SA BASS Aug-18

August 2018

RSA: R39.34 (VAT incl.)

Other Countries: R34.21 (Tax excl.)

Issue 208

Winter Patterns 10

Questions for Forrest L. Wood

www.sabass.com Flat sided crankbaits | Hair jig tactics | Nice to have | Boat etiquette | Simple DIY carpet cleaning | Industry News Setting your reel’s drag | New spot, now what? | How shallow can you go? | Off the grid bassin’ | Back to basics Winter - calm before the storm | Retrieval techniques - fishing frogs | Adapting to changing conditions

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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

Publisher:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Editor:

John Badenhorst - john@sabass.com

Field Editors:

Bennie Wiese, Bryan Leppan, Colin Willmer, Derrek Stewart, Dewald Viljoen, Divan Coetzee, Gary Peter, Gareth Dryden, Gordon Brown, Joe Dreyer, Kevin Lofstedt, Louis Bezuidenhout, Mzi Tyhokolo, Neels Beneke, Philip Kemp, Roger Donaldson, Rowan Zerf, Rudi Dreyer

International Columnists:

Bertrand Ngim, Clint Skinner, David Swendseid, Gareth Rawlins, Matt Williams, Tylor Brinks

Advertising Manager:

Wilma Lindeque - wilma@sabass.com

Subscriptions:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Facebook Administrator:

Chris Greenland

Digital subscriptions:

www.magzter.com

Layout and Design:

Storm Deezigns - dee@stormdeezigns.co.za

Distributed by RNA:

Jannie Junius (011) 248 3536

REGULARS & FORUMS 10

SA BASS “Winter Patterns” Looking at the annual national tournament calendar it is evident that winter is no longer considered a time of year when bass cannot be efficiently caught. During winter there are a few advantages the angler can arm himself or herself with for more consistent results – Martin de Kock

14

FLW “Flat-sided Crankbaits” A specialized crankbait for a more subtle approach – TJ Maglio

About SA BASS magazine: SA BASS, which is editorially and financially independent, is a monthly magazine catering exclusively for the bass angling community in Southern Africa. SA BASS is distributed country-wide by RNA to outlets, not only in South Africa, but also in Namibia, Swaziland and Botswana.

SA BASS is designed as a specialist bass fishing publication and has catered for a well-defined niche market since April 2001.

It enjoys the support and endorsement of non-government organisations, but is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group.

Our mission is to promote bass angling as a socially acceptable and popular outdoor recreational activity, and in addition, to encourage acceptable angling ethics. As such, SA BASS provides pertinent information on a wide range of subjects. These include providing a platform for informed debate on issues affecting the sport of bass angling, providing information on bass angling strategies and techniques, bass angling waters and opportunities, and also creating awareness of new products.

Within this editorial mix, due consideration is given to developing the sport among all the 02 SA BASS August 2018

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.

17

FLW “10 Questions for Forrest Wood” Get to know the namesake of FLW and the Forrest Wood Cup.

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.

18

FLW BASS FISHING “Boat Care 101: Simple Do-It-Yourself Carpet Cleaning” If there is one thing I hate worse than seeing a nice bass boat with a filthy finish, it’s seeing one with dirty carpet. I like to keep my stuff clean, but not just because it looks good – Matt Williams

28

SA BASS

36

“Off the grid bassing” Being a farmer has many advantages.

Being a farmer who has a fanatic’s passion for bass fishing has even more.

– Jay Röhm-Williams

STRATEGY “Retrieval techniques - fishing frogs (Part 7)” Let’s categorise the top three frog varieties so we can separate the retrieve required for each style of frog.

– Roger Donaldson

38

SA BASS

20

FLW

30

“Hair Jig Tactics” Make this classic jig work for offshore bass – Curtis Niedermier

BASICS “Back to “bass-ics”” Nowadays there is an incredible amount of constant change occurring all around us.

– Jay Röhm-Williams

44 32

22 24

“Soos Harmansdrup op ‘n Vadersdagoggend” In die kommersiële wêreld van vandag het ek nog nooit veel aanklank gevind in spesiale dae wat aan sekere entiteite gekoppel word nie.

– Philip Kemp

“Essential Skills - Fishing 101” How to set the brakes on a baitcasting reel – TJ Maglio

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

34 “How shallow can you go?”

The middle of winter is hardly the time to talk about shallow water fishing, but the truth is when there is warming water, cover or structure, and the attraction of food there is a good chance bass will be in close pursuit – Roger Donaldson

SA BASS SPY “Secrets of South Africa’s Pros (Part-1)” For the reader who is lucky enough to be exposed to this first article in a long series, I am going to let you in on the biggest secret that will change your bass fishing forever – The Bass Spy

“New spot, now what?”

New venues can be daunting with fish behaviour very much dependent upon a variety of factors – John Badenhorst

26

“Chungcheongnam-do shoreline assault (Part 1)” In summer 2017, I visited renowned South Korean bass fishing guide and seasoned shore bass angler, Mr. Kang Hohyeong (field-staff of Daiwa South Korea) – Fishingboy, Kang Hohyeong and Lee Minwoo

47

DESTINATION

MASTER CLASS

INTERNATIONAL

KLASKAMER

FLW

“Adapting to changing conditions” Winter fishing can be absolutely daunting and without homework or a good idea of how to work your approach, you might just miss out on some of the best fishing of the year – Raf Scremin

CLASSROOM

“Winter – Calm before the storm” Most of us tend to get into that Negative Winter Mode where we expect very little from our green friends, and this clearly is a mistake – Kevin Lofstedt

04

MY CAST

06

READERS-go-BASSING

08

Nice to Have

40

Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results

42

SABAA News

INDUSTRY NEWS 23 48

>> Garmin® Panoptix LiveScope >> Cancelled boat orders

ON THE COVER “Mokolo lunker” Image: Anton Vogt

SA BASS 03 August 2018

Whoaaaah….!!!!! Hold onto your head Fred… A classic saying by legendary actor Burt Reynolds in the movie “Smokey and the Bandit”. And going through all the latest information coming up, it is clear that the next couple of months and weeks are going to be way more exciting than seasons gone by.

Over the next few weeks there are some incredibly exciting things coming our way and very much to look forward to…

The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will be held on Lake Ouachita, Hot Springs, Arkansas on the 10th to 12th of August with local angler Mike Matthee taking part and making history to be the South African angler to fly our flag at this event. This event will be broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide!

The FLW Forrest Wood Cup is the world-championship of bass fishing with a $300,000 top prize and the title of world’s best bass angler on the line. This year’s championship tournament will feature 56 of the best anglers from across four FLW tournament circuits and The Bass Federation and is being hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

The FLW South Africa Final Championship takes place between the 23rd and 25th of August at Bivane dam with top anglers from Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KZN and the OFS competing for top honours and four slots at the upcoming Costa FLW Series Championship on Lake Guntersville, Alabama in November.

The first ever FLW SA Small Craft National Championship for small craft anglers will be held and presented by FLW South Africa at Boschkop Dam outside Potchefstroom on the 1st and 2nd of September with anglers from Gauteng, KZN, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape competing for four slots in this year’s Costa FLW Friendship Tournament.

On the technology side of things, some truly remarkable toys are being unveiled as I write this for local anglers to start drooling about and I know of a few that will be trying to find ways of hiding things from the missus, especially when it comes to buying new toys. The all new range of Garmin fish finders are about to hit our shores with Panoptix LiveScope which takes fishing to a different level. Making use of technology that has been fine-tuned over a period of years, the simple video clips doing the rounds on YouTube has already had a massive amount of views. Over the next few issues we will be putting these to the test with the help of local Garmin partners, Escape Boating to bring you the lowdown on the tech behind these new units. Also coming up in the next issue, we will be looking at a brand new range of intelligent battery chargers for our boats and making use of a smart phone to manage charging batteries to a different level.

On the fishing front, there have been reports of some very good catches over the last few weeks and from some venues it seems that those green fish are slowly but surely getting ready for a slightly early pre-spawn feed. Beware though as a 04 SA BASS August 2018

few years back, we had snow in the middle of August and in our part of the world strange things can and do happen.

If you’ve been hibernating through the colder months, it is maybe time to dust off the rods, oil the reels and before we know it, the pre-spawn is going to be upon us and then it is Happy Days again for those that have felt the harsh reality of depressing winter.

Go on, shake off the winter blues and get the blood pumping again. Warmer days are on the way and it is time to get out there and get some green fish. See you out on the water.

John Badenhorst / Editor

2018

R35.50 R215.00 R429.00

R27.95 R159.00 R319.00

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.

This ’s th mon

ER

N WIN

SMOKING

LARGY

Thank you for an amazing magazine. I caught this 2,3kg largemouth bass in Doorndraai Dam, 43km outside Mokopane. Caught on a smoking silver fluke in the shallows. The fish was safely released to be caught another day – Keegan Pope

I had the privilege of catching a really great fish in June.

Here is a picture of my 4.26kg largemouth bass caught in the Elgin Valley using a square bill crankbait. The fish was safely released after some photos were taken. Really a great experience. Thank you for your magazine, I really enjoy the read – Johan van der Merwe

GO

Mail il & Win Wi E-mail your picture and details of your catch to editor@sabass.com and stand a chance to win a hamper (valued at R600) sponsored by Culprit South Africa.

Please send us good crisp pictures of good quality. Pictures send electronically must be of at least 250KB. (We prefer pictures of 1MB).

Potential cover pictures must be portrait and at least 3MB. All photos published in Readers-Go-Bassing are for the exclusive use of SA BASS magazine.

Any photos previously published, or published by other magazines will not be considered.

LOSKOP Hierdie 2.5kg swartbaar is deur Johan Steenekamp in die Olifantsrivier so 16km vanaf Loskopdam om 17:50 in die middag gevang – Johan Jacobus 06 SA BASS August 2018

>> SA BASS NICE TO HAVE*

NICE

TO HAVE Livetarget Sunfish Hollow Body

Culprit Water Dragon

The Livetarget Sunfish Hollow Body expertly replicates the profile of a small, stunned sunfish that is struggling helplessly on the surface. Bristling with true-to-life, three-dimensional anatomical features including fins, tail, gill opercles and eyes, the Livetarget Sunfish Hollow Body puts wary bass at ease, casting the perfect illusion of a living, vulnerable sunfish that is about to meet its demise.

The Water Dragon is designed to impress from head to tail. With its unique form and diverse function, it has many more action features than a standard lizard. First the head is designed with gills and gill filaments for a new look and extra gliding function on Carolina rigs. The body is filled with detail and contour to make a more realistic presentation, reflecting light in many directions and breaking up the image. Features include raised ribs for exposing your hook, a lateral line that can be easily adapted with a markerstyle pen for added colour, and a large flat spot on the tail that really pushes water and creates a seductive tail wave.

The rear legs were designed larger than the front for more action – especially in a nosedown posture while Texas-rigged. The heavier rear half of the lure allows the bait to be cast and pitched more accurately and provides additional flotation for Carolina and Texas rigs. This bait literally waves at the fish on a Texas rig – taunting them.

Float Plus

Aqua-VU underwater camera

This new ultra light and powerful propulsion system for small craft anglers uses a high quality 12Volt 41.6 Ah LG lithium ion battery plus it comes with a wireless waterproof full colour LCD remote. It has an universal mount set to make all small vessels Float Plus ready.

Specially developed very strong glass fibre filled polycarbonate for the motor housing. The Float plus only weighs 5800 gram. It even has a safety line and kill switch.

Put the whole underwater world in the palm of your hand. The Aqua-Vu micro Stealth 4.3 underwater viewing system provides crystal clear colour video in a smartphonesized package. Underwater viewing unit features a high-resolution 4.3-inch LCD and fifty feet of tough, abrasion-resistant camera cable and a thumb-sized micro underwater camera - wrapped on an integrated spool. Camera includes auto infrared lighting, and moves quietly through the underwater world with an included trolling fin and clip-on ballast weight. Also includes built-in lithium-ion battery and battery charger for six hours of continuous runtime.

