SA BASS Nov-19

Where we lead... others follow

November 2019

Issue 223

E

UR NT p E V AD Cam

14 r 8 - mbe ce De 2019

Considering RSA: R39.50 (incl. VAT) Other Countries: R34.35 (Tax excl.)

COLOUR colour selection simplified

Get ahead ahead with with Get

NED

Pro-level tips for maximizing success with this seemingly simple finesse rig

www.sabass.com

Cast-for-Cash winning strategies | Bassin’ on a budget | Bundu Bassin’ | AM or PM? | Micro lure challenge Midweek bassing | Fishing crankbaits | How to fish timber | Interne hengelfaktore | Krag-finesse hengel Spinnerbait In’s & Out’s | Gear Up | Tournament reports | Basics for beginners and more

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GET YOUR FAVOURITE SA Bass MAGAZINE ‘n Dag voor hierdie uitgawe drukkery toe is, het die nuus gebreek dat Fishing Leaque Worldwide (FLW) deur Major Leaque Fishing (MLF) in die VSA oorgekoop is. Die sosiale media gons hieroor met gemengde gevoelens onder hengelaars, ondersteuners en die wat gewoonlik beter weet.

Ook plaaslik is daar heelwat vrae wat gevra word oor hoe hierdie oorname FLW Suid-Afrika, FLW Namibië en FLW Zimbabwe gaan raak. Die tyd sal leer, maar intussen het ons plaaslike hengelaars en ondersteuners niks om oor besorgd te wees nie. Die veranderinge het dit ten doel om aan alle rolspelers, dit is die hengelaars asook die borge, beter geleenthede te bied. Byvoorbeeld; ons plaaslike FLW hengelaars kan nogsteeds deurdring na die internasionale “FLW Series Championship” in die VSA en staan ‘n kans om nou groter prysgeld te wen. Ons, Suid-Afrika, het reeds bewys dat ons van die beste swartbaarhengelaars in die wêreld het. Met die gevolg die hoër prysgeld wat in Amerika aan ons wenners daar betaal word, is goeie nuus. Daarby word die media blootstelling wat die toernooie ontvang ook verbeter. Ons sal in die volgende uitgawe van SA BASS beter terugvoer kan gee nadat ons met FLW-bestuur in die VSA self vergader het.

Om terug te kom na hierdie uitgawe wat weereens gevul is met ‘n magdom van inligting om elke leser te help om meer en groter visse te vang: Curtis Niedermier, die redakteur van FLW Bass Fishing, ontleed die gewilde Ned-rig - ‘n Finesse strop wat vele hengelaars met groot sukses al gebruik het.

Divan Coetzee se artikel oor die keuse van kunsaaskleure is ook ‘n moet-lees vir elke beginner en ook vir die wat dink hulle weet reeds alles. Daar is altyd iets nuut om te leer, óf ten minste net herinner te word aan die basiese beginsels van swartbaarhengel.

Een skrywer wat teen die tyd seker almal se aandag trek, is Dylan Wheeler. Hy en Max Evrard se manewales is nie aanbeveelbaar nie, soos om mekaar pyn aan te doen, maar dit verskaf ons vermaak om te sien wat hulle alles kan uitdink.

Die artikels van Philip Kemp, Roger Donaldson, Jay Röhm-Williams en Jaco Smit oor verskeie onderwerpe is ook van onskatbare waarde. Deel asseblief hierdie kennis ook met iemand nuut tot die sport van swartbaarhengel, want die grootste bevrediging is nie om die vis self te vang nie, maar om te sien hoe ‘n beginner straal van opgewondenheid wanneer hy (sy) daardie vis land. Onthou om fotos te stuur vir ons Readers-go-Bassing kolom en maak ‘n aantekening van ons Bassin’ Kids kamp; 8 tot 14 Desember.

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Tot dan, laat julle lyne sing.

Hannes Lindeque, Uitgewer SA BASS 01 November 2019

Contents SA BASS Magazine

is published monthly (12 issues per annum)

by WJ Lindeque cc t/a BB Print (CK99/23366/23)

Office Hours:

Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 08:15 to 16:15

Contact Numbers:

Office: (065) 849 3264, Alternative: (083) 306 2718 Fax: (086) 234 5026

Postal Address:

SA BASS, PO Box 24938, Gezina, 0031, RSA

Editor:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Assistant Editor:

Philip Kemp - philip@sabass.com

Senior Writers:

Roger Donaldson, Jay Röhm-Williams, Gordon Brown

Contributors:

Divan Coetzee, Ivan Sonnekus, Dylan Wheeler

International Columnists:

Curtis Niedermier, TJ Maglio, Bertrand Ngim, Clint Skinner, Matt Williams, Tyler Brinks, Anthony Hawkswell

Advertising Manager:

Wilma Lindeque - wilma@sabass.com

Subscriptions:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

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Distributed by RNA:

Jannie Junius (011) 248 3536

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 02 SA BASS November 2019

sport among all 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.

REGULARS & FORUMS 04

“Get ahead with Ned” Pro-level tips for maximizing success with this seemingly simple finesse rig – Curtis Niedermier

08 10

“Considering colour” The purpose of this article is to help simplify colour selection, especially for beginners or folks who need reassurance – Divan Coetzee

“Timber - Part 1” If there is one thing that sets the scene for the perfect bass fishing hideaway, it will be a lake full of flooded trees. Note that various types of timber structure will attract bass.

– Roger Donaldson

How to use QR-codes 1. Open the QR-code reader/scanner app on your smartphone. Most smartphones models often have an app pre-installed. If not, visit your phone’s app store and download the app.

2. Keep a steady hand while the QR-code is centred on the screen.

3. As soon as it is done scanning, whatever information should present itself for your viewing pleasure.

12

18

“Bassing on a budget 101” Imagine starting out as a beginner bass fisherman on a tight budget, but with some careful planning and a bit of knowledge, it can be done – Jaco Smit

24

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

“Interne hengel faktore” Wanneer dit kom by swartbaarhengel is daar verskeie faktore wat die hengelaar se sukses beïnvloed. Behalwe vir die kombinasie van hengelgerei is daar invloede binne en ook buite die water.

– Hannes Lindeque

01 06 48

MY GOOI Readers-go-Bassing Basics for beginners

TOURNAMENT NEWS 34

>> FLW Namibia Final - Andrew Hall

36

>> FLW Zimbabwe Championship - Clint Skinner

38

>> Cast-for-Cash report - Hannes Lindeque

42

>> Cast-for-Cash winning strategies

32

INDUSTRY NEWS >> Gear Up

“Secrets of South Africa’s Pros: Crankbaits” Fishing cranking lures are vastly different from soft plastic worms and it takes a great deal of thought preparing them properly before using these baits and then identifying when the bass are biting.

– The Bass Spy

20

26

“Midweek bassing” Ever notice how the weather seems to be absolutely ideal for bass fishing during the week and then not so great come the weekend? I’ll tell you why.

– Jay Röhm-Williams

“Krag-finesse hengel” Die meeste baarshengelaars het die geneigdheid om hengel in twee basiese katagorieë; naamlik finesseen kraghengel te verdeel. Het iemand al ooit daaraan gedink om hierdie twee tegnieke te kombineer?

– Philip Kemp

28

“Spinnerbait In’s and Out’s” The basics when choosing spinnerbaits – Roger Donaldson

DESTINATION 44

22

“AM or PM?” Timing in life is everything and when it comes to getting stuck into some solid bucket mouths it’s one key factor that plays a vital role – Jay Röhm-Williams

30

>> Bundu Bassin - Ivan Sonnekus

“Micro lure challenge” The idea of this challenge was to put our skills to the test in the most “micro” way possible, with a very big consequence! Ten shots of a paintball gun! – Dylan Wheeler

ON THE COVER “Summer colours” Image: AdobeStock

SA BASS 03 November 2019

FISHING

BASS SKILLS

PHOTO BY JODY WHITE

GET AHEAD WITH NED PRO-LEVEL TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING SUCCESS WITH THIS SEEMINGLY SIMPLE FINESSE RIG

I

t’d be hard to overcomplicate a Ned rig when it’s nothing more than a little worm on a little jighead.

Then again, it’d be a shame to oversimplify the rig, too.

After all, like anything that’ll catch a bass, there are pro-level methods for getting the most out of the Ned rig.

When to Ned Pro Andrew Upshaw considers the Ned rig and drop-shot to be his two most valuable finesse options.

Deciding which one to throw depends on the scenario.

“If the bottom has a little more of a dirt composition or a softer bottom, I really turn to the Ned rig,” Upshaw says. “If I feel like the Ned rig is going to get lost on the bottom, like if there are little pebbles or rocks, I’ll turn to the drop-shot. I like the bait to sit above that stuff.”

Upshaw also classifies the Ned rig as a must-throw on spotted bass and smallmouth fisheries, for catching both numbers and size. On true 04 SA BASS November 2019

trophy largemouth lakes, he might throw it, but usually as a last resort.

“I just think a drop-shot catches bigger ones, in my opinion,” he adds.

Think Bed-Fishing Even if you don’t throw a Ned rig on a bed, you should act like you’re bed-fishing when you use it.

“I really like a drag-and-dead-stick presentation,” Upshaw says. “I’ll lift and shake it, but I really lift it slow. In my mind, the Ned rig is so small that if there’s a bass right there, the faster I fish it through there the less likely it is he’s going to eat it. If I fish it through there slow, he’s going to eat it every time.”

By Curtis Niedermier

Light Head, Heavy Worm Lighter is usually better, says Upshaw. He uses a 1/10-ounce head for general shallow bank fishing. On steep banks, or for fishing a little deeper, he moves up to 1/6 or 1/8 ounce. Ledges or deep drops get 3/16 or 1/4 ounce.

“At that point, I’m not as much worried about the drop of the bait as I am getting to the bottom where the fish are,” Upshaw says. “In shallow water I get quite a few bites on the drop, especially in clear water.”

The lighter the head, the more subtle the slow-falling action. The tradeoff is less bottom feel and more difficult casting.

Upshaw’s Ned Rig Setup Upshaw fishes a Ned rig on a 6-foot, 11-inch, medium-power, extra-fastaction Team Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Stick Series Dock Sniper rod with a 3,000-size Team Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Spin Series reel. The large arbor on the reel helps reduce wind knots in 15-pound-test Seaguar Smackdown braid.

To the braid, he attaches a long 6-pound-test Seaguar InvizX leader.

Upshaw makes casting easier with a heavier worm. His favorite is a 4inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho cut down to 3 inches (he likes green pumpkin with the tail dyed chartreuse). The Ocho doesn’t last as long as some other plastic formulations that are popular, but the salt content makes it heavy, and distributes the weight of the rigged worm more evenly for what he thinks is a more natural sinking presentation.

The pro has fished a Ned rig as deep as 35 feet. The key at that depth is to make an accurate cast and fish even slower so the bait stays down in the strike zone.

Use it as a Search Bait Some baits are classified as “search baits” because they can be fished hard and fast on a straight retrieve. The Ned rig qualifies, because, if you put it in front of a bass, the fish is probably going to bite, and you can cast the rig to a lot of potential fish-holding targets in a short amount of time.

“If I’m searching with a Ned rig, I’m bombing the longest cast possible out in front of me,” Upshaw says.

“I’ll have my trolling motor pretty high. When the bait lands, I’ll pick up the slack, move it a little bit, drag it a

bit, reel up and make another cast.

In that small amount of time I keep it on the bottom and move it really slow. Especially on lakes that have docks and other targets, you don’t have to move it a whole lot.”

Upshaw’s Favorite Ned Heads 1. Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ Weedless – This is his choice for shallow water. The only time he opts for the model without a weedguard is in wideopen water, like a sandy flat on St. Clair.

2. Gene Larew Ned Rig Pighead – Upshaw really likes the 1/8-ounce model for fishing through rocks, and it has a bigger hook for targeting a larger class of bass.

3. Cumberland Pro Lures Ned Head – A long, light-wire hook is perfect for getting hook penetration in deep water with light line. It also comes in sizes up to 1/4 ounce for fishing deep. ■ Gene Larew Ned Rig Pighead

Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ Weedless

Cumberland Pro Lures Ned Head

>> SA BASS PRODUCT NEWS

Bettamed

W

hen it comes to sensitive skin and nasty rashes, new and improved Bettamed Care Cream has become a go-too n product with a growing following. Fishermen and women d often suffer from cuts, nicks and insect bites and will find Bettamed products to be an essential part of fishing gear. ng Bettamed Care Cream is a soothing alternative, for reducing a, inflammation (including itching) which is associated with eczema, rashes, burns, insect bites, sunburn, candida and even nappy rash. It on. also works wonders for shingles, which is a nasty and painful condition. ter, Bettamed Care Cream is a clever blend of Colloidal Oats, Shea Butter, rierr Rose and Chamomile Essences, for enhanced skin hydration, barrier function, healing and it has a pleasant botanical fragrance. tion n Particular attention has been paid to the suppression of inflammation and itching - for “up to 8 hours relief ”, as promised on the box. ay to t Bettamed Care Cream can be used with Bettamed Oxygen Spray soothe and heal inflamed raw skin, and blisters if they are present.

