presentations in order to achieve the desired results. The need to make subtle adjustments can go the

Sean Riley with a healthy fish caught on the edges of flooded trees

Sean Keefe with evidence that De Hoop bass are hungry for a walk-the-dog lure

opposite way too and such is the case in fisheries up the KZN north coast, such as Phobane Dam in Eshowe and certainly those warm regions in Zimbabwe too. You will not find a competitive angler without a healthy selection of “walk-the-dog” lures tucked safely in their fishing arsenal. I recall heading out on Lake Kyle early one morning with Gerry Jooste during a Champion-of-Champions event. We arrived on the opposite side of the dam directly across from the launch site with tears streaming and knuckles whitened. Gerry’s first choice of lure to put a large fish in the boat before sunrise and elevate his opportunity of winning was a Zara Spook. To prevent from sounding like a stuck record, the Heddon Zara Spook is definitely not the only “walk-thedog” lure available here. Rapala has its own version, the Skitter Walk which offers internal ball bearings for increased casting distance and precision, as well as enhanced rattling sound and side-to-side swimming action, plus realistic scale and eyes delivers some truly refined fishing. There are a few more options, but you will do well by sticking with one or two that suite you and your fishing style. I trust your fishing successes will escalate by employing the use of a “walk-the-dog” lure the next time you’re out while the light is low. Enjoy your time bass fishing. *Roger Donaldson is an experienced journalist and knowledgeable bass angler who has enjoyed many enlightening hours with many of South Africa’s top, competitive bass fishermen. As a competitive angler himself, he also enjoys sharing his expertise with fellow bass fanatics in the hope that they find the same joy in this unique sport.

Roy Law with a chunky bass caught on a Zara Spook while fishing around brush

Services Repairs Maintenance Contact us for a quote on any reel service or repair Tel: 078 548 1301 Email: hotreeltec@gmail.com Authorized Service Center SA BASS 23 July 2016

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

24 SA BASS July 2016

Credit Crunch

Budget bassin’… we’ve all been there. Fishing on a budget is hard. Here are some money saving tips that can help you out! >> Hendrik

tocking your tackle box is not so easy at all with the poor local economy and devaluating rand-dollar exchange rate; it is not going to get any easier. So, how will we be able to keep on fishing? With a few tips you might be able to cut a few corners on your tackle expenses. Firstly you will have to go and re-think your tackle, equipment and how you plan your fishing trips.

Rods and reels I know there might be new models off your favourite brand available and you feel that this might be the edge you need to improve your next bag weight. But ask yourself; “do I absolutely really need the new model?” Why is last year’s model not good enough anymore? Is the reel not casting like it should anymore; is the problem really with the reel, or should I maybe just give it a good service and then it might be as good as new? If you can’t convince yourself not to buy the newest and latest rod and reel after you answered those questions, then I think the need to have the new reel outweighs the necessity to really replace the equipment. The other day I was looking at my rods and picked one up. I realized that I owned that rod since 2003. It was top of the range then but since it has been stripped down and repainted. The guides have been replaced with newer, better quality titanium guides. Now it is a work of art and it works the same as it did 13 years ago. It is not as light as some of the newer models, but it still catches bass. It always seems great when you can replace a reel, but when times are tough we don’t always have that luxury to fork out the cash to replace the reel that needs to be replaced. The other day I had a look at my old trusty Curado reel and it looked really bad. On a recent fishing trip we had a lot of rain and the paint work on my real actually started to blister off. Casting the real sounds even worse. Normally I would retire a reel like this but it was no option. So I decided on the next best thing. I stripped the reel down and gave it a good service (a thorough service). The bearings were in a dreadful state. I cleaned them and let them soak overnight in reel oil, packed them with grease and they were almost like new again (I said almost).

After I reassembled the reel I tested it and it was casting pretty remarkable if I do say so myself, but there still was and problem. The reel didn’t look great. The original paint job had seen better days and there was only one thing to do. It was time to repaint the reel, but where to go? I took it upon myself to do it. A quick sand down, a under coat and two coats of paint and the reel had a brand new jacket on. Although it did take some effort and money to restore it didn’t even come close to what it would have cost to buy a new reel. So, it would be worth to have a second look at all your old reels on the shelf.

Recycle lures How many times have you looked at your assortment of tackle and said “no more. I’m not buying another lure as long as I live” and then before you know it, you realize that your favourite colour of worms were finished. All of a sudden you have a whole bag full of new lures in front of you. We all have that need to replenish our arsenal but when it comes to the crunch there is quite a few ways to help you to save on lures if you are willing to put some effort into it. How many spinnerbaits have you thrown out over the years because it’s just not what it used to be? The other day I gathered all of mine and I was profoundly astounded by what I saw. “What if I disassemble them for spare parts?” So I did and not shortly afterwards I realized that I can make a few new spinnerbaits. Of about twenty discarded spinnerbaits I created twelve re-usable spinnerbaits and saved a pretty much.

Time for a real shocker Everybody fishes with plastic worms. What do you do with the torn up lures? Some anglers will try and fix them with a lighter or even a soldering iron at home, but at some stage it will get torn up so bad that it would end up in the rubbish bin. Would you believe me if I told you that I haven’t bought a new packet of plastic lures in the last two years? Yes, two years. I got fed up with the fact that lures get so expensive and started investigating alternative methods. Fortunately I like doing things myself and I ended up making my own lure moulds using plaster of Paris. I ended up making my SA BASS 25 July 2016

own soft baits. It might not look like the stuff you buy from the shelves, but it works for me. The best part is that I can mix my own and create unique colours for myself and by recycling the plastics safe a lot of money. The same goes for you hard baits. If the baits have been working for some time and they don’t look like they use to, what is stopping you from repainting them? Create your own custom crank baits. There is nothing more gratifying than to catch a whole lot off bass on your own creations and the best part is that they only cost you a fraction of what they normally would.

Terminal tackle When we are looking at terminal tackle there are many things we can do. Hooks and weights - The only advice I can give when it comes to hooks is, when you de-rig always put them back into the box. In doing so you will be able to reuse them over 26 SA BASS July 2016

and over again until it’s not viable to do so anymore. Line - Line is the trickiest of the lot. You can’t recycle it because it gets weaker when exposed to UV rays. It gets banged up when fishing structure and unfortunately it just don’t last, but if you do take care of your line it will last you a bit longer. I discovered that when I use line conditioner before and after I used my tackle, that it would extend the life expectancy of the line. If you are not going to use the rod anymore for the day, put it back in the rod locker; the less UV rays it gets the better. We don’t realize how much we expose the line when the rod and reel is laying on the deck. Even when your rods are in storage, how much light is getting into the locker? All my reels are covered up when not in use. All these hints may sound like a lot of time and effort, but at the end of the day it is all about saving money in order for us to be able to spend more time on the water.

Fish

SA BASS CONSERVATION >>

Kill

undreds of dead fish have been pulled out of the Vaal River and Loch Vaal and dead fish continue to be seen floating on the water. The fish deaths are due to lack of oxygen in the water which is indicative of raw sewage entering the river. “It is the worst pollution we have seen since we obtained Court Orders against the Emfuleni Local Council in 2008”, said Maureen Stewart, spokesperson for SAVE. SAVE has been actively pursuing this problem with the national Department of Water and Sanitation and has been in daily contact with the Department at a high level. There appear to be several sources of the pollution. The Rietspruit Waste Water Works had cables stolen on three occasions during December which could be a contributing factor to the pollution in the Rietspruit and Loch Vaal. Cables have been replaced and according to sources, this water works is back to normal. Pollution and fish deaths in the main river are ongoing and the Department of Water and Sanitation needs to establish the sources of this pollution. In a separate incidence, residents and workers in Powerville, Vereeniging are also suffering from unbearable stenches as a result of raw sewage flowing through the storm water channel into the Vaal River. This has been ongoing since September last year. In October 2015, the Department of Water and Sanitation appointed a contractor to resolve this problem. SAVE is also following up this problem with the Department. “We are also concerned about ongoing pollution problems in the Klip River where it enters the Vaal. E-Coli counts reached 92,000 counts per 100ml – far in excess of an acceptable standard of 400 counts per s100ml of water”, said Stewart. SAVE is awaiting feedback from the Department of Water and Sanitation regarding the sources of this pollution and what action the Department will take to resolve these issues. SA BASS 27 July 2016

>> SA BASS MASTER CLASS

Winter TIME BASS FISHING F

>> Schalk Gordon

Bass fishing is an activity that can be enjoyed year round. It is just a matter of knowing where to look for them.

irst, let’s look at the behaviour of bass during winter; bass don’t need to feed every day. Their metabolisms slow to a crawl and they don’t need as much coal for their furnace so to speak. So they don’t have to eat as much or as often. That makes smaller baits a good option or extremely slow moving baits that they don’t need to run down to satisfy a week’s worth of food requirements. Secondly, bass shoal up and spend a good portion of their winter, where it’s very cold, motionless. They populate in an area that has food and deep water nearby and hover there until early spring. In KZN where the water temperatures do not drop below the 50’s you will always get the odd pocket of fish roaming the shallows during warmer midday temperatures. So spend time looking for deep concentrations of bait, cover and bass. It is important to realize that fish use the smallest percentage of territory during winter than any other time of the yyear. Now for tthe good news – bass do winter. They stay near the eat in the w bait beca because they need to eat. Also they sstay in groups friends, so if on one bass isn’t eating today, chances are the next one will. cha They are very focussed on Th tthe “kurper” population because “kurper” can be struggling to stay alive if the water temperatures are dipping below the 40’s. So while they are looking for those injured dying “kurper”, they won’t pass up a slow crawling plastic worm r right in their face either. They Th are still opportunists and will seek to eat whatever they can in close proximity. Havin Having addressed their behaviours, behaviou here are some of my choic when targeting cold lure choices water bass and tips on how to fish them more effective: Sometimes I weight my suspending jerkbaits so they can sink slowly

28 SA BASS July 2016

t 4VTQFOEJOH KFSLCBJUT Sometimes I weight my jerkbaits so they can sink slowly. I will add lead golfer’s tape or a few extra split rings just to make my suspending jerkbaits sink slowly after a rip or pull so they look like a “kurper” struggling to stay afloat.

t 6OEFS TQJO XJUI TNBMM TXJNCBJUT When you find bass suspended or when you are fishing deep flats, use a lure you can cast and wind slowly along the bottom or just off the bottom. Super glue is your friend; glue the swimbait to the head and you can fish all day with one swimbait. Well for at least a lot longer than you would do otherwise. A pumping and stop-and-go retrieve can also trigger bass that might slowly lumber behind the lure but never strike.