St. Croix Legend X rods

Livetarget BaitBall Spinner Rig

Featuring Relentless Olive blanks with cork, split-grip handles and a familiar name, it didn’t take long for consumers who hadn’t seen the rods up close to dub Legend X a ‘Legend Elite with split grips.’

Delivering a compact presentation that mimics a tightly schooled ball of frightened baitfish, the Livetarget Baitball Spinner Rig is the latest addition to the tremendously successful Baitball Series.

Featuring a combination of anatomically accurate baitfish swimbaits with the added flash and vibration of a spinner blade, the Baitball Spinner Rig is a mouth-watering morsel that gamefish cannot resist.

Outfitted with a single razor-sharp extra wide gap hook that is located on the “target” swimbait, the “target” swimbait is positioned just below the squadron of “teaser” swimbaits to create a funnelling effect that draws bass into striking the hooked “target” swimbait.

It does have the same SCV blank as the Legend Elite, and it does have split grips, but this is a rod built with every single technology St. Croix Rod has at its disposal. It’s a rod for the ultimate, discerning angler who understands that thirty two pairs of hands have touched this rod during the manufacturing process. It’s for the angler who wants the ultimate in sensitivity and light weight. It’s for the angler who wants all of St. Croix’s rod building technologies.

*Please note that products mentioned may not have been yet launched in South Africa.

08 SA BASS August 2018

Tungsten weights Highest Quality CAT’s Tungsten weights has a greater density than lead; therefore, it is much smaller CAT’s Tungsten weights are great for fishing heavy cover

1/4 oz

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CAT’s Creatures 6” Lizard 4” Paddle Tail Jerk Minnow

4 /5 “ Trick Stick

5” Jerk Minnow

3”/4” Yomama Yom

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6” Curl Tail Worm

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12g & 15g Spinnerbaits

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>> SA BASS

Looking at the annual national tournament calendar it is evident that winter is no longer consi-dered a time of year when bass cannot be efficiently caught. During winter there are a few advantages the angler can arm himself or herself with for more consistent results.

G

enerally South Africa has a very moderate climate, especially when compared to the USA where of course bass originate from. In certain parts of the country the water temperature does not dip below the 60 degree Fahrenheit level. During January 2007, when I fished the Federation Nation Championship in Alabama, 10 SA BASS August 2018

the water temperature was 49 degrees and the bass were still busting baitfish on the surface! Therefore my conclusion is that in bass fishing cold water becomes a relative term.

Obviously fish acclimatize to local conditions, but being a cold blooded creature their metabolism still runs in close conjunction with water temperature.

>> Martin de Kock

WINTER PATTERNS

During the last decade we have become more experienced in targeting cold water bass. Readily available bass fishing literature and the internet has made knowledge regarding the topic more accessible. Lures and terminal tackle are continuously developed and refined for specialist circumstances such as cold water fishing. Fish finders have developed considerably in the

last few years, making identification of structure and pinpointing fish much more accurate, while GPS systems (often in combination with fish finders) have made re-location of offshore hotspots much quicker and efficient. If you are not using it by now you must be living in a cave!

In addition by watching bass tournaments in the USA on cable TV anglers can learn and copy new techniques locally.

Due to water temperature being colder in winter bass’ metabolism does slow down and they are more lethargic than during other times of the year.

Deliberate and well presented baits will however entice a bite from these fish.

Lures Some of my favourite lures and winter techniques are as follows:

Carolina Rig During winter I try and fish with the longest leader I can; I also use the smallest hook I can get away with to make the bait react more naturally.

Adjusting the sinker size to the related circumstances is also advisable.

A general rule of thumb is to use a lighter sinker in the 1/4oz range in heavy cover, and a heavier weight up to 3/4oz on more barren areas.

The lighter sinker will reduce hangups and on the other hand the heavier model will assist in sensitivity and making pinpointing isolated structure more effective. Of late it has become popular to use tungsten weights for Carolina rigging. The heavier, more compact composite of the tungsten improves the sensitivity of rig to the angler. If used with the combination of fluorocarbon with experience you should be able to determine even subtle changes in bottom composition.

Considering that bites are generally lighter during winter extra sensitivity does help in placing more fish in the live well. Personally I believe plastics with less action draw more strikes during cold water, with the only

Trade enquiries only Pieter Bezuidenhout pieterbez@mweb.co.za

exception Carolina Rig being the plastic lizard.

Other Carolina winter favourites in my tackle box are fluke type baits, 4” senko’s and 4” finesse worms. Colours can be your same favourites as during warmer months.

Mojo Rig This is an effective tool in “mopping up” a few more fish out of an area after locating fish and structure with the Carolina rig. My bait choices are the same as with the Carolina rig. Generally the W2 to W0 weight range work well depending on depth and structure type. Downsizing line will also get more bites, and 10lb fluorocarbon has served me well.

Swim Baits & Jerkbaits New

Worms

5.5” Tear Tail Worm

10” Ribbontail Worm

3.8” Ribbed Paddletail

3” Slick Shad

3.5” Swim Ripper

3.5” Swim Shad

3”- 7” Carrot Stick

4.25”/5.25”/7.5” Quiver Stick

3.75”/4.75”/6”/7” Wild Minnow

5.5” Drop Shot Worm

4.5” Curly Tail Stick

Frogs

3”/4” Swimming Frog

4” Hollowbelly Swimbait

4.5” Big Foot Toad

SA BASS 11 August 2018

Texas Rig

Texas Rig This old, often ignored technique can be deadly in the colder months.

During winter bass can be very tight to cover and the Texas rig provides penetration into their hideouts. Yoyoing a Texas rigged plastic in offshore trees and brushpiles has caught me buckets full of bass in winter.

Jigs Of late jigs have made a very strong appearance on the SA bass tournament scene. They can be dragged like the Carolina rig or fished the same as a Texas rigged plastic. Football jigs in particular have become very popular tools in fooling winter bass, with the 1/2oz size being the most favourite choice. It is sensible to add a plastic trailer like a double tail grub or a chunk.

Shaky Head Worms Fished on light line this is a finesse alternative to the Texas rig. It will draw strikes when other alternatives fail. The thin line can however cause trauma around heavy cover winter bass hangouts.

Drop Shot This is another finesse technique that is good in catching some fish during tough

Crankbaits 12 SA BASS August 2018

Jerkbaits

conditions when other standbys fail. A finesse worm does well on this rig.

Deep Running Crankbaits Making repeated casts and deflecting crankbaits of offshore structure has been very effective for me during winter. Suspending models give lethargic fish more time to zone into the bait. The Rapala DT range offers natural “slow� buoyancy due to them being made from balsa wood and is my favourite. The Bluegill pattern in particular has caught some of my largest winter bass.

Suspending Jerkbaits Slowly fishing these on cliff faces during late winter can be deadly.

At Inanda Dam in KZN this is very efficient during July.

Locating the bass Locating the bass during winter can be tedious, but when you pinpoint them you can be rewarded with some of the best catches of the year. As mentioned earlier using your sonar (fishfinder) and GPS to their full capacity will make life much easier.

Bluff banks and cliff faces are good areas to find bass during winter especially if a river channel passes close to it. It is easy for bass to move from deep water to shallow areas to feed on steep banks.

Offshore humps close to drop offs also remain one of the most reliable areas to find bass during the colder parts of the year. If it contains some timber or rock it will make it even more attractive for bass.

Old submerged riverbeds in the 12 – 20ft depth range also hold winter bass, especially where there is a swing in the channel.

Water clarity is important in winter as cold dirty water is some of the toughest bass fishing conditions you will ever find. Generally slightly stained to clear water will provide more consistent fishing action than stained water.

Using fish attractants during winter makes a lot of sense as fish tend to look longer at baits before committing to eat it. Rapala VMC provided me with some prototype spray called Trigger X. It contains pheromones that encourage fish to feed actively. It definitely appears to draw strikes during tough conditions and this winter I ill be using it.

As an aside, the 2009 SABAA nationals are being staged during the first week of August at Albert Falls, and this should be interesting as at that time of year the fish at Alberts are definitely still relating to winter fishing patterns.

Figuring out winter bass is an exciting part of the sport, simply because one of the challenges is to make them bite during the coldest part of the year. *Martin de Kock has been the SABAA national champion twice and member of the national Protea team.

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FLAT-SIDED CRANKBAITS

A SPECIALIZED CRANKBAIT FOR A MORE SUBTLE APPROACH

by TJ Maglio PHOTOS BY MATT PACE

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Alex Davis Targets Submergent Grass Flats When: $!7@A08?>*=<6@6A59?:)A<=A 1<5)8-A/@5;4<:2A;:@A;0 4-A2;*>;A/?<>=A<:A?84;=>A?:-A=<>1?><;:A37@9@A?:28@9=A3;186 :;94?88-A>79;3A?A8<.8@==A59?:)/?<>+A ;9A4@,A<>&=A1=1?88-A?:><4@A>7@A3?>@9A>@4.@9?>19@A<=A/@>3@@:A A?:6A A6@29@@=, 37@:A>7@A/?==A?9@A=8122<=7A?:6A3?:>A=;4@>7<:2A3<>7A?A8@== ?229@==<(@A?5><;:+% Where: ?(<=A /9@?)=A ;1>A >7@A 08?>*=<6@A ?9;1:6A =1/4@9* 2@:>A29?==A08?>=+A':A>7@A0?88A?:6A=.9<:2,A/<2A/?==A9@8?>@A>;A>7@ 6@@.@9A 29?==A 8<:@=A 0;1:6A ;:A >7@=@A 08?>=A <:A 4?:-A /;6<@=A ;0 3?>@9,A?:6A>7@-A3?<>A0;9A=7?6A>;A.?==A/-+A How: $'A 8<)@A >;A >79;3A ?A .8?=><5A /?<>A =157A ?=A >7@A ?5)?88 ?5;A ,%A=?-=A ?(<=+A$'>A7?=A>7@A@ 5@88@:>A><27>A3<228@A;0A? 14 SA BASS August 2018

3;;6@:A /?<>,A /1>A 5?=>=A 0?9>7@9+A 'A >79;3A <>A ;:A ?A +A ;;4<= A A A *0;;>,A 4@6<14*.;3@9,A 4;6@9?>@*?5><;: 59?:)<:2A 9;6A .?<9@6A >;A ?A #7<4?:;A 19?6;A 9@@8A 3<>7A +" " 2@?9A9?><;A?:6A=.;;8@6A3<>7A" *A>;A" *.;1:6*>@=>A#10< A 8<>@ 4;:;0<8?4@:>+%