Available from all good pharmacies, including Dis-Chem, Alpha Pharm m and and Wellness Warehouse.

SA BASS 05 November 2019

READERS

GO BASSING

To feature in “Readers go Bassing” send your story and pictures to editor@sabass.com All photos published in “Readers-go-Bassing” are for the exclusive use of SA BASS Magazine. Any photos previously published by other magazines will not be considered.

DESPITE I went on a fishing trip with a close friend of mine to Beacon Vlei Guest Farm and as we arrived we decided to hit the water despite the rain and wind. After catching a few small fish I made a cast closer to the dam centre and this is what I managed to pull out... a 3,2kg bass – Andrew Sandy

EERSTE Ek is ‘n Afrikaanse sanger, liedjieskrywer, radio omroeper en gereelde leser wat enige geleentheid gebruik om by die water uit te kom om so bietjie te hengel vir baars. Ek het die ongeveer 1,2kg outjie by Rietvleidam in Oktober vanjaar gevang. Rietvlei was nog altyd vir my ‘n baie moeilike dam en hierdie was my eerste vis daar. Ek het ‘n paar byte gekry op ‘n gewone Carolina-strop en Wartermelon Fluke maar was meer gelukkig met ‘n Texas strop en ‘n Watermelon Candy Speed Craw wat ek meer aggresief, vinnig en diep gehengel het – Fanus Pienaar

NUWE PB KEEPER On the afternoon of Heritage Day, I got my gear together and headed to Rust In Orbi Resort (R50 Dam) for a relaxing session of fishing. When I arrived at the dam at approximately 13h00 it was 21ºC and very windy, to be honest I really wasn’t expecting to catch anything.

Regardless of my doubts I hooked up a Zoom Fat Albert Grub (black) and casted into the shallows and began my session. After just short of three hours and 6,5km of walking between the different dams, I hooked up this beast. As soon as I hooked it, I knew it was going to be a keeper – P. Cordier 06 SA BASS November 2019

Tydens ‘n uitstappie na ‘n vriend van ons se plaasdam oos van Pretoria, het my vrou, Reniece, haar persoonlike beste verbeter met ‘n baars van 1,8kg. Hy is laatskemer met ‘n swart Mr Jumbo grub op ‘n Texasstrop aangekeer. Sy het 11 baars vir die dag gevang – Philip Kemp

PB

AWESOME

I went fishing with my youngest son, Josh, at Loskop Dam at the end of August for his seventh birthday. On the first afternoon Josh caught a beautiful 5.6 pound female bass on a small jig. Josh caught the fish completely unaided all I had to do was net her. Josh now has the biggest bass amongst our family – Byron Stobbart

I had an awesome day! I got this fish in 2ft of water with a bug spinner. The fish is small but it counts.

Thanks for an awesome magazine. Please keep up the great content – Phillip-Gert Nel

BULSHOEK KLIPKOP Ek het hierdie swartbaar by Klipkopjedam, tussen Witrivier en Hazyview, van die kant af gevang. Ek het ‘n Texas rigged BrushHog gebruik. Die vis was ongelukkig nie geweeg nie maar is weer veilig terug geplaas.

– Tiaan Joubert

I caught this bass at the Bulshoek Dam in the Western Cape over the weekend.

Caught with frog, fishing just behind the reed line. No scale, but estimate weight around the 3kg mark.

Fishing was very good and shows promising signs for post spawn and summer! – Julian Seymour SA BASS 07 November 2019

>> SA BASS

CONSIDERING I’d like to revisit an article I wrote some time ago, it’s a great topic and evocative for many.

>> Divan Coetzee*

Sometimes bait selection, colour or presentation doesn’t matter. I’ve they are hungry, they’ll have a go at anything

I

’d like to revisit an article I wrote some time ago, it’s a great topic and evocative for many. Sentiment plays a major role in many cases, going with a particular colour based on previous experience even though the circumstances and conditions are different, or reverting to what you caught your PB on seven years ago. Most of us are guilty of this in one way or another. The purpose of this article is to help simplify colour selection, especially for beginners or folks who need reassurance.

My tackle box is unexciting, you’ll find black, brown, green and maybe something Junebug; perhaps even a bit of white. I like to keep it simple. I have variations of these base colours but I don’t care much for glitter. The more you 08 SA BASS November 2019

fuss over which colour glitterr When they eat a hardbait in this is best the less you focus on n fashion, nose first down the hatch. what could actually make a It’s safe to assume that your colour difference to your catch rate.. selection is spot on asoning Let me explain my reasoning behind colour selection: n: colour perception is relative to light penetration. When subjected to the depths, certain colours loose their integrity due to diminished light penetration. Scientists tell us that red is the first colour to be affected followed by orange and yellow. Green is next, followed by blue, purple and black.

The latter three maintain their integrity at great depths, and still appear as their natural hue even as deep as 100ft

Can you tell which is which? When backlit, glitter becomes irrelevant. From left to right Watermelon gold, Watermelon seed, Watermelon red and Mardi grass respectively

Watermelon. If the area has rocks or timber, try Green Pump Pumpkin pkin perhaps. Keep in mind ind that th hat he base bassee any variation of the colours will also do.

Hardbaits

Fine tuning colour selection can turn an average day into a great one

depending on water clarity. At this depth, all other colours appear grey or a variation thereof. So in essence, if you were under the impression that you were fishing Watermelon bait in 30ft guess again, it would likely be perceived as pale grey. An excellent example of this would be certain ‘red’ saltwater reef species, at depth they appear grey in colour, and this is a camouflage mechanism. I’m sure everyone has seen some sort of underwater footage of reef fish.

The three most common scenarios that you’ll face are, clear water, stained water and muddy water. My basic colour selection would be as follows, in clear water up shallow, I would start with Watermelon (gold, red, purple, blue fleck – whatever) until I can no longer see the bottom, then I would switch over to Green Pumpkin, black or Junebug. For stained water, up shallow, I will start off with Green Pumpkin, and use black and Junebug as I move deeper. During low light conditions, I might consider a colour with good contrast against the dark water.

Muddy water can be challenging so best ensure that your bait remains as visible as possible. It is recommended to use white (or counter shade) and black. It’s also one of the few scenarios where I prefer that my bait has some glitter. Scientists agree that the visibility of your bait is the overriding factor which determines whether a bass will actually commit to eating your presentation, not the shape or hydrodynamic signature of your bait.

You can refine your approach in clear water by matching your bait colour to the immediate surroundings and cover.

For example, if the area has lots of weeds then stick to

With regards to hardbaits, hardbaitss, if you consider what hat they aree mple. Anyy imitating, it’s simple. form of counter shade will do. If you are limited i ed to only a few baits, I would recommend ones with a ck For stained and muddy white belly and darker back. water I might consider something with a bit of yellow, orange or chartreuse on it. Spinnerbaits are most popular in white in variations thereof. My clear water favourite is golden shiner and for stained water plain old white.

For jigs, it’s just as simple – clean water calls for shades of Green Pumpkin, crabs also happen to be brown in colour... for stained and muddy water; black/blue is hard to beat. If I’m swimming a jig, white is a great option. In fact, white is the most fool proof colour for any reaction bait whether it’s a hardbait, softbait or skirted presentation.

Try not to overthink it, stick to the basic colours and be confidant in your choice. See you on the water! *Divan Coetzee is the proprietor of Graceland Outdoors and a competitive FLW Cast-for-Cash angler.

Text book counter shade, lighter belly and darker back SA BASS 09 November 2019

>> SA BASS

TIMBER!

Part 1

If there is one thing that sets the scene for the perfect bass fishing hideaway, it will be a lake full of flooded trees, just the tops of their branches piercing the water surface to hint on the potential of what exists beneath the water. >> Roger Donaldson*

Staring into the rising sun as Darryl Quinton lands a 2,8kg bass while fishing a lay-down log off Oberon on Hartbeespoort Dam

W

hen we’re out on the water staring at these spooky, spindly looking dead branches of old, gangly trees the thought of what the bass are doing below gives me the “grills” (that famous Afrikaans word describes it like nothing else).

I wanted to use this article to share some of the exciting fishing experiences I have had on our dams, but specifically those around timber. The purpose is not only to show you what a beautiful variety of dams we have countrywide, but also to highlight that we need to be inclusive of the various types of timber structure as they will all attract bass.

Where do I start, wow! I have to start with my home town and the closest dam to where I currently reside, Ha… Ha… Hartbeespoort Dam is a lekker dam. I made a point one day to go in search only for timber. After I witnessed the gargantuan bass Darryl Quinton produced from a substantial laydown log (this was the stem of a tree probably the girth of a man’s torso in diameter and the length of four tall men) I never looked back. The timber had washed up 10 SA BASS November 2019

in 12-15ft of water in front of Oberon (just on the left as you exit the Crocodile River mouth and opposite Meerhof ) which was a long stretch of shallow, gently sloping bank.

It was the perfect setting. A large chunk of wood lodged on a barren bank in open water. A bass “magnet”, and real “honey-hole”.

On our approach you could only see a very small portion of the log protruding precariously (certainly for any skier) from the water. The sun had only just risen and Darryl was already prepped with a Yamamoto Senko and gliding in stealthily on the trolling motor toward the ominous structure. We were setting the scene for a debut magazine cover shot. The Senko “whirred” through the air, landed quietly just 1m passed the log and disappeared beneath the water surface. We watched the line as it slid across the water’s surface, while the bait descended to 12ft heading for what Darryl had noted as a fork in the tree’s trunk. I found it difficult to see the movement in the line whilst staring over Darryl’s shoulder, camera in hand and into the glare from

the rising sun. Immediately Darryl reeled up some slack line and set the hook. First fish of the morning and I believe the fish weighed 2,8kg. Those Hartbeespoort bass are like rugby balls; beautiful, chunky specimens.

After that day I decided I am not leaving any timber unattended on the dam. I wanted to know where it all was and what I had to do to fish around the structure most effectively. And so the exciting adventure of scouting the Hartbeespoort Dam began.

Just a little further along from Oberon and Eagle Waters Resort is Eagles Landing. It’s a relatively shallow bay which is home to quite a bit of timber, including standing trees, wooden jetties and laydown logs. You can really spend quite a bit of time in this little bay if you are patient enough.

There is hidden structure both shallow and deep which is not easy to find without a fish-finder and these structures do hold bass. Because of the shallow depth it is not easy to get to these fish without them knowing you are coming so knowing where to cast from a reasonable distance will be most advantageous. Alarmingly, I’ve caught very nice fish off laydown logs in only 1ft of water here. Although I was equipped with a Texas rigged Brushhog, I am sure you could do just as well (if not better) with a spinnerbait, or even a crankbait, or possibly even your favourite frog.

As you move around the dam and through the stunning waterfront homes of Pecanwood you will enjoy many types of boat docks, jetties and ramps and the odd strategically

placed brushpiles, which fanatical bass anglers have sort to create.

Some impressive trees still stand and can be seen from the road bridge when crossing the dam and heading towards Kommandonek area. However, I’ve spent more time around the fallen timber around the zoo, closer to the dam wall. The long trunks and branches which lie off the steep banks create excellent shade and structure for all species of fish to enjoy.

One day I was “punching” [casting into the gaps between the branches and holes between the leaves on the surface of the water] these canopies just to the left of the Zoo with a Texas rigged Senko and was pleasantly entertained by the opportunistic bass that were hiding out below. It made a lot of sense when I watched for a while, as small birds skipped along these branches, flying insects landed and buzzed over them, and even lizards basked on the thicker stems.

Such a culturally diverse country with water resources dotted throughout the nation that abound with fishing opportunity. I hope you get to travel to some of these destinations I’ll be sharing in the issues to come and while a unravel my destinations of timber. *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.

www.sollysanglers.co.za

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SA BASS 11 November 2019

>> SA BASS

Bassing on a

budget 101

W

e are all feeling the strain of our country’s dwindling economy. And unfortunately the first budget cuts we make are to our leisure time, sport and hobbies. Now imagine starting out as a beginner bass fisherman on a tight budget, it’s almost unthinkable, scary even. But with some careful planning and a bit of knowledge, it can be done.

The type of lure you cast and method you use to fish it in a particular situation will determine the rod, reel and line you will need. This is where the rabbit hole starts, and the deeper you go down the rabbit hole, the more expensive it gets.

But let us ask the question, “Do I need expensive gear to catch bass?” The short and straight answer is “no”.

You can catch bass on the cheapest setup out there and as you grow and develop in the sport, you can go deeper into the specialized methods.

What kind of tackle should you look at?

