SA BASS February 2017

South Africa: R39.00 (VAT included) Other Countries: R34.21 (Tax excluded)

SA baars

BASS February 2017

Issue 190

10

Things You Need

Live-well Tips

Go Football

or Go Home

Boat

Maintenance

>> Product Reviews >> Time For An Upgrade

>> Bass Fishing Basics >> Seasonal Tips & Tricks FOR EVERYONE THAT LOVES BASS FISHING

WWW.SABASS.COM

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DIGITALLY It is already the second month of the New Year and I trust everyone is feeling the fast tempo of the New Year’s pace.

With all the rain we received the dam levels are slowly rising and we can plan some fishing resolutions for the year.

Do you have some fishing resolutions? If not here are some suggestions.

Read articles on how to improve your own angling skills and do some research. Don’t just read it but go and give it a try. Apply what you have read on more than one venue.

Start your own fishing log and keep it up to date after every fishing trip. Record all the information, even it was a bad day, for the simple reason that you don’t make the same mistakes.

Go and enjoy every minute in nature and try to learn something new every day; even if it’s how to operate your fish finder, or improve your pitching skills.

Fishing is not always just about catching fish. I was fishing with the family over the weekend and I considered the trip a complete success because of the quality time spent together. We enjoyed nature and escaped from the buzz of the city.

When you go out with the family, friends or just on your own, the fish don’t care. They will always be there and SA Bass will always have information you can learn from, regardless if you are a beginner or a top angler. At the beginning of the year and in this issue we have a few articles on getting started. And if you’ve been fishing for many years there are tips and information that should help you too.

Fishing is a sport that everyone can enjoy for a lifetime.

Start with the basics, explore and improve your skills. In the process you will find the fishing technique / presentation that will suite you best, giving you hours of fun on the water.

Bennie Wiese / Editor

Y ONL pm R28

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2017

SA BASS 01 February 2017

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Contents

Publisher:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Editor:

Bennie Wiese - bennie@sabass.com

Assistant Editors:

Chris Greenland, Grant Hewitt

Field Editors:

Bryan Leppan, Dewald Viljoen, Evert Laubscher, Gordon Brown, Hendrik, Japie Botha, Joe Dreyer, John Badenhorst, Kevin Lofstedt, Neels Beneke, Philip Kemp, Roger Donaldson, Rowan Timmer

Junior Field Editors:

Jean-Michel Gravenor

International Columnists:

Bertrand Ngim, David Swendseid, Clint Skinner

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Wilma Lindeque - wilma@sabass.com

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Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

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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 country’s people 04 SA BASS February 2017

06

10

SA BASS “Go Football or Go Home!”

Fishing football jigs have always been underrated among new anglers; perhaps because there are so many variables of little modifications, colours, weights and more to consider – Neels Beneke

TACTICS “Targeting Intimate Waters” Intimate waters can offer excellent rewards if approached in the correct manner.

– Divan Coetzee

17 SA BASS

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.

REGULARS & FORUMS

(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

“Lessons Learned!”

Each time I fish against opposition and get my bum burned, I look to ask myself “What the hell just happened?” – Kevin Lofstedt

18

SA BASS “Tough Enough?”

For nearly 15 years most of my bass fishing occurred almost exclusively from a boat.

– Dewald Viljoen

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.

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.

20 22

BOATING

34

“Boat Maintenance” A bass boat is a tool just like any other fishing equipment that allows us to catch fish – Tyron Mortimer

TACTICS “How Long Is Enough?”

So many fish, so little time is what we are all thinking when we are on the water – Colin Willmer

36

50

CLASSROOM

58

FLW

28 30

“Understanding the spawn” – TJ Maglio

PRODUCT NEWS

42 44

“Don’t Hook Them Trap Them” A new hook made its debut in 2016 at the world’s largest sport fishing show, ICAST Florida USA. – Derrek Stewart

32

“The Truth” In a previous issue the Commander and Chief of Under Water (USO) called agent Clay Banks and ordered him to deliver a report across the big blue to agent Rod Bender.

01

MY CAST

14

READERS-go-BASSING

54

GEAR UP

60

LIFESTYLE – Boating & Birding – d Plover” “White-fronted

“Seasonal tips and tricks” – Paul Stregerik

FLW

ROD BENDER

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

BOATING “Time For An Upgrade” As with all aspects of our chosen sport, there are different stages of development in our happy days on the water.

– John Badenhorst

BASICS “10 Things You Need” How frustrating is it to start a day’s fishing with a bunch of hassles?

– Hendrik

“Grublicious” If I had to pick one small lure to catch big fish it would most certainly be a grub – Hendrik

38 24

TOURNAMENT NEWS “WHY DO WE FISH?” Whether you are new at the sport of bass fishing, or fishing in general, or you are a seasoned angler, one question always lingers and the answers to this are quite varied. Why do we fish? – Mzi Tyhokolo

SA BASS “This Is Africa” South Africa is a country diverse in its heritage and culture. A Land of stunning sunsets and even more breathtaking sunrises – The Bass Addict

PRODUCT NEWS 57

>> Essential Items

64

>> Southern Division Juniors 2016 Prize Giving

SABAA NEWS

INTERVIEW “Live-well Tips” Joao Mendes has been fishing for many years in all types of bass tournaments over the country and is known to catch big fish – Bennie Wiese

READERS’ COMPETITION 40

>> Bull Dawg Pro Series 7.6ft 7oz casting rod Readers Competition

63

>> Space CAGE Competition

BASICS “Start-up Tackle – Part 1” Rod, reel, line and lure selection will be the start-up angler’s most daunting task and an important time too, as it could mean wasting your hard earned salary on unnecessary gear.

– Roger Donaldson

46

PRODUCT NEWS “Deeper Smart Pro+” Since Deeper Smart Sonar has been introduced at the end of last year, many articles have written about this unique mobile fish finder – Hannes Lindeque

ON THE COVER “Malaysian Lunker” Image: The Fishing Boy SA BASS 05 February 2017

>> SA BASS

Fishing footbal l there a re so m jigs have alwa any var y iables o s been under Or, jus r t becau se it’s a f little modific ated among n e ations, n ugly looking colours w anglers; pe rh , bait an d you d weights and m aps because o not h ave con ore to conside r. fidence in it. >> Neels Beneke*

T

he fact is that most accomplished fishermen will without a doubt agree that it catches big fish. It also catches, more often, the better quality fish and thus it is an essential tool in every angler’s arsenal. When chasing after a new PB, or you want to weigh above average five fish limit bags in tournaments, then reconsider using football jigs.

It was at the Albert Falls Y-Bass tournament some years ago. My partner, Robbie Olivier, and I fishing for Team Bass Warehouse got to experience the benefits of a jig bite.

Prior to the tournament we had some good successful practice weekends leading up to the tournament; catching many fish off the ridge ledges, drop offs and a few spots we found on shaky heads, crankbaits, Texas rigged worms and creature baits. It gave us a sense of confidence in the number of fish we were catching, but shy of the quality fish that we needed for a top three finish at least. In those days 10kg bags were good enough to win it and of course there were some locals that got it all figured out. They could call some of Albert Falls’ biggest bass by name with the frequent catches of big fish they landed.

So with that knowledge lurking in the back of our minds we knew that we needed to get on a bigger fish pattern. The question was how to do that on pressured waters when you think shaky heads and drop shot are the answers. Reaching into my football jig box I tied on a ½oz Peanut Butter & Jelly jig with a big craw trailer… going all or nothing.

Knowing that I will get a lot less bites, if any, but hoping 06 SA BASS February 2017

my persistence will lead to the bigger bites we need because we knew the bigger fish were around. We just couldn’t get them to eat before a smaller fish grabbed the lure. Within the first dozen of casts I felt a bass crush the jig so hard that it hit a half meter slack on the line. I took up the slack and set the hook to land a healthy 3kg. The adrenaline was pumping and our confidence booming. We find ourselves only fishing jigs for the rest of the tournament. We boated another two fish over 2kg and some healthy kilo models that solidify our bag jumping from getting twenty plus bites to 5 or 6 bites. Our average bag size improved from 5kg to above 9kg just because of the football jig. We ended up in third place that day. It wasn’t a win but only grams set us apart as the winning team boated a near 5kg kicker fish which gave their total bag weight a boost. None the less, we would have finished in the 20’s if it wasn’t for the bait change.

This was only one instance out of countless occasions where the jig produced better quality fish. I do hope that this basic advice will convince all the anti-jig, or double minded jig fishermen, to give football jigs a second chance.

Understanding the football jig A football jig is unique; when it hits the bottom it stands up. The flat shaped head ensures that the hook stands at a 45º angle. It crawls over brush, timber and rolls effortlessly over rocks and gravel. So what are you imitating when you use a football jig? Well everything in general and nothing in particular. As the skirt flares the jig bangs the bottom

and snaps through brush. I would say this erratic behaviour catches the attention of bass and that’s what counts, but in a sense I would say it imitates crawfish, crabs and injured baitfish.

Choosing a football jig With the hundreds of different jigs and colour variations available I try keeping it simple and consider only few things for a quality jig.

1. Good hook - I prefer a light wire hook that is still strong enough to do the job. The lighter wire doesn’t puncture the mouth as bad as a heavy wire, ripping a big gash in its mouth. Unless I fish in heavy cover then only will I opt for a heavy wire hook.

Secondly the hook gap size. Most people like super wide gap hooks but from experience I found more fish shake the hook and get rid of it before I can set the hook. I prefer a smaller gap size hook and I’ve landed a lot more fish since.

2. A keeper collar for the trailer is a necessity.

3. A removable rattle.

4. A recessed line tie.

As weight choices go, there are no complications.

Shallower than 10ft = 3/8oz, depths between 10 and 20ft = 1/2oz and 20ft plus = 3/4oz. If you had one choice I would go with a 1/2oz to cover all depths.

For skirt colour choices I try base my colours on the water colour and forage. In dirty water conditions your

We find ourselves only fishing jigs for the rest of the tournament

PRETO RIA

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SA BASS 07 February 2017

The author with two kickers

black and blues are hard to beat; stained water colours that produce are green pumpkins/chartreuse and camo/ chartreuse colours. Clear water calls for natural colours such as green pumpkin and peanut butter and jelly.

Trailers and profile manipulation Trailers are another important part to the jig and can also affect the profile of the jig. I divide my trailers into two categories; subtle and craw style trailers. Subtle trailers have little action and cause the jig to glide as where a craw trailer with big swimming claws displaces a lot of water and add a lot of action.

So you ask when to choose what? For me I had best experiences matching my trailer to the jig profile I want and the jig profile is determined on the bass activity (slow bite, slow fishing or fast fishing, quick bites) and the size of forage. When I see a lot of small baitfish around, I try and keep a compact profile with a subtle trailer and trimming the skirt just behind the hook. This way it sinks faster and I can fish faster for those active bass, but more than often fishing is slow and the bite is slow. That’s when I want my 08 SA BASS February 2017

jig to fall at a slower rate and entice lethargic bass with a bulky profile and craw trailer imitating a crawfish or crab; something that’s not going to take a lot of energy for the bass to prey on. A big slow worthwhile meal that’s going to last for a long period.

Cadence and presentations This is pure experimenting by letting the fish tell you what they want. There are several different presentations to present.

1. Subtle drag; staying in contact with the bottom.

2. Fast lift and drop; giving it a popping effect enticing a reaction bite.

3. Dead stick; twitch.

I mix it up a lot on every cast until I know what cadence got the bass to react.

I hope this clears up as a simple guide for the ‘non-jig’ fishermen and increase the quality of your catch. *Neels Beneke has fished in the FLW USA trial in 2016 and is a Bass Warehouse pro staff member.

>> SA BASS TACTICS Low light conditions are prime time to fish

Intimate waters can offer excellent rewards if approached in the correct manner.

These tiny waters often harbour double digit bass, and are well worth exploring.

Targeting

INTIMATE WATERS >> Divan Coetzee

G

rowing up on the KZN South Coast afforded me the opportunity to have access to an array of different farm ponds and tiny river systems. All in relative close proximity to one another, and all of them unique in their own way.

Most of the fishing conducted on intimate waters will either be done from shore, or anything that more or less floats ‌ Either way your approach and tactics remain the same. Let’s start from the top and work our way down.

The nature of this type of fishing limits you in terms of what you can take along on your person, bearing in mind that you might have to do some walking and perhaps even take a swim. Anglers who own a float tube, IRB or anything similar will perceive this to be a lesser problem.

Three or four rods should do the trick along with a backpack or shoulder slung tackle box containing some basic baits. The order of the day will mostly be junk fishing, meaning all types of lures fished amongst all types of cover and structure. Basic rod setups would include a spinnerbait on 15lb fluorocarbon, a jig on exactly the same setup, a frog rod with 50lb braid and a spinning rod with 6lb braid and 12lb fluorocarbon leader. The spinning rod is ideal for those ultra light applications where a bait casting setup would not suffice.

Heini vd Westhuizen releasing a beauty; this fish ate a segmented swimbait

10 SA BASS February 2017

Getting family and friends involved, Frikkie, Luné and Lucelle Erasmus enjoying some family time on the water

So why a spinnerbait, jig and frog? Firstly; because they consistently and on average produce larger specimens.