Wes Strader Targets Rocky Points, Riprap When: $'&88A >79;3A ?A 08?>*=<6@6A /?<>A 1=>A ?/;1>A ?:-A ><4@ >7@A/?==A?9@A0@@6<:2A;:A=7?6A?:6A>7@A3?>@9A>@4.@9?>19@A<= /@8;3A ,%A =?-=A #>9?6@9+A $'0A -;1&(@A @(@9A =@@:A =7?6A =3<4* 4<:2A <:A >7@A 0?88,A >7@-A 1=>A =8<6@A >79;127A >7@A 3?>@9A 3<>7 ?84;=>A :;A ?5><;:+A 8?>*=<6@6A .812=A <4<>?>@A >7<=A /@>>@9A >7?: ?84;=>A?:-A;>7@9A.812+A'>&=A?A:?>19?8*8;;)<:2A6@?8,A?:6A/?== 5?:&>A9@=<=>A>7@4+% Where: #>9?6@9A9@8<@=A;:A>7@A08?>*=<6@6A59?:)/?<>A?A8;>A<: >7@A0?88A>;A<4<>?>@A=7?6,A37<57A7@A0<:6=A;:A9;5)-A?9@?=A3<>7 ?A6@.>7A57?:2@A A9;5)-A.;<:>=A?:6A=>@@.A9<.9?.A/?:)=,A0;9 <:=>?:5@+A @A =?-=A /?==A 8<)@A =157A ?9@?=A /@5?1=@A >7@-A 5?: 7?:2A;:A>7@A/;>>;4A37@:A<:?5><(@,A/1>A=><88A@?=<8-A5;4@A1. =7?88;3A>;A0@@6A<0A?A=57;;8A;0A=7?6A=3<4=A/-+ How: $'0A<>&=A:;>A4?6@A;0A/?8=?,A<>&=A:;>A;:A>7@A@:6A;0A48<:@,%A #>9?6@9A =?-=+A $'&(@A /@@:A 5?9(<:2A ?:6A ><:)@9<:2A 3<>7 59?:)/?<>=A 0;9A ?A 8;:2A ><4@,A ?:6A >7@9@A <=A =;4@>7<:2A 6<00@9@:> ?/;1>A7;3A?A/?8=?A/?<>A4;(@=A5;4.?9@6A>;A?A.8?=><5A.812+A 86 #57;;8A ?8=?A ?<>=A<=A?A5;4.?:-A'&4A3;9)<:2A3<>7A>;A4?)@ 7?:6*5?9(@6A .812=A ?(?<8?/8@A >;A @(@9-;:@+A -A =<2:?>19@* =@9<@=A08?>*=<6@6A.812A<=A5?88@6A>7@A +A!7?>A>7<:2A<=A?=A2;;6 ?=A<>A2@>=+A'>A5?=>=A?A4<8@A?:6A5?>57@=A?:->7<:2A>7?>A=3<4=+A' >79;3A<>A;:A?A " A ;3@88A ? A A *0;;>,A" *<:57,A4@6<14* .;3@9,A4;6@9?>@*0?=> A59?:)<:2A9;6A.?<9@6A>;A?A!@?4A @3&= <>@A9@@8A3<>7A" *.;1:6*>@=>A ?44?A 62@A081;9;5?9/;:+%

Baits to Try Plastic Flat-Sided Crankbaits JACKALL JACO 58 The Jaco 58 is designed to offer the subtle appeal of a fleeing shad, while featuring many of the high-end features of modern plastic cranks, such as an internal weighting system, rattles and razor-sharp hooks. $14.99 jackall-lures.com

MEGABASS FLAP SLAP Despite its weird-sounding name, the Flap Slap has a serious following of Tour pros – they just don’t talk about it.

Featuring a super-tight wiggle, it can be fished with a slash-pause action and comes with top-notch finishes and hardware typical of Megabass products. $19.99 megabassusa.com

STRIKE KING PRO MODEL LUCKY SHAD Designed to imitate the silhouette and shape of a shad, the Lucky Shad features a subtle wiggle and free-floating rattles. Because it’s made of plastic, it’s more durable than similar balsa baits. $6.29 strikeking.com

STORM ARASHI RATTLING FLAT Designed around a tough circuitboard lip with a self-tuning line tie, the Arashi Rattling Flat is one of the more durable flat-sided cranks on the market.

It maintains the great tight wiggle that anglers want in the cold-water period, while adding loud rattles and first-rate hooks. $8.99 rapala.com

SA BASS 15 August 2018

GEAR Wooden Flat-Sided Crankbaits OLD SCHOOL BALSA BAITS WESLEY STRADER W3 Designed by one of the best in the business, Wesley Strader, the W3 is carved from hand-selected balsa and features the natural, enticing wobble that can only come from a wooden plug.

A multi-step finishing process minimizes cracking and swelling, and the bait comes with top-notch hooks and split rings. $11.99 phcustomlures.com

RAPALA SHAD RAP One of the originals in the flat-sided game, the Shad Rap has probably duped more bass than all other flat-sided cranks combined. Rapala has perfected the tight wiggle with the Shad Rap, and it’s available in an abundance of sizes and colors. $7.59 to $7.69 rapala.com

W.E.C. HICKY Zoom owner Ed Chambers’ handcarved crankbaits have built a reputation with die-hards for quality and fish-catching ability. The Hicky is a 2 1/4-inch-long flat-sided plug designed to catch bass in the shallows all season long. It features a circuit board bill and high-quality finishes. $22 peepersbaits.com

P.H. CUSTOM LURES SKINNY P Another bait by a master hand-carver – Phil Hughes of P.H. Custom Lures – the Skinny P is a winner for anglers looking for the perfect combination of tight wiggle, natural profile and realistic colors. $22.99 phcustomlures.com 16 SA BASS August 2018

10 QUESTIONS FOR FORREST WOOD GET TO KNOW THE NAMESAKE OF FLW AND THE FORREST WOOD CUP 8. What’s your favorite way to catch bass?

A. Topwater fishing is my favorite, but I’d hedge my bet by having a jig handy.

1. If you hadn’t co-founded Ranger Boats with your wife, Nina, what would you have been?

A. Probably a general contractor.

That’s what I was doing at one point before we started making boats. If somebody wanted anything done, I’d bid on the job.

4. Your favorite boat color?

A. Red and silver.

2. Who taught you how to fish?

A. My dad took me fishing a couple of times, but it was to catch fish to eat. Mainly I taught myself how to bass fish. Back then, pretty much everybody taught themselves because there wasn’t much information handy to learn from.

6. What’s your favorite type of bass?

A. I’ll compromise by saying a LARGE smallmouth.

9. Any favorite FLW tournaments come to mind?

A. Not really. They all have their own special stories. The thing I like best about going to any of our tournaments is getting the chance to make new friends and visit with some old friends.

7. What’s your favorite fishery?

A. Wherever I happen to be and the fish are biting. Fortunately, that could be just about everywhere now, thanks in part to laws that fishermen pushed like the Clean Water Act in the ’60s.

10. Tournament fishing is more popular than ever. Did you ever think it would get as big as it has?

A. Not at first. None of us did, so it’s gratifying to see the direction it’s heading.

3. What’s your all-time favorite Ranger?

A. The current new model.

5. What do you do in your spare time?

A. I go to sleep. Nina and I work most of the time. The only hobby I have is going to watch my greatgrandkids playing ball.

Fans will have the chance to meet Forrest Wood at the FLW Expo at the Von Braun Center during the Forrest Wood Cup.

SA BASS 17 August 2018

>> FLW BASS FISHING

Boat Care 101:

Simple

Do-It-Yourself Carpet Cleaning

The best way to keep your boat carpet looking good over the long haul is to clean it thoroughly two or three times a year

>> Matt Williams “I tried the white vinegar/water with a light squirt of Blue Dawn.

My nasty mouldy carpet on our pontoon started clearing up right away. A light scrub with a long handled brush and they look amazing. Took... maybe thirty minutes. So relieved. I had tried so many things. The spray bottle mixture probably cost about 23 cents as opposed to the expensive cleaners that just didn't do it!”

Jean Stubblefield Adams

18 SA BASS August 2018

I

f there is one thing I hate worse than seeing a nice bass boat with a filthy finish, it’s seeing one with dirty carpet. I like to keep my stuff clean, but not just because it looks good. A bass boat is a huge investment, and the more you can do to protect that investment the better the returns if you ever decide to sell or trade it.

Of course, if you use a boat regularly, some sort of grime will eventually get tracked onto the carpet, no matter how hard you try to prevent it. Timely vacuuming will keep most of the loose stuff picked up, though some of it is sure to find its way deep

into the carpet’s fibres. Over time, this can cause carpet to develop a soiled look and lose its fluff, particularly in high-traffic areas.

Perhaps the best way to keep your boat carpet looking good over the long haul is to clean it thoroughly two or three times per year – sometimes more. By “thorough,” I’m not talking about a quick rinse under a water hose. I’m talking hard-core cleaning – a down-on-your-knees, break-outthe-elbow-grease scrubbing intended to raise dirt, grit and other junk from their deepest hiding spots.

The following is a quick guide for how to get the job done.

Car wash a no-no At one time or another we have all pulled our boat into the neighbourhood car wash bay, soaped it up, rinsed it off and taken off into the wild blue yonder. Convenient as it is, it’s not a good habit to get into. That’s the word from Joey Grede, lead man in the service shop at Ranger Boats.

“The owner’s manual for our boats says you can do it, but I usually advise people to stay away from car washes when it comes to cleaning their carpet,” Grede says. “The carpet we use is very high quality with plastic fibres. If you get a high-pressure nozzle too close to boat carpet, it could burn it.”

High-pressure sprayers can be especially hard on older carpet that has become dry and brittle with time. Place the nozzle too close and it could actually rip a hole through the backing on the carpet or cause the glue to release. Either way, the results aren’t pretty.

Easy does it There are all sorts of steam cleaners and other commercial equipment available that will do a good job of cleaning boat carpet, but Grede prefers to skip the expense and stick with the basics. In his opinion, it’s hard to beat a 5-gallon bucket filled with soapy water, a garden hose and a medium bristle scrub brush.

“That’s the way we do it here,” he says. “You aren’t going to hurt anything with a garden hose and soap. Just be sure and use a mild soap, and make sure to get all of the soap rinsed out.”

Another option I’ve followed the soapy water regimen before, but I prefer an oldschool mixture of white vinegar and water. Vinegar is a very weak form of acetic acid with all sorts of household uses. It works great for breaking down dirt, getting rid of stains and curbing foul odours without damaging your carpet. I’ve used the mixture to clean my boat carpet multiple times, and it always comes out looking great.

Spot treatment Deep, ground-in stains caused by grease, clay, tar or oil might require a little more time and elbow grease to remove using specialty products made for the task. Here are a few stain-removing products you might try. It would be wise to test any stain-removing product on a small, inconspicuous area before attacking a spot in the middle of the casting deck, just to make sure discoloration won’t occur.

Spray on Heavy-Duty Citrus Degreaser: Grede says it works great on really heavy stains, but you should never apply it directly to the carpet. “Always apply it to a rag and dab it on,” he says.

Tuff Stuff Stain Remover and Multi-Purpose Cleaner: Jason Hawthorne at Marine Clean in Nacogdoches, Texas, says he is a big fan of this product. It comes with a bristled cap to work in the foaming formula to lift stubborn stains.

Elite Series Eraser: I’ve used this product to remove soiled spots and coffee spill stains on my boat carpet. It’s advertised to remove all sorts of other stains as well.

(Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the 2013 winter issue of Bass Fishing magazine. To read more compelling articles from Bass Fishing magazine each month, become an FLW subscriber member.)

I follow a 10-step process whether I’m using the vinegar mixture or soapy water:

1. Park it: Park the boat on a slight slope, preferably attached to a tow vehicle, with the transom on the downhill side. Make sure the boat is sitting level side-to-side so water will drain through the floor. And don’t forget to remove the drain plug.

2. Mix it: If you’re using the vinegar/ water mixture, pour 2 to 3 pints (±1 to 1½ liter) of white vinegar into a 2-gallon (9 liter) pump-up sprayer and top it off with water. If using soap and water, first mix in a 5-gallon (23 liter) bucket.

3.

Vacuum: Use a heavy-duty or commercial vacuum to rid the carpet of any loose dirt before you begin.

4. Soak it down: Beginning at the front of the boat, use a garden hose (spray nozzle removed) to saturate the carpet thoroughly in the area to be cleaned.

5. Brush it out: Use a soft scrub brush to loosen any dirt, then re-saturate with water. It is best to perform this and the following steps on one section of carpet at a time, beginning at the front and working your way back.

6. Apply vinegar/water mix or soap: Use the garden sprayer to apply the mixture, thoroughly saturating a small section. Allow the solution to soak in for several minutes. If using soap, apply with a brush or sponge.

7. Scrub: Scrub the section again to loosen up any remaining dirt or stains.

8. Rinse: Rinse the area thoroughly while continuing to scrub. Repeat the process on the remainder of the front deck, cockpit and rear deck carpeting.