Let us first have a look at why fishing and in particular bass fishing is so expensive. What does a R5,000 rod gives you that a R700 rod does not?

Sensitivity is the very first reason you pay more for a rod. Just in summary, graphite rods are generally more sensitive and the more strains of modules are woven

12 SA BASS November 2019

IF I COULD ONLY FISH ONE BAIT, IT WOULD BE A CHARTREUSE AND WHITE, DOUBLE WILLOW LEAVE 3/8 OUNCE SPINNERBAIT >> Jaco Smit together, the more sensitive the rod is, and therefore, more expensive.

The quality of the components used in manufacturing the rod is the next factor that influences the price of a fishing rod. Your top end rods will be fitted with state of the art line guides and reel seats, where the less expensive models will be fitted with components of a lesser quality.

The weight of the rod is another factor that contributes to the price tag on the rod. This might not be a major factor for the angler that goes fishing, let’s say once a month. If you fish a lot and for long hours, you might want to keep this in the back of your mind.

Generally your less expensive rods will have a slower action, meaning more of the rod will bend under pressure than the expensive rods. This is however not a rule of thumb. This fact however makes your cheaper rods more suited for crankbaits or lures with treble hooks.

What you must also keep in mind is that if a rod does not break, usually the rod will last you a long time regardless of price. Rod eyes might break, but they can be replaced rather inexpensively. I don’t think that durability is a major factor when it comes to choosing a rod.

“A less expensive rod will get the job done, but the higher end rods will just increase your chances of either detecting a very subtle bite, setting the hook when a bass is just “testing” your lure or landing a lunker.”

In other words, you can still catch bass and have fun on a less expensive rod.

In general you will use different setups for different methods of fishing. Here are some examples:

For fishing crankbaits M (medium) to MH (medium heavy) power rod with a slow to moderate action. This will be paired with a baitcaster spooled with either monofilament or fluorocarbon line. The latter can be very expensive.

Jerkbaits MH Power rod with a fast action to give those crisp jerks. This will also be paired with a baitcaster spooled with either fluorocarbon or braided line and a fluorocarbon leader.

Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits MH to H Power rod with a fast action paired with a baitcaster spooled with either fluorocarbon or braided line.

Soft plastics (Texas-, Mojo-, weightless- or Carolina rigged) This is a very wide range of styles bunched together for the sake of keeping the topic simple. In my opinion, if I had to narrow it down, I would go with a MH to heavy power rod with a fast action, paired with a baitcaster.

This could however vary greatly from angler to angler.

Jigs and frogging I have merged these two categories because you can use the same basic setup for both methods. Heavy to XH power rod with a fast to extra fast action rod paired with a high speed baitcaster spooled with 60lb, or heavier, braided line.

The above mentioned fishing methods can be broken down even further and there are also various other methods which I have not even mentioned such as finesse fishing, swimbaits and glide baits. This is quite daunting and the costs associated with investing in tackle to fish all these methods can be extremely high.

Don’t despair, with careful planning you will be able to cover most situations with basic tackle. When buying rods and reels, buy the best you can afford.

When investing in a reel, rather buy a reel from a reputable brand which might have less features, but will last you many years, than buy a reel with all the bells and whistles but it might fail you after just a year or two.

I bought a Shimano Crestfire baitcaster way back in 1993 and my son is using it today.

When bassing on a tight budget, specialized finesse or large swimbait techniques that require specialized rods, reels and line should at first be avoided.

You can get away with covering most conditions with about two rods. A medium heavy (MH) power with a fast action rod for your soft plastics, spinnerbaits and jigs, and a MH power moderate action rod for your crankbaits and topwater baits. A rod between 6.6” and 7.3” will be a general good option, but rod length is absolute personal preference.

Reel preference is also up to you. Although, if you are a complete beginner, I will definitely advise you to start with a spinning reel. A baitcaster will help broaden your horizons in terms of flipping and pitching and also the speed at which lures can be retrieved.

Buzzbaits SA BASS 13 November 2019

If you can only afford one rod, then a MH power with a moderate action rod and reel of your choice spooled with monofilament would be your best option.

Most methods can be fished on this setup with varying success of course. Some bites might go unnoticed, but you can still catch fish and have fun.

When it comes to line, a good quality 12 to 15lb monofilament will get the job done in most situations.

Again, buy the best quality you can afford.

LURE CHOICES Lure colour and water clarity: You need to choose lure colours that will allow you to fish from clear water down to muddy water. What we need to remember when choosing colours is that a bass’s prey does not change colour when water conditions change. Their colour might turn slightly darker or lighter with relation to water clarity, but they still keep their natural colours.

With this in mind, when purchasing lures, try and keep it as natural as possible.

For soft plastics and jigs I will recommend keeping to natural colours such as green pumpkin and watermelon seed for clear water or clear sky situations. In murky water or cloudy conditions I will recommend colours such as Junebug, black and/or blue.

For crankbaits I would recommend baby bass, lavender shad or perch colours for clear conditions. Something that resembles bait fish or natural prey.

For murky or cloudy conditions using colours such as chartreuse or orange will get you the bites. Also invest in crankbaits with internal rattles for low visibility conditions.

When it comes to spinnerbaits, the colour choices are quite simple. White for almost all conditions. White and chartreuse for all conditions except very clear conditions. For clear conditions I would recommend

greens and/or browns, or combinations of these colours with white. For the low budget angler, I would suggest sticking to silver willow leave blades. A black buzzbait and a chartreuse and white buzzbait will cover all your buzzbait needs.

Water depth I am assuming that most low budget angler will either fish from the bank, a float tube, small inflatable or canoe/ kayak. You will then mostly fish shallow to medium depth (4 to 5m) water. Therefor you don’t need to invest in those expensive super deep divers like DD22’s.

A square bill or shallow diver in a natural colour and one in a lavender shad colour will cover most shallow water conditions. Square bills are a good investment for the low budget angler as they are less likely to get snagged. The shape of their bills are designed to deflect of structure, creating a good sound underwater, yet keep the hooks save from snags.

A suspended jerkbait or two in your arsenal will increase your odds immensely on those tough days.

This is one lure where you should buy the best you can. Cheaper models don’t truly suspend, they either sink slowly or float to the surface. I suggest sticking to natural colours.

Same colours apply to your deep divers and lipless crankbaits as with the shallow divers. If your budget allows, you can add a chartreuse lipless crankbait as well.

Lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits are very versatile when it comes to water depth and speeds at which they can effectively be retrieved. Both these lures can be fished in very shallow water right up to very deep water.

You can fish them on flat banks and sheer drop offs alike. Spinnerbaits can be fished just under the water surface, almost like a buzzbait or bumping the bottom on a very slow retrieve.

Deep diving crankbaits 14 SA BASS November 2019

cont on p16

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A VARIETY OF HOOKS

contd from p14

In my opinion, if I could only fish one bait, it would be a chartreuse and white, double willow leave 3/8 ounce spinnerbait. It will get bites in most conditions.

Only conditions where a spinnerbait might not be your best choice would be those glassy calm days.

Structure Now as a cash strapped angler, the last thing you want to do is loose your expensive crankbait in a submerged tree or other snags. However, these are the places where ol’ bigmouth hangs out.

In these situation I would recommend fishing soft plastics. They are relatively inexpensive compared to hard baits. Topwater baits can also be considered when fishing underwater cover. Here you can get away with one popper style bait and one prop bait like a tiny torpedo. Keep to natural colours for your first baits.

Texas rigged plastic baits are relatively snag proof and comes through most structure without hanging up. I have however found that a Texas rigged Senko, or fluke, is the least likely to get hung up in timber and rocks if fished slowly. Creature baits with a lot of appendages tend to get hung up easier.

When buying soft plastics keep it simple. There are so many types of plastic lures to choose from but I recommend that you keep to baits that have proven themselves and can be used in different situations.

These include flukes, Senkos, creature baits such as Brush Hogs or lizards and grubs like Mr. Jumbo for

example. The above mentioned baits will get you bit in most conditions. They can be rigged in a lot of different styles enabling you to fish the entire water column and get in and out of relatively tight cover.

Soft plastic baits will eventually tear and start sliding down the hook. However, with a little DIY you can get an extra session or two out of them. I use a soldering iron to melt tears back together again. When using a soldering iron; t #F DBSFGVM PG UIF IPU TVSGBDF BOE NFMUFE QMBTUJD t %P UIF SFQBJST JO B XFMM WFOUJMBUFE BSFB BOE EP OPU inhale the smoke t 3FQBJS TNBMM TFDUJPOT BU B UJNF t .

BLF TVSF ZPV EP OPU IBWF TNBMM DIJMESFO JO UIF area.

They might not look brand new when you are finished with them, but they will still catch fish and you will save a bit of money in the long run.

Being on a tight budget does not mean you cannot go bassing. You just need to consider all the variables when choosing tackle and lures. Invest in lures that can cover various water and weather conditions and buy the best tackle you can afford. Pay attention to your line in the water as this will be your best bite indicator.

You can have lots of fun and catch good fish without breaking your piggy bank.

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SA BASS 17 November 2019

>> SA BASS

Secrets of South Africa’s Pros – Part 16

Crankbaits

A selection of deep and shallow diving, fast and slow swimming and lipless crankbaits covers a wide spectrum of fishing opportunities

>> Bass Spy*

F

ishing cranking lures are vastly different from soft plastic worms and it takes a great deal of thought preparing them properly before using these baits and then identifying when the bass are biting.

In the previous issue we focused on soft plastics lures and what anglers can expect to feel beneath the water when bass bite. Professional anglers are all too familiar with the way bass inhale the hard plastic lures. The difference in the bite between soft plastic lures and hard plastic cranking lures is worlds apart. In most cases (95% of the time) there’s absolutely no subtlety whatsoever – the bite on a crankbait is unmistakably ferocious.

However, we will need to separate sub-surface and surface hard lures as

18 SA BASS November 2019

they have different fishing techniques.

The bite is somewhat different and because of this they should be treated independently. I am removing spinnerbaits from this equation for now as they too have an entirely unique world that bass anglers need to centre themselves around in order to get the optimum results.

Crankbaits come in many different forms; shallow and deep running, fast and slow swimming and lipless.

With these basic forms in mind we can start thinking about where we would most likely be fishing with the lures. Examples are quite obvious and will include shallow, or deep areas of structure mostly in open water with relatively little vegetation and intense, gnarling underwater structure

where the treble hooks would easily snag. Although some very unique opportunities can present themselves where lipless crankbaits can be “ripped” through grass, these are few and far between and not really worth mentioning here.

Be sure to carefully consider the line you choose for your crankbait fishing just the same as you would with any other lure. If the line is too thin and flexible there is a good chance that you may not be able to hold onto your fish adequately. An example might be if you were using 10lb breaking strain monofilament line on a deep diving crankbait, such as a Bill Norman DD22. Although this may have suited you nicely on a smaller crankbait you were using, it

will certainly not be the best choice now. Also, deeper diving crankbaits also tend to cast further because they are larger and heavier than the smaller lures. Therefore, consider when there is a greater distance between you and the lure and the elevated need to increase sensitivity and reduce stretch. Another thing that your deep diving crankbaits do is they dive much harder and “pull” on the line a great deal more than smaller, shallow divers.

So how do you overcome these limitations? Gladly, there are fishing lines which have reduced stretch, yet they still remain thin enough in diameter to fish very comfortably even if they are 16lb breaking strain. I have found that although monofilament and copolymer lines are most often the affordable and easy “go-to” choice it will be very worthwhile investigating fluorocarbon line as your next option. I have also found that many fluorocarbon lines have a thinner diameter than comparative breaking strain monofilament line.

Yes, you will be spending more, but I believe the upside is most beneficial whether I am fishing shallow, or deep diving crankbaits. Another benefit which I dare not overlook is that the thinner your line diameter the more action your lure will impart.

Thicker line will inhibit the way the crankbait swims and this is the opposite of what we want to achieve.

Unfortunately, because of the inherent hardness/memory of fluorocarbon line (compared with mono for example) it does not spool well on spinning reels and therefore is only really suitable for baitcasting reels.

When it comes to the actual fishing rod itself the market place promotes a more flexible one for fishing crankbaits. Those of you with a medium backbone rod will do just fine and preferably don’t go higher than medium/heavy. The reason for this is so that the flexibility in the rod allows just the right pressure to keep the treble hooks imbedded. You would think that with all those hooks there is no way they are coming out, but this is not the case as too much pressure from the rigid backbone of a heavy

rod (and heavy hand) can often set the hooks loose. This is also because the crankbait is not always entirely engulfed by the bass and only a single hook on one of the trebles may have found purchase. Over and above that the bass also sometimes strikes at the lure with the side of its mouth and the hooks merely find purchase very faintly in the hard, scaly membrane around the facial area.