Secondly, these baits are pretty weedless and can be chucked into the really thick stuff without constantly getting snagged. The spinnerbait is normally the first to go flying. It covers water fast and active fish latch onto it in no time. This also gives me an opportunity to gauge the mood of the fish to see if they are willing to chase. If I don’t get a bite in a high percentage area, then I will slow down and fish the jig through those same areas. If the jig doesn’t cut it, I’ll whip out the spinning rod and fish any four inch bait either weighted or weightless depending on the depth. The spinning outfit typically accounts for more bites, but on average the good quality bites will diminish due to the fact that you are now presenting a smaller bait. Nine times out of ten there’s a direct correlation between the size of the bait and the size of the bass.

The frog goes where no other lure can and is an integral part of my farm pond arsenal. If the fish respond well to a spinnerbait, then odds are they’ll eat the frog with just as much vigour. (Please keep in mind that these baits are my personal preference and any number of other presentations might prove successful on any given day.)

Next, you’ll have to be able to identify high percentage areas - as not to waste your time fishing dead water. High percentage areas are generally where you find structure in combination with cover. For example: a drop off alongside a grass bed. Always look for areas where two different types of cover converge, like rock and wood or reeds and lilies.

It’s said that 90% of the fish live in 10% of the water. I’ve found this to be true more often than not. The only way to determine where that 10% is, is to actually fish. Repeated visits to the same venue will give you some sort of reference as to which areas produce under specific conditions. Work these areas thoroughly, from shallow to deep.

In general, the margins would be a great place to start.

Farm ponds are often featureless apart from bank side vegetation, some grass patches and an isolated piece of timber or two. The actual dam wall in itself might consist of some chunk rock, always a good area to fish a jig or even a crankbait of some description. Most of the casting will be done parallel to the shoreline, if cover is available throughout the dam, then casting perpendicular to the bank would be fine as long as the fish have something to relate to in that zone. Fishing open water is not off the cards but I feel you give yourself the best chance by sticking close to structure or cover.

Try to be inconspicuous, avoid ‘bashing the bank’ so to speak. Stand further back from the water’s edge and make longer casts, hide behind bushes and wear neutral coloured clothing. If the good areas seem out of reach then consider wading if it is a safe option.

If you are fishing from a craft of some sorts try not to be invasive. Make a long cast towards the area before coming onto it proper. Try not to saturate good areas by repeatedly casting towards it. If you’ve already taken a fish off a specific area then let it rest for a couple of minutes before giving it another go. Very seldom does one fish alone, so if your SA BASS 11 February 2017

Heini vd Westhuizen displaying a farm pond giant caught in a high percentage area. This fish ate a black and blue jig

buddy is tagging along then be sure not to fish second hand water. If he goes one direction then you go the other. If you are forced to fish behind someone then you should re-evaluate your tactics. Perhaps leap frog one another to give each an opportunity to fish untouched water. It’s often a case of whomever casts there first will catch the bass, regardless of the bait used. Farm pond bass tend to be less specific about what they shove down their throats.

Casting accurately is a valuable skill; develop it as best you can. It’s often the difference between failure and success, getting your bait into hard to reach places will count in your favour. Whilst guiding clients over the last couple of years I’ve experienced the benefits first hand. The more proficient caster would always out fish the rest. Always!

Let’s look at presentation and colour selection. The water colour of these ponds varies vastly, often from chocolate brown to gin clear. Being equipped for either scenario is important. Spinnerbaits in variations of white work well under any conditions. The frog and jig I would prefer in black, but brown will offer similar results. These three colours would be my primary choice and work well in clear or muddy water. Junebug also does the trick on occasion.

The spinning rod features mostly if the water is ultra clear, any little four inch bait either weighted or weightless (depending on the depth) in any shade of watermelon will do the job. So, in essence, you are now able to cover the 12 SA BASS February 2017

surface using the frog, the spinnerbait for sub-surface and mid water applications and, the jig to cover the bottom.

All these baits can be fished in the same areas at different depths. Once you establish what the fish prefer, then you can target areas more specifically and effectively.

Much has been written on the finer details of presentation so we won’t dig much deeper. The fact is, most of your strikes come either as soon as the bait hits the water, on its way down or as soon as it hits the bottom. What can we deduct from this observation? It’s quite obvious that bait selection and presentation are of secondary importance, and casting accuracy and bite detection are primary factors.

What I’m saying is, if fish are actively feeding, they will respond positively to any bait presented within the strike zone, within reason.

Let’s look at seasonal influences on a small body of water. Due to the dynamics of these dams, being small and intimate, they tend to be affected by frontal systems more so than a larger body of water. These ponds seldom harbour deep water so the bass don’t have a comfort zone to drop back into, meaning that the fish will be relatively inactive until conditions improve. Thus explaining high feeding activity during pre-frontal conditions. Don’t get disheartened by frontal weather, bass are still catchable at this time. Slowing your approach, and down scaling on lure size might achieve results. Focus the majority of your time on the deepest water you can find. Ensure that you maintain bottom contact with your lure. Frontal and winter tactics are much the same. Spring time is prime time, go shallow and cover water quickly.

Lastly, let’s look at night fishing. We often fish into the night if possible. During the heat of summer most of the feeding activity occurs during low light hours. I prefer to target the surface zone at this time, any lure that moves a sufficient amount of water will do, remember that the fish needs to find the lure in the dark. Prop-baits, poppers and spinnerbaits rank among my favourite lures to use at night.

Having said that; I’ve also caught them dead sticking a soft plastic jerkbait. Sub surface grass would be my preferred cover to fish simply because casting accurately is not necessary, fish will come a long way to eat the bait at night.

Farm pond fishing for me is strictly social. It affords one the opportunity to involve the whole family, close friends and all the kids. It’s the ideal platform to introduce newcomers to the sport and, has been the foundation of many a competitive angler. Be sure to obtain permission from land owners as these ponds are often located on private property. Some commercial venues are available but, these are heavily fished. I hope these guidelines improve your success and decision making. Enjoy!

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 th’s mon R

NE

WIN

GROENVLEI Ons het die afgelope vakansie ‘n paar mooi swartbaars

by Groenvlei gekry. ‘n Sterk oostewind het die swartbaars aan die gang gekry. Die visse is op Sondag, 8 Desember gevang. Kunsaas wat gewerk het was sagte “stickbaits” aan gewiglose en Texas-stroppe – Robert Jacobs

QUALITY FISH My daughter, Courtney, and I fished a club competition at Inanda Dam in December. The weather was overcast and the dam was green with algae. The fishing was slow for us… that was until this 3.77kg beauty took a bite of my fighting frog.

She did not fight like a bass. No head shakes or jumps just dead weight. After a couple of minutes I thought it was a barbel. So I forced her to the boat. As soon as she broke the surface we both saw that she was a bass and a great Bass.

Thanks to my daughter’s brilliant landing skills.

14 SA BASS February 2017

GOLFBAAN Hennie Kruger het hierdie groot bass by ‘n golfbaan gevang met ‘n Rapala wat soos ‘n bass lyk. Die vis was weer vrygelaat. Hennie lees elke uitgawe en geniet dit vreeslik.

FAMILY TRIP

Here is a picture of Quinton Saaiman with a 3kg caught at De Hoop on a black Zoom Fluke.

BBZ RAT I was in the shop just stocking up regular plastics and hooks when I noticed the white Rat from SPRO BBZ 1 50. I bought the lure but didn’t really use it as much because I didn’t really have enough confidence in the lure. That was up until I discovered a dam in the south of Johannesburg area using Google Earth. This dam produced many good size fish and I noticed a lot of top water activity. So I made it a rule that I would include my 8ft heavy rod with the Rat. It just happened to be that I went fishing the spot at 2pm on Friday. I started throwing jigs, worms, horny toads, flukes and only caught one small guppy bass. Because with all the reeds being in the way this venue is unfished and there are only three casting spots. I tried the different spots but with no result. When I went back to my original spot I saw my heavy rod on the side and I thought well why not...

My first cast was long and I reeled at a constant slow pace for about 20 seconds until I saw a massive smash just behind my lure. It obviously was a bass that missed it but I didn’t stop or flitch the rod; just kept reeling at a steady pace and moments later the water exploded… the bass was on.

At first I thought that I foul hooked a carp because the fight was unreal and my heavy rod looked like a medium the way it was bending! After about 5 to 7 minutes of fighting I saw that it was a bass and it was a bus! I lip landed the fish and my heart was racing. I weighed it immediately (3.07kg), took some pictures and released my personal best for 2016.

My best advice would be; should you use a rat, use a slow constant retrieve and do not stop if the bass misses it the first time... – Conrad Muller

Here is a pic of Zack Saaiman with a 1.9kg bass caught at Nooitgedacht Dam on a Watermelon Red Fluke.

Zander Saaiman with a 1.9kg caught at Nooitgedacht on a Zoom Watermelon Red Fluke.

SA BASS 15 February 2017

NICE DAY My buddy, John, and I decided to hit Bronkies for some olive gold. We launched the boat at Baja and headed for some of our usual hot spots. After about an hour and a half with no luck whatsoever, we decided to head across the dam and fish the opposite side. Fish on! We started nailing the fish. Nothing very big but ranging from 500g to 1kg. Then I got my lure stuck on some structure. Not wanting to enter the zone and scare the fish, I flicked the line and eventually it came loose. It dropped into the water and I let it sink. I lifted the rod’s tip and felt the spongy feeling of something on the end of the line. I struck to set the hook and all hell broke loose. The fish tried to pull me in all sorts of cover; under jetties, ran left then right, but hadn’t jumped on the surface yet. I had no idea what I had on until I had it next to the boat and it jumped for the first time. The fish stripped line off my ultra light rig and I was wondering if my line could hold the strain. After about 5 minutes of fighting the fish, it turned on its side by the boat and I grab it by the bottom lip and lifted it out the water. Not the biggest but it weighed in at 1.62kg after a great fight. I caught it on ultra light tackle with a three inch Wolf Lusudu on a Mojo rig – Kevin Holm

READERS GO BASSING Mail ail & Win Wi n

E-mail your picture and details of your catch to editor@sabass.com and stand a chance to win a BASS HUNTER BAITCASTER REEL COVER & SPINNING ROD SOX sponsored by MIAS Woodmead Please send us good crisp pictures of good quality.

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PLAASDAM Greg het hierdie twee mooi baars in ‘n plaasdam in Natal gevang. Die visse was in die vlak water gewees en gevang met ‘n Zoom Super Fluke. Die visse was weer vrygelaat. Dankie vir die goeie tydskrif!

16 SA BASS February 2017

>> SA BASS

Lessons Learned!

E ach time I fish against opposition and get my bum burned, I look to ask myself “What the hell just happened?” As a true Bassmaster, I know that what I did or didn’t do is NEVER my own fault, and look to justify my poor decision making in any way I can.

Now I know you guys are not like this, but should you know someone other than me, that this applies to, feel free to tell them that getting smart is ALWAYS better BEFORE the tournament! Usually the results of the post-mortem of the tournament seem so obvious when aided by hindsight, and the adage that “practice makes perfect” seems to be the way to go.

Now here is where it starts to get tricky. Practice only helps if you do it right – RIGHT? Not always! Let me give you an example: You go to a venue for two weekends in a row and come up with a plan to “knock it out of the park”; ready for action and brimming with confidence.

Then it rains for a week, non-stop. The water level changes, the water colour changes, the water temperature changes, and we get to the venue on the day and do exactly what we planned and… NOTHING! And we’re surprised!

I’ve been fishing for a few years now and like to believe that my experience will see me through difficult fishing conditions, but in spite of this “experience”, this is exactly what I did at the De Hoop Friendly Tournament about a month ago. So “practice makes perfect” – what now?

Back to “hindsight”. Hindsight is only helpful if it’s used INTELLIGENTLY. Let me explain; during this particular tournament, I should have called on my hindsight

>> Kevin Lofstedt*

AND experience, and done what was required with the CONDITIONS AT HAND. Often changing water conditions spoken about earlier will trigger bait fish (like kurper) to swim in “bait balls” – PERFECT if you’re a bass.

Well this is what happened, and the anglers that figured this out, threw surface lures through these bait balls, and in areas where bait balls were seen, and took home the “booty”. Well done to them. Me; well I was too busy telling myself that the pattern I had was solid, and that I would start catching shortly. Ended up with ONE fish (a goodie), but not enough to make a dent on the prize money. Lesson learnt? Not so much. You see, it’s all about adapting to the actual conditions on hand, and if there’s been no major changes to those conditions, good and well. In this case, the conditions had changed RADICALLY, and my problem was that I failed to change my “plan”. So, to sum up: Practice?

– DEFINITELY! Monitor the conditions at the venue and if they change, call on your past experience that relate to changing conditions to help you make the decisions that will help you put fish in the boat. Changed conditions = changed plans! Don’t be stubborn; adapt or die!

Words of wisdom: Start by doing what’s necessary: then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible! - Francis of Assisi. *Kevin Lofstedt is a regular writer and a well known veteran bass angler with three times Southern Gauteng Colours since 1985. He is also the main founder of Clearwater Bassmasters Bass Chapter (1994).