9.

Suck it up: Once you are done cleaning, use a heavy-duty vacuum to move all excess moisture, and let the boat sit in the sun for a few hours to dry.

10.

Fluff it up: When the carpet dries, use a clean, medium bristle brush and brush the carpet against the grain.

This will make the fibres stand erect and look fluffy and new again.

SA BASS 19 August 2018

HAIR JIG TACTICS MAKE THIS CLASSIC JIG WORK FOR OFFSHORE BASS

by Curtis Niedermier ILLUSTRATIONS BY MATT PACE

W

hether you call them bucktails or hair jigs, a lead-head jig with a skirt of fur and feathers is an old-school lure that’s undergoing a bigtime resurgence in offshore ledge fishing. Walmart FLW

Tour pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., is among the elite when it comes to ledge fishing, and he’s devised three productive techniques for getting bites with a hair jig.

PHOTO BY ROB NEWELL

ON FEATHERS AND FUR Neal’s go-to jig maker won’t tie hair jigs with feathers, so he’s only recently started experimenting with feathers in his jigs. Previously, he’s relied on other means of adding bulk and attraction.

“I’ve got two that I’ll throw that don’t have feathers,” Neal says. “On one, I’ll put a 5-inch Big Bite Baits Jerk Minnow in pearl. The other has real bucktail, as long as I can find, and it has some synthetic hair in with it that’s 7 inches long that takes the place of feathers.

“The longer hair acts like feathers.

It kind of floats around behind it more. That Jerk Minnow doesn’t move; it just stays still. The feathers or a substitute are a little more aggressive.

They help more when hopping it or doing something with the rod tip to make it pulsate.”

20 SA BASS August 2018

THE JIGS

1-OUNCE HOMEMADE JIG WITH BUCKTAIL AND 7-INCH-LONG SYNTHETIC HAIR

1/2-OUNCE WHITE HOMEMADE JIG WITH 5-INCH BIG BITE BAITS JERK MINNOW TRAILER

Hold the rod tip at 10 o’clock.

THE TECHNIQUES 1. Reel and Kill Crank the reel four to six times at three-quarters speed, then kill it.

Jig: 1/2 ounce Rod: 7-3, medium-heavy Cashion worm rod Line: 12-pound-test Sunline FC Sniper Reel: 6.5:1 Ardent Apex baitcaster

Maintain a tight line as it falls.

The jig scoots away and then glides back toward bottom.

2. Slow-Roll

Wind slowly to keep the jig near bottom.

Jig: 1 ounce Rod: 7-6, medium-heavy Cashion F90476 flipping stick Line: 20-pound-test Sunline FC Sniper Reel: 6.5:1 Ardent Apex baitcaster

Stop and let it sink every five to seven cranks.

3. Double-Stroke Jig: 1 ounce Rod: 7-6, medium-heavy Cashion F90476 flipping stick Line: 20-pound-test Sunline FC Sniper Reel: 6.5:1 Ardent Apex baitcaster Rod starts at 9 o’clock.

Hop halfway to 10:30, hesitate briefly then hop to 12.

Stroke the jig with two short hops instead of one big one.

Let it fall on a tight line.

6.5:1 Though reels with high retrieve ratios have their fans, Neal relies on a 6.5:1 reel for many of his offshore techniques.

“It allows you to slow down if you want to slow down,” he says.

“You can burn it plenty fast enough with a 6, but if you want to fish it slow, close to the bottom, you can still do that as well.”

SA BASS 21 August 2018

ESSENTIAL SKILLS FISHING 101

by TJ Maglio

How to Set The Brakes on A Baitcasting Reel

T

o both Walmart FLW Tour pros and weekend warriors, one of the most frustrating realities of bass fishing is the backlash, which occurs when the spool spins faster than the line is coming off, causing it to overrun and tangle.

Zack Birge, 2015 Rookie of the Year, has some tips for setting up reels to minimize backlashes.

Birge’s Set-up Tips 1. When you spool a reel, always under-fill it by 1/8 inch. “By doing so, you can still get great distance while allowing some space for the line to settle, which makes it less likely to backlash,” Birge says.

2. Set the magnetic cast control or centrifugal brakes to their highest setting first — usually 10 for magnetic brakes. For reels with centrifugal brakes, that means the brakes should be adjusted all the way out.

3. Set the spool tension (the knob by the handle) just high enough so that the lure falls at a slow, controlled pace when you hit the thumb bar. “I want it to move toward the ground, but when it hits the ground the spool should stop without overrunning.”

4. Make a few casts. “Check to see how much distance you’re getting and how it feels.”

PHOTO BY JODY WHITE

22 SA BASS August 2018

PHOTO BY KYLE WOOD

5. Back off the spool tension and brake one click at a time until you reach the sweet spot. “I’m looking for the best combination of castability and spool control. I don’t want to have to whip it all day, but I also don’t want to have to worry about a backlash if I’m not 100 percent concentrating.”

Garmin® Panoptix LiveScope

COMING UP IN FLW COMPETITION

BB GROUP FLW BASS FESTIVAL July 28 - 29, 2018 Tzaneen Dam Tzaneen, LP

G

armin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. announced Panoptix LiveScope™ – a live scanning sonar that gives anglers higher resolution and easier-to-interpret images of structure, bait and fish swimming below and around the boat than ever before. Garmin’s revolutionary Panoptix™ all-seeing sonar technology was the first to deliver live sonar images in real-time – forwards, backwards, sideways and below the boat – even while stationary. Now, thanks to the active scanning capabilities of Panoptix LiveScope, anglers can see images and movement so clear and precise that it’s even possible to distinguish between species of fish.

“We took scanning sonar and made it Panoptix,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales.

“By combining two game-changing innovations – scanning sonar and live sonar – Panoptix LiveScope delivers the best of both technologies and there’s nothing out there even close to it. Once you’ve seen fish in this level of detail in a live, real-time image on your chartplotter, all other sonar is history – literally.”

Like other Garmin Panoptix transducers, LiveScope features two modes in one transducer –LiveScope Down and LiveScope Forward – and can be installed on a trolling motor or the transom (recommended only for LiveScope Forward). Depending on the angler’s fishing preferences and techniques, LiveScope can easily be adjusted to change views. Simply point the LiveScope transducer down to see directly below the boat, or forward to see around the boat.

Either view provides incredibly sharp, real-time scanning sonar images up to 200 feet down or away from the boat, even

when the boat is stationary. LiveScope is also equipped with an attitude heading reference system (AHRS) that constantly adjusts sonar beams to compensate for boat motion, so even in rough conditions, anglers will still see a steady sonar image.

Panoptix LiveScope is being introduced in conjunction with a global 360-degree advertising campaign called “Sons of Fishes 2” that features Garmin-sponsored professional anglers Jason Christie, and Bill Dance, bass fishing’s elder statesman and ambassador. The Sons of Fishes sequel includes television, print, digital and social media executions that show a rival fishing club, The Bad Basses, attempting to claim the Sons of Fishes’ spot on the water and coveted LiveScope technology for themselves.

The Panoptix LiveScope scanning sonar system includes a compact GLS10 sonar black box with an LVS32 transducer and a simple plug-and-play Garmin Marine Network connector for easy installation and integration with a compatible Garmin chartplotter. A trolling motor barrel and shaft mounting kit and a transom mounting kit are also included. Panoptix LiveScope is compatible with Garmin’s GPSMAP® 8400/8600 multifunction displays, GPSMAP 7400/7600, GPSMAP 10X2/12X2, GPSMAP 10X2/12X2xsv Touch and GPSMAP 7X2/9X2 series chartplotters, and the ECHOMAP™ Plus 7Xcv/7Xsv/9Xsv chartplotter/sonar combo series.

For more information visit www.garmin. com/panoptix Panoptix Live – Scan this QR-code and see clear sonar images of structure, bait and fish swimming all around the boat, even when the boat is stationary

FORREST WOOD CUP August 10 - 12, 2018 Lake Ouachita Hot Springs, AR

FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP August 23 - 25, 2018 Bivane Dam Vryheid, KZN

SMALL CRAFT CHAMPIONSHIP September 1 - 2, 2018 Boschkop Dam Potchefstroom, NW

COSTA FLW SERIES November 1 - 3, 2018 Lake Guntersville Guntersville, AL August 2018

>> SA BASS DESTINATION

New spot, now what?

New venues can be daunting with fish behaviour very much dependent upon a variety of factors. With research and planning, disaster can in most cases be avoided and if in the unfortunate event that disaster does strike, roll with the punches and solve problems as they come along.

A new venue shouldn’t give you nightmares but instead should be remembered as another in your great adventures

>> John Badenhorst*

A

t the time of writing this article for the magazine, I find myself in the thriving metropolis of Tzaneen up near the top part of South Africa and as it’s been over 35 years since I’ve last been here, it’s been a real eye opener. As MC for the interprovincial tournament taking place, I get to chat to many of the anglers and teams and although many of these anglers have years of experience, there is always some sort of apprehension when it comes to their approach to a new body of water. For some anglers, this will be the first time to fish Tzaneen Dam and if you’re just like any other anglers, there is always some mystery coupled with a slight touch of fear and excitement of the so called unknown.

Having been in this exact situation a number of times over the last few years, and although daunting, fishing a 24 SA BASS August 2018

new venue shouldn’t give you nightmares but instead should be remembered as another in your great adventures into the world of bass fishing.

When approaching a new venue, take some time to talk to other anglers that have gone and fished before you, get some basic information and spend some time with Google.

Going through maps and articles related to the venue that you are planning to fish will help you a great deal in the planning phase of your journey. Check out prevailing weather conditions and past weather patterns. This is extremely important as you don’t want to spend almost a full day of driving and to get to a venue only to have bad weather for most or at least a good portion of the time you had planned to be out on the water. Research will also tell you basics about the venue such as structure, the type of

baitfish available, water clarity and average temperature. If I look at Tzaneen, the dam itself sits amongst one stretch of hills lush with vegetation and a typically tropical climate and yet, we are in the so called malaria belt of South Africa and caution needs to be taken. Something else that some anglers might not know is that the dam itself has a very healthy population of large crocodiles and even larger and meaner hippos. These creatures will make very short work of your boat and in all likelihood, send you on a hasty journey to the pearly gates. These are all simple things that should be taken into account before even getting onto the water.

Finding out about water levels and launching conditions will avoid potential headaches in your adventure. An incredible source of information about a venue would be to speak to the locals. Make no mistakes, they will not tell you about all of their sweet spots but they will in general share some basic information that will help you get a clearer picture of what you might be facing. At least in this current situation of interprovs, all the information gathering and research has been split up amongst members of the teams taking part in this event. As a social angler, some of this information can and will be extremely helpful indeed.

Another source of good information in general happens to be from the local tackle shops, these guys and business owners rely on our support as anglers and will be helpful in identifying patterns, colours and types of baits that can be used to greater success at a new venue.

Although at the time of writing this, the rest of the country is gripped in a rather chilly spell, the average ambient temperature here is around 25ยบC and then nights drop down to around 10ยบC. Water temperatures are in the high teens to early twenties and yet one must not make the mistake in thinking that the fishing will be much easier since its warmer.

The bottom line is that no matter where you happen to be fishing especially this time of the year, the fish are in winter feeding mode and slowing things down will greatly enhance your chances of having a successful adventure.

Always be prepared for the unexpected, whether it is adverse weather and wind or a vehicle breakdown or trouble with a boat motor. Your basic preparation will also negate what baits to cart along into the great unknown instead of dragging along enough to stock a brand new tackle shop or two.

New venues can be daunting with fish behaviour very much dependent upon a variety of factors. With research and planning, disaster can in most cases be avoided and if in the unfortunate event that disaster does strike, roll with the punches and solve problems as they come along.