To be continued in the next issue… *The Bass Spy has fished alongside and been exposed to the secrets and tactics of many competitive bass anglers on waters throughout the continent. This column is dedicated to all fanatical bass enthusiasts looking for the inside track and an edge on their favourite past time.

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SA BASS 19 November 2019

>> SA BAARS

Krag-Finesse hengel die nuwe tendens

Die meeste baarshengelaars het die geneigdheid om hengel in twee basiese katagorieë; naamlik finesse- en kraghengel te verdeel. Het iemand al ooit daaraan >> Philip Kemp* gedink om hierdie twee tegnieke te kombineer?

Kevin vanDam 20 SA BASS November 2019

ie konsep rondom kraghengel is presies wat dit sê; naamlik, om groter aas te gebruik wat ‘n kragtige reaksie by die baars uitlok. Dit sal dan gewoonlik ‘n tegniek wees waar die hengelaar ‘n groter area vinnig hengel, aanbeweeg, en op die koop toe swaarder lyn, asook groter en swaarder reaksie-ase sal gebruik. Finessehengel daarenteen is dan weer ‘n tegniek waar die hengelaar met kleiner aas, gewiggies, dunner lyn ‘n kleiner area sorgvuldig fynkam. Dit is dus ‘n tegniek, anders as kraghengel, wat baie stadiger gedoen word en natuurlik baie geduld van die hengelaar verg.

Daar het egter onder ‘n paar top hengelaars in Amerika nou ‘n tegniek ontstaan waar hulle die twee tegnieke kombineer met groot sukses. Kevin vanDam het besluit hy sou graag ‘n tegniek wou probeer waar beide die twee tegnieke gekombineer kan word op ‘n suksesvolle manier.

Hierdie twee gekombineerde tegnieke word gereken as die beste van beide wêrelde. Kom ek vertel julle meer.

Wat die tegniek behels is om die finesse tegniek te gebruik, maar dit met ‘n krag te hengel. Alhoewel Kevin vanDam uitsluitlik ‘n kraghengelaar is, het hy besluit hy het somtyds tog nodig om finesse tegnieke te gebruik, maar nogsteeds groot areas te dek. Een voorbeeld, volgens vanDam, is om buisplastiekase 8 tot 10 voet van die bodem af op te pluk en weer te laat val na die bodem en sodoende groot areas vinnig te dek, instede daarvan om dit stadig oor

Trevor Jancasz

die bodem te sleep. Die voordeel van hierdie tegniek is dat jy maklik weer kan oorslaan na ‘n finesse tegniek deur dit dan weer net stadig op die bodem te sleep. Dieselfde kan dan ook met ‘n “jig” gedoen word. Die hengelaar kan die “jig” swem, dit dan skielik laat val na die bodem, en dit dan stadig op die bodem begin hengel. Twee tegnieke in een!

Kevin vanDam beweer dat hierdie tegnieke een van sy geheime wapens is en dat hy dit vir net te lank geheim gehou het. Waarom hy nou met die hele sak patats vorendag gekom het, sal net hy weet. Hy doen dit selfs met die meer bekende “drop-shot” finesse tegniek ook. Met die tegniek sal hy die aas uitgooi, laat sink en sodra die sinker die bodem raak, ‘n kort opwaartse pluk gee om die aas 2 tot 3 meter te beweeg en weer te laat sak. Wat vanDam in werklikheid doen, is om ‘n finesse tegniek net baie vinniger te hengel en ‘n groter area so te dek.

Die tegniek word egter in die groter mere van Amerika soos Lake Guntersville, Armestad en Lake Kentucky gebruik. Die grootste rede hiervoor is die skoner water in die mere. Dit is egter nie ‘n tegniek wat werk in troebel water nie. In baie van ons damme het die groot reëns ook die tyd van die jaar nog nie sy opwagting gemaak nie, en daarom sal hierdie tegniek skitterend werk.

Mark Zona, ‘n bekende in Amerikaanse baarskringe, het die tegniek ontdek toe hy op die eerste dag van ‘n twee-dag kompetisie baars in groot getalle met ‘n stadig bewegende buisplastiekaas (tube) gevang het. Die volgende dag het die baars meer traag begin byt toe meer baarsbote in sy area inbeweeg het. Hy het die buisplastiekaas toe vinniger begin hengel deur die aas kort plukke van die bodem af te gee en dit 2 tot 3 meter verder weer tot op die bodem te laat val. Die tegniek was die absolute teenoorgestelde van hoe die tipe aas eintlik gehengel moet word en nodeloos om te sê, het dit hom gehelp om die kompetisie te wen. Wat die tegniek dan eintlik doen, is om die vis te kry om die aas uit reaksie te gryp, wat die teenoorgestelde is van wat ons van ‘n finesse aas verwag.

Instede daarvan om klein ligte gewiggies te gebruik, kan swaarder gewiggies baie beter te pas kom.

Mark Zona

Dit is belangrik om te weet dat hierdie tegniek goed werk op sanderige bodem en so ook gras en ander plantaardige bodems.

Soms wil jy juis die aas laat vassit in die gras, en dit is dan juis wanneer die aas uit die gras losruk wat die baars tot die aanval sal oorgaan of nader kom om te sien wat aangaan.

Hoe goed werk hierdie tegniek dan nou eintlik? ‘n Jong hengelaar van White Pigeon in Mich, Trevor Jancasz, het in sy eerste jaar as kompeterende hengelaar $45,000 van agter op die boot gewen met die krag-finesse tegniek. Sy aas…‘n loodkoppie met ‘n finesse wurm op.

Die tegniek wat hy gebruik het was om die finesse wurm en loodkoppie op die bodem twee of drie keer te hop op die bodem en dan weer in te katrol. Die meeste baars sal die aas gryp na die eerste of tweede hop op die bodem. Soms sal hulle ook die aas gryp terwyl dit bodem toe val.

Jancasz gebruik die tegniek in warm- of koue water, sonnig of bewolk, winderig of nie; dit werk in meeste situasies.

Alhoewel Jancasz die tegniek by sy groot mentor Mark Zona geleer het, verskil hy egter van Zona wat die gewig van die gewiggies betref. Anders as Zona, verkies hy ligter gewiggies in alle omstandighede. Hy verkies ‘n 1/8 loodkop in die meeste omstandighede. In dieper water van 20 voet en meer sal hy ‘n 3/16 gebruik.

Hierdie tegniek is moontlik iets wat jy al onbewustelik probeer het, maar het jy dit al bewustelik probeer hengel?

Om te eksperimenteer is seker een van die grootste sleutels tot sukses vir enige hengelaar. Probeer hierdie tegniek en as jy enige sukses daarmee behaal, laat weet my deur ‘n mooi foto en kort storie vir die tydskrif te stuur.

En soos ‘n ou hengelvriend en legende altyd sou gesê het: “Happy days!”

Geniet jou hengel. *Philip Kemp is ‘n gesoute swartbaarhengelaar en assistentredakteur van SA BASS. SA BASS 21 November 2019

>> SA BASS My friend Quinton playing a fish in as the sun sets

For the early risers and sun setters iming in life is everything and when it comes to getting stuck into some solid bucket mouths it’s one key factor that plays a vital role. In order to catch bass successfully, more often, requires us to first get our timing right and throughout the reels of angling history early mornings or late afternoons are prime time. These differing periods of day can be seen as yet just another piece of the massive, bass angling puzzle that could be debated diplomatically between many an angler across the globe. Is the one better than the other though? There is no definite answer in fact, as much will depend on a multitude of extra factors which are definitely worth exploring.

To break it down simply our main contributors to any decision we make here will always be: t $VSSFOU TFBTPO t 8FBUIFS t 8BUFS DPOEJUJPOT t 5JNF BWBJMBCMF 22 SA BASS November 2019

During the cooler, colder months water temperatures fall making any time in the afternoons more ideal.

Then in spring and summer when the days get hotter, early mornings become a better bet before the heat sets in. It is not to say you will not catch bass vice versa just that these are the more recognised “feeding times� according to preference by actual recorded, bass activity. Bass are aggressive hunters who pride themselves on a perfectly, executed ambush when attacking.

To accomplish that while staying undetected it has been established that periods of lower light levels provide the best conditions for bass to feed TVDDFTTGVMMZ 8FBUIFS BT XF BSF BMM XFMM aware will influence our timing too and can swing any which way on any giving day. (For example $MPVE DPWFS either extends those vital morning hours with an overcast sky but cuts our afternoons shorter when the light GBEFT NPSF RVJDLMZ 8JOE BOE SBJO can be day changers too for morning or afternoon sessions altering water

>> Jay RĂśhm-Williams conditions quickly leaving us to score big time or going home without even a strike. It all adds up and probably the most important factor of all is the actual time we as bass anglers have available to us to get out there and wet some line.

Another valuable aspect to analyse is the different levels of prey activity in and around the water during the morning and the afternoon. As dawn approaches many insects begin to stir with the rising sun bringing the shallows alive for bass of all sizes roaming the shoreline, still from the night before looking to capitalize on BOZ QPTTJCMF NFBM 8IFO UIF TVO TUBSUT to retreat, frogs and other night time creatures such as crabs start making their presence known providing yet another opportunity for hungry bass to feed while the goings good. Baitfish movements are definitely worth pay attention too as well. They attract “big bass attention� and are a great example for generally been noted to be more active in the warmer months.

Calm waters in the late afternoon are ideal

These smaller species of fish will hug the surface during the mornings which makes top water tactics a prime strategy for early rising, bass anglers.

The current season you are in will also provide you with a better idea of what lures to be throwing and where to throw. Spring and summer provide good top water action in the morning so poppers, jerk baits, spinners and buzz baits are all good choices. Early, autumn afternoons working cranks long side dense cover can be very rewarding too when targeting bigger bass. Winter lunkers prefer deeper waters so some slow jigging near a drop off in the late afternoon might play out better than if you had gone in the cold of the morning.

Big bass didn’t get big overnight and are constantly on alert for any sign of danger. This makes the sunrise and sunset -time zones even more appealing as predators who offer a threat to any bass are generally not that active then.

A concept like this combined with the low light conditions provides bass with a sense of security allowing them to be more, generally active in turn.

Our approach during these special hours should always be slow and quiet to maximize the chances of some solid, bass encounters. Gliding your watercraft gently into position while the sun kisses the water good morning is an epic feeling for any bass angler.

The same could be said about stalking the banks and watching the sky change colours before sun set while you work that submerged tree line with a big, bass-fan smile on your face. Ultimately the time and opportunity we all have

to work with is going to be your own personal, decision maker in the end. So check your forecast for your area, plan that solo session or phone up a mate and make the effort to get your timing right this November. Remember

though, whether your angling game is beating the dawn or confronting dusk, as long as your passion in bassing the hook ups will come!

Rods out and safe fishing everyone‌

Morning top water action is hard to beat

SA BASS 23 November 2019

>> SA BAARS

INTERNE FAKTORE Wanneer dit kom by swartbaarhengel is daar verskeie faktore wat die hengelaar se sukses beïnvloed. Behalwe vir die kombinasie van hengelgerei is daar invloede binne en ook buite die water. Verlede maand het ons na watertemperatuur gekyk en ‘n paar ander so vinnig genoem.

Watergras is ‘n belangrike faktor

N

og ‘n belangrike interne faktor wat swartbaarhengel beïnvloed, dit wil sê ‘n faktor binne die water, is die water se suurstofinhoud.

Enige vis is afhanklik van suurstof en die water se suurstofinhoud word weer op sy beurt beïnvloed deur watertemperatuur, wind, beweging van water, waterdiepte en waterplante.

Hoe vlakker die water is, hoe vinniger gaan die water warmer word en minder suurstof dra. Maar nou is dit ook so dat vis koudbloedig is en enige vlak warm water verwelkom, veral in die winter. Hou net in gedagte dat vlak water nie dieselfde temperature bereik as wat dit in die somer sou doen nie.

Hoe warmer die water is, hoe minder suurstof is daar in die water. Vir die kompeterende hengelaars is dit veral in die somer ‘n probleem wanneer hulle visse lewendig ingeweeg moet word. In die doelgerigte kompartement op die boot waarin die vis gehou word, word die water se suurstofinhoud vinnig uitgeput. Om die probleem te voorkom word aanbeveel dat water in plastiekbottels gevries en in die kompartement geplaas word om die watertemperatuur af te bring.

Water kan op verskeie manier beweeg wat ook die suurstofinhoud verhoog. Dit gebeur deur strome wat vloei en stroomversnellings. Indien jy ooit by enige onbekende dam opdaag en daar is ‘n stroom wat by die dam invloei, sal dit beslis ‘n goeie plek wees om vis te soek. Die swartbaars gaan nie baie ver weg lê nie en wag vir enige stukkie kos wat die dam invloei. Hulle gaan kop stroomop, maar nie direk in die stroom nie, lê, om energie te spaar. Met ander woorde die aas moet saam met die stroom die dam invloei, óf ten minste skuins deur die stroom swem.