SA BASS 17 February 2017

>> SA BASS

)RU QHDUO\ \HDUV PRVW RI P\ EDVV ¿VKLQJ RFFXUUHG DOPRVW H[FOXVLYHO\ IURP D ERDW :KHQ , JRW P\ ¿UVW ND\DN , WKRXJKW , KDG WKLV ¿VKLQJ WKLQJ LQ WKH EDJ $IWHU DOO , DP D GHFHQW ¿VKHUPDQ DQG , NQRZ P\ KRPH ZDWHUV SUHWW\ ZHOO DQG KDYH ¿VKHG LW UHJXODUO\ IRU \HDUV ,W ZDV JRLQJ WR EH D PDWWHU RI SDGGOLQJ RXW DQG VWDUWLQJ WR FORFN XS KXQGUHGV RI ¿VK IURP P\ VWHDOWK\ QHZ ERDW :HOO QRW TXLWH«

T

urns out that my first kayak fish was one of the most hard won bass I have ever caught. It took almost a dozen outings on a piece of water I was extremely familiar with and in peak season.

While a kayak is technically a boat, it is by no means a bass boat. The learning curve in making the transition is very steep indeed.

To start with, your fishing style HAVE to change. Getting used to fishing sitting 18 SA BASS February 2017

down was initially harder than I thought.

Even though I started on a fairly stable kayak and my current Wilderness System Ride 135 is a very stable boat standing up in a kayak is something that does not happen very often. Fishing on the move means that you will be sitting down to paddle and casting from a seated position.

Fishing sitting down means less visibility and a sacrifice in casting distance. It also

>> Dewald Viljoen*

means that you will have to change the way you fight a fish once you hook it since moving along the deck to change angles and getting the fish to a spot where it is convenient to boat it, is not an option.

While casting sitting down may or may not be a serious challenge for you, keeping the kayak in position while fishing a spot or fighting a fish will most definitely be a challenge in the beginning. Most boating bass anglers have the luxury of a foot controlled trolling motor to keep them positioned but on your kayak your options are paddle or anchor and if you are used to a trolling motor, anchors are not your friend! So, like most people, you will believe that you can simply keep yourself in place with the paddle and that will be it. Sadly though it is a bit more complicated. For starters, kayak weighs almost nothing, so everything is moving you around. The slightest breeze, the square bill crankbait you are throwing, even the fish you are fighting all of them are exerting more force on your boat than what your inertia on water can resist and you will go to where you are being pushed or pulled. So you end up paddling with one hand and fishing with the other and initially you are doing both things very poorly! Eventually you will throw out an anchor so get used to idea, sooner rather than later.

Another major change to get used to is how to work an area. Most of our bass fishing in South Africa is spot related. In other words, we don’t chase schooling fish much. We tend to sit on a spot and fish it before packing in and moving to another spot and seldom do we fish while on the move. With your kayak sitting on a spot comes with its own unique challenges. Since you will most likely be sitting down, you need to consider your reduced casting distance and since you will also most

likely have to anchor to fish a spot effectively, you will have to be very selective in where you anchor so that you don’t have to constantly have to go through the process of lifting and shifting. Anchoring brings a new set of issues to the table. Do I anchor up wind or down wind? Do I use one or two anchor points? How do I position the boat to keep my anchor line out of the path of fight a fish? Just a few of the questions you will have to answer!

You will also have to make decisions on how long to commit to a spot that is not being productive and where to go when you eventually move. Also consider the best route to your next spot under the prevailing conditions (yes, that is also something new to think about!) since it is easier to hug the bank when going up wind than to try and cut across open water and fight the fetch. You will soon find yourself looking for tie off points and alternate angles of approach to optimise your time on the water. But sooner or later you will start catching fish. And then you will get a few more and before long you will be catching them in ways and places you never had before. You will see, kayak fishing is not as easy as you might have hoped. It is more physical; more technical. It is definitely a test of your patience and endurance, and it is not for everyone! If you are in a kayak, you are making a statement about your fishing. You are saying something about yourself. You are saying: I do things hard things in challenging ways because I am good enough to succeed.

Kayak fishing, in all its aspects in fresh or salt water, is a tough sport for tough people. Unless you are very lucky, that first fish will be a tough one to get, but in the end you will be able to say I did it all on my own. I paddled it; I hooked it; I fought it and I landed it. I am tough enough! *Dewald Viljoen is sponsored by Canoe & Kayak Centre, the owner of Hot Reels Service Centre, partner and designer at AfriBaits.

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>> SA BASS BOATING

Boat Maintenance $ EDVV ERDW LV D WRRO MXVW OLNH DQ\ RWKHU ÷VKLQJ HTXLSPHQW WKDW DOORZV XV WR FDWFK ÷VK , KDYH VHHQ DQG H[SHULHQFHG D ODUJH QXPEHU RI LVVXHV DQG SUREOHPV WKDW FRXOG EH UHVROYHG E\ SUH HPSWLYH PDLQWHQDQFH

>> Tyron Mortimer* >> Tyron Mortimer*

I

am going to go through various important aspects of boat maintenance and show how simple little things can help prevent bigger issues from happening.

The trailer The obvious and most common problem on boat trailers are related to the hubs, bearings and rims. It is crucial to ensure that you buy quality bearings for your boat trailer

20 SA BASS February 2017

and that they are the correct size and that they are installed correctly. I don’t claim to be a guru but over the years I have experienced some serious bearing malfunctioning due to installation error and lack of maintenance. It is important to check for play by pushing on the rim, if there is a knocking sound and noticeable play it is important to have them checked and re-greased.

Another thing to look out for is bent, cracked or dented rims. If the rim is off balance it will put pressure on the bearings when they are under load during your travels.

An often overlooked area is the actual trailer; a basic look around the main frame and all the welds is a good idea every few months. When a weld has fractured and is rusted, it just takes one big jolt and you could be looking at a major accident. Checking your axle and leaf springs and or shocks is also a good idea, a broken leaf spring and lead to a fender being ripped off and your axle shifting.

Examine all the smaller items like your winch, straps or tie downs every time you launch the boat.

The boat There are certain key areas of maintenance on your boat that you need to do on a regular basis to avoid creating a massive and expensive repair job at some point down the line.

Firstly all of your hatch/locker lids should be checked and any hinges and locks or latches should be tightened (some silicone or even loctite can be applied to the screws to stop them from coming loose again)and often a small spray of a silicone based lubricant on the moving parts goes a long way.

Secondly – all of your plumbing and pumps should be tested and the wiring where the connections are should be checked. Again; a little bit of silicone based lubricant or a battery terminal sealer should be applied to these connections to avoid corrosion and residue build up.

The pumps themselves often run dry with no lubrication and they will over heat and burn out and swell. A power isolator or ‘cut-off’ switch is always a good idea to install because it will ensure that you do not burn pumps out from a switch being left on accidentally and your battery will not be run flat during storage.

Lastly – a major feature that needs to be checked is the hydraulic and even the manual steering. The hydraulic system can often leak and create air pockets and these air pockets and lead to the steering ‘slipping’ and it usually happens at high speed when the system is under pressure. Bleeding steering can be a messy job and it needs to be done correctly (I advise you take your boat to someone who has a bleeding pump kit to do the job correctly). *Tyron Mortimer is the owner of Rock your Boat and a competitive bass angler

>> SA BASS TACTICS

How Long Is Enough?

So many fish, so little time is what we are all thinking when we are on the water. I always wonder how many fish were really under the boat or in the reeds while pitching or casting at them. >> Colin Willmer

T

his would be great info to have but not make it a fair game, if we had to know. The most of us only have limited fishing time and we always try and maximize our catches for the amount of the time we have next to or on the lake. This makes us do things we should not do, like rushing to the water or rushing lures through the water at great speeds.

We always want more time, more time casting or figuring out the pattern, instead of fishing what is in front of us properly. Many times I have watched guys on the boat with me just over doing the casting thing.

Many casts don’t lead to many fish and many fish don’t always mean quality fish. Let me explain the theory of everything.

So many fish caught over so many years and never catching the fish I wanted to catch. It took a long time to realize that I was catching the wrong fish in the right areas. Looking at a potential area is easy when it is visible in front of you and how many times have you said to yourself “there has to be a bass in there”. The best part of that statement is that you were right but not the best fish was caught of it.

22 SA BASS February 2017

So we cast and within a couple of casts or first cast, we load up on the first taker and feel successful in the process.

For many years of tournament fishing I could not understand how the same guys came to the weigh in always weighing better bags. The answer is actually quite simple. These so called pro’s are doing what they are doing properly.

Some ten years ago I watched two Zimbabwean guys on Lake Darwendale, sitting in two wooden boats fishing for bass. I was on a bass boat behind them watching how they were fishing with the wrong rods and wrong line in the wrong spot and catching lunkers of 3 to 5kg. This stopped me fishing for about two hours just watching them, trying to figure this whole process. Everything we watched on ESPN and read was not being applied by these two guys but I would love to weigh those sorts of fish in a tournament.

They cast a 6 to 7 inch stick bait into a direction and then put the rod down on a wire bent rest on the front of their boats. They did this four times; yes four rods at a time were in the water, almost like carp fishing.

They then proceeded to roll a very large newspaper and tobacco cigarette which they enjoyed for a half an hour or more before one of the rods loaded. Keep in mind, not moving or twitching or swimming to get a bite just leaving it in one spot. No weights or tricks, just patience.

The other experience I had was taking my wife fishing on couple of occasions and after a lot of trash talk on the way there I knew she would love to whip my behind. As with some ladies on the boat they fish hard till 10’o ‘clock and then start losing interest and just becomes too much hard work for a fish. They then start to do the following; after the boat has stopped in an area of your choice they cast next to you or around you. I would catch four fish out of an area, making twenty casts; they still have only made one or two casts. So many times the bigger bite comes on the slower fishing. Yes, they might lose the fish in the fight but she still got the better bite. I have driven back so many days knowing that the better fish were hooked, and sometimes landed, by my wife.

Slow the lures down to a standstill

and work harder through the area.

Everybody knows that if three guys on a boat catch fish, the biggest normally wins the day and bragging rights.

Guys are surprised when you tell them to leave the lure in the zone and some guys really struggle to “dead stick� a bait properly.

Slowing it down means stopping it completely. Cast at the target, make sure you hit the bottom (whether fishing with plastic or a jig) and then just leave it. Bass are very inquisitive fish and it will take the bigger fish a little longer to react, but if they are there they will come and have a look.

A nice and easy technique to start this with is Texas rig, Mojo rig, or my favourite Shakey Head fishing.

Try it, it really makes a difference.

TAKEOFF IN SEASON

Seasonal tips and tricks

3 JERKBAIT ALTERNATIVES:

other odds and ends

SPOTTED BASS SUCCESS Target Bluffs and Transition Banks Now Several of the country’s best spotted bass fisheries lie just a long cast or two from Greg Bohannan’s Bentonville, Ark., home. Year-round access to these waters has allowed him to hone his skills in patterning spotted bass during late winter and into early spring.

“I like to target spotted bass early in the year because they are often more aggressive and less susceptible to cold fronts compared to largemouths,” he explains. “The first places I like to explore for big spotted bass are bluff wall ends. Transitions, located between bluffs and gravel banks, are my second choice.”

Bohannan believes that when water temperatures consistently register below 45 degrees, a Skirmish Baits AIM-7 suspending jerkbait will entice most spotted bass hovering along bluff walls. As water warms, he changes to a Skirmish Baits A10 crankbait and systematically probes transition bank bottoms.

“Forty-seven degrees is definitely the magic temperature, at least in the Ozarks, when spotted bass begin their migration from bluff walls to shallower transition areas,” Bohannan adds.

20 YEARS AGO …

PHOTO BY CHRIS BURGAN

By Paul Strege

1. Zack Birge Norman Deep Baby N “Even though the Deep Baby N is very effective in the spring, it’s often overlooked by anglers. I like to throw it on 10-pound-test fluorocarbon and slow-crank it along the bottom, similar to fishing a Wiggle Wart. My favorite colors are chartreuse/blueback or any of the craw colors.”

MARCH

Rick Clunn Got FLW Win No. 1 Date: Feb. 26-March 1, 1997 Location: Ross Barnett Reservoir, Mississippi Legendary angler Rick Clunn earned the first of three FLW Tour wins with a four-day total weight of 43 pounds, 7 ounces. He bested the likes of Ricky Green (second), David Fritts (sixth) and Peter Thliveros (eighth) for the win. The ultra-stingy reservoir did not yield many bass, as a mere 10-pound, 2ounce two-day total weight was adequate to finish in the money.

2. Ramie Colson Jr. SPRO Little John MD “It’s a versatile lure. You can retrieve it at a wide range of speeds, and the lip design helps it to run over branches without snagging. Spring craw is my favorite color of the bunch.”

DON’T FORGET THE ORIGINAL FLOATER For most regions of the country, the months of February and March are prime for jerkbaiting. Many of the seemingly endless models of jerkbaits in tackle shops can trace their ancestral roots back to a single lure – Rapala’s Original Floater, or the Finnish Minnow. The lure dates back to 1936, when Lauri Rapala utilized cork, tinfoil and photo negatives to create his first prototypes. The lure was an instant success. Today, the Original Floater populates millions of tackle boxes around the world.