The bottom line is to do some research, planning, more research and then more planning and then to go out there, enjoy the adventure and always remember to have fun. *John Badenhorst is the editor of SA BASS magazine, the Master of Ceremony for FLW South Africa, radio presenter at Platinum Gold Radio and a keen ultra finesse angler.

SA BASS 25 August 2018

>> SA BASS MASTER CLASS

w o H shallow

can you go?

A broad stretch of lily pads lined a channel in an isolated strip along the edge of Satellite Dam

>> Roger Donaldson*

I

The middle of winter is hardly the time to talk about shallow water fishing, but the truth is when there is warming water, cover or structure, and the attraction of food there is a good chance bass will be in close pursuit. But how shallow can you search for bass in these circumstances?

am going to separate this article from the habits of bass coming towards spring and their pre-spawn and bedding activities. Rather, I want to describe to anglers just how shallow bass can be targeted and that anglers should never ignore these areas if they’re in search of a bite.

In a testing tournament on Bivane Dam in Kwa-Zulu Natal we enjoyed some incredible ultra-shallow fishing. The water was stained and visibility not even 10cm. In these circumstances there are a few facts that anglers can rely on; bass will relate tight to any structure, they will rely on and locate to whatever light penetration is available, and baits generating noise and/or vibration will be a powerful asset.

26 SA BASS August 2018

We targeted the shallowest grassy bank with soft plastic grubs, Stretch 40’s and Dead Ringers on a Texas rig. We’d cast directly on to the bank and then drag the lures off into the water. The lure didn’t travel further than two metres and in only one foot of water triggering an aggressive strike and the lure was engulfed viciously.

An additional factor added to the bass’ reason to hunt so shallow; recent rise in water level often invites baitfish to feed on the fresh vegetation - something to keep in mind for the rainy season.

Interestingly, Mokolo Dam presented exactly the same fishing circumstances after rising water levels, but here it

“… recent rise in water level often invites baitfish to feed on the fresh vegetation - something to keep in mind for the rainy season.“ was spinnerbaits which helped capitalise on very quick catches early in the morning as the bass made use of any available light to feed in the stained water conditions.

It’s by no means always stained water where you will find the bass in the shallows. I can recall countless examples of clear water fishing in the shallows, in fact more so than compared with stained water. However, the need for some sort of cover or structure was a key ingredient.

Without lily pads, or vegetation, our fishing in the shallowest backwater on Satellite Farm Dam near Albert Falls would not have been quite so productive. A broad stretch of lily pads lined a channel in an isolated strip along the dam’s edge. Using whatever deftness we’d had left after a celebratory welcome evening to the fund raising event it was crucial to use the cover of the lily pads to get in close to the bass hiding beneath. Super clear water, but the fish were right up against the edge and couldn’t ignore a cleverly placed Texas rig, no matter what the bait!

I can’t ignore Albert Falls Dam either and the opportunity where a jerkbait delivered bass after bass after bass in water so shallow that we needed to raise the outboard motor and adjust the trolling motor shaft to

its highest setting. We sight fished these fish in the clear water using the air grass to obscure our boat and looming presence away from being spotted P.S. polarised glasses are essential.

This article has been such a fantastic reminder for me as some of my Rust der Winter Dam tournament big bass wins came from water so shallow that I could not access it other than with a long cast, braided line and a soft plastic lure of choice. Both summer and winter months included.

Ideally I suggest that the only mechanism you can use to locate these areas is your eyes. Look for just a little something out of the ordinary in the shallows. Look for movement from fish, an isolated patch of grass, brush pile, laydown log, boat ramp, channel, or rocky outcrop. Just one cast in that direction could change your days fishing into an unforgettable memory. *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.

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SA BASS 27 August 2018

>> SA BASS

Off the grid bassing >> Jay Röhm-Williams

Jay Röhm-Williams holding a healthy size bass

B

eing a farmer has many advantages. Being a farmer who has a fanatic’s passion for bass fishing has even more. When it comes down to deciding where one is going to use their free fishing credit on the weekend that the fates have allowed, one is not often spoilt for choice.

We all have our local watering holes, ponds or dams we frequent to satisfy the silent but yet somehow so loud call of that large mouthed green and gold fish. My yearning to have the privilege of wetting lines in virgin waters, or long forgotten ponds, is ever constant and I’m sure most can agree. Over the last few years of living and farming in the country outside Port Elizabeth, I have been able to get to know many of the neighbouring farmers in the surrounding area. Eventually the conversation regarding the availability 28 SA BASS August 2018

of dams and the possibility of some bass fishing comes up. Now, it’s well known that farmers with dams are very reluctant to allow anybody onto their land and rightfully so, who can argue with them? Over the many years I have heard far more than once, where anglers have totally abused the privilege of fishing private waters not to mention the disturbing amount of litter left behind. Unfortunately the reality is that most farmers do not have dams and if they did, few are stocked with any bass or they have simply all dried up due to disastrous drought conditions the Eastern Cape just like other provinces are experiencing.

One day it happened. I met a farmer through another acquaintance who just so happened to have a dam situated at the back of his property, deep in an uncharted valley situated in the Hankey mountains. I introduced myself informing him about the principles I practice as an angler regarding the environment and my respect for private property in general. We got along well regardless, whether a joke or two helped and began chatting about his dam.

‘No one has fished there in over ten years’ he told me. ‘I don’t know if there are even any bass still but there used to be. You are more than welcome to give it a bash.’ This was all the encouragement I needed and it was not long before I contacted my friend on the phone, conversing in secret text about the potential pot of gold at the end of the rainbow scenario which I had discovered. I would have loved nothing more, with my wife being the exception than to have jumped in the bakkie then and there, heading out in search of these mystery waters. Alas, it was not to be so and after four weeks of waiting for my moment an opportunity presented itself which I seized with both hands and feet. Between myself and a friend we borrowed a 4x4, made the call and took advantage of the pending cold front that was forecast from the west. Although we have just entered winter and the so called ‘active season’ has ended, one should not simply lay one’s rod down so easily.

Heading off in the late morning we made quick work of the forty minute drive to Hankey before venturing through the rows of unlimited orchards ever further along a winding gravel road. We lost signal in the mountains and although there was only a single road to follow, the deeper we drove the more convinced we were we had somehow missed it completely. We passed abandoned buildings and rusty, old

water pump sheds but still, the two of us carried on. A pair of local hunters further up the track ensured us of the way to our destination all the while one couldn’t help but to think that the landscape was something out of an old western film, frontier country.

Well, we arrived an hour and half before midday with evident cloud cover slowly passing overhead and behold, there it was. A beautiful, huge stretch of water nestled between steep red cliffs with all the structure any bass angler could dream of. Untouched, unfished and all the possibilities of that moment we all enjoy so much, great hook ups. Even though winter is in full swing it was quite humid in the valley and the waters were icy to the touch.

Together we needed no further persuading and after a few moments of grateful silence our rods were rigged and the lines in the water. When fishing off the grid locations I often find myself scanning the area like some sort of bass robot, searching for any tell-tale signs that there are indeed actually any fish around. I always tell my friend it takes just one bite to know the answer. In less than twenty minutes of walking the banks the waters erupted and we had our reply. My friend landed a beautiful healthy large-mouth bass with the clearest markings that define this predatory fresh water fish. Thoughts of doubt and suspicion were now a thing of the past and it was game-on from there. After working the banks for as far as possible with having spent only a few hours fishing together we had caught, landed and released six decent sized bass ranging between the 500g and 1kg mark. The bites and takes were all different which was most welcome as who doesn’t like a choice of variety. As winter is upon us and the water conditions were quite clear our choice of lure that never fails were white coloured, soft plastic, ribbon tail worms. Normally the cold seasonal change would require a more delicate, dead slow retrieval to coax that lethargic bass into biting but that didn’t matter on this occasion. Whether it was a slow jerking movement on the bottom or quick and speedy dash through the lily pads we kept getting hit after hit. While I prefer a weightless setup, my friend Murray prefers the Carolina rig style approach. Needless to say though Murray did unfortunately lose something that was quite enormous which in a way only fuels the fires of our enthusiasm to

Murray van Vuuren with the first of the bass caught

definitely return again. In fact Murray has not stopped ‘hankering’ me since and you can guarantee I am already planning our next trip.

It is not to say that after reading this article everybody should all run out and start knocking at the first farmer’s door we happen to see. It is just that sometimes with a different perspective, a bit of friendliness and having a sense of humour as well as portraying a conscious respect for the environment you never know. The next farmer you bump into could just open his gate for you, allowing all your bass angling dreams to come true.

SA BASS 29 August 2018

>> SA BASS BASICS

Back to “bass-ics” Nowadays there is an incredible amount of constant change occurring all around us. For the majority of folks this makes keeping up with life in general quite the daily challenge. In the world of bass angling it seems to be very much the same.

Jay Röhm-Williams showing the potential of private waters

>> Jay Röhm-Williams >

I

often get blown aw away way when I see h how far the boundaries of artificial bait desig design gn and creation have h been pushed, not to mention the variet varietyy of new styles oor brands of rods and reels on the market. W When it comes to equipment and gear in bass fishing th here is no shortag there shortage for choice amongst the assortme assortment ent of heavy or li light watercrafts available, kitted out with all the ggadgets one would expect to find fi in a national nationa space station. All this an nd more to help or assist us in that never and eending hunt for a hook up. One thing th hat should neve that never change though is our attitude att at titu tti t de towards ds ou our environment and how we condu conduct d ct ourselves ourselv as bass anglers in or ar around rou und th the he waters w which we frequent.

An amazing hidden pond on private land 30 SA BASS August 2018

From large municipal dams to small private ponds, it doesn’t matter where you go bass fishing, the same problems occur over and over again rendering a bad reputation for all anglers alike. Whether it’s a lack of courtesy and respect for fishing venue waters or careless, unconscious littering, it all adds up at the end of the day. This has unfortunately led to the fact that most bass anglers miss out on the chance of fishing unexplored dams and ponds in your local area due to a few who abused the privilege before you. I am of course speaking in general and by no means ruling out those who indeed do try to lead by example and encourage others to do the same. That been said, it never hurts to offer advice and in some cases remind one another of a few basic principles of bass angling etiquette that we can all follow and practice in our quest for large or small mouth strikes. I myself am a small-scale farmer and throughout my years of bass angling I have been fortunate enough to have permission granted from a few neighbouring farms in the Eastern Cape area to pursue my passion of fishing for bass on their properties. I enjoy the tranquillity of offthe-grid bassing and searching out those private treasured waters where undisturbed, potential big bass might roam.

It has been a process of building genuine relationships between myself and land owners that began through either word of mouth or actual acquaintances and friends. First impressions are lasting ones and this is something we can all relate to especially when it comes to fishing private dams and ponds. There are quite a few words of important advice one could share with another, although I see these more as guidelines acting to serve as a reminder.

When going about your quest of discovering private uncharted waters, clear communication is the key.

Remember this is a scenario that could go either way with ultimately the land owner having all of the final say. At the end of the day, whether it was making a connection through a friend or meeting someone by coincidence the same rule of thumb applies. Make sure on all levels of conversation that you have the go ahead to contact the farmer or owner well before hand to ensure decent introductions are made.

Always be honest in explaining who you are and the reason behind your enquiry of if there is any possible bass fishing waters available to explore on their property. Trespassing and poaching are of major concern, together with rural crime being on a tremendous increase it is therefore understandable why following a pre-arranged procedure is necessary. When it comes to any activity that involves us interacting amongst nature we must remember to be conscious of the natural surroundings and our actions. Bass fishing is no different and if we demonstrate and portray a good stewardship between ourselves as bass anglers and the waters we practice our craft on, a magnitude of difference will already have been made. Keeping that fact in mind and conveying this message across will most definitely put your chances of obtaining access to any new venue in a better a limelight. I must state that not every farmer or land owner with a dam or pond will have bass stocked and the chances of finding hidden gems get slimmer as our climate shifts

and changes. It’s not too say that these waters of myth and legend do not exist, because they do and once you discover an opportunity with permission been granted it is up to you to keep your end of whatever bargain has been made.