24 SA BASS November 2019

>> Hannes Lindeque* As daar nou een plek is waar ek altyd vir swartbaars soek is dit rondom groen watergras. Vir die meeste hengelaars is dit die laaste plek wat hulle sal oorweeg, want hulle is te bang hulle gaan kunsaas verloor. Die gevolg is dat daar minder hengeldruk rondom watergras is. Nog ‘n goeie rede is dat watergras fotosinteer wat suurstof in die water sit.

Dit lok alle vis - groot en klein. Die gras bied ook skuilplek aan klein vissies wat die swartbaars so graag vreet, maar ook skuilplek aan die roofvis. In die winter gebruik visse watergras soos ons elektriese komberse gebruik - hulle gaan lê baie diep, doodstil binne in die gras en knip nie eens ‘n oog nie (hulle het nie ooglede nie).

Die beste aas om in en rondom watergras te gebruik is sagte plastiese wurms. Persoonlik sal ek ‘n stewige sewe voet stok en 17lb fluorocarbon lyn gebruik. Daar is drie stroppe wat oorweeg kan word naamlik ‘n Texas-, ‘n Mojo-strop of sommer gewigloos.

Nou is die onmiddelike volgende vrae: hoe lyk die stroppe, watse knoop om te maak, watter grootte hoek, gewig van die sinker, watter tipe wurm, kleur, grootte, en meer. Wel, hierdie kolom is nie lank genoeg om alles in een asem te verduidelik nie.

Volgende maand kyk ons na nog belangrike faktore wat swartbaarhengel kan beïnvloed.

Hengelwenk: Hengel die oewers waarteen die wind vaswaai. Indien dit ‘n windstil dag is, moet die hengelaar op strukture en skuilplekke fokus. *Hannes Lindeque is die stigter en uitgewer van SA BASS sedert 2001, die hooforganiseerder van FLW Suid-Afrika en SA BASS Cast-for-Cash swartbaarhengeltoernooie.

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Win Big Cash Prizes

The monthly Cast-for-Cash bass angling money tournament trial is a social event for all those weekend anglers who are mad about bassin’ and mad about FUN.

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Call 082-416-5524, or get all the rules, dates and venues on www.flwsouthafrica.com SA BASS 25 November 2019

>> SA BASS

Midweek

bassing

Empty waters are rare occasions 26 SA BASS November 2019

It does happen >> Jay Röhm-Williams ver notice how the weather seems to be absolutely ideal for bass fishing during the week and then not so great come the weekend? We always take what we can get but it’s not often perfect. Everything one could hope for when picturing the pristine conditions needed to get stuck into a decent, bass session magically all come together more regularly on those elusive, out of reach week days and why? I’ll tell you why, because first off the obvious fact is there are more week days than weekends and secondly we all have jobs or classes! Yes, you might have guessed it by now but we are talking about midweek bassing. A subject I bet that gets more couples, employees and kids into trouble than are actually cared to be mentioned. Granted, this is a generalised view and some are fortunate enough to have escaped the metaphorical whip, chain or homework book.

Unfortunately though in reality, for majority of bass anglers out there it’s just a day dream worth dreaming. That been said lets unveil the cover on this more taboo than mythical topic and really analyse what is going on here.

Due to our ever increasingly, demanding world we live in there are a lot of things needing doing and with the latest technology we have today, the list keeps growing as more things can be done quicker. Okay wait, but what has that to do with bass angling during the week? Well it’s the very concept responsible for keeping us at bay from the fish we love most. We all have our personal and sociable responsibilities we must man or woman up to which pretty much takes all of our available time away. This however does create prime opportunities for bass angling enthusiasts who can manage to slip out and grasp the rare or occasional midweek session and there are more reasons than one why it’s well worth it!

E

Midweek bassing, what more could you ask for...

In no way is this encouragement to ditch class or bunk work on a more regular basis to hit the waters but I will say if you get the chance, go for it. You will probably have the most surreal, bassing experience each and every time you are on the water during a normal week day. Let’s face it, bass angling worldwide is growing in popularity by the day and South Africans are right up there with the rest them eager to join the ranks and test their skills. You combine this with the fact that all our major dams and waterways across the country have always been havens for any water loving recreationalist to visit year in year out. Well automatically we get a lot of increasing pressure on any angling venue with everybody trying to get in on some action, all during the same time frames. Any heightened activity in and around the water is going to affect the local bass there and while some fish may have accepted the pleasure seeking chaos above them, any normal bass with common sense will rather move off preferring to hunker down in safety. So besides beating the crowds during the week you now also get to experience something called silence while bassing.

Whether you are a professional angler regularly competing in week day tournaments or a weekend warrior living for

Friday, nothing can compare to having a venue to yourself in natural silence.

Now you have calm waters, perfect weather conditions and the excellent chance of having the entire dam or lake to yourself. The odds are now all rigged in your favour with mother-nature allowed to just do her thing and in turn the bass as well. In these more comfortable scenarios you can almost guarantee more hook ups with some decent catches to be had without all that extra energy and drama going on around you. This is now your time where matters of home or work can be forgotten. The holiday season is just up the river and you can imagine the excitement in the air as hundreds of eager folk anticipate flocking to the water. It is going to get crazy out there so if there is an opportunity this November to skip the queue at the launch ramp and find those lunkers in peace, seize it! You will see your angling will become more concentrated with less effort and distraction. It is in these bass Zen moments, that no matter which pond, river or dam we may find ourselves at, when our rods double over and the waters explode, it all makes sense why we played hooky today!

Rods out and safe fishing everyone.

Silence is golden SA BASS 27 November 2019

>> SA BASS

Spinnerbaits In’s and Out’s

>> I could imagine being a first-time bass angler looking at a spinnerbait in the tackle store thinking, “surely not?” Come to think of it I wouldn’t be surprised if this is what most people entering a tackle store think about bass lures, or fishing lure in general for that matter.

A great example of two vastly different spinnerbaits; one with natural colours and twin Willow leaf blades, and another light weight lure with Colorado and teardrop blade

B

ut let’s be honest, these things are highly effective for sport fish and even more so if you know exactly how to use them and when to use them.

As a youngster it was easy for me to walk into a tackle store and spend all my pocket money on Mepps spinners for bass. One with yellow dots, another with orange dots and alright that slightly bigger one with the black blade and orange dots too. I had no idea why. I think it was the bright colours and the fact that the spinner had a treble hook – nothing was going to get away from that! And for those of you who have also fished a lot with Mepps inline spinners and those who possibly still do, then “good one ya”. They work well and catch fish and you will probably catch a couple of other species than bass too. Of course, there are days when they don’t work either.

28 SA BASS November 2019

>> Roger Donaldson* The larger brother to these Mepps inline spinners is the variety found with two blades, that have fluttering bright skirts and only one large wide gaping hook.

Talking about the hook. Trust me, the one wide hook is substantially more effective than the treble in staying hooked. Furthermore, you can apply a tremendous amount of pressure to turn the bass in your direction. This is largely advantageous considering the structure you could be fishing around, including submerged trees, which are prevalent in most of our waters and aquatic plants such as lily pads and other tough vegetation. Once the bass gets itself in the direction of this structure/cover it’s often unlikely you will get them out so it’s best that you turn them as fast as possible.

As with all skirts they are there to compliment the already stunning body of the lure and to also hide things

we don’t want to see, such as the tremendous gaping hook.

But you can and must also look further into the colours that you choose as they make a noticeable difference in your strike rate.

As you would match the colours of your soft plastic lures to the fishing environment, skirt colours can also be matched and suited to the variety of situations you’ll encounter on the water. Years back it was hard to find skirts that were anything other than white, chartreuse, or a combination of the two. Over the years though we have seen much lighter colours not as imposing and bright, as well as more natural variances with the inclusion of dark green and light green. I’ve really enjoyed these green colours as they are often the most natural looking choice considering our popular resident baitfish species such as the many kurper varieties and even bass fry themselves.

Another very important choice you will need to make is the blade configuration. You can simplify this by selecting two different categories i.e. faster spinnerbaits often used in slightly better water visibility and then slower options which will work nicely in more stained, lower visibility situations. So in cleaner water you may want the spinnerbait to move a bit quicker and give the bass less time to work our exactly what they are going to bite on, whereas when the visibility isn’t great you need to help the

bass find the lure so you’ll slow it down a bit. Now you can choose the willow leaf shaped blades which are sleek and fast, or combine the willow leaf and Colorado blade which is broader for medium speed and then two Colorado blades for a slower pace. It’s that easy.

Lastly, you need to consider that spinnerbaits have different weights. The larger the head the heavier it is. This means two things; it will sink and stay below the surface easier and you can also retrieve it faster with the lure popping up and breaking the surface. The lighter weight spinnerbait can be retrieved at a slower pace just below the surface of the water. It will also generally not snag up as easily on timber as the force applied on your line is not as intense as it would be with a heavier spinnerbait.

Once you apply your mind to it and the area you are planning to fish, then it all begins to take shape and make better sense. So, all that’s left is for you to get out there and rig up with the lure you think will work. Spinnerbait’s are such versatile lures and can be fished anywhere. *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.

SA BASS 29 November 2019

>> SA BASS

#Micro-Lure Challenge

In preparation for this challenge I decided a pre-fish was s in order. So the night before the challenge, off I went… … into the bath… with a plastic rod and magnetic fish… …

Needless to say… I was caught!

Max Evrard

>> Dylan Wheeler he idea of this challenge was to put our skills to the test in the most “micro” way possible, with a very big consequence! Ten shots of a paintball gun to a bare back! Truth-be-told, in our minds it was a better outcome than the handful of chillies poor Max had to previously endure!

However, there was a slight twist… this challenge was a two part challenge: The first part was to see who would be the first to catch on all three lures; the loser of this part would be the recipient of the first five shots. The second part of the challenge was to see who could catch the biggest fish on any of the three lures. The loser of that part of the challenge would receive the other five shots.

The very next day… Game plan in mind, we headed off to our favourite fishing spot, Witbank Dam with our ultra-light 5’6 set up and a set of three micro-lures each which consisted of a micro crankbait, micro jerkbait and a micro jig. My fishing partner, Max Evrard, decided he would start his day off with the micro jerkbait, whereas I took a slightly different approach, deciding to start off with the micro jig. First cast out on the jig and I had landed my first fish, granted it wasn’t a very big fish, but it got me a third of the way closer to winning part one of the challenge. Next up was the micro crankbait, which in my opinion, is the most adorable little bait I have ever seen! Knowing that Max was still trying to catch on his first bait, ‘obnoxiously confident’ would have been the best way to describe my feelings. However, sitting in the

T The author taking the lead

The micro crankbait we used 30 SA BASS November 2019

back of my mind was the thought that Max always has a way of catching up quicker than you can blink. Wasting no more time I cast out my micro crank alongside a jetty, hit… and miss! And again, and again! Finally a stroke of luck and the fish was hooked! Knowing just how small the treble hooks are on these micro lures, I couldn’t help but worry whether it would stick or shake loose. Luckily enough, it stuck and I had hooked my second fish on my second lure, measuring 30cm. The biggest catch of the day so far.

It was now that Max that suddenly felt the urgency to hook a fish. With his game face on, a mission in mind and a few casts in, he finally landed his first fish on the jerkbait, and my success on the biggest fish was cut short

by Max pulling in 32cm. Almost immediately after that, he had caught on his second lure, the crankbait.

With us sitting tied for part one of the challenge and Max in the lead for the part two, things were getting serious!

I then tied on my third and final lure, the jerkbait and was determined to catch! As I threw out my last lure, putting all of the force I could gather into it… snap…!

My lure had come off and travelled about three times the distance I had intended to cast! Devastated at the thought that if I couldn’t find my lure, I would lose the first part of the challenge and have to face the barrel of a paintball gun.

I quickly set out to look for it, and much to my surprise… and Max’s, found it dangling on a piece of algae growing on a heap of sunken rubble! In a race against time and Max, I quickly re-tied the lure and cast out, this time, being careful not to lose it again! And what do you know?

First cast out, fish on! Happily I accepted my victory, and in the same breath sealing Max’s fate… The first five shots!

With part one of the challenge completed, we set out to start upgrading our fish. This proved itself to be an uphill battle. Fish after fish and none were even close to big enough to be an upgrade, and Max was still in the lead. As the sun started to set, my luck finally changed.

Using the micro jig, I managed to hook into a 34cm fish, the upgrade I had been waiting for the whole day!

But… once again my success was short lived because not even a minute later, Max, with his habit of pulling out good fish at the very last moment managed to hook into a 36.5cm fish!

With our challenge at an end and the day over, the score was; Max one; Dylan one, or in other words… five shots each!

The very next day we met up to receive our punishment and with t-shirts off, we paced out 10m and each got the chance to shoot five times at the others back… It was not fun!