Safe time and study your map before you go onto the water

t (SVCT A grub is such a simple and old faithful lure that many anglers forgot about. Fact is this bait really shines when the water is cold. I have caught many bass in very cold water on a grub and quarter ounce jig head. Wind it slowly and methodically; most bites will just feel like a little pressure as you wind it. I use small diameter lines to keep the lure down because heavier lines cause it to rise too much.

t %SPQ TIPUUJOH Bass are often tight to the bottom so I will keep my leader lengths fairly short hort and I will let the iods. I still want drop shot sit for long periods. to butt it up against a rockk or a stump w around and work it painfully slow mes just an isolated object. Sometimes barely flicking the tail is all the action it needs. Choose bait that gives you more of an il undulating or vibrating tail action. I think bait with a slightly thicker body and tapered tail gives you that tail vibration you need for cold deep water bass. Finally the two most important things to remember are: make sure you wear warm clothingg or your fishing time on the water is going to be very ery unpleasant and short. Secondly, study a map of the dam you going to fish beforehand forehand so that you can spend most of the time fishing instead of driving around looking for likely spots. Drop shot when bass are tight to the bottom SA BASS 29 July 2016

.OWĂ&#x161;YOUĂ&#x161;MAYĂ&#x161;NOTĂ&#x161;BEĂ&#x161;AĂ&#x161;BIGĂ&#x161;BELIEVERĂ&#x161;INĂ&#x161;THEĂ&#x161;CLIMATEĂ&#x161;CHANGEĂ&#x161;THEORY Ă&#x161;BUTĂ&#x161;ASĂ&#x161;BASSĂ&#x161;Ă&#x17E;SHERMEN Ă&#x161;ITbSĂ&#x161;HARDĂ&#x161;TOĂ&#x161;DENYĂ&#x161;THATĂ&#x161;ITĂ&#x161; WOULDĂ&#x161;BEĂ&#x161;COOLĂ&#x161;TOĂ&#x161;IMAGINEĂ&#x161;THINGSĂ&#x161;GETTINGĂ&#x161;SOĂ&#x161;WARMĂ&#x161;THATĂ&#x161;BASSĂ&#x161;EVERYWHEREĂ&#x161;COULDĂ&#x161;SPAWNĂ&#x161;TWOĂ&#x161;ORĂ&#x161;THREEĂ&#x161;TIMESĂ&#x161;AĂ&#x161;YEAR Ă&#x161;

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30 SA BASS

July 2016

Bass generally wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stray far from their spawning areas

Words of wisdom:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. - Dale Carnegie

WINTER

Bassing

>> Kevin Lofstedt*

on’t get me wrong, but climate change I believe is real, and cannot be something we should ignore. Having said that… I believe that our effective fishing season is getting longer, and as a result, we are spending more and more time on the water actually catching fish. Fish start their pre-winter feed earlier, start spawning earlier, and recover post spawn quicker. I say this not because there has been any form of scientific study done, but because in my bassing lifetime, these are my personal observations. At this time I would like to point out that this is merely a theory, and with this theory in mind, we move forward. Oh, how things have changed. Years ago catching winter bass was considered more trouble than it’s worth. With the changes in tackle, climates and the sheer doggedness on the part of fishermen and women Bass are seeming to be more “catchable”

than ever before. South African anglers are being forced to become way more adaptable to the situations we find ourselves in. Let me give you an example. Up until a couple of years ago, I had never fished more than 20ft deep. Then a little dam, known as De Hoop said to us. “Do you want better fish? Change your ways” A wise man once said, “if you always do what you always do, you will always get what you always get”. The gist being, learn new tricks, and don’t listen to the hype, you can teach an old dog new tricks! De Hoop is a dam that is founded on one very large thorn grove. Now it is true that there are areas where there are patches of “nothing” and these patches often tend to hold the better fish. Why is this? Well, we all know that trees do not grow on rock, and therefore, without looking at the bottom hardness reading on your sounder, it’s fairly obvious that if

there are no trees growing here, there’s probably a rock or hard bottom of sorts. Now, I’m a firm believer that bass have a daily migration pattern and the secret I believe is in the working out as to why the bass will move, and where they will move to or from. Then it’s a case of selecting a lure/presentation most appealing to the fish. Easy peezi! Now, I also happen to be a firm believer that bass generally won’t stray that far from their spawning areas, and for this reason, rock piles should always be on your “to do list”. Lure choices during the colder months must include the notorious Carolina rig, jigs, Senkos and long straight worms. In winter slower is better, and not just with fishing! *Kevin Lofstedt is a regular writer and a well known veteran bass angler with three times Southern Gauteng Colours since 1985. He is also the main founder of Clearwater Bassmasters Bass Chapter (1994).

SA BASS 31 July 2016

>> SA BASS BOATING

Winter Kayaking

As I faced my first winter as a kayaker and I looked towards the internet for advice on just how to tackle this, shall we say, less than kayak friendly season. >> Dewald Viljoen*

ince most of the information we have to rely on come from the USA I guess I should have been less surprised at the fact that most articles and write ups I could find related to the effective storage of your kayak in icy conditions and how to use this time to modify your boat for the coming season. Turns out that our brethren in kayaking over in the good old USA are afraid of a little ice on the water. I gave all of this a once over and decided that there was a certain lack of dedication there! After all, a kayak is the perfect winter boat, it was designed by Eskimos! 32 SA BASS July 2016

Now as I am writing this I feel it is only fair to inform the reader that we are experiencing a late onset in winter here on the banks of Hartebeespoort Dam and that even though it is end of May we are yet to experience a sub zero night. So this month, instead of writing about what I have experienced or noted, I will be in effect be writing a bit of fiction as I will be sharing my plans for this winter season with you. Years ago, when I was younger and very much braver, I did a trout fishing trip in the winter to some of our more wintery regions. One such trip included a high altitude trout pond

and a float tube. Needless to say the memory of cold water and less than adequate preparations is still vivid in my mind and thus my first thoughts to winter kayaking includes ideas to maintain my core body temperature. It is unfortunately in the nature of all types of kayaking that the paddler will be getting a little wet at some point of the outingâ&#x20AC;Ś usually when launching or beaching. Not much one can do about that. Since we are going to get wet and will have to endure it anyway, I am going to go right ahead and recommend a good pair of neoprene waders. They will keep you nice

Fortunately we do not experience sub zero temperatures in South Africa SA BASS 33 July 2016

After all, a kayak is the perfect winter boat, it was designed by Eskimos

and toasty and in the unlikely and unfortunate event of you going turtle (capsizing!) they will not only stop you from freezing completely but also aid in floatation! While neoprene waders are good at keeping you dry and warm there is no reason for you to test the boundaries. This might also be a good time to make some scupper hole plugs to keep your kayak a little drier inside. Believe me, if you don’t have a high, dry seat like the one I have in my Wilderness System kayak, a wet butt will take the please out of your trip even on a mild day! Next is thing is to stop the run down from your paddle blades. Most quality paddles have a rubber ring that catches and redirects the rundown back into the dam and not onto you! This will probably also be the time of year that I will learning the most about splash free paddling techniques! 34 SA BASS July 2016

Needless to say things like warm clothing and hot beverages should be on top of your shopping list, especially if you are going to go out early and stay late. I suggest a swing past your local fly fishing shop. Those guys have winter fishing figured out in terms of warm gear! When it comes to the fishing part itself, it seems to me that a kayak is perfectly suited to winter fishing! Here is my thinking on the subject. Firstly, moving at the leisurely pace of a kayak the issue of wind chill is much less. Add to that the fact that you are involved in a physical activity that is sure to warm you up. You will be in a much better fishing condition upon reaching your spot than any glitter boat angler. Speaking of boats; there will be much fewer of them around, throwing up wakes and trying

to get you wet. Next is the issue of covering water. Since bass don’t move around a lot in winter, you don’t have to either! Find a nice spot, sit back and fish it properly. It’s a great time to slowly troll those deep ledges and drag those heavy jigs around deep structure. I bet if we start comparing catches at the end of winter the kayakers will have some of biggest and best results! Lastly, your kayak will help you fight of the winter spread! Instead of sitting on a couch and waiting for the spawn, I will be out there getting fishing fit and ready for the spawn! Well that’s the plan anyway… *Dewald Viljoen is sponsored by Canoe & Kayak Centre, the owner of Hot Reels Service Centre, partner and designer at AfriBaits.

>> SA BASS TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Gauteng Money Winners Datum: 28 May 2016 Venue: Roodekopjesdam UITSLAE: 1 2 3 4 5

6.34kg, Team Big Greedy - Lappies Labuschagne & Lisa Joubert met 4 visse wen R5200 kontant 3.78kg, Team Khourie - Pieter & Joe Khourie met 5 visse wen R2400 kontant 3.51kg, Team Never Give Up - André Pretorius & Tony Ernst met 5 visse wen R1800 kontant 2.84kg, Team Bass.co.za - Steve & Charl Engelbrecht met 5 visse wen R1300 kontant 2.57kg, Team Bass On - Riaan Spangenberg & Henk Venter met 5 visse wen R1100 kontant

Lappies Labuschagne en Lisa Joubert se twee “kickers” in hul wensak

GROOT VIS:

Sponsors:

1st: 2.400kg - Team Big Greedy - Lappies Labuschagne & Lisa Joubert wen R500

SA BASS would like to thank McCarthy Volkswagen Wonderboom for the VW Amarok double cab towing vehicle. Also Pure Fishing and Stag Fishing for sponsoring lucky draw prizes at prize giving.