“The Original Floater remains one of my favorite lures in the spring, especially when bass are guarding beds during the spawn,” says Kentucky pro Terry Bolton.

“I like to snap it down in short jerks and rolls, and pause it to hover over a bed. It does a really good job of aggravating spawning fish.”

24 SA BASS February 2017

3. Clark Reehm 1/2-ounce Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap “Lipless crankbaits produce decent numbers of quality fish during the spring.

Additionally, you can cover a ton of water and get fish to react even during a cold front.” ■

TAKEOFF

TECHNIQUES

T-SHOTTING

A SIMPLE IMPROVEMENT ON THE BRAID-TO-FLUOROCARBON LEADER SYSTEM

By Curtis Niedermier

D

avid Swendseid is a details guy.

Currently DUO Realis’ U.S. manager and R&D specialist, Swendseid has worked in product development and promotion in the fishing industry for nearly 25 years, primarily developing Japanese companies in the U.S. market. If you’re a fan of the tackle coming out of Japan, then you know that Japanese manufacturers sweat the small stuff. They measure in minute fractions of ounces, design with the most capable computer software, and polish up every last surface.

That attention to detail trickles down to the methods by which Japanese baits are fished and the equipment used to fish them. Which is where Swendseid comes in. He’s the guy who helps American anglers adopt new Japanese tackle and, when necessary, apply the new products to the American fishing scene.

Swendseid also possesses a cache of knowledge on the performance characteristics of fishing tackle and has developed systems for maximizing gear performance for a variety of popular techniques, particularly finesse techniques.

One such system is what he calls “T-shotting.” It’s actually a spin-off of a saltwater rigging system called topshotting, where anglers replace heavy tackle and monofilament line with light tackle and thin, high-strength braided line connected to a heavy shock leader.

Swendseid’s T-shotting adaptation combines braid and a long fluorocarbon leader on spinning tackle. It’s a great way to save money, cast farther and improve landing percentages using light-line techniques such as spybaiting.

The Knot Swendseid prefers the double-unit knot, which is one of the simplest to tie. For best results, he says the fluorocarbon needs to be wrapped around the braid with two wraps more than the braid gets wrapped around the fluorocarbon – nine wraps with the fluoro and seven with the braid, for instance. Swendseid says this helps prevent the wraps from slipping under pressure.

“The more refined your knot, the better the release on the spool – as long as you make the knot really tight,” Swendseid says. “If I’m fishing a tournament, I’ll drop a little bit of Super Glue on there and let it cure before I put it on the spool.”

1. fluorocarbon leader

Overlap both lines, and form a loop with the fluoro.

braid main line

2.

Wrap the fluoro tag end around both lines seven to nine times, passing each wrap through the loop.

3.

Draw the fluoro down, but don’t cinch. Repeat with the braid, making five to seven wraps.

4.

Draw down the braid.

The Setup BRAID – Fill the spinning reel with braid – up to 30-pound test.

FLUORO – Tie on about 25 to 35 feet of fluorocarbon in whatever pound-test rating you’re comfortable using.

5.

Lubricate and slide the two halves together.

Cinch by pulling on the tag ends, then trim.

SA BASS 25 February 2017

5 Advantages of T-Shotting The T-shotting system provides anglers with the benefits of fishing with straight fluorocarbon, including low stretch, low visibility and abrasion resistance. Yet it eliminates some of the headaches caused by a full spool of fluoro, which in some cases is so “springy” that the coils loosen or it tangles on a spinning reel’s spool and you end up with poor casting distance or a bird’s nest. Here are five key advantages.

1. The Reverse Belly

2. A Direct Connection

Braid and monofilament float, so when a long cast is made, the line can end up with a high point out on the surface of the water – curving from that point where the line is floating down to the lure. When a lure such as a jerkbait is twitched, the line could actually pull the lure in an upward direction. And when a fish bites, if it comes toward the angler, the angler might not feel the bite.

Conversely, the T-shotting system uses enough fluorocarbon, which sinks, that the line takes on a “reverse belly” shape. It slopes in a more direct path to the lure or along a slight U-shaped path, so that the line directly in front of the lure pulls more horizontally at the bait. Hookups and the action both improve.

The advantage of No. 1 primarily comes into play with suspending or middle water column baits. For bottom baits such as a shaky head or drop-shot, the sinking fluorocarbon provides a more direct-line connection for more responsive hooksets and increased control.

TRADITIONAL

mono

When line is twitched, the bait is pulled vertically.

line floats

3. Cost Savings Braid is expensive, but it lasts a long time, so using it as backing provides a cost savings because it rarely needs to be replaced. Similarly, the price of high-end fluorocarbons keeps increasing, but this system allows a simple filler spool to last much longer because the angler is replacing only 35 feet at a time.

4. Weight-Forward Casting and Control high point along the line

According to Swendseid, adding the braid essentially makes the reel’s spool shallower – it creates a larger inner diameter – which leads to what he calls a “weight-forward effect” on the fluorocarbon during the cast. Because the fluorocarbon is heavier per foot than the braid, the fluoro comes off the spool easier, without tangles.

“Your inertia is better,” he explains. “You don’t have to worry about springiness from inside the spool that bursts forward like you might with a full spool of fluorocarbon.”

When a fish bites it can swim at angler without him feeling it.

T-SHOTTING

braid

knot

When line is twitched, the bait is pulled straight ahead.

slight reverse belly

5. Knot Location

Long sinking fluorocarbon leader pulls the line down.

With short leaders, every time a fish surges near the boat, it applies pressure to the knot. When T-shotting, the knot is already on the spool when bass get close, so there’s really no weak point in the system.

If a fish bites, it pulls the line away and the angler always feels it.

T-shotting works with both spinning and baitcasting reels, though for many tournament anglers, the spinning applications probably outweigh the baitcasting applications. If you want to use it with a baitcaster, Swendseid recommends braid of 40-pound test or heavier, and a 12- to 25-pound-test fluorocarbon leader.

For flipping applications, he suggests tripling the length of the leader. This provides more line for the occasional retie, but you’ll still save money by not using a full spool of fluorocarbon.

26 SA BASS February 2017

PHOTO BY D.W. REED II

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TAKEOFF

BASS SCIENCE

UNDERSTANDING THE SPAWN

KNOWING WHERE AND WHEN BASS SPAWN IS OFTEN THE FIRST STEP TO SPRINGTIME SUCCESS

By TJ Maglio ILLUSTRATIONS BY RON FINGER

P

rocreation is the No. 1 goal of any species, as successful reproduction ensures continued existence. That’s why the spawn is the main event of the year for bass.

The annual spawning cycle is also prime time for anglers, as many personal bests and epic days are scored when bass are up shallow and heeding the urge to beget more of their kind.

Regardless of where in the country the spawn takes place, every bass fisherman can identify the telltale white saucers that indicate bass beds. Yet a good many anglers don’t truly understand how and why bass spawn, which can inhibit fishing success.

Here are a few insights.

Why Beds?

Bass are members of the sunfish family, and nestmaking is one of the functions that ties all sunfishes together. Bedding allows bass to ensure that more of their young are successfully hatched.

“Bass live in a tough neighborhood,” says Dr. Cory Suski, associate professor of environmental biology at the University of Illinois. “When a male bass sits over a bed, it’s ensuring that none of the local predators can get in and feast on the eggs. By sticking around, it’s giving the young a better opportunity to hatch successfully.”

In addition to protecting the brood from predation, male bass, which remain at the bed after the female leaves, also use their fins to circulate water through the nest, removing waste products providing oxygen, and preventing siltation. All such behaviors combined give bass fry a leg up on other fish that don’t provide any parental care.

Spawning Essentials Because bass inhabit such a wide range of waters, they’ve developed the ability to spawn successfully in an extremely wide range of locations, but there are several consistent variables.

“In general, they’re going to be looking for something with a fairly hard bottom so their eggs don’t sink into the sediment, and out of the current so they don’t get washed away,” Suski says. “However, in many bass waters, these types of locations are very limited, so they have to improvise. Beggars can’t be choosers, and their urge to procreate will usually overcome lack of suitable habitat.”

MOON PHASE For years, anglers have been convinced that moon phase is a great indicator of spawning activity. The truth is, across much of the bass range, there’s not much of a correlation.

“The No. 1 indicator of spawning activity for bass is photoperiod [length of day],” Suski says. “As the days get longer, spawning activity will increase, regardless of the moon phase. Second is water temperature. Bass eggs need a certain water temperature to mature properly, and when those two conditions get right, the bass will spawn.”

28 SA BASS February 2017

IDEAL SPAWNING LOCATIONS

LAKES & RESERVOIRS

RIVERS

TIDAL SYSTEMS

In lakes and reservoirs, suitable spawning habitat is abundant, so most bass bed in shallow bays, coves and flats. Smallmouths prefer areas that have small cobble or pea gravel, and largemouths will fan out a nest along pretty much any shallow shoreline.

Scoured hard bottom is everywhere in river systems such as the Ohio, Susquehanna and Columbia, but heavy current makes most of that habitat unsuitable for spawning. Consequently, bass will get out of the current and spawn in marinas, backwater lakes, around manmade features such as industrial loading areas and dredge holes, and behind major current breaks such as wingdams or large boulders. Smaller current breaks such as laydowns can work as well in areas with light flow.

Siltation is common in tidal systems, and ideal hard-bottom areas often are scarce. In the Mississippi River Delta or Atchafalaya Basin, for example, bass might be compelled to nest on lily pad root masses, stumps, cypress knees and even manmade features such as dock footings.

MORE TIPS FOR LOCATING SPAWNING BASS Watch for vegetation movement – If you know you’re in a spawning area and there’s emergent vegetation such as “hay grass,” cattails and small reeds, watch carefully as you ease through the area on the trolling motor. Bass sometimes reveal their location by bumping stalks and causing the plant above the water to move.

Study local vegetation – If you’re not sure what areas might attract spawners, particularly in grass-filled fisheries, talk to a local fisheries biologist or an experienced angler about the types of aquatic vegetation that grow there. Some plant life grows best in gravelly or sandy areas, which are the places that bass build nests. Find those plants, and you’ll find spawning bass.

Practice stealth and scan carefully – Most importantly, stay quiet in spawning areas. Don’t talk, and don’t slam compartment lids. Ease around on the trolling motor at a slow speed, without stopping and starting, and scan the water out in front for subtle movements, a “dark spot” that might actually be a bass tail or any discoloration on the lake bottom that might be a bed.

PHOTO BY SEAN OSTRUSZKA

By Curtis Niedermier

SA BASS 29 February 2017

>> SA BAARS PRODUCT NEWS

Don’t Hook Them -

Trap Them

A new hook made its debut in 2016 16 °ƋƉƋĘåƉƵŅųĬÚűŸƉĬ°ųčåŸƋƉŸŞŅųƋƉĀŸĘĜĹčƉ show, ICAST Florida USA. Trapper Tackle generated a huge buzz and earned “Best of Show” in the terminal Ƌ°ÎĩĬåƉÚĜƴĜŸĜŅĹţƉFƉĘ°ÚƉƋŅƉĀĹÚƉŅƚƋƉüŅųƉ myself, and you, if Trapper Tackle is the real deal or not.

Pro staff Vince Hurtado using a Trapper Tackle 3/0 Heavy Cover hook, as part of his Carolinarig set-up, scores a hefty Clear Lake Bass

>> Derrek Stewart*

I

made d arrangements to spend d a media d d day on the h water with Trapper Tackle pro staff angler, Vince Hurtado, on famed Clear Lake, California. The conditions were perfect, and we put the Trapper to the test with largemouth bass, both size, and numbers. It was just like Hurtado explained; once we hooked the fish they couldn’t jump off the Trapper.

Vision Trapper hooks are the brain child of Larry Davidson, a lifelong accomplished fisherman who has always had a knack for finding a better way of doing things. With a love of fishing and a disdain for losing fish, Davidson hit upon the Trapper idea.

Archaeologists dated the oldest known fishing hooks to approximately 42,000 years ago when humans fashioned the first J-hook from bone. Throughout history, the basic design and appearance of the standard fishing hook hasn’t changed, until the Trapper; what an amazing accomplishment.

Davidson shaped the first Trappers so they would better hold a plastic worm and eliminate sliding. He also wanted the hook point to sit so that it would begin penetrating immediately when an angler applies pressure. Soft plastic baits position perfectly on the Trapper. This provides less bait adjustment and bait longevity which translates to more fishing time. Davidson’s first field testing proved that his goals were not only met, but there was another great attribute to the design. The bass caught with his new hook design were pinned so well they couldn’t come off, they were trapped!

Davidson’s next step was to present his idea to the world. He approached George Catuogno the CEO of Landum Outdoors, who is now the parent brand for Trapper Tackle. Landum Outdoors built an elite team of industry professionals around Trapper, taking an excellent concept and fine-tuning it into greatness.

Better by design Landum’s team of investors, designers, researchers, developers, and promoters, has done their job well. Every aspect of the hooked was tuned, tested, and refined.