If you would like to watch the full events of our day out as well as see the extremely painful yet oddly hilarious video of our punishment, head to Fishing Inflated YouTube page, give us a like and subscribe to see previous videos as well as new content posted weekly.

oked!

k and the fish was ho

Finally a stroke of luc

Max looking quite ple

ased with himself

A micro jig

The author was cau

ght pre-fishing in the

bath SA BASS 31 November 2019

>> SA BASS PRODUCT NEWS

lengths th when retrieved. In a single cast, these built-in attributes allow Spinbait 80 to trace deeper zones longer.

1. DUO REALIS JERKBAIT 100SP >> Available from Solly’s Anglers Corner

When angler thinks of jerkbaits in today market, what attribute is most important?

While fancy colours and scale patterns provide realism it is still the lure’s “action” that prioritized an angler`s jerkbait selection.

DUO has went beyond the angler’s desire when it comes refined jerkbait fishing. Jerkbait 100SP uses a refined and updated fixed ballast system to grant the lure a lower center of gravity. Its ballast system also provides stable movement in the water and is responsive to a variety of retrieves.

Realis Jerkbait 100SP has the best of all worlds, balanced retrieve, specific body rotation to give off a pronounced wobble and precise gait during lure’s tack-movement (side to side cadence). The taller, flatter sides of the lure provide a larger profile giving an impression a bigger baitfish and also provide wider band of flashing to improve detection of the lure at a distance.

Another advantage to the Jerkbait 100SP is its ability to stop and move efficiently through the water column without wandering or drifting aimlessly. Now an angler’s Jerkbait 100SP can cover water, be target oriented, while emitting a sustained vibration without the lure over-running its position or fouling.

2. DUO REALIS ROZANTE 77SP >> Available from Solly’s Anglers Corner

The beefy body has been equipped with a magnet detaching moving weight system for absolute castability for land based anglers to get their lure out in strong head winds and side winds.

The vibration is caused when a tighter darting action is imparted. The result is a mimic action similar to a fleeing fish. This consequently activates the feeding switch for the bass as soon as the lure comes into sight even with simple slow ~ fast retrieval.

Furthermore, the lure can be worked as a shad type lure with a panicking dart like action through twitching of the rod, enabling anglers to invoke a bite from a bass in the least amount of distance. This lure will surely help those land-based anglers in a “linear” style of fishing of straight retrieval and a “spot-light” style of fishing with its panic dart action.

3. DUO REALIS SPINBAIT 80 SPYBAIT >> Available from Solly’s Anglers Corner

The compact, aerodynamic and hydrodynamic body of the Spinbait 80 produces significant parabolic momentum when cast; activates, multi-directional actions and vibrational wave 32 SA BASS November 2019

Paired propellers rotate against disks causing a distinct audible pitch and a compressed vibration called “micro-pulsing”.

The cupped propeller configuration displaces soft but turbid water along the lure’s bodyline releasing what is called “plum-effect”.

Plum-effect is actually detected by the bass frontal nerve network is striated through the fore-region of the bass helping the bass feel pressure and vibration. This sensory matrix integrates with the bass instinctive predatory and territory responses.

4. FISH ON AFRICA SLICK STICK >> For trade inquiries: rudolph@fishonafrica.com

The new Slick Stick is a 6cm floating minnow profile lure which was designed to be a perfect imitation of bait fish for all predators. These lures have a long cast system which allows for effortless casting and dives down to half a meter. The lure is perfect for shore based angling or to work over submerged structure. The size and detailed paint job replicates many of our local bait fish such as ghieliemientjies, silver robber and river sardine. One can fish the lure with a steady retrieve or with a quick jerk action.

A perfect addition to your arsenal when you need to imitate the bait to fool pressured bass.

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

8 - 14 December 2019 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.

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 SA BASS 33 November 2019

FLW Namibia Final

N

amibia hosted its very first FLW finals at Oanob Dam from in August 2019. Joining at almost the same time as Zimbabwe, Namibia is the tenth international member of the new international division that can compete at the Costa FLW Series Championship which will be hosted on Lake Cumberland in the United States from the 31st of October till the 2nd of November 2019.

Oanob Dam located about 7km outside of Rehoboth was completed in 1990, the same year that Namibia became independent. It has a capacity of about 34 million cubic metres. The dam is known to boast some lunkers and the Namibian record has been caught in this dam. Oanob, with its clear water and rock ridges that disappear into the depths, make for any bass anglers paradise. The resort has everything from beautiful chalets to the most luxurious camp sites making it the perfect destination for a family to spend a weekend.

Although the dam water level was a bit low at 45.6% due to a bad rainy season, the news was out that the bass were on the beds. The atmosphere at the pretournament meeting was electrifying with the anticipation of some big bags that were going to make it to the scales. Sight fishing 34 SA BASS November 2019

>> Andrew Hall* the bass on their beds was definitely on the mind of every angler as they pulled through the gate and sped off to their first stop for the morning. There was a bit of a cold breeze in the early morning on day one but as soon as the sun was high, those all too familiar white pebble circles with a dark shadow luring over them, got the heart racing of many anglers.

As many avid bass anglers know, sight fishing can be very rewarding but also extremely frustrating. When have you spent too much time on a stubborn fish? Should I go now or is it about to bite? Questions that are only answered with time as your experience grows.

The biggest bag weighed in on day one was by team Varkenelli Namibia (Andrew Hall and Max Pieper) weighing in at 8.484kg. Biggest fish of the day was caught

by Team WBM Soft-baits (Richard Grant and Neil Engelbrecht).

Fishing on day two improved even more as the heaviest bag of the day was weighed in by Team WBM Softbaits (Richard Grant and Neil Engelbrecht), a whopping 10.044kg and Richard Grant also catching the biggest fish of the tournament at a weight of 2.974kg.

Jürgen Geiger from Team Mercury with his bass from day 1

The boat and fishing pressure as well as a cold wind that came up during the night, definitely came into play on day three as the bag sizes became smaller and Team Last Minute (Johan Coetzee and James van Rooyen) caught the heaviest bag of the day, weighing in at 6.812kg. Only two boats managed their five fish bag limit on day three, a telling tale of some tough conditions on the water that day.

A total of 85 fish made it to the scales over the three day tournament with a total weight of 133.471kg, resulting in a 1.570kg average weight per fish.

Team Last Minute (Johan Coetzee and James van Rooyen) moved into the first position with a solid performance over the three days. Their main strategy was sight fishing and they had identified quite a couple of beds holding fish during their practice sessions before the tournament. Their first stop on day one was a shallow wind

Johan Coetzee en James van Rooyen (winners)

protected bay which they identified during practice. They started throwing a Storm Rattling Chugbug on which Johan caught some good fish during practice. Their first decent keeper for the day was however caught on a Rapala X-rap in Scoop colour, one of James’s favourite baits during spawn.

Their strategy was to fill up every day and find some nests during the end of the day to start on the next day, a key to their success for the tournament. Day three was a tough day on the water but they still managed their bag limit. The biggest keys to their success for the tournament was covering as much water as possible every day, finding beds and throwing a combination of reaction baits and softbaits.

Mercury Marine was the main sponsor of the event alongside Optic Exclusive, Old Mutual Namibia, Lake Oanob Resort, Surf and Turf Namibia, Radio Wave, WBM Lures, Radiant, Eurolux, KTE, Tyre Rack, Cymot and SA BASS magazine. FLW Namibia would like to thank all of the above sponsors for their support, sponsorships are what make these events possible and we would not have been able to host such a successful event without them.

FLW Namibia is excited about the tournament trial for 2020 and we are sure it’s going to be a tight battle till the end for the opportunity to represent Namibia at the next Costa FLW Series Championship in the United States. *Andrew Hall is the Public Relations Officer of Namibian Bass Angling Association

Floating weigh station sponsored by ESB boats used during the tournament

Richard Grand on the right with the biggest fish of the tournament winning NAD5000 sponsored by Optic Exclusive SA BASS 35 November 2019

Clint Skinner caught the Duma on day one and day two

FLW Zimbabwe Championship

T

he 2019 FLW Zimbabwe Championship took place on Lake Mteri. The Walking Dead team of Roger Cousens and Gerry Jooste won the event with a three-day total weight of 101.83 pounds. For the win, Cousens will fish as a boater at the Costa FLW Series Championship Oct. 31-Nov. 2 on Lake Cumberland, and Dennis Todd (from team Todds) will compete on the coangler side.

Cousens’ team sacked up 32.83 on day one and 26.19 on day two. However, it was the final-day monster bag that helped push Cousens to the top after dropping a massive 42.81-pound limit on the scale. Truly a momentous comeback from 7th place after day two. Winning the Gulab memorial trophy Roger and Gerry have ensured their names are on every trophy Zim bass fishing has to offer.

The event consisted of ten teams after three qualifying rounds during the season. Mteri proved to be the perfect venue with those able to find those kicker fish consistently getting it done.

36 SA BASS November 2019

Various tactics were used but sight fishing was the order of the day for the majority of the teams.

Team Starbell Auto took a close second with 101 pounds over three days. Right behind them with 97.11 pounds was team Keepnet.

FLW Zimbabwe would like to thanks their sponsors, anglers and supporters as well as dedicated weighmasters “The Berrys�, Off the Hook Fishing Outfitters, Transcom Sharaf, Starbell Auto, Ceramic Pro Zimbabwe, Spraytech Zimbabwe, Kross Marine, Rajor Jaw Fishing, Bumi Hills Foundation, The Horsebox Bar, Tiger Brands – Energade and Jungle Oats.

Day 1 'XPD ZDV FDXJKW E\ &OLQW 6NLQQHU ZLWK D Č´VK RI 4.61kg Day 2 'XPD DOVR FDXJKW E\ &OLQW 6NLQQHU ZDV WKH ELJJHVW RI WKH WRXUQDPHQW DW NJ IRU D Č´VK WKDW had already spawned this was a true giant Day 3 'XPD 5RJHU &RXVHQV EURXJKW D NJ JLDQW WR WKH VFDOHV DORQJ ZLWK DQRWKHU WZR Č´VK WKDW ZHUH HDFK RYHU NJ

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Gauteng

KwaZulu-Natal

L-t-r: Peet vd Schyff, Shaun John, Reinhardt Vermaak, Wesley Loxton, Craig da Silva, George Newham, Bryn & Troy Batty

Robbie Olivier, Neels Beneke, Lionel Crow, Simon Strydom, Bradley Hunter, Dennis Lutge

5.205kg

8.260kg

Venue: Bronkhorstspruit Dam

Venue: Inanda Dam

Fish caught: 85 Fish/team caught: 4.7

Fish caught: 42 Fish/team caught: 4.7

Biggest fish: 2.305kg

Biggest fish: 2.145kg

Average weight of fish: 0.693kg

Average weight of fish: 0.922kg

Top 10 places:

Top 10 places:

1: Team Gel Ev ents* - 5.205kg

1: Team Gamakatsu Outdoors 365 - 8.26kg

2: Team Vis Vrate - 5.090kg

2: Team McCarthy Lures - 7.31kg

3: Team All Lift Crane Hire - 4.675kg

3: Team All The Gear, No Idea - 5.395kg

4: Team Bass Outlaw s - 4.510kg

4: Team BCS Vamoose - 3.795kg

5: Team GLT Petroleum* - 4.455kg

5: Team Strike It - 3.62kg

6: Team Cobat Transport* - 4.135kg

6: Team Kazmarine - 2.76kg

7: Team New Anchor - 4.060kg

6: Team ZT - 2.76kg

8: Team Eco Log Homes - 3.135kg

8: Team Bass Warehouse FishTec - 2.45kg

9: Team Gel Ev ents² - 3.020kg

9: Team Frankie Bananas - 2.39kg

9: Team Good Fellas - 3.020kg

T: 011-251-9999 E: info@garmin.co.za W: https://garmin.co.za Garmin is the world leader in GPS Satellite Navigation and a global manufacturer of in-car GPS systems, portable navigation devices, handheld GPS units, and GPS products for the marine, aviation, outdoor and fitness sectors . In your car, on your boat, in the air, in the great outdoors or training in the gym - there's not a single area of your life where Garmin isn't welcome.

The Mall Offices 11 Cradock Avenue Rosebank, South Africa

38 SA BASS November 2019

For the complete results and next venue: see our website www.flwsouthafrica.com

September Results Limpopo

Back: Stefan de Beer, Wynand Scholtz, Stefan Badenhorst Front: Theo J. van Rensburg, Stef Lordan, Alexis Kuisis

8.260kg

Catch more, bigger bass, read...