Ensure that you find out about any rules and request the farmer or land owner may have up front, abiding by them no matter what. As long as your intentions are solely to enjoy and partake in the heart thumping action of bass fishing you will never find yourself having any problems.

Always remain polite and courteous, remembering to give the necessary thanks before and after. Being precise in your arrangements regarding times, the number of people allowed and the general do’s and don’ts, is just common decency in showing not only respect but consideration as well. One should take care to leave the area as you found it, leaving only boot prints on the sandy banks and that one long skid mark where you slipped in the mud. Anything that was not there when you arrived should find its way back from where it came, along with anything you may come across that clearly does not belong there and should in turn to be removed. Hopefully catching and ideally landing some amazing bass while getting some quality time in with nature is essentially our purpose. Let that be the only purpose. To take anything from another’s property without consent is considered wrong in any part of the world, so there can really be no excuses. From gathering firewood for your braai at home to taking fish out for your friend to sell, unless you have asked first rather just stick to taking a few great photos and some memorable experiences. Usually the roads and paths to the watering holes are quite well used and easy to identify so there should never be the need for creating your own even if you did just purchase that brand new 4x4. While driving through country side landscapes, be cautious of your speed remembering that animals have right of way and should never be harmed or hunted whether indigenous or livestock. The idea behind these simple concepts is to restore and preserve that relationship between bass anglers, land owners and nature itself for if we do not, many current as well as future upcoming bass anglers will never have that opportunity of fishing those unrevealed waters our great country has to offer.

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SA BASS 31 August 2018

>> SA BAARS KLASKAMER

Soos Harmansdrup op ‘n

Vadersdagoggend In die kommersiële wêreld van vandag het ek nog nooit veel aanklank gevind in spesiale dae wat aan sekere entiteite gekoppel word nie. Hoeveel geld wil die winkels dan nog uit ons beursies tap om ons kwansuis te laat beter voel?

Kan ons die liefde vir ‘n pa in geskenke meet? Dalk is net ‘n mooi gebaar beter as ‘n duur geskenk.

Om ‘n pa na ‘n plekkie toe te vat waar hy sy liefde vir baarshengel met sy gesin kan deel, is dalk net die regte ding… Maar om ook ‘n waardevolle les of twee te leer…nog beter.

Die Landrover is gepak 32 SA BASS August 2018

>> Philip Kemp*

W

at veronderstel was om ‘n Vadersdag-geheim te wees werk mos nie altyd uit nie. Miskien onderskat die huismense maar net ons manne se superieure neus, om ‘n ding, wat gereël word, op ‘n myl uit te ruik. En as dit met baarshengel gepaard gaan, gaan dit nog moeiliker weggesteek word. En so draai ek toe my ou Landrover se neus in die rigting van die bosveld, met ‘n klomp babbelbekke, dis nou die huisgesin, op sleeptou visstokke en al die nodige proviand gepak.

Wat kan dan nou beter en meer hemels wees as ‘n hengeluitstappie op Vadersdagnaweek saam met jou hele gesin en hul aanhangsels, en dit in een van die pragtigste dele van ons bosveld. My vrou, Reniece, my seun Maurice en sy vrou Marlene was seker die mees opgewonde oor die uitstappie. Natuurlik was dit moeilik vir Reniece met haar moedershen-instinkte om haar aandag te verdeel tussen die bontstaan vir al die honger monde en die baarshengel self. Julle sien, my vrou is soms meer verslaaf aan baarshengel as wat ek is. Ek glo dat sy dalk op ‘n stadium gewens het dit is Moedersdag-naweek.

Swart Senko’s het die ding gedoen

Daarenteen; was Eunice, my dogter en haar vriend Heinrich minder opgewonde oor die hengel.

Ons het skaars by die gastehuis stilgehou en afgepak, of ek sit af water toe. Jy sou my nie eers met ‘n piksteel van die water af weghou nie. Dit is middel winter en daarom was ek nie te optimisties dat ek ‘n paar baars gevang sou kry nie. Winterhengel gebeur mos stadig, of soos my pa altyd sou sê; “...soos Harmansdrup op ‘n wintersoggend!” Wel, dit daar gelaat...

Ek hengel al baars sedert ek ‘n tjokker van 12 is, en het al ‘n menigte boek oor baarshengel verslind. Dit is dan wanneer ‘n mens mos eiewys, en met oogklappe aan, jou eie kop begin volg, en dink jy weet mos hoe dinge werk. ‘n Goeie ou krieketvriend van my, Anton Ferreira, het eenkeer gesê, en ek haal aan, “You can never be bigger than the game!” Nouja, ek het vir ‘n oomblik gedink ek is al “bigger than the game”, net om met ‘n slag terug te kom aarde toe.

En raai wie het my op my neus laat kyk?

Jurik le Roux is ‘n jare lange vriend van my seun Maurice. Hy het, deur te luister en te leer, in ‘n baie goeie baarshengelaar ontwikkel. En om natuurlik saam met my liewe vroutjie te hengel kan net so ‘n uitdaging wees. Ons het die Saterdag elke hoek en draai van die pragtige dam gefynkam vir baars. Elke wintertegniek, of altans, so het ek gedink, het ons probeer sonder enige sukses. Vriende van my het groot sukses die vorige winter met ruk-en-pluk harde kunsvissies (jerkbaits) gehad, en waarom hulle nie nou ook probeer nie. Benewens die “drop-shot”-tegniek het ek selfs die tegniek met die kunsvissies probeer, en dit

Met skoonpa se hulp kon Marlene ook ‘n baars land

terwyl die antwoord eintlik so vanselfsprekend sou wees.

Jurik, Maurice en Marlene het hulle eers later die middag by ons kom aansluit. Dit was nie eers ‘n halfuur nie, of Jurik het sy eerste baars aan die lyn. Natuurlik was ek net te trots om te vra wat hy gedoen het om die mooi baars aan te keer. Ek het volhard in my hardkoppigheid tot ek dit nie meer kon hou nie. Effens versigtig het ek die groot vraag gevra. En ja, op daardie oomblik was dit vir my moeilik om te vra. Hoe kan ‘n man soos ek, wat al sedert die 70’s hengel, en al meer as sestig hengelartikels geskryf het, nou vir ‘n jong, minder ervare man vra watter aas en tegniek hy gebruik om sy baars aan te keer. Ek het egter maar my trots in my sak gesteek en so ’n waardevolle les geleer.

Toe ek begin agterkom hoe Jurik hengel, het my oorlede pa se woorde oor die Harmansdrup homself weer hier in my gedagtes kom tuismaak. “Oom weet mos. As die baars moeilik byt, is daar net een aas wat die ding gaan doen! Vir ‘n oomblik het dit vir my gevoel of die “baarsgode” sit en lag vir my. En in my geestesoog sien ek vir Gary Yamamoto die hardste lag. Senko’s is so voor die handliggend. Ek kon myself skop. “Sonder ‘n gewiggie Oom, en net in swart. Dit werk soos ‘n bom Oom!” Ja, hy was dalk reg.

Ek het al gehoor hoe die manne destyds op die grens met handgranate gehengel het. “Maar oom moet hom super stadig hengel!” Jurik het my baie selfvoldaan aangekyk en ek het net weer besef dat jy nooit te oud is om iets te leer nie... Nes Harmansdrup op ‘n koue wintersoggend.

Vadersdag! Na ‘n heerlike ontbyt het ons weer afgesit water toe. Met Jurik se leiding om die vorige dag ‘n patroon te bepaal, was my vrou Reniece baie vinnig die een wat ‘n vis of twee kon vang. Sy, snaaks genoeg, is juis in haar element as sy stadiger kan hengel. En ek moes dit natuurlik ontgeld. Soos soveel kere tevore, en na haar derde vis, het sy my mooi laat verstaan wie dan nou eintlik die beste hengelaar onder ons is. Die feit dat dit Vadersdag was, was lankal reeds vergete. Ek het vir Jurik saam met my op die opblaasboot gelaai en met ‘n swart, vier duim Senko my eerste baars aan die hoek gekry. Die baars het die aas opgetel terwyl ek besig was om die kraaines op my katrol uit te sorteer. Hoeveel keer het dit nie al met hengelaars

gebeur nie? Beslis ‘n teken dat jy net nog stadiger moet hengel!

Aan die ander kant van die dam was Marlene egter nie so gelukkig soos my vrou nie. Sy kon nie eers ‘n byt aan haar aas koop nie. En toe sy uiteindelik ‘n baars aan die hoek kon kry, en Maurice hom wou land by die boot, het hy tot haar groot ontsteltenis losgekom. Nou ja, as jy so sukkel en boonop die enigste vis wat jy gevang kry by die boot verloor, voel dit soms of jy jou stok sommer net daar oor jou knie in twee wil breek. Dit is mos Vadersdag en ek het net gevoel dat ek maar net my plig as vader sal moet doen. Ek het Marlene saam met my op die boot gelaai en my enigste swart Senko wat ek in die pakkie oor gehad het, en waarmee ek net ‘n rukkie gelede n mooi 1,84kg baars gevang het, van my hoek afgehaal en aan haar hoek gesit. Natuurlik het ek hom net vir ingeval met ‘n bietjie knoffelsous gedokter.

Groot was haar vreugde toe sy met haar eerste gooi ‘n baars aan die hoek kon kry. Om daardie gesig van vreugde te aanskou, is al wat ons as vaders soms nodig het om jou baarshengeluitstappie die moeite werd te maak.

Die hengel was stadig, ja, beslis soos Harmansdrup op ‘n wintersoggend, of eerder ‘n vadersdagoggend. Ons moet tye soos die met ons gesinne koester en tyd maak vir hulle.

Of dit langs die hengelwaters is of sommer net by die huis.

Maak jou mense deel van jou avonture en wie weet, dalk staan jy ook so nou en dan met ‘n rooi gesig as hulle vir jou wys waar Dawid die wortels begrawe het, maar tog met ‘n gevoel van genoegdoening. Jou gesin deel immers jou passie met jou. *Philip Kemp is ‘n gesoute swartbaarhengelaar en ‘n gereelde bydraer.

Reniece glo nogsteeds sy is ‘n beter hengelaar as ek. Dalk is sy…

SA BASS 33 August 2018

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

>> Kevin Lofstedt*

Jigs are a great option in winter

Winter –

Calm before the storm Most of us tend to get into that Negative Winter Mode where we expect very little from our green friends, and this clearly is a mistake.

E

ach year when winter comes around, I start telling myself that it won’t be long and we’ll arrive at the “land of milk and honey” – (spawning season).

Having said that, I am always astounded at how quickly bass change their seasonal habits. Often in the dead of winter, and after hours and hours of probing the depths for those “winter bass” we all sometimes believe are deeper and bigger, we change tactics and try fishing a little shallower.

Boom, we start catching a few early male bass already moving onto the traditional spawning areas. Imagine that! Then, putting two and two together, decide to move slightly deeper in the hope that there’s a fat momma bass hanging off these areas, just waiting for that “special guy bass” to show her a good time! And boom one here, and one there, and before you know it you’ve got your five fish limit and can now look to upgrade your bag. (And when I say “upgrade your bag” I’m not talking about getting a divorce! LOL) But seriously, most of us tend to get into that Negative Winter Mode where we expect very little from our green friends, and this clearly is a mistake. On average, bag weights are a little smaller, and fishing is generally a little slower, but nevertheless, winter can be a great time to “chill” on the water and try and entice the bite. My experience has

34 SA BASS August 2018

taught me that often when you do find fish at this time of the year they can be in a loose school, and as such can be “taken advantage of ”. In other words, you catch one, often a second and even a third will come to the boat. The prevailing consensus is that in winter smaller, baits are often the way to go. I usually will throw a Senko, or equivalent (if you’re poor like me), and lightly weighted slow sinking, or even weightless is often what works for me. Colour I believe is a personal choice, and is in my opinion mostly dependant on water colour. Generally long thin worms work well for me. Wacky rigging is always a good way to tempt lethargic bass.