2nd: 2.12kg - Team Poorboys Bass: Tinus Barnard & Kobus Retief 3rd: 2.10kg - Team Big Greedy - Lappies Labuschagne & Lisa Joubert

BEKOMMERNIS: Een groter wordende bekommernis is die hoeveelheid onwettige nette wat in ons land se openbare damme gespan word. Dit is ‘n skande hoe die bronne gewetenloos gestroop word. Twee spanne het elle lange nette tydens die kompetisie uitgehaal en in albei gevalle was daar onder andere swartbaars, kurpers, babers en karpe verstrengel. In die net wat Christo Raath uitgehaal het was ‘n lewendige swartbaar van 2.23kg wat amper die swaarste vis vir die dag was.

Agter: André Pretorius, Tony Ernst, Charl Engelbrecht, Steve Engelbrecht, Riaan Spangenberg, Henk Venter Voor: Lappies Labuschagne, Lisa Joubert, Joe Khourie, Pieter Khourie

VERSLAG: Roodekopjesdam… wat kan mens sê? ‘n Paar maande gelede was die dam nog so leeg dat ons die kompetisie noodgedwonge moes skuif, maar na ‘n goeie reënbui in die opvangsgebied was die dam binne twee weke oorlopenstoe vol. Met die watervlak wat so vinnig gestyg het is die vis so verspreid en die hengelaars verward. Min hengelaars het kans gesien om die dam aan te durf en net 14 uit die 36 spanne het 46 visse skaal toe gebring. Die gemiddelde gewig van die vis was 700 gram en die swaarste vis het 2.4kg geweeg. 36 SA BASS July 2016

Christo Raath het hierdie vis van 2.23kg uit ‘n net gehaal

Die wenstrategieë kan as volg opgesom word:

WENSTRATEGIEë 1.

Team

Structure

Best time

Depth

Lure

Colour

Rig

Team Big Greedy

Snotterbelle

Whole day

9 - 12ft

Brush Hog

Junebug

Texas

Team Khourie

Rocks

Afternoon

15 - 20ft

Fluke

Black

Drop Shot

Team Never Give Up

Rocks

7 to 9

3ft

Fluke

Junebug

Drop Shot

Team Bass.co.za

Snotterbelle

Whole day

8 - 18ft

Finesse Worm

Grn Pmpkn

Mojo

Team Bass On

Snotterbelle

7 to 8

7ft

Six 8 Craw

Blck Golden Grn

Texas

GRAND PRIX STANDINGS* Daar was reeds vyf kompetisies hierdie seisoen en vir die eerste keer sedert Februarie is Team Blue Water Gear onttroon wat terug geval het na die sesde plek. Team X-Factor Six 8 het die geleentheid gebruik en het opgeskuif vanuit die derde plek en bekleë nou die eerste posisie. Daar is nog net vier kompetisies oor… enige iets kan nog gebeur om te sien wie hierdie seisoen die Grand Prix wenners gaan wees.

Na afloop van de laaste kompetisie is die huidige Grand Prix puntestand is as volg: 1.

601-points

Team X-Factor Six 8

Jooste Wasserfall & Tobie Uys

596-points

Team GR82Fish

Robert Tuzza & Raymond Page

584-points

Team Wolf

Alastair Vorster & Clint Dalglish

564-points

Team Bass On

Riaan Spangenberg & Henk Venter

564-points

Team New Anchor

Calman Grobler & Dirk Smith

538-points

Team Bass World

Etienne Wurth & Stephen Williams

520-points

Team Blue Water Gear

Frans Swanepoel & Lesley Montgomery

518-points

Team Bee Gee

Tony Lagesen & Gareth Dryden

493-points

Team Mercury

Nicholas Milligan & Jamie Rout

492-points

Team Greens

Kamlesh Parbhoo & Adrian Swarts

10.

486-points

Team Bass.co.za

Steve & Charl Engelbrecht

*A Grand Prix system is used to determine the End-of-Season-Points standing, as follows: the winner of each monthly tournament receives 130 points with following positions receiving points on a decreasing scale (ie: 129 for second, 128 for third, 127 for forth and so on). Each team will receive an additional ten (30) attendance points for each tournament attended.

Limpopo Wenners Datum: 17 April 2016 Venue: Nandonidam UITSLAE: 1 8.422kg, Team Xterminator - Andy Kyriacoudes & Riaan Bam met 5 visse wen R1300 kontant 2 1.508kg, Team TFF - Leon Lordan & Theo Janse v Rensburg met 5 visse wen R600 kontant 3 1.386kg, Team Beli Tomato - Wayne Eastman met 5 visse wen R500 kontant

Andy Kyriacoudes

4 1.374kg, Team Piscator - Attie & Wian de Lange met 5 visse wen R400 kontant 5 0.886kg, Team Bouwer - Eugene & Len Bouwer met 5 visse wen R300 kontant

GROOT VIS: Andy Kyriacoudes van Team Xterminator het die grootste vis van 3.665kg geweeg. Die vis was by die damwal gevang.

L-n-r: Team Xterminator, Team TFF, Team Beli Tomato, Team Piscator, Team Bouwer

SA BASS 37 July 2016

GRAND PRIX PUNTESTAND* (Limpopo) Na afloop van die laaste kompetisie is die huidige puntestand as volg: 1.

513-punte

Team Xterminator

Andy Kyriacoudes & Riaan Bam

506-punte

Team Lannie Motors New

Paul du Toit & Wayne Dames

504-punte

Team JV Hydraulic’s

Wessel du Toit & Johnny Verster

501-punte

Team Bouwer

Eugene & Len Bouwer

498-punte

Team TFF

Leon Lordan & Theo Janse v Rensburg

491-punte

Team Geartec

J van Rooyen & Hannes de Jager

409-punte

Team Slabbert

Robert & Jaques Slabbert

256-punte

Team Beli Tomato

Wayne Eastman

250-punte

Team Piscator

Attie & Wian de Lange

10.

248-punte

Team Lannie Motors Used

Andre Bezuidenhout & Bruce Allan

Mpumalanga Wenners Datum: 28 May 2016 Venue: Bronkhorstspruit Dam UITSLAE: 1 4.52kg, Team MMS - Alfred Siegl & Darren Hockley with 5 fish 2 4.25kg, Team Go Fish Custom Baits - Buks Human & Louis Cooper with 5 fish 3 4.03kg, Team Stretch 60 - Mike Cloete & Piet van Wyk with 5 fish 4 3.52kg, Team D.A.M - Frik & Vaughn Jonker with 5 fish 5 3.49kg, Team Hit It - David Wills & Derrick Putter with 5 fish L-t-r: Piet van Dyk, Mike Cloete, Louis Cooper, Buks Human, David Wills, Derrick Putter, Darren Hockley, Alfred Siegl, Frik Coetser, Vaughn Jonker

BIG FISH: 1.375kg – Team KAS, Kevin & Sue Adams GRAND PRIX STANDINGS* The current Grand Prix standings are as follows: 1.

629-points

Team Go Fish Custom Baits

624-points

Team Stretch 60

Buks Human & Louis Cooper Mike Cloete & Piet van Wyk

607-points

Team 460

Jaap Pienaar & Wikus le Roux

606-points

Team Vortex

Divan Coetzee

583-points

Team Hengelvriend

Anton Bouwer & Boet Grabie

582-points

Team Bass Masjien

Dewald Pretorius & Dennis Cruse

576-points

Team Crewless

Sean Campion & Grant Baker

555-points

Team Go Fish Custom Baits 2

Arthur Symington & Chanelle Stewart

510-points

Team MMS

Alfred Siegl & Darryn Hockley

10.

503-points

Team Double Trouble Tribal

Jacques Schoeman & Jacques De Wet

CURRENT TOP THREE GRAND PRIX STANDINGS 1.

629-points

Team Go Fish Custom Baits

Buks Human & Louis Cooper

601-points

Team X-Factor Six 8

Jooste Wasserfall & Tobie Uys

513-punte

Team Xterminator

Andy Kyriacoudes & Riaan Bam

Cast-for-Cash 2016 Season Upcoming Events: Date

Gauteng

Date

Mpumalanga

Date

23 Jul

Rust de Winter

23-Jul

Witbank

July

27 Aug

Hartebeespoort Dam

27-Aug

Rust de Winter

27/28 Aug

2 day comp - De Hoop

24 Sep

Vaal River

24-Sep

Arabie

25-Sep

Ebenezer Dam

29 Oct

Champion-of-Champions

29-Oct

Champion-of-Champions

29 Oct

Champion-of-Champions

Hannes 082 416 5524

Lizette Jonker 076 766 2046

Limpopo

Wessel du Toit 082 855 0917

Visit our website www.sabass.com for all the results, tournament-information, -schedules and -rules. The results are also available on our Facebook page.

38 SA BASS July 2016

SABAA NEWS >>

WCBAA Outdoor Outreach Programme

>> Craig Fraser cast a spinning reel and how to cast accurately. A casting competition was run with the winner from each group of kids winning a brand new rod and reel. Many of the youngsters had fished before and were competent casters, while for others this was the first time they had handled the equipment.

Question and answer session

All who attended the fifth Western Cape Bass Angling Association Outdoor Outreach Programme

his is the fifth time that the Western Cape Bass Angling Association has held a junior “Outdoor Outreach Programme” at Theewaters Sports Club at Theewaterskloof Dam. The aim of these events is to develop interest in outdoor activities in general. WCBAA anglers all assist in presenting and demonstrating the joys of an outdoor lifestyle and encourage the youth to embrace the sport of angling and we promote environmental awareness. A total of 48 school children from two local schools were bussed to the Theewaters Sports Club (TSC). After being divided into four smaller groups, the youngsters were given short seminars on the following topics: 1. Environmental awareness 2. Boat safety and the equipment and functionality of bass boats 3. Basic knot tying workshop 4. Casting competition

Environmental awareness Freddie Steyn gave an excellent

seminar on the impact and dangers of pollution, translocation of fish species and catch and release that all have effects on the dam and its surroundings with the emphasis on how these would affect the future sustainability of our waters nationally.

Boat safety Len le Roux and Rory Heideman gave an informative lecture on boating safety, fish handling and care as well as the various techniques employed by bass fisherman. He explained the many technical components of a tournament-rigged bass boat with emphasis on safety and the typical equipment used throughout a day on the water.