30 SA BASS February 2017

Multiple techniques, multiple lures, again and again, the bass, big or small, can’t escape the Trapper!

There are two types of hook points; piercing and cutting.

Trapper hooks pierce and typically puncture a symmetrical hole. Cutting points use asymmetrical edges along the hook point which slice flesh. This straight cut will increase in size during the pressure of a fight and can easily contribute to a lost fish.

The design is obviously different than any J-hook style, but here is the brilliance of the Trapper. The geometry of the box starts penetration immediately on a smooth pull during the hook set, and once hooked it keeps the fish trapped. When a fish is hooked with a traditional J-hook, during the fight, fish have the ability to slide up and down, as well as swing back and forth anywhere along the seamless curving wire between the barb and the eye bend of a traditional hook. If things line up for the fish, it can come from a position on the J-hook shaft and create enough force taking it right past the holding abilities of the hook’s barb, and it’s free.

An angler can execute everything correctly but due to traditional hook design and the dynamic forces of a fighting fish J-hooks can provide our quarry with a means for escape. The Trapper has three points that prevent this. A J-hook has only one, the barb. A fighting fish has to escape the holding mechanisms of a J-hook only once. With a Trapper, the fighting fish can take itself deeper into the box, and then has to escape three times sequentially. An angler that executes the hook-set well, and fights a fish soundly has the best odds of landing any fish when they’re using a Trapper.

This is excellent news for anglers fishing barbless hooks only waters. Bend down the barb on a Trapper, and you will

have the best barbless hook on the planet!

The future CEO George Catuogno sums it up well. “If given the choice between fishing with a good tool or a great tool, especially when the price point is comparable, it’s an obvious choice. Like every new tackle product, anglers will want to try something to prove it to themselves, but we’ve seen enough evidence to know that most anglers are going to come to the same conclusions as those who have gone before them - that this hook is not just evolutionary, it’s revolutionary. It’s going to change the way people think about hooks, and that excites me.”

The revolution is upon us, and Trapper Tackle is just getting started. I’m excited, and the possibilities appear to be limitless. *The author, Derrek Stewart of Venice Beach, California is an international multi-species angler with roots in freshwater bass fishing. You can follow his photojournalism, articles, and angling adventures at http://thebbz.com/content?tag=Derrek+Stewart.

Trapped; no sliding, no rocking, no pivoting

Left; a Trapper prototype and detail illustrate the line tie position aligning with the Trapper’s box centre axis.

Right; a whacky rigged stick bait and nose hooked shad style worm rigged on a drop-shot Live Bait Finesse Trapper SA BASS 31 February 2017

>> SA BASS BASICS

Start-up Tackle – Part 1

Rod, reel, line and lure selection will be the start-up angler’s most daunting task and an important time too, as it could mean wasting your hard earned salary on unnecessary gear. >> Roger Donaldson*

I

’ve tried out a variety of tackle brands and styles and there is a happy medium for everything that will ensure you’re catching fish soon and investing for the long term.

Anglers who are starting out need to comprehend a few integral factors about their new found sport and in some ways I like to relate bass fishing to golf. Just like in golf where you require a selection of clubs in order to achieve various distances, in bass fishing you will require different rods for the variety of fishing scenarios you’ll be faced with. For example; you will be confronted by bass in summer when they are resting and feeding beneath matted grass beds, or when they are

32 SA BASS February 2017

schooling around flooded timber deep beneath the water surface. These predicaments all present challenging opportunities for the angler and not just one rod, reel and line is going to cover it all effectively.

I remember my starting up days and fortunately at the time I was guided by anglers who had already long ago assembled numerous trophies for their achievements in competitive bass fishing. So let’s take this simple three step approach to help you cover the most common situations that you will encounter out there on the water.

1. The “every” situation rig: This is the rig you will use for 60%

of your fishing and will be otherwise known as your “go-to” rig. It will be most suited to fishing soft plastic baits, but you will be to fish many other lures, including top water varieties (spooks, skitter walk, and frogs), as well as spinnerbaits and medium to large crankbaits.

Rod selection: This fishing rod will have a medium heavy backbone and a medium-fast, or fast action tip. I’ve fished with 6’6”rods all the way up to 7’6” and I prefer the longer rods. The ability to get a positive hook-set when fishing soft plastic baits feels easier with the longer rod. I think you’ll be just fine with anything from 7ft and

upward. A younger person under ten years may find the 6’6” rod length more comfortable though. Ask your tackle store dealer to highlight where these rods are in their store and then put two of your favourites aside until you’ve found the reels that you want.

If you’re lucky you may be able to come in around R1000 for a rod that will last. Just remember; your fishing rods will spend most of the day facing the hash sunlight, as well as exposure to rain, and of course battling those fish you’ll be fighting. So get to grips with the fact that your fishing rod needs to be well constructed with quality eyelets, preferably a cork handle and graphite shaft.

Reel selection: This is where you can make your biggest mistake. Good reels cost money – a decent one around R1500.

The big differences you’ll notice in a good reel is that it will cast further, the drag will work far more smoothly when fighting fish and the internal parts will last much longer and possibly never fail at all. You may think the salesperson is trying to sell you something expensive, but believe me when I say that you do not want to buy cheap and end up going straight back to the tackle shop months later to buy what you should have the first time around.

The reel you want for most applications will have a gear ratio of around 7.0:1. I prefer the reels that bring the fish to you as quickly as possible. This doesn’t mean you’re going to miss out on ‘playing’ the fish, it simply means you’ll have the ability to take up line quickly to make the next cast (capitalising on time) as well as being able to keep up with the speed at which a bass can swim towards you once hooked!

Now that you’ve chosen your reel for the “every situation” rig connect it to the two rods you put aside and test the balance and feel of each. If it feels good, bag it and congratulate yourself as this will be the fishing rod you will likely spend most of your fishing time with.

Line selection: This is an incredibly important item of tackle and the extension between you and the fish you are targeting. For your first three fishing rods my suggestion would be to stick to monofilament fishing line. There are a host of brands available today and again I prompt you to ask the dealer to point you in the right direction. Be cognisant of the lines diameter though and try to select the monofilament with the lower diameter. Once you start looking at that detail you’ll know what differences there are. I personally prefer the greener colour line too, as it is just that much less visible in my opinion.

A good monofilament line has many advantages; it’s tough, casts easily, it does not sink – making it perfect for top water fishing, great for fishing jerkbaits, it allows for reasonable flexibility reducing the possibility of snapping your line when going for a solid hook-set, has very little ‘memory’(line-curl), and lastly compared to other lines it’s inexpensive too!

The breaking strain you choose is really important. Too strong and you’ll lose a lot of feel, you’ll experience impaired casting when using smaller/ light weight baits, and frustration will ensue. You will ultimately be choosing your line according to three main factors i.e. the structure/cover you are fishing in, the water clarity, and the lure you are using. To cover all your bases sufficiently I would suggest you select a breaking strain of around 15lb.

In the next issue we’ll look into bait selection when starting out and in order to cover all the scenarios you’ll be placed in while out on the water. *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 TOURNAMENT NEWS Schalk Gordon and the author, Mzi Tyhokolo at a National Championship Trial

WHY DO WE FISH?

>> Mzi Tyhokolo

W

hy do we fish for bass in particular? Whatever the answer, one that will do justice to the reason, we all wake up at ungodly hours, travelling thousands of kilometres in a year, spending thousands of Rands in tackle, and often hundreds of thousands more on bass boats in the chase for the glorious lunker, a PB or just simply the next catch.

For me, the answer came in the form of the most popular television series, Scandal in America and The Fixer in South Africa when the lead protagonist, Eli Pope, explains why he fishes. I will do no justice if I take excerpts from the quote, best to just lay it on you like it is: “You know people who don’t fish think that fishing is lazy or boring, but it is the complete opposite. There are a hundred little decisions to be made, variables to be considered. And you’re never quite sure what made the difference. Did I cast too high, too far to the left? Did I reel it in too slow or too fast? Is the lure too shiny or too dull? Do I stay here, or should I go over there? And you know it’s not luck, but you do not know by how much. People are predictable – unchanging, monotonous. They use the same language, they offer the same excuses and they make the same mistakes. People are endlessly disappointing. Because you hope they won’t be. I knew that she would need me. I knew that you’d come here begging for help.

This was all predictable, all disappointing. This is why I am 34 SA BASS February 2017

fishing. Because I am never disappointed out here; because I don’t expect anything and because anything is possible. I can be hopeful out here, even in failure, because I know if I just go out there, around that tree, it might be different, something might be different, something I do might make a difference.”

— Scandal, Rowan Pope You see, after reading that you want to do nothing but go fishing. And that, my friends, is why I fish, and maybe why you fish.

Now that we know why we do this and I don’t mean that other thousand reasons running through your head like the typical, oh it’s to get away from the missus; I hate malls and I’d rather go fishing; my friends invited me once and I caught this bass and since then I could never stop; and oh it is so therapeutic to be out in nature, just me, my thoughts and the fish. All these are valid reasons but I mean, Mr Pope over there just nailed it out the park and so eloquently described this greater, almost spiritual reason why we chase the little green monsters. And like he says, the hope, even in failure, is the reason we keep coming back for more.

The different facets of bass fishing Anything with as great a purpose as bass fishing has to have some structured approach to it where these experiences

Anglers waiting for the start of the National Championship Trial

Whether you are new at the sport of bass fishing, or fishing in general, or you are a seasoned angler, one question always lingers and the answers to this are quite varied.

Why do we fish?

are shared, where the “chosen ones” come together to pit their wits against each other in figuring out the hundred different decisions one has to make in the course of a fishing session. This gives us the different facets of bass fishing which mainly answers the “what” question of fishing. This means, what type of angler am I? What level of “enlightenment do I want to attain? What competence do I want to achieve in the sport?

The casual weekend angler These are the guys that fish mainly for the fun of it with no particular goal other than to catch fish on an outing. These guys will typically fish on weekends, with mates, when it is convenient. They typically only require some basic tackle and a basic boat, if at all. There is no technical approach other than get on the dam, go to our spot and try to catch ‘em. These guys will one day graduate to competitive anglers and form the supply base of the sport and effectively keep the sport alive as they create the critical mass required to sustain bass fishing. They do not particularly care about joining any formal structures like clubs and fish out of convenience.

Cast-for-Cash tournaments These are the monthly tournament trials which are considered the professional part of the sport. Here you see the bass boats in all sizes with decks full of rods with all sorts of lures. The objective here is to travel to different venues, not the local hole every weekend, and fish competitively against other anglers and everyone on the circuit considers themselves as pro-anglers. The prizes at the tournaments are unlike anything you will see on the American circuits where you only need to win once and you are kind of set for most of the year, with a $100 000 prize. The circuit in South Africa is much smaller and the sponsors are not as generous. If you consider fishing at this level you have to

be prepared to put quite a bit of money, and you may win enough to cover your entry fees for the season if you are lucky. But remember, riches are not why you are doing this in the first place.

The tournament trial is fished in order to sharpen your skills against the best in your region and you get to fish the various dams in your province. This allows you to learn to adapt to different water clarities, structures, depths, etc. and should you find yourself representing Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) South Africa in America; you would have had a decent preparation on the local circuit. There are various Cast-for-Cash tournaments in the different provinces and we can discuss the nitty gritty thereof in future articles.

Parting shot. You have not really tested your bass fishing skills until you have fished one of these tournament trials.

Heros and zeros are made here every month, and they are not necessarily different people.

The provincial and national championships Off the bat, this is not a money trial. At stake here is the honour to earn provincial and national colours and the camaraderie is unequalled. It is a multilevel multiple event process which takes place over a six-month period and ultimately culminates, based on your standing at the end of the season, in your participation at either the provincial or national championships. The details for this are on the SABAA website. Do yourself a favour, if you really want to belong to something great in bass fishing, to be part of a genuine fishing family, seriously look into this.

This article contains a snippet of what the various facets are all about and it’s quite possible to written an article on every one of them. This is something that can be discussed in future articles.

SA BASS 35 February 2017

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

Grubs come in many different shapes and sizes. Choose one to suite the technique and conditions

Size Depending on the weather and water conditions the size of your grub will play a big role in your day’s catch.

When fishing clear water bass will be easily spooked and you will have to scale down on your presentation. How heavy you need to go will be determined by the depth and wind. When fishing deep water I like to try and get away with a rig as light as possible. I found that bass likes to hit the grub while it’s dropping to the bottom. While it is falling the grub will be exposed to the bass for a longer period of time. Using smaller but longer grubs is another way to entice the bass. Instead of using a small jig head I prefer using very small Mojo weights or I will even go weightless where possible. When going the ultra light route you might want to use a spinning rod and reel setup; it will help you casting light grubs much further.

Colours There is such a wide variety of colours available that 36 SA BASS February 2017

>> Hendrik

I don’t think one can say there are only specific colours that are going to do the job. Whether it is Watermelon Seed, Junebug or Halloween Candy it’s all going to depend on the clarity of the water and what the weather has in store for you. But I would rather go with my favourite way and that is fishing darker colours during overcast or low light conditions and brighter colours during sunny or clear water conditions.