Jigs! – Now here’s a lure that I generally don’t fish enough. Some will say their favourite winter lure, others, not so much. My all year round “go to bait” has to be either a fluke, or a jerkbait. Fishing these lures in winter call for a slow presentation, which if rigged correctly will stand up to close scrutiny by a bass before the bite. I therefore tend to fish colours that are as real as possible to the available fodder.

Generally, it is always important to remember that winter is the time when bass metabolism is at its slowest, and as such their feeding is quite limited. So without trying to cause you a severe case of Bass Depression, you need to remember that only every tenth or fifteenth bass may be looking for a meal

Flukes and jerkbaits are my all year round “go to bait”

at that particular time, so patience must be the order of the day. The reality is that whilst there are fewer bass willing to chase down a lure, there are definitely bass that can often be provoked into striking something they have no intention of actually eating. Top anglers know how to appeal to a bass’s instinct, and the really consistently successful ones, have mastered these aspects of our sport. Watch what they do, ask them what they do, but do it quietly, and in private. My bet is that you will be very surprised at how much help they will give you. Respect the help, and keep confidential stuff confidential, and all will be well.

Lastly, the good news is that the “land of milk and honey” is just around the corner!

(At SA BASS we encourage our readers to practise catchand-release, especially when we are handling trophy size fish which is the breeding stock of the future in our sport – Ed.)

Words of Wisdom “People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.” - Anton Chekhov *Kevin Lofstedt is a regular writer and a well known veteran bass angler with three times Southern Gauteng Colours since 1985. He is also the main founder of Clearwater Bassmasters Bass Chapter (1994). He can be reached at kevin@sabass.com

SA BASS 35 August 2018

>> SA BASS STRATEGY

A colourful assortment of frogs to choose from for your top water fishing

(Part 7)

Fishing Frogs

The variety of plastic frogs available today is really impressive and anglers can choose from many different styles, colours and sizes. We’re also heading smack bang into the middle of a very exciting fishing period and these retrieve techniques are going to go down just swimmingly.

>> Roger Donaldson*

L

et’s categorise the top three frog varieties so we can separate the retrieve required for each style of frog.

SPRO Bronzeye Frog One of my favourite examples of fishing this lure is still one with Darryl Quinton out on Rust der Winter Dam. Poor lure didn’t have a chance 36 SA BASS August 2018

before being engulfed by a very large bass only 3m from our boat.

There’s nothing quite like this particular lure. They are a little demanding in that they do take on a little water during the retrieve. This is however easily overcome at the end of your retrieve by simply giving the bait a quick squeeze, relieving it of any water.

If you had read the article on retrieval techniques for top water lures in the last issue you will note that the retrieve used for walk-the-dog lures, such as the Zara Spook, Skitter Walk, etc. is the same technique used for the SPRO Bronzeye Frog.

Cast out past your target area.

Once the lure hits the water, engage

your reel and take your time and let the lure lie still for up to ten seconds if you’re patient enough. Reel in any slack line and then twitch your rod tip downward on every turn of the reel handle. With every twitch the lure will dart forward and as the weighted rear/ tail of the lure catches up it will force the head of the frog upward. Continue twitching the rod tip downward with each turn of the reel and the frog will bob up and down all the way back to the boat. It’s an incredibly enticing swimming action which bass find tantalizing. You can choose to pause during the retrieve and take as long as you want to get the lure back – it’s all up to you now.

You will notice that a similar swimming action can also be achieved if you elevate your rod tip and then jerk and wind in.

The SPRO frog comes in a popping variety too and which can be retrieved in the very same manner.

Soft plastic frogs – sinking There are two options you can choose from when retrieving the sinking variety of frogs such as the Zoom Horny Toad and similar. The action of the bait is delivered by the legs of the toad as the lure travels across the surface of the water. To achieve this you will need cast out and start your retrieve as soon as the bait hits the water. If you leave the lure it will sink.

Continuing with your retrieve you should elevate your rod tip to help the bait stay on the surface and “kick” more effectively. This kicking action will churn the water as the water travels through the curved shape of the lures legs. Bass are very aware and highly sensitive to the noise and bubble trail created. This will induce strikes from even the least interested bass.

After fishing a constant retrieve you may get the feeling that the bait is moving too quickly. The only way to judge this is by retrieving the lure just fast enough so that the legs are churning up a bubble trail. The internet is wild with top water frog videos and you can get a great feel for

the speed just by watching a video or two.

Although the constant retrieve is a deadly strategy there is another clever option when fishing over weeded areas, or around structures. Try and let the lure drop into the gaps/holes of vegetation, or bump into tree stumps and let it sit for a second or two. In the holes between vegetation such as lily pads “twitch” and “shake” the lure ever so slightly while leaving it in the same gap. You can get this action by simply lifting and dropping your rod tip, or shaking the shaft of your rod. The movement often induces the strike you are looking for.

Soft plastic frogs – floating This soft moulded variety are not the SPRO frog, but rather those such as the Gene Larew Floating Frog, CAT’s and similar. They are designed very much like the sinking variety, with kicking appendages. The only difference being that they will not sink if you stop your retrieve.

In certain situations the floating option can be greatly beneficial, including when fishing thick, grassy areas. Sinking lures will often get hung up if you stop your retrieve in the thick stuff. Also, some bass only want to take the lure off the surface and may take time to strike at the bait. The floating frog allows you to pause the bait and give the bass a chance to react. This is great for winter when fishing the shallows in warm afternoons!

Luckily, there is no complication in the retrieve of the floating variety and it is the same as with its sinking counterpart. Keep the rod tip up and wind in while making sure those leg appendages are fighting with the water surface. *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

Adapting to

changing conditions Raf Scremin with a healthy winter bass caught on drop-shot

Cold, misty morningsâ&#x20AC;Ś with a chill that seeps right down into your very core.

Frost on the grass and while launching the boat, you wonder how much of your so called marbles you might have lost in those long gone days of your youth.

>> Raf Scremin*

W

inter fishing can be absolutely daunting and without homework or a good idea of how to work your approach, you might just miss out on some of the best fishing of the year.

Because of much colder water temperatures, fluctuating barometric pressure and much cleaner water than usual, fish adapt to these conditions and as anglers, we have to adapt or blank.

38 SA BASS August 2018

Fish, especially our friend the bass, still have to eat in order to survive and although not as actively as during the warmer months, they still hunt and as some anglers will tell you, this is probably the time of the year when you might not catch quantity, but rather settle for quality.

On a recent trip to Witbank Dam, myself and my brother started off on one of those bitterly cold mornings and having fished our normal winter spots, we became

rather frustrated, and by 11am we had only managed to get seven fish to the net.

We fished all the known and not so well known spots in the main dam and short of heading back towards shore and calling it a day, we decided to give it another hour and call it quits. We had tried deep diving cranks, Texas rigged plastics in a variety of colours and shapes with little to no success.

Another angler came past and after the usual greetings, told us that he was having a good day on the water, but as we all know, some anglers don’t share too much information and we were left to our own devices.

We then headed up into the gorge and as a last resort fished a section of cliffs where we usually get at least a few bites. I was casting towards the rocks and my brother cast out into the main channel of the gorge, but only a short distance from the boat. Without paying too much attention he suddenly had a fish on which definitely got my attention. According to the fish finder, I was fishing a rather shallow section up against the rocks and he was dropping his lure down in around 5 to 8m of water. With the very next drop, Rick was on yet again and it seemed that this was the magic trick. I also switched to a Ned-rig and soon landed a decent fish. For the next hour we managed to get around fifteen quality fish all on the same depth. As the

temperature dropped with the setting sun, we headed back and got off the water.

On the way home, myself and Rick chatted about the day and once I got home, I checked the prevailing weather conditions for that day and came to a few conclusions...

As anglers, we tend to get into what we call a comfort zone, whether it is a favourite lure, preferred weather pattern, fishing method or spot. Fish constantly adapt to their environment and in order to catch them, we have to experiment and adapt accordingly. Not only does this open us up to new possibilities, but it also makes us more versatile as hunters. Fishing drop-shot might not be in everyone’s category, but this method and using the Ned rig fishing method can be a game changer.

Some anglers might not be comfortable fishing at greater depths than the usual 9ft, but on a particular day, the fish might be sitting at 16ft and that’s where you need to search for them.

Adapt, be open to new ideas, even on a cold winter’s day… and you might be pleasantly surprised!

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%" % 0 &10 &$ "6" ,+ #&0%ǽ %&0 2+&.2"Ǿ 4&!"Ǿ 1%&+ 0,ƞȒ-) 01& '"/( &1 $)&!"0 +! undulates when twitched on a weightless Texas rig or jighead, and catches everything from bass to redfish. Two sizes are available and in color patterns designed for both fresh and saltwater.

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*Raf Scremin is an experienced finesse angler and regular partner and contributor to the Backyard Bassin series of articles.

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SA BASS 39 August 2018

TM

Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga

Back: Tobie Uys, Riaan Spangenberg, Alan Morgan, Dennis Thompson, Wayne Louw, Mike Matthee Front: Tony Ernst, André Pretorius, Vikesh Parbhoo, Prashant Narota

Back: Flip Maritz, JP Maritz, Darian Leite, Adrian Leite, Johan Ras, August Lingnau, Christo Snyman, Ferdie van Wyk Front: André Pretorius, Tony Ernst, John Loesch, Gary Peter

5.105kg - Day 1

4.690kg - Day 2

Venue: Rust der Winter Dam

Venue: Rust der Winter Dam

Winning team: Greens Team Members: Vikesh Parbhoo & Prashant Narotam Number of fish weighed: 5 Total bag weight: 5.105kg Heaviest fish: Best time: Late morning Depth: 10 to 12ft Structure: Grass Lure: Damiki Mr. Jumbo grub Colour: Black Rig: Texas-rig

Winning team: 5x4 Team Members: André Pretorius & Nigel Ernst Number of fish weighed: 5 Total bag weight: 4.690kg Heaviest fish: 1.675kg Best time: Early morning Depth: 6ft Structure: Grass Lure: Super Fluke Colour: Watermelon Seed Rig: Weightless

Next venue: see our website www.flwsouthafrica.com

Next venue: see our website www.flwsouthafrica.com

Championship 2018 Bivane Dam, 23 - 25 Aug

Championship 2018 Bivane Dam, 23 - 25 Aug

Results: Day-1

Results: Day-2

1: Team Greens - 5.105kg

1: Team 5x 4 - 4.690kg

2: Team 5x 4 - 4.675kg

2: Team Techno.Mech Berkley - 4.520kg

3: Team Mickey Mouse - 4.480kg

3: Team Bass Fev er - 2.505kg

4: Team Goodfellas - 4.250kg

4: Team Woolly bugger Farm - 2.340kg

5: Team Valet Storage - 3.975kg

5: Team ALX Rods - 1.440kg

40 SA BASS August 2018

June Gauteng

Back: August Lingnau, Pieter Khourie, Louis Bezuidenhout, Anton Bouwer, Johann Zwarts, Vikesh Parbhoo Front: Anton Vogt, PD Swanepoel, André Pretorius, Nigel Potgieter

11.260kg - Day 2 Venue: de Hoop Dam Winning team: Hillbilly Poisen Team Members: Gareth Dryden & Tony Lagesan Number of fish weighed: 5 Total bag weight: 11.260kg Heaviest fish: 3.170kg Best time: Early Morning Depth: 8ft Structure: Trees Lure: ½oz Hillbilly Poisen jig Colour: Watermelon Red Rig: Jig Next venue: see our website www.flwsouthafrica.com

Championship 2018 Bivane Dam, 23 - 25 Aug

Results: Day-2 1: Team HillBilly Poisen - 11.260kg 2: Team PG Aluminium Silv er Lakes - 5.720kg 3: Team Bass Outlaw s - 4.410kg 4: Team Ranger - 4.250kg 5: Team Cobat Transport - 4.240kg 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 41 August 2018

>> SA BASS SABAA NEWS

Interprovincial Championships Tzaneen 2018

An early morning start on Tzaneen Dam

>> John Badenhorst*

A

fter some serious planning and with water levels up to now in part of our country still sitting very low on some dams, it was decided to that the Limpopo province would host this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Interprovincial Championships and the dam to be fished would be Tzaneen Dam. For some anglers it would mean a two to three day road trip just getting there and then, heading back would mean another very long and in some cases arduous road trip. With twelve teams competing for bragging rights, it was all set to go for the week of 42 SA BASS August 2018

the 23rd to the 29th of June. Sunday evening saw the welcoming braai attended by all teams and loads of fun was had while the rookies took their punishment with some even dressing up as Zulu Impi.