Basic knots and typical baits Richard Watson demonstrated the best knots to use and everyone got a chance to practice the knots until they got the hang of it.

Casting workshop Andrew Nienaber and Jason Fraser conducted a coaching class on how to

With the assistance of Tom Stewart, Craig Fraser ran through a questions and answering session, whereby those that had grasped the day were rewarded with rods, reels and caps. The day was a great success and everyone showed great enthusiasm throughout the various tasks. It was pleasing to hear from the various teachers who attended the event that many of the learners were present at the previous year’s event and had begged to come along again. One of the main goals for this event is to provide the youngsters with an alternative activity that would keep them out of trouble and it seems as though many of them love to spend time outdoors and fishing. This kind of event would not be possible without the very generous sponsorship from Rapala VMC SA who provided twenty fishing rods and reels. These were handed out to learners who correctly answered a series of questions based on the day’s seminars. Many thanks to TSC for their venue and for the lunch provided by kitchen staff that assisted in making this event the success that it was. SA BASS 39 July 2016

>> SA BASS

l l u F t s r i F My n o s a e S KBT

4, I was 1 0 2 n i iculating . I had ﬁshed r t a m g (KBT ) eedin l c i o a r r T p t , s a season. uritiu l ickBo l a K u f M e a h n t i d , s h ne thing never complete ix mont o s r o g f n t i n d e en but had excitem e After sp r h t o i f e w b d s elme ple time u o overwh c a t namen the tour Preparation is mandatory for me. I’m busy thinking >> Jean-Michel Gravenor

was motivated d and d d determined d to complete l a ffullll season and fish as best I can. Without bass fishing for six months, I was practically craving for a fight from our green friends. I finally got back to my beloved South Africa and managed to fish all the tournaments with relatively good results. I had one left to go, which was to take place at Mofam. The pressure was on as I was currently first on the log.

and e ur 3.5kg I with o t a private venu d n a d n a ie t fr h g y u M ophies ca 3.83kg tr

40 SA BASS July 2016

“okay, Mofam, clear water, loads of structure.” I was actually horribly mistaken. Upon arrival, it was really quite a sight. One I had never seen before. The water level was the lowest I had ever seen it. It was extremely muddy due to the heavy rainfall we had had in the week. Stupidly, I completely forgot about that factor. The visibility was maybe ten centimetres at a maximum. The water was ice cold, and the structure which is usually plentiful at Mofam, was high and dry along the banks. It was a real shock. I had to scrap my game plan completely and come up with a whole new one. Everyone was on the water soon enough and we were off. I decided to head down stream and try get bag first, then ffocus on upgrading. I dropped my first three fish and just w wasn’t impressed at all. I finally managed to find a patter pattern and got my bag. I may have upgraded twice out of the 15 or so fish I caught. This was proper winter fishing. Post ffrontal conditions, ice cold water and a chilly wind. Towar Towards the end of the day, I managed to hook a 1,44kg rainbo trout on a squirrel tail. It was disappointing to rainbow say th the least as I was desperately needing an upgrade. The comp competition eventually ended at 16:00 and it was going to be a re really close one. Pro Proceeding the weigh in was a braai where everyone receiv received a complementary roll from Mofam. I was relieved that tthe season was over and I was happy that I had tried my bbest, all that was left were the results. Prize giving start started and the competitors who placed from tenth to four fourth place were called out. Then came the top three… Im managed to secure third place for Mofam, with Pieter in second and Jaco in first place. Now... it was time for the season’s results. I am really happy to have taken the to top spot for the season with Michael Swart coming in a close second. I take my hat off to Michael as he is a really r strong competitor and fished his heart out. Well done to everyone who placed in the KBT and I hope to see everyone next season! Following prize giving, I was off to my friend for the night and got up to fish a private dam at about

The top five KBT anglers

05:30 the following morning. I wasn’t sure what to expect as it was a dam I was completely new to. One thing was for sure, I was going to relax and take my time. We were off and I managed a fish here and there, whereas my friend smashed them. It was about 09:00 and I took my squirrel tail and spinning rod out and flipped it next to a bush. I felt a slight tap and a slow pull. I made sure she had it and set the hook. I was expecting maybe a 1,8kg model - nothing

amaz amazing. My line started rising towards the surface and I knew she was about to jjump. She jumped... oh my word, defi definitely a fish over 3kg. I was still quite rel relaxed, surprisingly enough. I wasn’t str stressing even though I had a spinning se setup spooled with 12lb main line and a 12lb leader. I was getting slightly n nervous once the fish found a brush pile and took me in it three times. I could feel the horrible friction any angler dreads feeling. After about a five minute fight I managed to lip land her. The squirrel tail was hooked neatly into the top of her jjaw. The leader I had, looked like it had been rubbed against a rock until all the strands were splitting. She weighed in at 3.83kg. I’m extremely w chuffed to be able to say I caught of fish of that size on spinning gear. Phenomenal! My buddy also managed to catch himself a pig of a bass weighing in at 3.5kg on a five inch fighting frog. What a weekend! These memories are for life. I would like to thank the KBT tournament organisers and all my sponsors for supplying me with the best tackle and rods I could ever imagine. I would never have come this far without their help.

SA BASS 41 July 2016

>> SA BASS TOURNAMENT NEWS

Fishing the

FLW >> Neels Beneke

New York Times Square

At the age of fifteen I started bass fishing. The addiction got me hooked when I caught my first bass reeling in a stick bait, not knowing much or anything at all about jerking it.

A fat 5lb7oz Kentucky bas 08 SA BASS 42 July 2016 May 2012

2kg gobbled it up in no time and since then I never stopped the search for the next adrenaline rush, the next bite, the satisfying reward of knowing that you have outsmart that bass. From beautiful sunrises, bird catching snakes and the speed of a 250 horsepower outboard, it all adds up to the product of bass fishing, but that still wasn’t enough. I started to take my fishing to a competitive level fishing Interprovincials, Nationals, Presidents, Region 5 and today I find myself fishing the Costa FLW circuit in the United States as a co-angler. As a co-angler I’m bound to a few rules that limit me as an angler. A co-angler can only fish from the back of the boat, is only allowed one tackle bag and maximum seven rods. The only time I’m allowed on the front deck of the boat is to net the pro’s fish. Due to pros spending huge amounts of money and time putting together a game plan locating fish holding spots it is acceptable sportsmanship and casting etiquette to allow the pro to fish his spot first. Then request if you can have a cast to the front, if the spot is still to the front of the boat, as he deserves the opportunity to work his game plan. This is a general unwritten sportsmanship rule amongst coanglers and pros. In March I flew out for my first tournament. Flying 27 hours via Dubai and Chicago excluding layover hours, I arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas with just my luggage bag and rod tube. I had nothing except my rod and reels and stayed for the next couple of days getting all my tackle, fishing licenses, life jacket, etc. Days of careful planning and preparation as to what baits, cranks, frogs, colours, hooks, everything I must have and can fit into one tackle bag. I headed to Bass Pro Shop and a few stores stretching the budget, not knowing what water colour, weather conditions or if the bass have spawned yet. It was a challenge, especially when it came to choosing which seven rods to take that can cover any technique in any circumstance. Touring a few days in the beautiful city of Little Rock I

made my way down to Lake Dardanelle for the registration and pre-meeting. Sitting amongst 210 pro-anglers and legends like Stacey King and many more I always used to watch on ESPN, I quickly realised that this was the real deal. Welcomed by the city mayor the excitement stirred up as all co-anglers got paired up with their boaters. Discussing the tournament rules and fish size limits, 15” (38cm) for largemouth and smallmouth bass and 12” (30,4cm) for spotted bass, I was ready as can be. The next day the three day tournament started. On day one I was paired with a FLW Tour pro and former Elite Series pro, James Stricklin Jnr, but unfortunately we weren’t onto many fish. The cold and muddy water didn’t help fishing much with the already low water levels fluctuating each day. Pitching a 3/4oz weight with a Brush Hog in less than 3ft of water to endless amounts of lay downs and stumps. I managed myself two keepers of just under 6lbs which placed me 42nd for days one and kept me in the money since the fishing was tough for everyone. On day two I was paired with a different pro and we ran ft for an hour up river to his spots which bombed out and left me empty handed which placed me in the midfield in the he ip overall standing but still in the run for the championship tournament which is a tournament consisting of the top op forty after the three tournaments on the circuit. Flying back to South Africa I was home for two weeks ks until I headed back in April for the second tournament at the famous Lake Kentucky. I first stopped for a little self-birthday celebration n touring New York City and the fame country music city ty Nashville, Tennessee.

A solid 12lb bag to secure

a pay cheque

Some people ask me why I’m willing to spend so much money on all the flights and the expenses going with it, risking my job just for a green fish. Well simple, if you want something as bad as you want to breathe, there’s no price to it!