How to Weightless: I suggest that when fishing any type of grub weightless you need to use lures that are salt impregnated. Salt helps with the weight and makes it easier to get it down without a weight. Just cast it out, let it sink and bring it over the brush or structure.

Swim it: One of the old school techniques is to swim your grub

If I had to pick one small lure to catch big fish it would most certainly be a grub. Any experienced angler will know that grubs are like candy to bass. Grubs, for me, are one of the most versatile plastic baits on the market.

back with a slow steady retrieve. A grub with a big tail works well here.

Mojo: Of course an old faithful is the trusty Mojo rig with a light weight. Cast the lure out and bring it back with a slow, steady retrieve and a jerk once or twice while retrieving it.

Tips t 8IFO UIF XJOE JT CMPXJOH JU XJMM CF VTFMFTT UP DBTU JOUP the wind. Rather face the wind with the nose of the boat and then cast down wind and let it fall. The wave action will control the movement of the grub. t 8IFO JU T UJNF UP VTF IFBWZ MJOF EPO U NBLF UIF NJTUBLF of using a thin wire hook. You need to have a strong hook otherwise the bass will end up straightening the hook. Only use thin wire hooks with thin line. t %PO U CF TDBSFE UP TXJUDI UP HSVCT XIFO ZPV BSF VTJOH

crankbaits and the bass stops biting. The more subtle approach might prove very valuable. t :PV OFFE UP GPDVT PO XIBU UIF MVSF JT EPJOH XIJMF retrieving. You need to know exactly how it feels when the bass is not biting. It would then be very easy to know the difference between a bite and a nick on the bottom. t *OTUFBE PG KVTU QVMMJOH ZPVS MVSF UISPVHI UIF TUSVDUVSF rather jiggle it threw the structure. You will have less hung ups that way. t ɨFSF BSF TP NBOZ EJêFSFOU CSBOE HSVCT BWBJMBCMF JU JT almost impossible to keep track of all of them, but they all are very similar in some way or another. Selecting the right one and colour isn’t the hard part, the hard part is the way you set up your rig and how you present the lure.

Remember, it might just be a fish, but if you take how many times you have been outsmarted by just a fish, it makes you wonder who’s got the upper hand.

SA BASS 37 February 2017

>> SA BASS BOATING

An Time For Upgrade As with all aspects of our chosen sport, there are different stages of development in our happy days on the water. With recent rains at least the prospects of the coming months are looking a tad better. >> John Badenhorst

M

ost of us started out fishing from the bank and wading around our favourite backyard pond.

Then we decided it was time for an upgrade and the obvious next move would have been to either a canoe or even to something like a float tube. Upgrading in this fashion has now opened up greater possibilities and a different approach to our quarry. Spots that before were not accessible from the bank now suddenly offer some very interesting prospects and with that some of us even upgraded with regard to our tackle and our different styles of fishing. Let’s face it, for the average backyard pond this is absolutely ideal and having some sort of craft allows the angler to get into or fish particular areas that before had been on his or her wish list.

Having a float tube or canoe does have its limitations though. With a canoe you’re pretty limited in the amount of tackle that can be taken on an outing and rough weather does make moving around a bit of a hassle. There are also various safety factors to consider and being caught out on the water in an afternoon thunder storm is by all means not a pleasant experience as many anglers will attest to. Also, try getting from one spot to another in a howling wind and half or even more of your efforts and energy is used just to get to that hidden spot on the other side of the dam.

Another upgrade is in order and for most when it’s affordable on the cards. The next logical upgrade would be to a small inflatable and with so many brands available to anglers; we are actually spoilt for choice in this regard. From a basic one man or two man inflatable for around R2000 to a more advanced unit featuring fold out aluminium floor, 38 SA BASS February 2017

seating and plenty of space for more tackle, cooler box and all the trimmings of our pastime. Some of these inflatables can set you back as much as R3000 for a good second hand one or even upwards of R15000 for a top of the line brand new unit. The advantage here is that you as the angler now have more room for those extra rods and gear and as most of these come with a transom. The days of kicking and paddling to and from your honey hole becomes a distant memory with the addition of an entry level trolling motor operated with a 12V battery. Another big plus of having a decent inflatable is that your days out on the water can now be shared with a friend, family member or even in some cases the one you love. As some of these inflatables are also rated for two-stroke petrol motors, the possibilities become so much more as adding a petrol motor now gives you the chance to fish bigger venues and the ability to travel greater distances in search of fish. For some comps, a basic live-well can also be made and fitted as a removable device with your inflatable. Just look around, some folks are so well equipped on their inflatables that they even manage to fish the FLW Cast-for-Cash and these boats have all the trimmings like fish finders, trolling motor, petrol motor, live-well and more.

Inflating one of these takes mere minutes and being ready to fish shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes. The advantages are many but, just as in every upgrade; there are some disadvantages to keep in mind with inflatables. Always inflate your boat on some sort of ground sheet to avoid getting punctured, be mindful of submerged trees and like as in De Hoop Dam, submerged thorn trees. Check your

seams regularly and always have an emergency puncture kit on hand just in case. A recommendation would also be to have a good solid anchor if you’re going to fish a particular spot as every inflatable angler knows, wind plays with these craft and as they are filled with air, they will get blown all over the place. A 12V battery operated pump will also make life much easier for the inflatable angler.

Aaaah, and then... it’s time for another upgrade and this is where I recently found myself. After going through the whole process during the past seven years from walking the bank to getting a canoe and then to a small second hand inflatable, to getting an even bigger inflatable and then

to this point where my passion has driven me to go for something a bit more solid. Just spend some time and look around on the internet and you will find a myriad of small fishing boats available from plastic moulded boats like the Cavity Speedster to The Tug-10 and Tug-20 ranges plus everything in-between.

Incidentally, our first trip on De Hoop was with a cavity and even with a small trolling motor, we managed to get around and more importantly to get some good quality fish. Spending time on the internet will give you many more options and as some will know, there are some truly good bargains to be found but you have to get the info and

SA BASS 39 February 2017

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Here’s another easy e-mail competition for SA BASS readers!

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Bull Dawg Pro Rods are tough enough to throw big baits like magnum bulldogs, jerk baits and heavy top waters, and still have a sensitive tip with a blank that has the horsepower to hammer hooks into a trophy bass. Musky Innovation’s Bull Dawg Series Rods are the ultimate in freshwater fishing rods. Built with proprietary tTech microwave carbon fibers, these rods are light but incredibly strong. Each blank is IM-8 or greater and 100% carbon. Every rod has at least eleven guides to minimize stress along the curvature of the rod. Why do we overbuild our rods like this? Because when you are hammering the hooks into a monster fish at boat side, we don’t want you to worry about equipment failure.

Each rod has an ergonomically designed tapered cork handle for comfortable casting all day long. Fuji Alconite guides, long considered the best all-around guides in the world are standard on these rods.

The Professional Series of Bull Dawg Rods features a 5 year warranty, Fuji Alconite Guides, Fuji reel seat and our legendary tTec Bull Dawg blank.

These rods are available from 7’ to 9’ one piece in baitcasting, and 7’6” and 8’ in one and two-piece spincasting.

For more information call Hooked on Bass (Pty) Ltd during office hours on 010-0350-501 or visit their website www.hookedonbass.co.za

QUESTION: Who is the distributor for Bull Dawg Pro Rods in South Africa?

To enter simply e-mail your answer to: competitions@sabass.com to reach us on or before 20 February 2017.

RULES: The prize may not be exchanged for money The closing date for entries is 20 February 2017 To enter simply e-mail your answer to: competitions@sabass.com The first correct entry drawn on the closing date will be the winner By entering this competition you agree to all rules and accept that the decision of the publisher is final and that no correspondence thereto will be entertained This competition is open to all readers of SA BASS except employees of SA BASS, BB Print and Hooked on Bass (Pty) Ltd and their immediate families

get to the seller fast as good bargains for small boats don’t last long.

Some craft you will find while looking will need some work to be done and other will be perfect and almost brand new. Some will have a trailer included and others won’t. It all depends on your budget at this stage and if you’re prepared to put something nice together as a project. The big advantage of doing a small boat as a project is your ability to configure the layout the way you want it with rod holders, seating, storage and more. Having a small craft on a trailer has a major advantage when it comes to launching and getting off the water in that it takes a fraction of the time needed for an inflatable and your boat is always ready for action. Some of these craft can also be fitted with a rated two-stroke or four-stroke petrol motor and gives you the added advantage of even fitting a trolling motor too. No more worries about punctured pontoons and battery operated pumps or thorn trees and these craft are so light that they can be towed and in some cases launched with a small car. Stability on the water and overall space is another absolute key to having a good day out on the water.

As mentioned, while looking around and depending on your budget, you will come across second hand new boats in all shapes and sizes. In my upgrade, I opted for the Crackleback 360 Bass Lite. Weighing in at 180kg with two 8ft rod lockers, battery hatch, built in cooler box, dry tackle storage hatch and double live well, this boat has given me all I need out on the water. My little boat is rated to take a petrol motor up to 30hp or being so light as to be powered by a 34lb trolling motor as I have fitted to the front. I also have a chart plotter and fish finder installed. having a built in cooler box allows me to throw two bags of ice in the hatch, put in my water and drinks. The rod hatches allows me to have up to six fully rigged rods per hatch and my fishing partner has the same so for a quick change it does make life easier in many ways. My boat is configured with a typical bass boat deck layout and it’s an absolute pleasure because casting and fishing from a stable flat platform that’s raised from the surface of the water gives me an added opportunity to pitch cast into tight spaces. With 3.6m of deck space there is enough room for up to three anglers and being built on a cathedral hull it affords serious stability... even for my fly fishing buddy Brendan.

With every sport there comes a time to upgrade, a time to get something better or more advanced. The same applies to us as anglers, whether it’s an upgrade with a new rod and reel or a better fish finder or a bigger boat. We naturally strive for better and it’s an ongoing process. If you are in line for an upgrade, do some research, spend some time on the internet, get quotes and prices, and negotiate according to your budget and shop carefully to avoid disappointment along the way. To me as an angler, it does not matter whether you’re fishing from the bank, a canoe, a kick boat, inflatable or even a top of the line boat with a high performance motor and all the gadgets...

To me it’s all about enjoying what you’re doing and having fun while doing so.

Boat Package

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>> SA BASS

This Is... >> The Bass Addict

S

d outh Africa is a country diverse in its heritage and culture. A Land of stunning sunsets and even more breathtaking sunrises. A country where nature still happens to be untouched by man in some parts. A country where nature will bite, sting, scratch or even kill you if only given half the chance. There is a reason why some would say.....Africa is not for sissies.

As many anglers will bear witness over the years in a pursuit of fish, there are many critters, insects, reptiles and animals that would do you the most uncomfortable bodily harm while spending a relaxing day out in the wilds of South Africa.

Some anglers have had some truly horrific experiences and sadly, some have paid the ultimate price in their happy pursuit of those that dwell in the deep.

Eight legged, eight eyed and in some instances with a bad attitude and the ability to get into tight spaces like your underwear or clothing. The Violin Spider has highly cytotoxic venom and with an initial small bite site it does not cause major concern. But if left untreated will and can result in some very interesting scarring or even permanent damage to a limb. Thankfully this little critter is not very aggressive.

The Sac Spider might not kill you, but once again some interesting scarring may occur at the site of the bite and a wonderful headache that lasts two weeks. Cytotoxic venom usually affects the tissue and in some cases can result the bite 42 SA BASS February 2017

victim i i going i iinto shock h k ffrom secondary d untreated d iinfection. f i And who can forget the button spider. This infamous “black widow spider� (which is also found in brown) can be fatal to children and ill or infirm adults. But to healthy adults, will result in much pain, profuse sweating, raised blood pressure and a great deal of general discomfort. Being a neurotoxic, this is one not to play with. The three mentioned eight legged beauties occur all throughout Southern Africa and even further up the continent.

Having yet again eight legs, a front end with some nice little grips called pinchers and a rear end to make any human cringe is... the scorpion. This nocturnal bad boy loves dark holes and as a result, leaving your shoes outside the tent overnight might just end up with you doing a one legged rain dance when putting on your shoes the next morning.

Although, ranging from weakly to highly venomous with an extremely painful sting, we do have many species in South Africa. Especially children and toddlers are at risk from the venom which is neurotoxic. As some anglers will have you know, there is nothing like a scorpion sting to take your breath and pleasurable fishing trip away.

Forget Samuel L. Jackson and his snakes on a plane... this is real life. In real life that’s probably not going to happen but here we have some stars in a different class and any of these encountered is most likely to have wreaths, tears and six feet of dirt in your immediate future.

The black mamba is the largest venomous snake in Africa with the average adult reaching 2.5m in length. Although not black in colour, instead being a rather olive colour, the name comes from the ink black colour inside their mouths which is exposed when they feel threatened. Reaching a speed of around 20km/h, outrunning this slithery bad boy is not an option unless you’re training for the upcoming Olympics and you might happen to be faster than Bolt.

With a neurotoxic venom strong enough to capsize a dozen men in an hour and lightning quick strike of up to twelve times in an attack, this is an extremely aggressive snake by nature and requires immediate intensive medical attention or you would have a firsthand view of the so called “Pearly Gates”. Ironically with a mouth black inside and a head shaped like a coffin, this snake gives you a preview of where you will end up if you don’t steer clear.