Monday morning started as a practice day with all boats out and heading to various parts of the dam by 7am and all anglers had to be off the water by 4pm. Tuesday was a rest day and some anglers took to the water to do some scanning which would help to identify structure and possible places to fish during the three day tournament.

By 6am on the day one, all boats were down on their pegs and with a quick cup of coffee, a weather report and live-well check, the anglers headed out accompanied by local bag pipes as thin wisps of mist swirled on the water.

Later that day, boats started coming in to weigh fish that might have been in distress due to being caught deep and Wessel du Toit did an excellent job at the weigh station to ensure all fish were safely released for another day. At the end of day one, it was apparent that during practice, what felt like decent bites, were in fact small tiddlers and the guys had to work hard to not only

get five keepers but to get five decent keepers and for some teams it was an absolute toil out on the water.

Day two saw a smooth start and with the knowledge from the previous day, teams spent the previous evening going over plans and strategies for the day ahead. By 6.45am, all boats were heading out to their chosen spots and later during the day, it was apparent that anglers adapt and lessons learnt from the previous day had helped some anglers come in with some rather impressive bags of fish during the weigh-in. Some teams however still found the dam to be a tough nut to crack and were disappointed with their results at the close of the second day.

After another night of working on ideas and plans, it was early out the gates on the third and final day of the tournament and on this day, there were no ideas around leaving a spot in order to work it the following day.

With water levels rather low in some places, some anglers did find a few so called â&#x20AC;&#x153;honey holesâ&#x20AC;? and were soon starting to cull for bigger fish. In the true spirit of a tournament such as this, Len de Wet even suffered a main motor malfunction and still continued to fish alongside his team using only his trolling motor. Day three delivered more consistently bigger total bags with a few very solid fish being weighed.

The heaviest fish for the tournament was caught by Barry Grove and weighed in at a solid 2.420kg with a total of 517 fish caught over the three day tournament. After days of toil and even a medical emergency along the road, it was time to crown the winning

The winning team from Limpopo Province for the 2018 Interprovincial Championship

province on the evening of the last day with Limpopo province taking top honours. When all is said and done, this was yet another well run Interprovs and a big thumbs up has to go to the organizing team of Wayne Kurten and his helpers.

Tzaneen is a stunning part of South Africa, with temperate weather and loads of fish in a variety of dams close to the town itself. A place, well worth a visit with incredibly hospitable people willing to help or just have a quick chat and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure that some anglers have already made plans to return in the near future.

A quick thanks also has to go to Johnny Verster and his son Zack for the fishing experience and help with a technical issue. (This father and son took me out for a couple of hours on

a private dam close to town and the fishing was incredible.)

Coming up in a future article, my Tzaneen experience and some chunky Lowveld bass - Ed. * John Badenhorst is the editor of SA BASS magazine, the Master of Ceremony for FLW South Africa, radio presenter at Platinum Gold Radio and a keen ultra finesse angler.

Wayne Kurten and his team with some of the Limpopo anglers SA BASS 43 August 2018

Part 1

>> SA BASS INTERNATIONAL

- do shoreline assault

In summer 2017, I visited renowned South Korean bass fishing guide and seasoned shore bass angler, Mr. Kang Hohyeong (field-staff of Daiwa South Korea) with the aim to bring forth to readers of SA Bass some interesting insights into shore bass fishing in South Korea.

We had to walk across rice farms to get to our fishing spots 44 SA BASS August 2018

fishing trips to catch big fish if they research the resources and conditions available to them in their local waters.

Just like Japan, shoreline bass fishing has a huge following in Korea. With todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rising cost of boat ownership and limited access to prime fishing areas, shore fishing offers the only real angling alternative to many anglers, but it is a highly competitive segment in sport fishing where anglers face immense angling pressure that is often created by other shore anglers.

>> Story and Images by Fishingboy, Kang Hohyeong and Lee Minwoo

I

have visited remarkable places and fished in five provinces during my two-week trip. There are tons of subjects to talk about, from environmental conditions, angling culture, meaningful experiences, and challenges, with the core focus on various topics of shore bass fishing.

South Korea is probably one of the few countries in the world that is blessed with some of the best and safest conditions for shore anglers. Just like Japan, anglers in Korea do not actually need to spend a ton of money on bass boat

I caught my first fish of the day on a Texas-rigged Senko

My shore fishing road trips at a glance I spent a total of nine days fishing in various locations primarily on the east coast, central and southern provinces.

South Korea is smaller than West Malaysia in terms of land area, but it is a country that does not lack diversity when it comes to fishable waters.

My shore fishing road trips in South Korea is a story that spanned over a two-week timeline, starting in South Chungcheong province, where I got started fishing urban waters and rice farms, as well as tidal lakes during days-1 and 2, followed by heavy cover fishing in a cascade river system in North Gyeongsang province on day-3.

Weather conditions on day-4 granted us the rare opportunity to fish big topwater baits in a river system in South Gyeongsang province before we headed for South Jeolla Province on day-5 for some ssogari (golden mandarin perch) fishing action to conclude a solid week-1.

Week-2 started off remarkably well. However, weather conditions dramatically turned bad. For most of that week, the entire Korean peninsula was hit by a series of tropical storms that had been furiously developing in the northwest of the Pacific Ocean, leaving a trail incredibly tough conditions which halted the fishing that had been going great.

Unfortunately, the weather outlook during days-6, 7 and 8 was equally as bad, forcing us to abort our plans in the big bass producing lakes in South Jeolla province. We were left with the only option to head back north, towards North Jeolla and South Chungcheong provinces.

This is one of the primary fish holding spots in the canal

SA BASS 45 August 2018

The 46cm beast from the ditch!

For three days back-to-back, we were locked in a constant battle with rain, wind and muddy water conditions everywhere we fished. The word ‘tough’ was an understatement back then, even during our final day in Busa Lake where conditions have begun to stabilize. All in all, week-2 of my road trips was a horror episode I would rather forget.

local knowledge is regarded as a key factor in the outcome of our urban fishing trips around the city’s urban waters.

To be continued…

Getting started in South Chungcheong province This first instalment is comprised of a two-day trip which takes place across several locations in South Chungcheong province, where Kang and I were scheduled to team up with our local contact, Mr. Lee Minwoo to fish in Cheonan city’s urban reservoirs and rice farms.

We then proceeded to Taean County, west of the province, before heading southeast to fish a series of tidal canals and brackish lakes in Cheonsuman Bay. Our final stop would take us back east to Yesan County.

South Chungcheong province is widely regarded as a popular bass fishing destination for anglers in the northwest of Korea. The suburbs of Cheonan itself are blessed with immense opportunities for urban bass fishing. However, most of the high-percentage areas may not be obvious to the uninitiated from a street-level perspective. This is where

We fished the extremely steep rock faces of Yedang reservoir

Mr. Lee catches a solid fish on Evergreen Combat Crank Flatside

013 243 9401 082 892 3029 www.olifants-river-lodge.co.za

46 SA BASS August 2018

>> SA BASS SPY

Secrets

of South Africa’s Pros

(Part-1) >> The Bass Spy

F

or the reader who is lucky enough to be exposed to this first article in a long series, I am going to let you in on the biggest secret that will change your bass fishing forever. Please don’t think for one second though, that this is going to be one simple thing that you will easily achieve. It certainly won’t be. However, if you are patient and give it enough attention you will have a very big edge in the sport of bass fishing.

Is it finding anglers who will give you information? Of course that could give you a hint. Is it time on the water practising? Like with any sport, honing your skills will certainly help. The answer is not just one particular thing unfortunately. It is a combination, or culmination of what you have seen, heard, read, tried, experienced, and gut-felt all bundled up with the cards you are dealt on the day and then spewed out in the form of a “pattern”.

Bass anglers often speak about “patterning” the bass.

What does it mean?

This is where our adventure begins in the series. We will look at all the elements that go into the preparation for a day of bass fishing, including real encounters on the water and the divulgence of exactly what baits to use, your tackle required, dealing with seasonal changes, weather strategies, casting techniques, and areas to look for. The answers you will get are from factual experiences learned with and shared by a host of competitive bass anglers who have spent countless hours on the water bass fishing and for some of them, for the most part of their lives.

For those of you who haven’t had the chance to travel across the country, or over our borders, we will take you there and describe to you precisely what to expect out on the water.

Don’t fret if you haven’t got a boat, or whether you are fishing from a small craft, as the bass caught in this story includes strategies for every walk of angler.

In our kick-off article in the next issue you will be exposed to a host of fishing scenarios experienced over the years specifically during the months of August through October. If you’ve spent a little time bass fishing, then by now you may be accustomed to spring and what the season brings. Depending on the weather patterns around this time, anglers may have found it difficult to find a window to fully experience the excitement of the season.

But without giving too much away let’s leave the details until then. So don’t forget to return and be prepared to soak up all the information which has taken so many anglers many years to learn.

See you then! *The Bass Spy has fished alongside and been exposed to the secrets and tactics of many competitive 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 pass-time.

SA BASS 47 August 2018

>> SA BASS INDUSTRY NEWS

Cancelled boat orders

>> BoatTEST.com

T

he reports of cancelled orders came in immediately after the EU, Canada and Mexico announced their retaliatory tariffs on U.S. boat exports, and already it totals millions of dollars in lost sales. Particularly hardhit are the builders of large boats, where only a few units are sold each year world-wide. The loss of just one or two sales can have a devastating impact on a company that may build as few as five or ten large boats a year. One company is projecting a sales loss on the order of 20%.

The European Union recently imposed a 25% tariff on most types of boats made in America, effective immediately.

Canada announced a 10% tax on all U.S.-made boats effective July 1, and Mexico announced the immediate imposition of a 15% tariff on all U.S.-made boats.

The U.S. boat builders comprise what is little more than a cottage industry. Relatively small factories dotted around the U.S., most east of the Mississippi River and typically employ anywhere from 50 to 1,000 employees.

Unit sales for every type of boat, except for PWCs and aluminium fishing boats, is small, virtually all under 3,000 units a year. Large boats, those of 40’, typically have sales of fewer than 100 units a year by brand and many famous brands actually build fewer than 20 units a year. So, if the boating industry is so small, why has the EU chosen to drive a stake through their European sales? The U.S. boating industry has “become a target for those that are wishing to make a point to this president. It’s a real U.S. manufacturing industry. In an era where not a lot is still made here in the U.S., boats are.”

Dealers in Ontario have already cancelled 500 orders from the U.S. builders they represent. “This is absolutely not a situation that has anything to do with economics,” said Rick Layzell, CEO of Boating Ontario Association.

“Boat sales have been brisk this year and inventory pipelines are very low. The tariffs are adding a ten percent

48 SA BASS August 2018

increase, and with the rising prices from aluminium boat builders and sales taxes, consumers could see a 25% price increase overnight. Most are willing to let the deal die rather than pay that.”

Clearly, American jobs will be lost as a direct result of these tariffs; the only question is how many.

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