New World Trade Center,

New York SA BASS 43 July 2016

Singing the USA national

rnament

anthem to commence the tou

Arriving at Lake Kentucky I didn’t know what to expect; fishing deep on the ledges for what Kentucky is known for or to go shallow where those big females spawn right up against the buck bushes. Nevertheless I was mentally prepared knowing the favour of God is on my side. Day one started off tough but not long until I found some bass that couldn’t resist a weightless 5” Senko pitched right into the buck bushes that weighed me three fish of just under 8lbs. Day two was mentally tough after losing some big fish early in the day but with the help of a 6lb bass on a spinnerbait fan casting flats. The last hour I managed to put a bag together that placed me 21st out of 210 anglers, 1lb short of the top ten cut which goes through to fish day three. Pay-outs to the 53rd place I was extremely happy to cheque my biggest pay check for bass fishing to date. I now sit 28th overall in the standings, well in the top forty cut for the championship. Feeling very blessed and thankful to the Lord I’m going humbly confident into the last event at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri in October. Some people ask me why I’m willing to spend so much money on all the flights and the expenses going with it, risking my job just for a green fish. Well simple, if you want something as bad as you want to breathe, there’s no price to it! SA BASS and our readers wish Neels all the best for his next tournament at the Lake of the Ozarks - Ed 44 SA BASS July 2016

The author eagerly waiting

for the start of day two on

Kentucky Lake

>> SA BASS ROD BENDER

Mission106-2 The Fight Back Begins Rod was visiting Albert who stays at the Falls and ran into a long shadow. Albert, not knowing what Rod Bender is talking about, trusted Rod’s background and swam of with him and stayed in the shade of the shore line. “Albert!” Rod calls. “Stay close I want to show you something, it will help explain what is going on here. “I am on your six” Albert confirms. “Where are we going? It is becoming late and although it is better to travel now, you are heading far away from my structure”. Albert says swimming up to Rod. “I can try to explain, but it is better to show you” says Rod. After crossing the pond to the shallower side Rod slows down and starts to look for a good vantage point. He sees a stump on the shore and waves Albert closer. Albert still looking confused moves in under the stump with him. “Now we wait” Rod says looking into the distance, searching for something. “What are you looking for?” Albert asks. “Movement” Rod replies. The bright light in the sky was slowly loosing its strength and it was then when the first movement started in the distance. “Here they come” Rod says pointing over Albert shoulder. “Who?” Albert asks looking in the direction Rod 46 SA BASS July 2016

pointed. “Aliens” Rod says with frustration on his voice. “They always gather at this time of day, removing their alien craft from the pond and where they go I don’t know, but they will return when the bright light in the sky returns” Rod starts explaining. The two of them watch one craft after another being removed. “Watch carefully, they are normally in a team of two, sometimes we see them alone, but it must be different shifts I think. They go out and collect mostly younglings and take them to a testing station, measure, weigh and do all sorts of experiments on them” Rod explains. “This explains where the youngsters are disappearing to!” Albert says with a frown. “Just stay with me and you will see some of them return”, Rod says showing him a strange pipe coming into the water. Rod and Albert watched the pipe and after a few minutes a youngling came out, looking very disorientated and totally freaked out. Rod swims up to him and grabs him, “Calm down,

calm down everything is over now” Rod holds on to him tightly. “Let me go, let me go!” the youngling squirms and fights to release himself, but this is Rod Bender, nobody shakes loose from his grip. “He will calm down in a moment and then we will talk to him” Rod explains his actions to Albert. The youngling starts to calm down and looks at Rod and realises who is holding on to him. “Mr. Bender, I always thought you were a myth and now I am looking at you, touching you”. “Stop touching me, Rod says. “Really… stop touching me!” Albert swims closer. “What happened to you?” Albert asks trying to pull him off of Rod. “Focus man” Albert says shaking him to his senses. “ I don’t really know. One moment we were feeding on some crabs and the next moment I had something in my mouth pulling me in another direction. I tried to shake it, but obviously it did not work. I was pulled from the water, flew through the sky, was grabbed by the mouth by something, forced into a white box and then the sky turned black” the youngling recalls. “The same thing is happening in every pond I go to” Rod says to Albert.

“What are we going to do?” Albert asks, looking at Rod. “We need to speak to your local school and teach them the difference between food and Alien detectors” Rod says with urgency in his voice. Rod let the youngling go, warning him not eat anything till he has attended the meeting. He agrees by nodding and swims off in a hurry. Rod and Albert swim back to his structure to spend the night. Rod feels frustrated that this cycle will never end and he does not know how to stop it. “Maybe a new approach is needed, something the aliens won’t expect, something that will stop this constant attack on everybody” Rod thinks to himself on the way back. “The aliens are never seen at night, they can only move on top of the water and they need their craft to travel in. So we will use this against them, remove all their advantages and maybe we can remove them.” “What are you thinking?” Albert enquires. “Can we trust the school and will they cooperate with what we ask?” Rod asks turning to Albert looking him square in the eyes. “No problem” Albert replies not flinching for a moment. “I think I have a plan” Rod says. “We will pull off the most daring plan and it will require everybody’s help…” *In this series of articles Rod Bender, the director - Under Water USO (Unidentified Shadow Object) is called to help unsolve mysteries appearances, in and around Lake Eerie.

NOW BACK IN SOUTH AFRICA

SA BASS 47 July 2016

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

Tight

Wobble

for winter bassin’ Fishing with one of my ﬁshing buddies, Mike Hussun, he showed me some lures that he imported from Japan. Some of them were just metal blades. My question was; why these blades? His answer: “It’s popular in Japan and all the anglers use it”. >> Bennie Wiese*

ended up taking some bladed baits and try them in Gauteng. At first I did not ot have hav any results and I ha must also state that hat at I ttried it out during the summer months. As winter approached ached ched and an the first cold

48 SA BASS July 2016

front moved in, the fishing got tough. I read about blade baits for cold weather fishing and I remembered the blades I got from Mike. I decided to tie on the “Kockin Jaw” blade and started to fish it close to the bottom, just touching the grass. On my first cast half way to the boat

the rod just started to load up and I was rewarded with my first solid keeper. Until then I could not understand why these blades were so popular. But as I fished it more and more during the day I started to realise why and it started to make sense to me. In my early bass fishing days I had similar blades called “Sonars”. They were available in most tackle shops and were not very popular. For many years and even now it is difficult to find them in the shops. If you are not familiar with it, the lure is a thin, vaguely metal minnow-shape lure with a lead belly-weight.

How to fish it I prefer to fish the blades on long casts, covering lots of water at a time, looking for scattered grass patches or brushes. When making contact with the structure I rip the bait out of it and let it fall again for a second or two. I then retrieve it again and most of the bites will occur when the bait falls. The bite will be a soft pull on the line as if you pulled it through grass. Use your electronics and find suspended fish over a drop off or deep hump, then use the blades vertical with a yo-yo action. Don’t overdo the upwards action; a small rip will do and then let the bait fall back to the bottom. You can then dead stick the bait on the bottom or work it back through the suspended fish, or where you will find the bait ball. The bites will be at the bottom when you move the bait, or when it falls through the suspend fish or bait balls. Allow the vibrating bait to fall on a semi tight line to the ideal depth you want to fish. Always try to be a line watcher because sometimes the bass will take the lure and the angler will not even know it. The line will just stop for a few seconds and as the bass spits it out the line will move again. This is why it is very important to feel the vibration of the lure as it moves through the water. When fishing it vertical use the tip of the rod to follow the line down to the bottom or desire depth. Don’t let the bait fall on too much slack line as it makes it difficult to detect the bite.

Where to fish it When reading articles on this technique you will always read about how the anglers abroad fish it vertical in deep water. These baits can be fished any time of the year; deep to shallow. Just cast it past the target area whether it is a lay down, grass line, brush or rocks and when it gets to the strike zone let it fall a bit, rip it again and wait to see if there are any takers. When targeting heavy structure you can swap to braid if you prefer it. When using it in winter the tight wobble makes it a deadly lure to use. A thin shaped crankbait works just as well. There is no limit where to fish it, from brides pillars, grass, humps or ledges, anywhere you have the nerves to fish it, or where other angler did not think of fishing it. If you are scared of losing the lure the chances are great that you will get better fish out of those areas.

Colours Any colour works for me but silver, gold or any bright colour works most of the time. Bass are reacting on the bait and not the colours. There are so many shapes and sizes on the market but the cheap blades are a waste of money. Rather go and read up on these baits and you will find many reviews. If they don’t work for anglers they will put it out on the internet very quickly.

The three magic holes Simply stated, action control and / or depth control is governed by which of the three holes you use, speed of your retrieve and how deep you let the blade sink before starting the retrieve.

Action control Hole 1: gives you a narrow wiggle, to be used for fast retrieving. Hole 2: gives a medium or all purpose wiggle for all around fishing. Hole 3: gives you a wide wobble for a slower retrieve.

Depth control (generally speaking) Hole 1: runs deep. Hole 2: runs medium. Hole 3: runs shallow when retrieved normally. However, when retrieved very fast the blades will lift the lure, while a slow retrieve will let the blades dive deeper. The normal fall rate is about three feet (one meter) for every one second.

Tackle It all depends where you are going to fish. If it is clear open water a spinning medium outfit will work great with 8 to 10lb line. These baits also work great when they are fished with bait casting outfits because of their profile that are so thin and front heavy design. They can be easily cast with a bait caster to get great distance and cover greater areas of water. A 6’6” to 7ft medium heavy rod with a fast or moderate tip works well combined with 10 to 12lb line and a fast ratio reel. It’s important to feel when the lure stops vibrating. You also need to feel when you are getting hang up on grass or getting engulfed by a bass. High ratio reels can also help when the bait is falling on a slack line and the bass hits the bait to reel up the slack line quickly. For the angler that is looking for something different this winter there are not many bladed brands available in South Africa. Blades that are available include Damiki Vault, Eco Gear, Jackal Knockin Jaw and Evergreen Vibration. *Bennie Wiese is the editor of SA Bass magazine and an experienced provincial bass angler. SA BASS 49 July 2016

>> SA BASS FLY FISHING

h c t CaRelease

]

Here are essential tips for catching, handling and releasing fish safely

Larger fish must always be lifted out of the water being supported in a horizontal position

>> Ralph Radford*

et’s face it, when you feel that little tug at the end of your line your heart starts beating a little faster. You strike... and shout “fish on!” Now the adrenaline is really starting to pump, and very often we get a little lost in the moment. Although the excitement

50 SA BASS July 2016

of catching fish may make it hard to stay calm and follow the tips below, try to do your best. With a little care and consideration, you can greatly limit the amount of damage done to the fish. By using these proper catching, handling and releasing techniques and procedures, you can also

increase their survival rate dramatically. Remember that bringing a fish out of the water is like asking you to hold your breath after a 10km run, you both need oxygen. A fellow fly fisherman once said that when you remove a fish from the water, start holing your breath. By the time that you need to take a breath so does the fish and should be back in the water. Good catch and release practices come down to keeping the fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best interest at heart. If you are releasing a fish, you want to know that it has a good chance of survival. By doing this, we are doing our little part to maintain our fisheries and help replenish and restore those that are taking strain. Firstly we need to understand what causes mortality in caught fish. Fish may die after release for many different reasons. The most common causes of post-release mortality result from: t 4USVHHMF EVSJOH UIF DBQUVSF t .JTIBOEMJOH PG UIF ĂŤTI CZ UIF BOHMFS t *OKVSJFT DBVTFE GSPN UIF IPPL t 1IZTJPMPHJDBM TUSFTT Unfortunately, some fish may still die after release even UIPVHI UIFZ TFFN VOIBSNFE .PTU ĂŤTI SFBMMZ QVU VQ B good fight and are usually exhausted and stressed by the time we land them. This â&#x20AC;&#x153;fightâ&#x20AC;? results in an excessive amount of lactic acid being realised in their muscles and blood, and can cause death after release. This brings us to the first important tip for safe and correct catch and release.