Known to be the African continents deadliest snake is a big fat old seemingly sluggish brute called... the puff adder. This snake kills more humans than any other in Africa. Only reaching about 1m in length but being fat, their colour patterns vary according to habitat. Its cytotoxic venom causes severe pain, local swelling and discomfort that can result in death within 24 hours. With exceptionally long fangs, sometimes not even the strongest denim or boots will withstand a puff adder strike. Once again immediate intensive medical attention is required and will most probably include a prolonged stay in a local hospital. There are many more to mention like the night adder, Gaboon viper, green mamba and boomslang; all of which when encountered through a bite will result in great discomfort or even death.

I’ve always said... if someone has been in a deep coma for many years, simply release a mosquito or two in the same room and the patient will wake up instantly. Probably the most annoying sound on the planet, besides your partners snoring, this little winged critter has caused many deaths on this beautiful continent of ours. Sucking blood from its victims and in the process spreading colourful terms such as malaria, yellow fever, West Nile Fever and a new addition to the group, the Zika Virus. This tiny insect is the stuff that your medical aid nightmares are made of. Any of these could and in most cases will result in your expiry date coming a whole lot closer than your retirement or sell by date if not treated by medical experts.

A little bit less daunting but still as dangerous as any of the above mentioned is our humble little honey bee. We see them ever day around our gardens and on the flowers but encounter a swarm of them in the wild and they are not so cute anymore. To make matters worse, if you’re prone to allergies and happen to be allergic to bees you have a very real problem when attacked by a swarm. Even in some cases where victims had never shown any reaction to a sting, the sheer volume of a swarm of stings could result in another early expiry date.

Combined, hippo, crocodile, lions, leopards, baboons and the dumb looking African buffalo causes more humans to cash in their chips early than any other of our beautiful creatures. These are best avoided as encounters will result in either a mention in the personal column of the local newspaper or local radio news report. Sadly, some of these animals mostly attack when provoked or when caught unawares but there are those through history that have developed a taste for humans and see us as a walking chewy centred snack in their hunt for something much larger.

There are so many dangers in Africa and one simply has to keep in mind that in many cases where we seek our quarry, we are sharing it with an unspoilt nature and if provoked will bite, sting or even eat you very quickly. No amount of bug spray, snake repellent or the like will keep you completely out of harm’s way. Most of the dams we visit are rather isolated and medical assistance is not near so plan your trips carefully and always remember, This is Africa and Africa is not for sissies!

Tel 0861 282 282 info@armaiuris.co.za Authorised Financial Services Provider: FSP21529

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SA BASS 43 February 2017

>> SA BASS INTERVIEW

Live-well Tips

Joao Mendes has been fishing for many years in all types of bass tournaments over the country and is known to catch big fish. I’ve asked him advice on how to keep big fish alive during tournaments.

Top view of a live-well on a bass boat

This added ventilation system uses wind and nature to oxygenate the fish plus remove harmful gases that build up in the livewell

>> Bennie Wiese*

“

Landing a big fish must be one of the ultimate live experiences. Especially if it’s during an important tournament, then the rush is unbelievable.” Joao says with big smile on his face.

It is fine to catch bass every day and even seeing another angler catching one is awesome. “The question will always remain; can they keep that fish alive until weight-in. I have seen many anglers bring in a big dead fish and it breaks my heart.”

Fact of the matter is that many of those big fish will die after they have been released at the weigh-station due to injury, stress and especially during the hot summer months.

To take care of those big fish starts with a clean livewell which will increase the bass’ chances to survive? Make sure that you clean the live-well every time you return from a fishing trip. Remove all the water and lose particles that stayed behind in the live-well. Even if the live-well does have a metal mesh in front of the air ratting pumps, you still need to remove the fish scales, crab remains or anything that stayed behind. Unwanted bacteria will grow in the live-well which will infect bass and can be spread to 44 SA BASS February 2017

other venues. Another reason is that these leftovers can clog the air rating system over time.

Joao took me to his boat and showed me the live-well.

“Second thing, I believe that there must always be fresh water flowing into the live-well. Many live-wells take water in from below the surface line but you need to pump water into the live-well to circulate and add oxygen to the water.”

It is important to take note of the water temperature, especially during summer. When you are pulling bass from deep water there will be a temperature difference between where the bass came from and the live-well. “This can be live treating for the bass. I added a second temperature sensor to the live-well to monitor the temperature. That is why I take frozen two litre water bottles along on my fishing trips to cool the live-well’s water down to more or less the same temperature as where the bass came from.” Adding ice to the live-well is not a good idea because the ice-water has been treated with chemicals that are not good for fish. Using frozen bottled water keeps the chemicals away from the bass. There are also many additives available to keep the fish calm and help heal any wounds or parasite attacks.

Make sure fresh water is sprayed into the live-well

Make sure to clean your live-well after each fishing trip

Most bass boats have timers controlling the live-well’s air rating systems that can run on either auto or manual.

Joao prefers to control the water temperature manually.

The warmer the water the more frequently he will run the air raters. Also bigger bass needs more oxygen and if the weigh station is open then rather go and weigh the fish.

Another way to take care of fish is to invest in a rubber landing net. A fish’s skin is protected by mucus. The “slime” helps keep parasites, bacteria and fungus from growing.

The thin knotted string and nylon net bags remove a lot of slime. Smooth rubber nets remove much less. So, a rubber net puts less stress on a fish and increases their chances of survival after being caught.

Another reason you should use a rubber net is to save

An Oxygenator installed in a live-well separates the water molecules into their elemental parts namely hydrogen and oxygen

time. Many of us fish with treble hooks and after a fish is netted, the second hook almost always gets tangled in the net. It takes time to untangle the mess, which means it takes longer to release the fish and it takes longer for you to start fishing again. This is a big problem with string and nylon net bags, but is not a big problem with a rubber net.

If you have been participating in many tournaments then you must have learnt a few tricks on how to take care of your catch. If we can’t look after the bass; what will happen to the next generation? Just see how people are netting our dams, especially when the water levels are low. *Bennie Wiese is the editor of SA Bass magazine and an experienced provincial bass angler.

Completely Focussed on Fishing

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keith.knott@outdoorparadise.co.za For more specific details: Follow and like us on Facebook: "Knotts Outdoor Paradise" SA BASS 45 February 2017

>> SA BASS PRODUCT NEWS

Deeper Smart Pro+ Since Deeper Smart Sonar has been introduced at the end of last year, many articles have been written about this unique mobile fish finder.

>> Hannes Lindeque the device to create bathymetric maps while fishing onshore or off.

This makes Deeper Smart Sonar PRO+ the only available castable echo sounder that allows you to access accurate feature and fish-finding data that was previously available only on the consoles of fishing boats.

B

eing able to know what stands underwater, both from a structure and fish point of view, can be a huge advantage, and until now shore anglers had to rely mostly on guesswork, especially if their polarised sunglasses didn’t seem to be helpful.

Deeper currently has three different portable fish finders available. The classic version is the Deeper Smart Fishfinder 3.0, and they have also released The Deeper Pro and The Deeper Pro +. There are many similarities between these three fish finders, but there are also a lot of subtle differences that make these versions better in different circumstances.

How it works Basically, you simply tie it on an extra fishing rod, cast the transducer into the water and read the findings on your Smartphone.

In more detail; the Deeper Smart Sonar is designed to float on the water surface and scan the entire bottom and water column. It measures depth, water temperature, bottom structure, mark fish and then instantaneously streams all information wirelessly to your Smartphone or tablet. Deeper Smart Sonar PRO is a versatile, castable sonar; perfect for shore, kayak and boat fishing with a range of 100 meter and depth range of 40ft. The Deeper Smart Sonar PRO Plus series has an extra built in GPS feature that enables 46 SA BASS February 2017

Technical The device measures 6.5cm across (size of a tennis ball) and weighs only 100 grams. It is fitted with a Li-Poly 3.7V rechargeable battery and uses a dual beam (290kHz /90kHz) to scan the entire bottom and water column.

No cellular or mobile data usage is required. It comes with a rechargeable battery with six hour continuous use on a single charge and it completely recharges in only two hours. The remaining battery life is indicated on the screen so that you wouldn’t be caught off guard.

Take note: The use of the Deeper Sonar absorbs a lot of your receiving device’s battery power.

How to get started Looking at the quality of the packaging, and retail price, it is clear that the Deeper Sonar is not just another gimmick.

Inside the packaging there are three leaflets with all the “need to know”. (Murphy said: “If all else fails – read the instructions”.)

The Deeper is the size of a tennis ball

Step one will be to charge the device. It uses an USB cable to charge the internal battery. The onboard green LED light indicates when it is fully charged. It is recommended that you top-up the battery at least every six months and of course after each fishing trip.

Step 2: Download the application from APP Store or Google play.

Step 3: Start using the app, register or log in on the launch screen.

Step 4: Your Android system will connect automatically to “Deeper Wi-Fi”.

Step 5: Off course you first have to tie the device to something before you make a cast. I suggest that you don’t use your most expensive or favourite fishing rod. The device is quite heavy and can easily break your rod’s tip. (I used braided line to make sure I won’t lose it.)

Then launch the application on your Smartphone or tablet and cast the transducer beyond the target area.

As soon as the device hits the water surface it will automatically turn on and start sending information back to your Smartphone.

Settings At the top of the screen there are few useful icons: calendar, camera, weather forecast, note pad, maps and history.

The information received is displayed in colour and there are multiple settings to fine tune the display according your liking.

Under “sonar settings” one chooses the mode, frequency,

screen colour, vertical flasher, night fishing, depth alarms, fish alarm and fish depth.

What I liked most is the history tab. The software automatically records a video of the screen information every time the device is in the water, making it possible to go back and review the area.

The information can be linked to your Deeper, Facebook or Google account.

For those people who are not sure how to use the device, there is a simulation video included.

Accuracy Advanced high tech technology enables the Deeper Sonar to quickly transfer more accurate data. High scanning frequency (15 times/sec) allows device to capture fast moving objects and the scanning resolution measures the smallest objects, delivering the highest quality sonar data.

The Wi-Fi range might depend on weather conditions and the wave action may temporarily block the signal.

Note: Deeper Sonar does not work in small and narrow artificial water tanks like buckets or fish aquariums. Also, the image quality depends on the quality of your receiving device’s screen.

I’ve first tried the device fishing from the shore at a pond that I know very well and found that the depth measurements were quite accurate (at a slow retrieve rate of course); even more when I changed the settings from meter to feet.

The water temperature can either be displayed in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

With the device hanging in the water it drew the attention The Deeper Smart Sonar is designed to float on the water surface and scan the entire bottom and water column

SA BASS 47 February 2017

of a few bass and the fish alarms went off, indicating how deep they were from the surface.

The submerged water grass clearly showed on the screen and any structural changes on the bottom were accurately detected. Lay-downs and isolated rocks didn’t show on a small screen.

Down side It is possible to use only one fishing rod and switch between the sonar device and your fishing lures, but I wouldn’t recommend it. You will have to have at least two rods; one for fishing and one for casting the device.

Being next to the water and with cellular phones being very sensitive to water, it is wise to secure your receiving device (Smartphone or tablet) in such a way that it doesn’t drop into the water or get wet.

This screenshot shows the useful icons at the top and that the transducer is not connected

Conclusion First of all it is very important to define your expectations.

It is easy to bad mouth the device when comparing to the best of the best technology available, but then the device is not for you.

The Deeper Smart Sonar is perfect for anglers fishing from the shore, kayak, small craft and weekend anglers who want to know what is under the water at a reasonable price.

It measures depth, water temperature, bottom structure, mark fish and then instantaneously stream all information wirelessly to your Smartphone or tablet.

The water depth, surface water temperature, a drop off and submerged water grass are showing on the screen

Fish are suspending at ±1.2m from the surface above a hump and water grass. The battery of the transducer is still at 81% charged Cast the transducer past the target area

Order yours now from Cernotech in Fourways.

Call 011-465-3047 or 011-078-4433 or visit their website www.cernotech.net / www.deepersonar.co.za 48 SA BASS February 2017

>> SA BASS BASICS

10 Things You Need

>> Hendrik

How frustrating is it to start a day’s fishing with a bunch of hassles?

Having a crankbait tangled up in line can cost you a podium position in a tournament when time is of the essence.

E

ven when you are fishing for fun your mood can change very quickly if you have to struggle with some sort of issue. Tempers will start to flare up and before you know it you are stuck with a bad mood and there goes your fun.

Cheer up - all is not lost! There are many simple things you can do to make life a bit easier and it isn’t even going to cost an arm or a leg. Here are my favourite ten things to take along.

1. Hook holder Most bass fishing rods have a hook catch just above the grip of the reel.

This is a very important feature on a rod.

When you put your rod down, always hook the lure whether it is a 50 SA BASS February 2017

worm or hard bait. This will prevent the rods in your rod locker from tangling and will always keep the lures from getting stuck inside there.