SA baars BASS MAGAZINE Since 2001

Venue: Albasini dam Fish caught: 63 Fish/team caught: 3.9 Biggest fish: 1.95kg Average weight of fish: 1.117kg Top 10 places: 1: Team Optimax - 8.26kg 2: Team Young Guns - 6.625kg 3: Team Fear no Fish* - 6.475kg 4: Team Tabassco - 6.455kg 5: Team Erasmusse - 5.89kg 6: Team JV Hidrolies* - 5.595kg 7: Team Wack a Stack - 5.51kg 8: Team JV 2 - 5.23kg 9: Team Pure Chaos - 5.005kg 10: Team Renegade* - 4.68kg

For the complete results and next venue: see our website www.flwsouthafrica.com

Polokwane / Pietersburg

VisitVisit www.flwsouthafrica.com www.flwsouthafrica.com for entry for entry forms, forms, dates, dates venues and and venues. results.

For general enquiries phone 082-416-5524 SA BASS 39 November 2019

TM

Mpumalanga

North West

Martin Wolmarans & Henk Venter

L-t-r: Johann Zwarts (Snr & Jnr), Kamlesh Parbhoo, Anton Vogt, Anton Jansen, August Lingnau, Pieter Khourie

8.275kg

7.362kg

Venue: Witbank

Venue: Roodekopjes

Fish caught: 115 Fish/team caught: 5

Fish caught: 49 Fish/team caught: 4.5

Biggest fish: 2.09kg

Biggest fish: 2.455kg

Average weight of fish: 0.677kg

Average weight of fish: 1.18kg

Top 10 places:

Top 10 places:

1: Team Six 8 Custom Baits* - 8.275kg

1: Teams Greens²* - 7.362kg

2: Team Reel Rebels - 6.12kg

2: Team Bassw orld - 7.255kg

3: Team Go Fish / Madfin - 5.74kg

3: Team ALX - 7.052kg

4: Team Technomech - 4.87kg

4: Team Greens - 6.273kg

5: Team Bassw orld - 4.775kg

5: Team Nev er Giv e Up - 6.16kg

6: Team Boksombende - 4.24kg

6: Team Raptor - 5.335kg

7: Nev er Giv e UP - 3.73kg

7: Team Bass Factory - 5.195kg

8: Team Mias* - 3.62kg

8: Team Ex pert Marina - 5.14kg

9: Team Old Cranks* - 3.6kg

9: Team Hook Line & Sinker - 4.72kg

10: Team Back Again - 3.525kg

10: Team 5 Aliv e - 3.109kg

T: 065 849 3264 E: hannes@sabass.com W: www.flwsouthfrica.net Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) is the world's largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across various tournament circuits. FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, South Korea and South Africa. The FLW television show is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros.

PO Box 24938 Gezina, Pretoria, 0031 40 SA BASS November 2019

T: 011-251-9999 E: info@garmin.co.za W: https://garmin.co.za Garmin is the world leader in GPS Satellite Navigation and a global manufacturer of in-car GPS systems, portable navigation devices, handheld GPS units, and GPS products for the marine, aviation, outdoor and fitness sectors . In your car, on your boat, in the air, in the great outdoors or training in the gym - there's not a single area of your life where Garmin isn't welcome.

The Mall Offices 11 Cradock Avenue Rosebank, South Africa

September Results O.F.S.

T.B.C.

L-t-r: Pierre Theron, Hendri Wolfaardt, Pieter Senekal, Paul Smit, Jaco & Jan Schoeman

Back: Peet, Mohamed, Johan, Rayno Front: Dirk, Tatiana, Gerhard

7.750kg

3.070kg

Venue: Boskop

Venue: Klerkskraal Dam

Fish caught: 28 Fish/team caught: 4.7

1: Team Volstoom – 3.070kg

Top 5 places:

Biggest fish: 0kg

2: Team Pretoria Noord Toy ota – 2.460kg

Average weight of fish: 1.131kg

3: Team Not Again – 2.320kg

Top 6 places:

4: Team Oom se Span – 2.220kg

1: Team Hit n Run - 7.75kg

5: Team LargeMouth – 2.120kg

2: Team Bass Pro - 6.165kg 3: Team Raptor Delta Marine - 5.575kg 4: Team Termenator - 5.505kg 5: Team Bassin buddies - 4.78kg 6: Team Venom - 1.88kg

Biggest Fish C: 082-416-5524 T: 065-849-3264 F: 086-234-5052 E: info@sabass.com For everyone that loves bass fishing!

SA BASS is a specialist bass fishing publication catering for a well-defined niche market since April 2001. Our mission is to promote bass angling as a socially acceptable and popular outdoor recreational activity, and in addition, to encourage acceptable angling ethics. Due consideration is given to developing the sport among all the country's people.

PO Box 24938 Gezina, Pretoria, 0031

Team Volstoom (Dirk) 1.440kg

SA BASS 41 November 2019

>> SA BASS

STRATEGIES

GP: Team Gel Events – Peet vd Schyff Right off the bat the comp started like any other for Team Gel Events - with us being late and me snapping a G-Loomis rod in the hatch. My mind was focused solely on the day ahead and wanting to start the season off with a bang.

Although the new season also started with a new boat, we were unfortunate enough to still be beaten to our primary spot. We then moved off our main areas and fished the bank that leads out of our spot. Shaun quickly connected with a decent keeper that set the tone for our bag. This bite confirmed that although there wasn’t a breath of wind, the spinner bait was firing.

As the wind picked up throughout the day, the bite became even more aggressive and we were able to consistently upgrade our bag. Consistency was key in this comp and it goes to show that keeping things simple and sticking to the basics gets most of the job done - all that was left was a kicker.

With the day closing off and limited spots left to fish, we pulled up to an overcrowded public bank where Shaun set into 1.9kg kicker to push our bag over the edge and seal the deal for us to take the win. Overall it was an enjoyable days fishing with a great group of anglers.

MP: Team Six 8 Custom Baits – Henk Venter Ons het by Maanlig opgedaag met ‘n voorbedagte idee dat die bass beslis nou al sterk besig sou wees met “spawn” maar toe ons die boot in die water sit, het ek besef dat die watervlak nog verder gedaal het sedert die FLW kampioenskap in Augustus.

Ek het nogsteeds gedink daar behoort wel vis te wees op die bekende “public launch” se oewer en dienooreenkomstig soontoe gery.

Ons het probeer om teen die kant ‘n paar vis te kry maar dit het gou duidelik geword dat die vis nie in die vlakwater teen die kant is nie. ‘n Rukkie daar gestaan en dink en besef dat ondervinding my al geleer het dat bass, en sekerlik ander vis spesies ook, daarvan hou as die weer stabiel is. Dit het my laat besef dat die bass nie ‘n kans sou neemt om in vlakwater te “spawn” waarvan die neste dan dalk op droë grond sou wees voordat die eiers kon uitbroei. Dieper water was ons enigste ander opsie, maar ons was nie gelukkig met die slik wat baie erg was naby aan die oewer nie en het toe besluit om aan die diepwater kant van die grasbanke te hengel.

Ons het binne die eerste uur ‘n 1.71kg geland. Ons het vir ‘n ruk lank baie vis gevang maar niks wat naastenby 300mm lank was nie. Ons het later besluit om ander soortgelyke areas te gaan soek. Ons was gelukkig om ‘n oop area oorkant die “public launch” teen die oewer van die pompstasie te kry en het daar ‘n vis van 1.04kg gevang. Teen die tyd was die horlosie besig om te pla want dit was reeds 14:30 en ons totale gewig was maar net 4.85kg vir vyf vis.

Ons het besluit om weer terug te gaan na die “public launch” toe maar het oppad soontoe die baai regoor die seiljagklub ‘n kans gegee omdat ek wel voor die FLW kampioenskap vis daar gerkry het.

Met ons “swinging Ned-rig” en ons Six8 Custom Baits Medium Fish (Fluke) in swart op ‘n “sliding” Texas-strop het ons die graslyn begin hengel en heel agter in die baai ons eerste redelike “upgrade” gevang. ‘n Vis van net oor een kilogram.

42 SA BASS November 2019

Ons het terug gegaan na die seiljagklub en het toe ‘n 2.09kg gevang met die gewone 300 tot 700g vissies tussen in en baie daarvan.

Toe die byt afplat en ek na die watertemperatuur kyk het ek besef die vis is nie meer op die “staging” punte nie maar wel verder na die agter kant van die baai toe.

Teen die tyd was die “public launch” amper erger as die horlosie, veral omdat die byte opgedroog het, maar ek het deurgedruk en weer na die agterkant van die baai toe beweeg omdat die water daar warmer was. Ons is toe goed beloon met drie verdere “upgrades” wat ‘n 1.81kg, ‘n 1.45kg en nog ‘n ander vis van ongeveer 1,5kg ingesluit het.

Skielik was die “public launch” sover uit ons gedagtes as wat die oggend se koffie was, maar die horlosie het begin pla en is aangehelp deur ons grootste vis se snaakse gedrag, wat net beskryf kan word as oppad “lang-bome” toe en/of het dalk besluit om in die “live-well” te “spawn”.

Hoe dit ook al was, ons wou nie ‘n kans vat nie en het toe teen 15:55 stokke vasgemaak en begin ry asof alles daarvan afhang om so gou moontlik by die weegstasie uit te kom met ‘n gevoel dat ons ten minste in die top vyf sou eindig.

Dit was natuurlik ‘n groot verassing en verligting toe ons besef dat ons die swaarste sak van 8.275kg geweeg het, asook die swaarste vis van 2.09kg.

Dis was harde, doelgerigte en stadige hengel en was dit nie vir ons eie produkte en baie geduld en kalmte nie, kon dit heel anders gewees het! Dit gesê, dit was sekerlik een van die lekkerste hengeldae wat ons in ‘n lang tyd gehad het, bloot omdat ons strategie en kunsaas so goed gewerk het! Veral gesien in die lig dat ons nie ‘n geleentheid gehad het nader aan die afsny tyd vir oefen nie en moes staatmaak op ‘n baie swak oefen sessie twee weke voor die kompetisie!

Baie dankie aan SA BASS, FLW RSA en die streekorganiseerders wat dit ‘n wonderlike dag gemaak het.

LP: Team Optimax – Theo Janse van Rensburg During pre-fish we found a lot of suspended fish in 25 feet deep water. We figured that some of these fish would start to move shallower, but it would all be about timing. We started throwing soft plastics on a prominent rock pile and were rewarded early with a fish of around 1,8kg. Shortly thereafter, another fish of around 1kg… then the bite was gone. We rotated five spots throughout the day with one team member throwing soft plastics and jerkbait whilst the other just rotated between spinnerbait and crankbait. We could not identify a definite pattern, but managed to pick up isolated fish on small rock piles. We got four solid fish

and many in the 1kg range.

Die omstandighhede was maar ‘n normale warm somersdag, met watertemperature wat net-net aan 26ºC geraak het. Algemene kunsase was spinnerbait, swart Stretch Fourty en swart Flukes.

Met die spinnerbaits het ons nie dieper as twee meter gehengel nie en met die sagte plastiekase tussen 3 tot 9 meter diep water.

Ons het swimbaits later in die dag gebruik toe daar teveel hengeldruk was in 2 tot 4 meter water. Moet nooit jou Zara Spook vergeet vir vroegoggend nie… dit werk net so goed aan die einde van jou dag.

KZN: Team Gamakatsu Outdoors 365 – Robbie Olivier & Neels Beneke Excited to kick off the new FLW KZN Cast-for-Cash season at Inanda Dam, Robbie and I did much better than we expected.

We haven’t fished the dam for a very long time and no practice and thought we were going to target spawning fish as that was our guess the fish was busy doing but as soon as we got on the water the water temperature was 70 to 75ºF. This made us focus more on post spawn bass which meant looking for shallow water with bait where these fish would feed up after a tiring spawn cycle. It was a slow day with few bites but we got the right ones- big skinny post spawn bass. All our big fish was caught on several different lures, some on Aruku Shad and reaction baits with some top water mixed in and others on wacky trick stick finessing it. Everything worked out good for us capitalizing on our bites and fishing the moment switching through a couple of different baits and areas.

will be your most aggressive fish looking to feed after the spawn.

We headed straight for the river section where the warmer water is, which means that vast majority of the bass have spawned. We were presently surprised to see a lot of fry in the area. We fished post-spawn areas, grass lines and points of flats where we knew the post-spawners will be feeding.

We used reaction baits, like swim jigs and lipless crank baits - basically anything that resembled bait fish and we got some very good bites. Big fish, unfortunately lighter than they should be, as they are quite skinny and spawned out; but still gave us a convincing win and it was much easier to get five big bites.

Our seasonal opener started off with a bang!