Tip #1 - Choosing and using the correct tackle Always match your tackle to the targeted species. The correct hook and line size must be always be used. If you are using lures with treble hooks it is always a good idea to replace these with single hooks. This can be done with relative ease. Another good alternative is to swap out your conventional hooks for circle hooks. Circle hooks have been around for donkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s years and are making a strong comeback amongst the angling community. It is almost unheard of gut hooking a fish when using circle hooks, and they generally always hook the fish in the corner of the mouth.

Advantages of using circle hooks: t $JSDMF IPPLT BSF EFTJHOFE TP UIF QPJOU PG UIF IPPL JT turned perpendicular to the shank to form a circular or oval shape. t $JSDMF IPPLT BSF NPSF MJLFMZ UP IPPL ĂŤTI JO UIF mouth instead of in the oesophagus or stomach. t ' JTI IPPLFE JO UIF NPVUI UFOE UP ĂŤHIU MFTT UIBO HVU hooked fish. Research shows that almost all fish, especially trout that are gut hooked will most probably die within about three days. That being said fish are still caught that have been gut hooked and survived. If the fish is however hooked JO UIF HVU JU JT QSPCBCMZ CFTU UP KVTU DVU MJOF %PO U USZ

Zaheer Osman demonstrating the correct technique to handle a large bass

removing the hook as this will only do further damage SFTVMUJOH JO EFĂŤOJUF NPSUBMJUZ .PTU IPPLT XJMM SVTU PVU over a short time. %F CBSCJOH PS VTJOH CBSCMFTT IPPLT XJMM BMMPX GPS B much easier and quicker release of your fish, with a lot less damage to the fish. You can use pliers to pinch down the barbs on your hooks or you can carefully file them off of large hooks. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be surprised how few fish you lose using barbless hooks compared to the number you lost while using barbed hooks. Nearly every angler who fishes often hooks him or herself at some point. At that moment, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll either thank yourself for removing the barb or kick yourself for not. Use long nose pliers or a haemostat or a de-hooking tool to remove hooks quickly and easily. Always use the correct line test strength for the species that you are targeting. Once hooked you need to get the fish landed as soon as possible. Long drawn out fights are unnecessary, and the longer you fight a fish the more lactic acid is built up in their systems increasing their chance of mortality.

Tip #2 - Keep fish in the water .BOZ ĂŤTI PODF DBVHIU DBO CF LFQU JO UIF XBUFS BOE released without the need of even touching them. The survival rate of fish increases tenfold when they are not lifted out of the water after catching. A fish that kept out of the water for more than a minute has a good chance of dying. A fish kept out of the water for three minutes will almost certainly die after release. SA BASS 51 July 2016

De-hooking tools

A conventional J-hook left and a circle hook right

/FWFS iUPTTw B ĂŤTI CBDL JOUP UIF XBUFS .BLF TVSF UIBU you revive the fish first by simply holding it head first, slowly and gently moving it back and forth. Once you feel the fish has revived sufficiently you can simply give it a little push and send it on its way again.

Tip #5 - Take photos quickly

Tip #3 - Always use wet hands when handling fish If a fish needs to be handled, always wet your hands first. Fish are coated in a protective layer of â&#x20AC;&#x153;slimeâ&#x20AC;? that protects them from disease and aids in swimming. Wetting your hands first reduces the amount slime removed and ultimately decreases the chance of mortality.

Taking photographs and videos are always a great way to share your catches and experience with others, creating unforgettable memories. When taking photos always remember to hold the fish horizontally and support its weight correctly with both hands. This will decrease the chances of internal damage. A fish should never be held PVU PG UIF XBUFS GPS MPOH QFSJPET KVTU JO PSEFS UP UBLF B photo, so remember to take the photo quickly and release the fish immediately after.

Tip #6 - Harvest fish that are mortally injured

If a fish that is caught does not revive and swim away or is bleeding, it should be kept and harvested for consumption Tip #4 - Landing and handling If a fish needs to be landed and removed from the if it is legal to do so. Use your discretion wisely. *O DMPTJOH XF BMM MPWF ĂŤTIJOH BOE XJMM MJLF UP FOKPZ JU GPS water, a knotless rubber net should be used to land the fish. This will sufficiently support the fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body weight a long time to come. Our kids need to be able to share the SFEVDJOH UIF DIBODF PG JOKVSZ $POUSPM UIF ĂŤTI CZ DVQQJOH FYQFSJFODFT XJUI UIFJS PXO DIJMESFO 4P MFU T BMM NBLF PVS your hands around it without squeezing as this can damage best efforts to practice these above techniques to our best UIF JOUFSOBM PSHBOT /FWFS IPME B ĂŤTI CZ JUT KBXT HJMMT PS ability, and thus sustaining our awesome world renown eyes. Remember that fish swim horizontally and have lived fisheries for many years to come. Remember that we are their life in virtual suspension. If you catch a small bass responsible to be stewards of the recourses we have so that (less than 1kg) or any another fish that you will have to GVUVSF HFOFSBUJPOT DBO FOKPZ UIFN BT XFMM MJGU GSPN UIF XBUFS CZ UIF KBX CF TVSF UP LFFQ UIF CPEZ JO *For more information on this subject or to book a fly B TUSBJHIU VQ BOE EPXO QPTJUJPO %P OPU BUUFNQU UP IPME fishing experience contact: Wayne Sinclair or Ralph Radford the fish at a 45-degree angle or in a horizontal position by at Sundowner Fly Fishing Adventures on 083-414-0391 or UIF KBX BMPOF :PV DBO EJTMPDBUF UIF ĂŤTI T KBX NBLJOH JU 073-826-5749, or by e-mail info@sundowner.co.za impossible for the fish to eat, effectively starving the fish to death. If a larger fish is caught (1kg plus) they must always Credits: be lifted out of the water being supported in a horizontal Some of the above extracts from: http://www.recycledfish.org/ QPTJUJPO *G ZPV MJGU JU CZ UIF KBX UIFSF JT B WFSZ HPPE DIBODF safe-angling/catch-and-release.htm of dislocating the spine and damaging internal organs. The fish might swim away but will surely die soon afterwards. 52 SA BASS July 2016

SA BASS INDUSTRY NEWS

Fishing’s Finest A

Customers at Fishing’s Finest

new fishing tackle shop has just has opened in June 2016. Their store is located at the up-market Lynnwood Bridge in Pretoria, offering a convenient one-stop resource catering for all types of fishing and providing only the finest fishing products. Fishing’s Finest stock a wide selection of quality highend fishing tackle and accessories from major brands such as Shimano, Penn, Daiwa, G.Loomis, Quantum, Hatch, Hardy, Greys, Bass Pro Shops and many more. They are also very pleased to announce that Fishing’s Finest partnered with and is the sole provider and agent of PELAGIC GEAR® in South Africa - wholesale opportunities will be available. Fishing’s Finest further offers great fishing tour packages all around the world, helping you experience the sport like never before. Visit their online shop where you will be able to choose and order from their great selection at your own convenience, 24/7. Visit www.fishingsfinest.co.za

New Kroko Skinfilm® & Kroko Fingerfix®

e all know now that plasters are an essential part of every fisherman and woman’s first aid kit. However conventional plasters quickly become dirty and unhygienic need replacing repeatedly. Kroko FingerFix® is a hygienic, waterproof, colourless liquid plaster. It treats those painful little cracks that develop on fingers (and feet) and which are caused by continued exposure to heat, cold, water or external irritants like detergents. Once applied, it forms a moisture proof layer to prevent cracks from re-opening and protects the wound as it heals. Its main benefit is that it acts as a plaster without the bulkiness and discomfort of conventional plasters which so often become grubby or detach when wet. Kroko SkinFilm® is a liquid plaster for treating minor cuts, scratches and small grazes. It is unsuitable for larger wounds or grazes as it causes a brief stinging sensation when applied. The specially designed applicator cap allows just the right amount of liquid to be applied to a wound and once dry, it forms a waterproof, protective plaster allowing bodily healing to take place. This formula was specially designed for fingers and hands which are often immersed in water. The waterproof, flexible and invisible dressing does not wash off easily and can be replaced with further layers until healing is complete t *U JT JNQPSUBOU UP OPUF UIBU XIFO VTJOH ,SPLP FingerFix®

or Kroko SkinFilm®, the affected area must be thoroughly cleaned with warm water and a liquid antiseptic, then dried well before all Kroko applications. The instructions for each pack should be read carefully before beginning treatment. Kroko FingerFix® and Kroko SkinFilm® are available from Clicks, Dis-Chem, Medi-Rite, Pick ‘n Pay Pharmacies and select pharmacies. For more information on Kroko products visit their website www.kroko.co.za SA BASS 53 July 2016

>> SA BASS

Paint

Me as a The diaries of the smallmouth bass

>> Sibusiso Yokwana*

he summer weather is nice and warm outside. You are surrounded by massive stretch of fynbos vegetation. The coordinates on your GPS read somewhere around 34.1667° S, 18.3750° E. You my friend are likely in the southern tip of South Africa. Welcome to the Cape floristic region, the home of nearly 20% of the continent’s flora. This is one of the South Africa’s eight world heritage sites. It has eight protected areas stretching from the Cape Peninsula to the Eastern Cape, cutting across remarkable mountains and beautiful ocean scenery. If you visit one of this region’s clear warm water streams or rivers, there

54 SA BASS July 2016

is a probability of sighting one of its 17 endemic fish species. The chances are high if you visit Rondegat River in Cederberg. But this is not the case when visiting other river systems like Krom. Rondegaat was treated for alien invasive species that occurred in the river. Unlike Rondegat other systems are still infested with these invasive alien species, the big question is who is to blame? In these waters lives one of the most controversial, most talked about names in the biodiversity circles. Just by mentioning its name, a shiver down the spine of a conservationist runs. Meet the green coloured “monster”

with dark vertical bands, its upper jaw never extends beyond the eye, this “monstrous” fish prefers large clear water lakes and streams with gravel substrate, the water is preferred cooler. This is the smallmouth bass, known in the science academia as Micropterus dolomieu. Meaning “small fin”, it was name after the French mineralogist M. Dolomieu. This species is less tolerant of waters with low dissolved oxygen, low pH and high turbidity it wants it all high quality, for this small monster its go big or go home. The ensemble is always seen together, showing their stripes around submerged rocky areas of flowing waters. If you are lucky enough to get an

>> Picture: Dr. Olaf Weyl A juvenile smallmouth bass

invite to the feeding patterns of its majesty, you would likely see it feasting in a buffet of large freshwater crabs and dragonfly larvae, and huge amounts of mayfly nymphs, quite an appetite for the pintsized species. At present the presence of this innocent alien invasive species is considered a major threat to indigenous species in the Western Cape Rivers. Funny thing is we (humans) are the ones who decided to interfere with nature and introduce species into foreign systems. Invasions are usually a result of introductions authorized by the government. These are for human interests, sometimes illegally introduced to aid a private purpose, they also occur as a result of human transport, or naturally with no human interference. The introduction of this alien

species in South Africa coincides with the passing of Aliens (see what I did there?) Act 1 of 1937. Smallmouth bass are originally from North America. It was in 1937 when South Africa was first graced with the presence of this magnificent species. The aim of this was to increase leisure activities in river below trout zone, particularly in the Western Cape, and for bio control of Whitefish. I would like to believe when this species first came it was all rosy for South African anglers, because it could be caught with either dead or live bait, but today it is implied that the disappearance of six species in the Olifants River is because of the smallmouth bass. While in the Berg and Breede Rivers, it is connected with the vanishing of local cyprinid species and the Cape Kurper. But that did not stop it from being appreciated and blamed at the same time, because to date it is a popular recreational fish among anglers. Should we point fingers at Thomas Brooks? He is said to be one of the men who are responsible for the introductions, he is also the one who in 1949 wrote about the decline in number yellowish fingerlings that were once so common in the invaded mainstream. Was it too late to do anything by then? Or was angling already too much of an economic importance that sacrifices had to made? The other question is how did this cool water species managed to survive this long? And how has it managed to stay enemy number one for South African conservationists? In invaded freshwater environments alien fish can have deep costs to the native ecosystem. Introduced alien species can have negative effects on diversity of amphibians and invertebrate. It is a global occurrence. The first things the aliens bring to foreign waters are new parasites and diseases, or just escalate the old ones. The pathogens could be transferred onto the native fishes, and could seriously disturb the local ecosystem, size reduction or decrease of competitive ability of the native fishes can occur as a result of this introduction. Predation is possibly the deepest effect alien invasive fishes can

have on native biodiversity. Some of the most noticeable reduction of indigenous freshwater fish has been a result of introduction of alien predators. These are most introduced for recreational purposes. Possibly the most publicised example is that of introduction of Nile Perch in Lake Victoria in the late 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. This was the home of up to 300 species of haplochromine cichlids. Through predation hundreds of cichlid species declined. The willingness to risk it all, our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diversity and our childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future, just so we can have the leisure of taking the fish out its environment then throw it back, not caring if it survives or not, just baffles me. We take these species out of their comfort zone which is their native environment, introduce them to foreign waters and still get mad and go as far as eradicating the species when it survives and spreads successfully in foreign waters. What does that say about us; is leisure more important than actual well-being of the natural ecosystem? With all these impacts probably not taken into consideration, we went on and still going on introducing exotic species in foreign waters. Nature, have mercy on us! *Sibusiso Yokwana is a B.Sc (Honours) graduate from Rhodes University and wrote this article as part of his honours programme.

SA BASS 55 July 2016

>> SA BASS BASS ADDICT

Does Size Really Matter?

It all depends on who you speak to when it comes to the debate on size. Sure, many will continue believing that bigger is better, but how much truth is in that statement? >> The Bass Addict

veryone is always striving for bigger things, bigger bakkie, bigger boat, bigger selection of tackle, bigger outboard, bigger fish finder, bigger baits and of course, bigger fish resulting in a new PB. Some will stop at nothing to make sure that they have the absolute best when it comes to this sport we call bassin. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure that some individuals will even get to the point of starvation just in order to spend that extra couple

56 SA BASS July 2016

of bucks on that something bigger. And in their mind will give them the edge over others. Some individuals not only strive to have bigger toys, but also way bigger bank accounts, and if you know anything about this sport, once you get to a certain point, it does help to have a bigger bank account in order to pay for all the bigger things. When it comes to the adage that bigger is better, I suppose there is some truth in the sentiment, but

as with everything in life, there is always a flip side to every statement. How many anglers that do own that massive boat with all the bells and whistles get their monthly copy of SA Bass, their favourite bassin magazine and look at the photos that readers have sent in and think to themselves... I wish I could get a fish that big? In competitive angling, it is advantageous to have a bigger and faster boat and the bigger side, top to bottom 360

For some it is more about confidence than size

Does size really matter?

degree scanning, radar bouncing, image enhancing, laser projecting, holographic imaging, 3D toys... but, in essence it’s just a fish finder on steroids and speed. Yes, it will see things under the water that others don’t see, laydowns, trees, brush piles, rock piles and even that lonely crab heading out for a scratch of lunch. Make no mistake here, those advanced gadgets do work. However, that reader that posted his fish probably didn’t have a fish finder and caught that massive slab of olive

and gold by luck, chance, practice or gut instinct or maybe a combination of all of these factors. Having a bigger boat with a bigger outboard means that you and the bank manager become rather good friends because you need a bigger vehicle to tow that ship to the water and neither the boat nor the vehicle that tow them to our waterways on weekends come cheap. That bigger outboard will get you to the best fishing spots ahead of your competitors, and might put you into position to get the bigger fish before they start to feel the pressure. I say might, because you might be throwing the wrong lure to start with. Oh and let’s not forget the anglers you raced past in a flurry of foam and spray in order to get to the best spot, and the wake you left behind makes a tsunami look tame. To some of those guys you might be a big ... I’m sure you have also heard anglers say... go big or go home! And upon further discussion, you will find that the individuals with this sentiment in mind have this notion that throwing a bigger bait will result in a bigger fish. And throwing a massive bait will result in a massive fish. I know of individuals that throw large 7, 8 and 10 inch baits ALL the time because in their thought process, bigger is better and will result in the bigger fish. If we were fishing places like Mteri, Chicamba and Letsibogo, I would be the first to upgrade to a bigger, more solid rod and of course bigger bait.

After all, at some of these exotic spots it’s been rumoured that the fish don’t hatch from eggs, instead they are born at around 1.5kg and already have a bad attitude. But I’m also sure that those same dwellers of the deep are not exactly the same as the ones we get locally and that our variety need a touch more chlorine to the gene pool. How many of those readers that posted their catches have caught their monsters on average sized baits, 4 or 5 inch flukes, worms, brush hogs, etc? In many cases it’s been the four inch variety that has done the damage. Low and behold, lately there have also been top anglers that have slowly realised that Bigger is NOT always better and that monster fish can and will be caught on smaller baits too. For some individuals, bigger will always be better and sadly their attitude will also walk hand in hand with the bigger toys and for some the bigger will merely represent their over inflated ego. Does size count? Yes, I’ve caught big fish on big baits but that being said, I’ve also caught big fish on tiny baits. Many of those anglers posting their readers catches caught it from the bank or a canoe or small inflatable or kayak... without the big toys and some without big baits. In the end, I suppose it’s up to the individual and for some size does count... for others, it’s the old saying... It does not matter about the size, it’s how you wiggle your worm... SA BASS 57 July 2016

>> SA BASS CONSUMER NEWS

1. GENE LAREW SALT FLICK’R >> Available at leading tackle shops

Sinking worm, a swimbait, a shaky worm and a do-nothing worm - all in one, the Gene Larew Salt Flick’R combines the best features of several baits into a single versatile design. One of the most effective ways to fish it though, is reeling it along the bottom on a shaky head. Actually called “flickering,” this technique has been proven to fool largemouth and smallmouth all over. The Gene Larew Salt Flick’R does it all. Leave the legs on for more action or pinch them off for a more subtle presentation.

2. BIG BITE BAITS B2 WORM >> Available at leading tackle shops

Designed to attract that big fish to fill out your limit, the Big Bite Baits B2 Worm delivers a big profile that fish can’t ignore. The slightest movement of the rod brings the B2 Worm to life. Texas or Carolina rig the Big Bite Baits B2 Worm for best results. Now available in multiple colours.

3. BIG BITE BAITS FLOATIN’ TOAD >> Available at leading tackle shops

The Big Bite Baits Top Toad features a soft durable construction proven to stand up to the repeated abuse of hungry bass. It’s anatomically accurate toad profile and specially designed legs that generate a killer buzzing action combine to call bass up from beneath thick vegetation. Available in a variety of colours.

4. REVENGE VIBERATOR >> Available at leading tackle shops

The new Revenge Viberator is designed to be the most versatile bladed swimbait available today. Features a unique shaped super strong stainless steel blade and a 5/0 Mustad Ultra-Point hook with a large bait keeper. The realistic baitfish 58 SA BASS July 2016

designed head ad works wonde wonders with Revenge custom-designed gned silicone skirts. Tie on a Revenge Viberator and hang on because big fish cannot resist the violent action.

5. REVENGE DOUBLE COLORADO >> Available at leading tackle shops

Revenge spinnerbaits feature detailed head designs with deep, black life-like eyes and hueshifting paints, allowing the heads to shimmer in changing angles of light as they move through the water just like a natural baitfish. The custom silicon skirts match the paints and shimmer as well and are kept in place by a deep Stay-On skirt keeper. Round bend Mustad Ultra Point hooks will get the fish you hook into the boat and the fine gauge wire used for the arm will allow maximum vibration from the blades, which are stamped from thin metal, deeply cupped for easy rotation even on the fall or when cranked slowly.