We didn’t have time to practice for the event so we had to use our knowledge of spawn to figure out a quick pattern to get on to the fish. We knew there will be bass in multiple stages, pre-spawn, post- spawn and spawn. Inanda is a versatile dam with the main lake being clean and generally colder and the river section being more stained and warmer. Fishing for spawning bass is always a difficult task, unless the fish are committed on bed and don’t swim off and get spooked easily. We also knew the majority of the field will be heading to these fish, as it is very difficult not to go to this areas; especially when you see 3 to 4 kilo fish cruising around. But getting five of them to bite would be a huge task. So we decided to look for post-spawn bass as they

Neels en Robbie

NW: Team Greens² – Johann Zwarts On the morning of the FLW Cast-for-Cash tournament we knew of a bay that had spawning fish in about a month ago, but the dam level dropped quite dramatically. My dad made the key decision of going back to the same bay to see whether they were still around. In the first hour my dad quickly caught three bass by blind casting a Senko

around the drop-offs. As the sun came out I started to sight fish. We had our limit before 10 o’clock and went to find a kicker as we only had a 4kg bag at the time. With no luck and only a few small ones later we returned to the same bay and caught a 2.6kg (biggest fish) on a jerkbait. In the last hour we culled out the last fish for a 7.36kg bag.

Left: Johann Zwarts

OFS: Team Hit n Run – Paul Smit Our starting spots did not produce any decent fish. By 09:00 we had only small fish on the boat, and we knew we had to make the midday and afternoon count. We then got decent fish fishing shallow grass lines and pockets using Flukes and Senkos.

SA BASS 43 November 2019

>> SA BASS

Sediba Guest House

Quite some time ago I was sitting around, plotting where my next adventure would take me after a hard day at work, when my phone rang… upon viewing of the screen, I saw the name “Phillip Kemp Landy” – Yes, I label my contacts to their relevance in life.

>> Ivan Sonnekus answered thinking we were going to discuss one or other Land Rover topic like usual, or maybe the forthcoming topics for the magazine articles, but, then as the conversation carried on, my smile started growing more and more as I utter the words… YES, I’m in! Turns out there is a weekend of bassin brewing on the distant horizon some months away! This is my tribute to an event fi filled weekend in the bush alongside some great people!

I

The journey

Left to Right – Iv an, Pieta, John,

44 SA BASS November 2019

Phillip, Jakes an

d Curt

This special weekend was held at Sediba Kwele Adventure Camp out towards the North-West of Brits, so that meant myself along with my father would have to leave Newcastle in the dark hours of the morning if we were to make a good day of fishing still on the Friday.

Our plan was to get out of Newcastle by 3am to be in Pretoria by at least around 06:30 to make a pitstop at oone of the local fishing shops in Villieria to get some last minute baits that we simply do not manage to find out in m tthe th h countryside. This little shop then very quickly became the tth h meeting point for most of us that was attending this spectacular weekend out in the bush. After we all said our ssp p h hallo’s and shared some dramatic fishing stories in and oout of the shop, we decided it is time to get going as we still st t want to get some lines in the water for the day, to hopefully land that ever illusive big mommy as we were h fishing in early September 2019, which in turn meant we fi

will be right on spawning time. First full moon, but rain was still scarce in the area, so we were also not sure if the fish had spawned or not.

We left the shop in a convoy of three vehicles heading out towards the North-West, still making a last minute stop in Brits for some ice to keep the tall ones cold for the weekend, and I had the chance to grab a flu-pack from a pharmacy in the area as I all of the sudden felt weak and unwell. Must have been al the fishing that played out in my dreams prior to the event. From Brits the next stop would be Sediba… or so we thought, as it will be everyone’s good friend called Murphy, was not far away like usual. Just as we started catching speed on the open roads, we found ourselves suddenly sitting in a very long que of vehicles that’s waiting at a “stop and go”, the first of three for the last stretch of our travels. By now, my father and I were seriously discussing game plans and strategies for the fishing that was ahead for the afternoon. Deciding on what colour, type and size of lures we would be casting out throughout the remainder of the afternoon, when disaster struck… nature calls for the both of us, but now we were in a moving line of vehicles and there was nowhere to just quickly stop. As we exit the one-way lane out of the section of road works, we started scouting for a spot to pull over. Regretfully, I saw the next “stop and go” coming up down the road… Not knowing how to sit anymore, the Ford came to a standstill at the stop, my dad flew out the car making a plan to find secluded spot and I decided I can still maybe hold for a few moments. At that time Phillip spotted a piece of water next to the road, jumped out of “Mufasa”, flung open the back door and pulled out a rod. Ready to make a cast, he flipped a frog into the green muck floating on the small dam, but with no success as the grass on top of the water was just too thick. At that point I decided that I will have to answer the call, or my eyes will be swimming in their sockets very soon. As I jumped out and found a spot, my dad shouted that the line has started moving. I told him to jump in the driver seat and get going as the vehicles were quite a bit back from where I was. Luckily, I made it back to the vehicle in time and off we went.

By now the sun was high and the aircon battled to keep up as we rolled out on the last bit of dirt road towards the farm. Between the dust and heat we managed to spot some wildlife on our way and then, just as I started enjoying the dusty road, we reached the farm. By now we have covered roughly 500km and five provinces in a long haul to reach this jewel of a lodge.

Curt and Ja n

us with thei

r “creatures”

ith a fish on

w Oom Schalk

day one

Sediba Guest House The place we would call home for the next couple of days, this rustic, yet elegantly modern place has it all, from kudu having an early morning graze less than a stone’s throw away all the way to a pool with DStv for those avid sport lovers at the lapa. We quickly packed out and by now I was so ready to catch a fish, that I was at the point of jumping into the closest piece of water to

Jakes waded

into the thic

k of it to pu

ll out some

lunkers

SA BASS 45 November 2019

grab one with my bare hands, but we got so distracted by sharing previous stories and fishing adventures that we lost track of time, until someone said it was time to go down to the dam! “This is it - the moment I have been waiting for over the last couple of months”. We scrambled to sort the last of the fishing gear and got everything loaded up ready to take a drive down towards the much-anticipated dam where we would be spending majority of our time.

As the Ford Ranger chewed up the last bit of dirt road, my mind was crunching with all the plans and ideas I had for the dam… from what I have heard and seen on the internet prior to the trip. As we came around the last bend through the bush, the dam emerged from the deep clutches of the North-West Bushveld. I was stunned in awe of the view of water as the wind tickled the water. We decided to drive over to the other side as it looked like a better place to launch our kayaks from. As my dad and I laid the kayaks down at waters edge, all one heard were people talking about strategies and what they would be using and where they would be using it. The dam offered some epic hard structures in the form of rocks and dry trees, but unfortunately for this round of fishing the water level was really low and dirty. The dam was pretty much 60% covered in water grass which led to some of the hardest fishing I have ever done in a long time as I am from KZN and used to, or conditioned to, the pristine farm dams we have in our area.

The nights were long as the wood stacked fire burnt almost endlessly, accompanying the fishing stories built up from years of experience, so much so that my mind was spinning as I did not know where to listen between all the stories and information everyone shared.

Challenge accepted I have blanked-out on the Friday, but some of the other guys started to land some fish during the course of the afternoon all the way to the last cracks of daylight. Grubs, spinners, creature baits, Senkos and even a crankbait or two… and still I had no joy. Working the water hard until

Around the fire

46 SA BASS November 2019

we finally called it off, as the mozzies started devouring us alive and we simply just could not see anything anymore.

Going into day two, things were looking bleak for me for not being able to land a fish, and by now the flu was in full swing and I almost caused my dad and I to be late for the “main event” on the Saturday morning. All of us had to donate one of the worst looking or most ugly coloured soft bait into a bag. We then took turns to draw a lure which we then had to use untampered but rigged in any way for one hour of fishing to see who can get the biggest or most fish on these funky looking lures. Believe me when I say there were some horrendous looking creatures in that batch! But about 45 minutes into this little challenge, there were actually some fish landed and right in the dying moments of the competition. Curt and Janus managed to almost have a double up - this now being Janus’ second catch and Curt landing his first and they ended up sharing the prize for this little endeavour.

The remainder of the day was a scorcher and the fishing were not looking any better for myself or my dad as we paddled up and down the dam looking to find that one spot to produce a fish. By then I decided to take a bit of a break from hunting those illusive fish and just stand around the bakkie talking fishing stories with new found friend Janus – he is the local boytjie and works on the farm as well. Anyway; as we are standing there in the dire heat enjoying a cold one whilst drooling at each other’s fishing stories, the conversation took a bit of a turn.

The following events all happened without the rest of the group knowing what went down. Janus received a phone call from some of his friends in the area that asked if they can go fish a newfound dam that Janus was fishing in lately, that delivered some epic fish in no time! With the dam at Sediba being so dead at that point in time, we came to a “unanimous” decision that we would sneak away and go see what this secret jewel of a dam would produce for us. By the time we finished our brunch, the two other guys arrived and we then had the cover story that we need to go get a few things for later that night from one of the

small shops, not too far from camp, but then something happened that we did not anticipate. Jaco was the first one to say that he also needed a six pack for the night and gave us money for it. Janus and I looked at one another as we took the money and got going. We left camp with some basic gear that we strategically moved to his bakkie during the brunch time as not to make it too obvious that we were actually off fishing another dam in the area. As we drove away, we had a plan for the beverages as my phone rang and now John wanted a pack of smokes as well, but it seemed that the odds were in our favour as both of our shopping list items were pretty close to camp.

As we reached this new dam, I was even more awestricken. The water was a clear greenish-blue colour. There was a solid flow of water running into the dam from a pipe, along with some great deep patches as well as shallow areas. This small dam just had all the potential in the world, and it would have been wrong not to cast a line into that pristine water! I had the honour of the first cast, so I flung my double-bladed spinnerbait into a spot and started my retrieve. My heart pounded as I expected a strike at any moment, but alas; the first one came out empty. I changed my target spot and flung the spinner back in and maybe three seconds into the retrieve there it was.

That thump I have been waiting for over the last two days of fishing, and boy oh boy, it felt like a whopper!! Playing it all the way to the land to view this spectacular species of fish.

We spent just over an hour at this awesome spot, landing about four fish each, all around just over a kilo.

Unfortunately, we could not stay for the late afternoon session as technically we were on a “supply run”, so we packed up and headed back again, and up until this article, no one ever suspected a thing! So we carried on fishing the late afternoon at Sediba along with the group, as I then managed to land four fish in a short amount of time to get myself on the board, and by now John found the secret to fishing topwater and my dad had a couple of bites going as well.

We ended the day off with the golden full moon rising over the water.

Back at camp we spent the night around the fire where Divan gave us an insightful talk about different rods and their applications. So we ended off a well worked day in the bush.

Phillip lan d

ing some go

od fish

ta, My dad, Pie

coming back

for a break

There and back again All in all this was a tiring weekend of hard fishing where I am sure everyone learned a couple of new tricks and made some new friends, and most certainly have some great stories to share for the next years to come and who know… maybe next year we will have the funky creatures competition yet again!

Until we meet again, keep those reels clean, rods bent and lines tight, and always be ready for that ultimate fight!

Jurik with h

is “little” trai

n

SA BASS 47 November 2019

>> SA BASS BASICS

BASICS FOR BEGINNERS

>> Hannes Lindeque

Plastic worms Work best in warm water and not as effective in cold water. Use smaller worms in clear water or when bass nib at the lure, such as after a cold front.

Plastic lizards Can be fished successfully in the summer especially on a Carolina rig.

Worm styles Twist or ribbon tails – effective in submerged vegetation, murky water Straight tail – most commonly used for weightless rigging Spear and paddle tails – used around cover and are effective when fished on top of matted vegetation Short finesse worms – used in clear/or deep water when bass are shy to bite

Types of worm rigs Rig the worm weightless with a light-wire hook when sight fishing around shallow cover in clear water.

When bass are holding in or close to cover, use the Texasrig method When bass are on deep structure or in areas with a relatively clean bottom, or when they are holding on outer edges of or suspending above submerged grass beds, try Carolina-rigging the worm.

48 SA BASS November 2019

Top to bottom-hooktail worm with a Carolina rig, gator tail worm on a Texas rig, a stick bait weightless or Mojo rig, a paddle tail weightless rig and a straight tail on a jighead

Bass vocabulary: Hard bottom - Area in a body of water with a solid base - clay, gravel, rock, sand.

Hawg - Usually refers to a lunker-size or heavyweight bass weighing 4 pounds or more.

Holding area - Structure that habitually holds three to five catchable bass.

Holding station - A place in the dam where inactive fish spend most of their time.

Honey hole - A super fishing spot containing a number of big bass; also any place with a large concentration of keeper bass.

Ichthyology - The branch of zoology that deals with fishes - their classification, structure, habits, and live history.

Inactive fish - Bass that are in a non-feeding mood.

Examples of typically inactive times: following a cold front; during a major weather change that causes a sudden rise or fall in water temperature, or when a rising lake lever is abruptly lowered.

Isolated structure - A possible holding spot for bass; examples include a single bush on a point; a midlake hump, or a large tree that has fallen into the water.

Jig - A leadhead poured around a hook and featuring a skirt of rubber, plastic, or hair.

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BOAT IS STATIONARY SONAR VIEW

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