6. CABLZ EYEWEAR RETAINERS >> Available at leading tackle shops

This is not just another eyewear sock or cord. Cablz are innovative, reliable pieces of equipment made from top-quality surgicalgrade steel and industrial-strength rubber. Cablz patented technology solves problems associated with using other eyewear retainers on the market. Look after your expensive fishing sunglasses by using one of these.

7. GENE LAREW BIFFLE BUG JUICE >> Available at leading tackle shops

The perfect compliment for any of your Gene Larew baits, the Gene Larew Biffle Bug Juice is an amino-acid based crawfish gel that is enhanced with a delicious garlic flavouring. Apply the Gene Larew Biffle Bug Juice to the surface of your baits, or use the tip of the bottle to fill hollow-bodied baits with an irresistible scent. The Gene Larew Biffle Bug Juice leaves an unmistakable scent trail that drives bass crazy.

9. SUNLINE SUPER NATURAL MONO >> Available at leading tackle shops

Sunline is a Japanese line company that has been generating lots of attention at the top levels of professional bass fishing. Top money anglers know that the only thing between them and the money fish is a thin strand of line and it better be good. Sunline Super Natural is a world-class monofilament line, designed to give the high performance required in a wide range of situations. Sunline Super Natural is supple and easy to handle for maximum cast ability.

10. BOCA BEARINGS SPOOL BEARING ORANGE SEAL 8. WAVE AWAY SONAR & GPS CLEANER >> Available at leading tackle shops

High resolution screens can provide you with a brilliant and clear display. Unfortunately, these screens also collect dust, grime, fingerprints, and water spots. Using general purpose cleaners or window cleaners isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recommended for LCD screens. Harsh detergents and alcohol or ammonia-based cleaners can strip away the protective surface or scratch your display.

>>Available from leading reel service centres

The Boca Bearing ABEC#7 Ceramic Orange Seal Fishing Reel Bearing Kits are an upgrade replacement to stock fishing reel bearings. These ABEC#7 bearings have ceramic balls with stainless steel races and retainers. Orange Seal bearings have a non-contact rubber seal which allows the bearing to spin freely without any excess drag. Ceramic will never corrode; it has less rolling resistance and is lighter than steel. As a result ceramic bearings last longer and cast further. All Ceramic Orange Seal fishing reel bearings are supplied Lube Dry without any grease or oil.

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS The size of each classified advertisement block is 44mm (w) x 40mm (h). Advertisers can book one or more blocks per issue. The cost is R271.00 VAT excluded, per block, per issue and is payable strictly upfront. Advanced payment can be made into our BB Print bank account at ABSA, account number 404 881 8651, branch code: 334 645 before the 25th of each month to appear two months later. Proof of payment plus a contact number must be faxed to 086 234 5026 or e-mailed to advertise@sabass.com

SELF CATERING COTTAGE

Self Catering Cottage t Off N11 Between Ladysmith & Newcastle t 6 Dams t 3 Beautiful en-suite bedrooms t Sleeps 6 t Fully Equipped t Bass Boat Available t Dam stocked with Trout

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Tel: 034 6511 664 - Cell 083 389 6614 www.thatcher.co.za

Freelance salesperson for adverts Contact Wilma

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SA BASS 61 July 2016

>> SA BASS LIFESTYLE

>> Jo Dreyer

From Dusk Till Dawn

am dedicating this month’s article to a friend and a big asset to the birding community who recently passed away. He was well loved in many birding circles and known for his excellence in birding and photography. I met Oom Chris when we went to Tzaneen for Rudi’s nationals last year. When Rudi went up for the pre-fish in May last year, another birding friend, Jannie, suggested I go visit a friend of his Oom Chris. Jannie told me of all the wonderful species Oom Chris had in just his garden alone. Amongst all the beautiful gems, two very special birds stood out, the Blue-spotted Wood-Dove and the Magpie Mannikin, two extremely rare finds in Southern Africa, and the cherry on the cake was, they breed in his garden!

I did not hesitate and called Oom Chris on our way to Tzaneen and booked a morning on his stoep. Birders from all over the country would visit by Oom Chris, have a warm 62 SA BASS July 2016

cup of coffee and wait patiently for the guests of honour to arrive. The birds never disappointed and would arrive sometimes slowly, other times almost immediately when Oom Chris put out food for them. Many birds cascaded onto the feeding bowls and stumps in either large groups or pairs or single birds of a species. Oom Chris had names for almost every bird and knew each bird’s movements and feeding patterns. It was so nice to sit and listen to his extensive knowledge on the birds and what he has done for the birding community. His photographs were like what you saw on National Geographic. He set the bar very high and every time he saw me, he would ask me, “When are you getting yourself a decent camera?” I always giggled as even with my 500D Canon entry-level camera, I was still taking decent shots of birds. He always complimented me on my photos and said that even though I am able to take nice shots, if I got myself a 7D Canon it would make

my photography a lot easier and I would be able to get pictures of those small and fast critters. To reiterate his point, he took me into the Agatha Plantations the second time we went to Tzaneen for a pre-fish at the end of May. I was once again spoilt with his knowledge and love for birding as he took me to every corner of the plantations to view and experience the most exquisite specimens and to top it all he let me use his camera. When we first got to the plantations he told me to stop at a specific tree. I asked what for and he said, “just look up, look close to that branch over there, and tell me what you see.” Well, I almost fell out of the car. It was a Bat Hawk! Yet another rare bird! He told me he usually only takes his paying guests up into the plantations but since Andrea and I were special he wanted to treat us to some special birding. Well, it was special birding indeed. We went on to seeing 27 new birds that week thanks to his extensive knowledge of the birds and their whereabouts, including 10 rare and scarce sightings. I was in my element. But it didn’t end there, when we got back to his house to drop him off, he asked when I was going to Woodbush and I told him the very next day. He handed me his 7D Canon and said to go and experience real photography. I was taken aback. Who hands over their expensive camera to an almost stranger? I was reluctant, but he insisted. The photos I got were amazing, I never struggled with speed and light and got really good photos of the forest birds. When I returned the camera that Sunday, Oom Chris’ wife had made lunch and insisted we stay. It was the best home cooked meal I have had in years. She made us feel like we were part of the family. I couldn’t thank them enough; their hospitality and love will always warm our hearts on those cold birding mornings. The Bat Hawk is a rare sighting in Southern Africa, however, easily overlooked. I saw a Bat Hawk in Harties catching a bat in mid-air at dusk just outside our house, which is the time it feeds as it is nocturnal and bats are what it eats; hence the name Bat Hawk. I almost broke the couch’s arm rest when I saw it whilst watching the swallows getting their last meal for the night and as the bats were taking over from them. They are extremely beautiful and agile birds and that was proven with the way it bobbed and weaved to get his meal with such ease. They have almost all over medium to dark brown plumage appearing black, and sometimes could be mistaken for a juvenile African Harrier Hawk or Brown Snake-eagle but it’s their amazingly bright orange-yellow eyes that are the distinguishing features. Those eyes captivated me. It has pale brown to almost white feathers by the belly and flanks, but not easily seen, however, some birds have quite a bit of white by the neck, throat and belly. It has two faint white, sometimes not very visible, malar stripes extending from the beak and fading towards the neck. It has whitish legs and feet and its beak is black. Apart from their main diet which is small insect-eating

bats, they also eat bigger bats and small birds. Their nest is a platform of sticks placed high up in a large tree preferably pale-barked. The one I found was in a Eucalyptus or commonly known as a blue gum tree. One parent incubates and the other sits close by, taking turns but mainly incubated by the female. Both parents build and reconstruct the nest at dawn or dusk. The male fetches the food and the female feeds it to the young. Clutch size is usually 1, but very rarely 2. I felt privileged to see them on a nest, although I couldn’t quite see the female but the male was open in plain sight all thanks to Oom Chris. He was such an inspiration. He will be sorely missed and writing this article was very difficult but I wanted to dedicate it to him and his family because of what he showed and taught me. The most important thing I learnt from Oom Chris is that no matter who you are, you can do whatever you want as long as you do it with your heart. I now bird with a completely different perspective, he taught me to be more calm and relaxed and like he said, “the birds will come”. Needless to say, I got myself a 7D and don’t regret it for one instant. Thank you Oom Chris. You were amazing! Happy Birding

SA BASS 63 July 2016

>> SA BASS DESTINATIONS

SA BASS PRESENTS FISHING

DESTINATIONS As a service to readers Fishing Resorts and Lodges are invited to place their information in this section. Readers who discover other destinations are invited to place the information on this page. Each entry consists of one photo plus no more than 200 words. Om ons lesers ingelig te hou word Hengel-oorde en Lodges uitgenooi om hul inligting in hierdie afdeling te publiseer. Lesers wat nog bestemmings ontdek word uitgenooi om die inligting op hierdie afdeling te plaas. Elke inskrywing beslaan een foto plus nie meer as 200 woorde. Stuur aan: editor@sabass.com.

Rain Farm Game & Lodge

ucked away between rolling hills and sugar cane fields, just 15 minutes inland from Ballito, lies a piece of heaven on the north coast, Rain Farm Game and Lodge, a three hundred hectare wildlife sanctuary, rich in adventure and rugged beauty. Experience the secret wonders of this hidden jewel, that is certain to restore your soul and ensure that you return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Rain Farm Game and Lodge sleeps up to 48 guests, with a variety of rustic, yet luxurious and comfortable accommodation, available in 2- 10 sleeper units. At Rain Farm Game and Lodge, guests can enjoy the

mystery and beauty of wildlife; cultural heritage and watch Africa unfold on game drives and bush walks, conducted by well experienced and professional rangers. Immerse yourself in the scenic, picturesque landscapes on a horse ride, or simply enjoy a little bass fishing or a game of archery. With the fresh moving air wafting from the river and the smell of smokey filter coffee in the mornings, Rain Farm Game and Lodge is the perfect location to get away from it all, whether it be a romantic holiday or quality time spent with the family.

For more information or bookings, please contact them on : Cell 083 352 6830 or E-mail info@rainfarmgameandlodge.com 64 SA BASS July 2016

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