Crankbait cover

2. Tools Whenever you go fishing without a trusty tool selection you will soon regret it - if you haven’t done so already. I’m not just talking about the mechanical tools, but the tools you need for your day’s fishing like clippers, scissors and a multi tool.

You will always need these tools to be close and easily accessible. There are very good quality tool holders available from your local tackle shop which will help you keep your tools organized.

A multi tool on the floor which

Trim your knots with a clipper, not your teeth

Hook holder

A culling beam

has been baking in the sun, instead of being in the holder, will make you curse when stepped on with bare feet.

you can preserve it, the better it is for your wallet.

3. Rod sock

I saw a picture of a guy who had a treble hook stuck in his big toe. It looked pretty painful. I also had a few hooks in my fingers before but never so bad that it had to be cut out. I can’t even tell you how many times I rushed to get my crankbait rod out of the locker and ended up with hooks imbedded in my hands. Now imagine it was your kid, or wife, or girl friend – not to mention the in-laws!

Well that is why I’m a true believer in crankbait covers. They are dirt cheap and you can even make them yourself. It will safe you so many hassles when it’s time to tack your rod out and you don’t need to start rigging. Another advantage to having crank covers is to protect your cranks from the sun. I’ve seen expensive lures cracking open due to extreme heat on the deck because many crankbaits don’t get custom paint jobs. Many are wrapped with a shrink wrap type of printed plastic.

A rod sock is as important for a rod as water to a bass. To travel hundreds of kilometres with you rods unprotected is unforgivable. This is one of the biggest reasons why rods get damaged and end up breaking.

Then we are not mentioning how many times rods in the rod locker are getting tangled up with each other. Out of frustration you will end up cutting lines to get the mess untangled. Let’s be honest, having rod socks will eliminate this problem.

4. Mojo rubbers

A colour coded system makes life easier

Line conditioner

Oval split ring

Protect your rods by using rod socks

I think Mojo rubbers are some anglers’ best friend. Since the Mojo rig was introduced our lives haven’t been the same. How can one fish a Mojo rig without pegging the weight? Well not with a tooth pick anymore. Those days are long gone.

You have no excuse for not having them onboard. They are very cheap and they are reusable as well. Many anglers prefer to use bobber stops, which are not wrong, but I prefer the original Mojo rubbers. Always wet your line to prevent it from being burnt and damaged when you move the weight.

5. Line conditioner Have you ever set the hook and the hook, lure and fish were just gone? Check to see if it was your knot, or was it a clean break? Test the line by taking a piece and make a normal knot. If the line keeps on breaking then it is bad news. The line is shot and there is nothing you can do about it, but you could have done something to prevent it by using a good quality line conditioner. The number one enemy of fluorocarbon lines are UV rays. Fishing a whole day in the sun will have its toll on your line for sure. That is where a good fishing line conditioner comes in.

By applying this on your line before and after a day’s fishing will extend the lines life by 25% and the longer

6. Crankbait covers

7. Oval split rings When it comes to the oval split ring a lot of anglers must have banged their heads against the wall because they didn’t think off it first. It is so ingenious and simple that a child could have thought about it. Doesn’t matter who you are and how good you can tie a knot, that knot is always going to end up where the wires meet on a normal split ring. When that happens your line could end up slipping between them and that is how you could lose your favourite crankbait. The ingenious design of the oval split rig changed all off that.

Now the split is on the long side of the split ring and that eliminates the problem. I saw that some well known brands have also made the transition from circle split ring to the oval ring.

Some avid anglers have sworn that the oval ring has changed the action of the lure for the better as well.

8. The absorber With boats ranging from the low SA BASS 51 February 2017

10K to astronomical amounts these days you would always want your baby to be shinny and sparkle, don’t you? So how do you keep it like that after a hard day’s fishing on Harties with the famous pea soup water? The start is a very low tech, low cost item called a “Shammy Cloth”. It is a very high absorbent cloth which you can get from any super market.

The moment your boat is of the water don’t stand around chatting. It will take you at most ten minutes to wipe your boat off. If you don’t, that muck will dry and then the ten minute wipe will turn in to a complete wash at home.

With today’s micro fibre cloths you might as well get a few with a can of aerosol polish. After the wipe down spray it on and wipe it off after it has dried. You won’t believe how this will also help to keep your boat from scratching when you are moving between trees.

9. Magnet and rope It can happen to anyone to drop a pair of pliers or a multi tool or something alike overboard. Luckily for me I had my trusty magnet on a rope with me. We were fishing next to a tree where we could keep our position. With no time and a few tries I managed to retrieve my pliers.

I’ve heard of guys losing their car keys and who had to swim after it. I guess they would have loved to have a homemade gadget like this on their boats.

Yes, chances are that you may not be successful but I put your chances at 50/50 and that is a whole lot better than a 100% of not getting it back at all.

10. Culling system Recently I fished a club competition at Bronkhorstspruit Dam and we were catching loads of bass but they all looked like they

came out off the same mould. It was very hard to decide which were the bigger fish with a difference between five and ten gram. That is where my culling system played a vital role. By being able to see which fish tipped the culling beam I could mark them with my floating buoys and keep the bigger ones separated from the other bass. By having a colour code system I knew which the heaviest bass was and which bass I needed to cull first. It made my life much easier.

A culling system might be expensive for some, but there is always a do-it-yourself section somewhere where one can see how to make one yourself. It is not that complicated.

These are some of my got-to-know tips and I’m sure everyone might have their own to add because we all want a stress free fishing environment. By having a handle on small things like this can only help.

has gone digital !!

GET YOUR FAVOURITE SA Bass MAGAZINE

DIGITALLY 14

BASICS

16

CLASSROOM

“Bass Fishing – An Intro” MicropterusSalmoides, commonly known as largemouth bass, are widespread in Southern Africa.

MicropterusDolomieu, commonly known as smallmouth,bass are also found in Southern Africa, but are not as widespread – Richard Grant

28

22

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

– Mark Bilbrey

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

24

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

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

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01 38 56 50

36

Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results GEAR UP READERS-go-BASSING LIFESTYLE Glossy Ibis “Glossy Ibis”

– Boating & Birding –

64

DESTINATION – Kam ‘Bati Bati River Lodge

40 41

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

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

– Hannes Lindeque (Jnr)

34

SABAA NEWS

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

– Philip Kemp

46

>> Bassin’ in Europe

54

>> Aloe Rock - Waterberg

BESTEMMING READERS’ COMPETITION 01

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

42

MY CAST

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

– Shandon Hawman

32

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

– Joe Mendes

26

CLASSROOM

63

30

“Short- or Long-Shank?”

What is one of the most over looked things that we miss when we are searching for the perfect hard bait? – Hendrik

18

>> Subscribe and win with COBB

49

>> SA Bass Readers Competition – Raylite Ultimate AGM Battery

43

Win with GRIP Hooks

MONTHLY GIVE AWAYS

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

– Craig Fraser

44

ITAGS Takes you directly to the SA BASS website.

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

ON THE COVER “Willie Swart” Image: Hannes Lindeque

SA BASS 03 November 2014

14

BASICS “Bass Fishing – An Intro” MicropterusSalmoides, commonly known as largemouth bass, are widespread in Southern Africa.

MicropterusDolomieu, commonly known as smallmouth,bass are also found in Southern Africa, but are not as widespread – Richard Grant

16

CLASSROOM

28 30

“Short- or Long-Shank?”

What is one of the most over looked things that we miss when we are searching for the perfect hard bait? – Hendrik

18 22

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

– Mark Bilbrey

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

24

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

– Joe Mendes

26

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

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

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01 38 56

MY CAST Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results GEAR UP

50

READERS-go-BASSING

63

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

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

– Shandon Hawman

32

64

DESTINATION – Kam ‘Bati Bati River Lodge

40 41

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

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

– Hannes Lindeque (Jnr)

34

BASICS

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

– Philip Kemp

36

ADVERTORIAL

42

TOURNAMENT NEWS

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

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

– Craig Fraser

44

SABAA NEWS

INTERNATIONAL KLASKAMER

46

>> Bassin’ in Europe

54

>> Aloe Rock - Waterberg

BESTEMMING READERS’ COMPETITION 01

>> Subscribe and win with COBB

49

>> SA Bass Readers Competition – Raylite Ultimate AGM Battery

MONTHLY GIVE AWAYS 43

Win with GRIP Hooks

ITAGS Takes you directly to the SA BASS website.

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

ON THE COVER “Willie Swart” Image: Hannes Lindeque

SA BASS 03 November 2014

Y ONL pm R28 Compatible with:

52 SA BASS February 2017

For your Apple, Android or Windows 8 http://www.magzter.com/

IF YOUR RECENT KNEE INJURY WAS CAUSED BY A TROLLING MOTOR RELATED INCIDENT.

YOU’RE A CAST-FOR-CASH KIND OF ANGLER

The Cast-for-Cash tournament series, the monthly social tournament trail for all those anglers who are mad about bassing and mad about fun.

For further information visit www.sabass.com

>> SA BASS CONSUMER NEWS

1. HEDDON POP´N IMAGE >> Distributed by Sensational Angling Supplies

The versatile Pop´n Image allows anglers to accomplish top water´s top two actions popping and walking the dog. The Heddon Pop’n Image is designed for cast ability and features a realistic finish, fish-like eyes and XCalibur rotating treble hooks.

2. HEDDON CHUG´N SPOOK JR. >> Distributed by Sensational Angling Supplies

The Chug´n Spook Jr. brings big surface commotion in a small package. The cupped chugging mouth of the Chug´n Spook Jr. catches and spits water while retaining the proven walk-the-dog action that made the Zara Spook one of the most respected and effective top water lures in history. The Chug´n Spook Jr. is available in both freshwater and saltwater versions. The freshwater version features ten colour patterns.

R

3. REBEL POPPIN’ FROG >> Distributed by Sensational Angling Supplies

On any body of water where frogs are targeted by bass, the Rebel Poppin’ Frog will put fish in the boat. The concave mouth design of the Rebel Poppin’ Frog creates a devastating commotion on the surface with its splashing and chugging action. Built with a realistic juvenile frog profile, the Rebel Popping Frog comes in a variety of amphibian colours that are sure to generate heart-stopping blow-ups.

4. REBEL SUPER POP-R >> Distributed by Sensational Angling Supplies

The Rebel Super Pop-R top water popper is the newest addition to Rebel’s Pop-R family.

54 SA BASS February 2017

Built with the same great action as the original Rebel Pop-R, the bigger Super Pop-R chugs, pops, and even walks-the-dog. Some of the upgrades include, Rebel’s G-Finish, which produces light reflections that more-accurately mirror a real baitfish. Also featuring premium components like XCalibur Tx3 rotating treble hooks with flash accents that keep fish pinned and big 3D eyes for added attraction.

5. DAMIKI D-POP 70 >>Distributed by Sensational Angling Supplies

The Damiki D-Pop 70 is a well crafted popper style bait that can also produce a tremendous walk-the-dog action. It sits in the water at a 45-degree when at rest, and can almost walkthe-dog in place if desired to prolong your time in the strike zone. A favourite of many anglers it causes a commotion in the water that smallmouth and largemouth have trouble resisting, and its action can be easily changed and manipulated by the angler. Available in a variety of colours, the Damiki D-Pop 70 features an unbeatable finish and two super sharp treble hooks, including a feathered tail hook.

6. MOTORGUIDE XI5 WIRELESS TROLLING MOTOR >>Distributed by Rutherford Marine

Motorguide is excited to introduce the new

Xi5 wireless trolling motor. The Xi5 marks a key milestone in our history. It is the culmination of a renewed focus and significant R&D investment to design, engineer and manufacture best-in class trolling motors. The Xi5 is designed to exceed the expectations of today’s discriminating customer. It’s engineered to be reliable every day– and durable over the long haul. Unlike the competition the new Xi5 includes wireless capability “right out of the box”, anglers can command precise motor and steering control from anywhere on the boat. A wireless foot pedal is standard with freshwater models and a hand-held remote is standard with saltwater models. Plus, we’ve made it stealthy quiet and silky smooth. And you’ll also see thoughtful details that make it safe and easy to use.

7. LOWRANCE HOOK 7X

superior noise rejection, making it easier to see baitfish and game fish targets.

8. BOATBUCKLE G2 RETRACTABLE TRANSOM TIE-DOWN >> Available from Knott’s Outdoor Paradise

This retractable transom tie-down system is like a seatbelt for your boat. Self-storing straps extend up to 43”, but automatically retract to hold the boat snug to the trailer. A built-in, one-hand ratchet with SUR-Grip rubber-grip handles and release lever snugs the strap with a lift and click.

Vinyl coating on the hooks protects your boat’s finish. One-bolt installation makes the BoatBuckle part of your trailer so it won’t get lost like conventional tie-downs. Rated capacity: 5,000 lbs/pair.

>> Distributed by Lowrance South Africa

The Lowrance Hook-7X is a fish finder that offers proven features at a great value without compromising the quality anglers have come to expect from Lowrance. The Hook-7X combines the benefits of CHIRP sonar and DownScan Imaging™ technology to give you a clear and complete view of the underwater environment beneath your boat. Featuring a brilliant 7-inch colour display, the Hook-7X is powered by high performance sonar with enhanced sonar sensitivity, excellent target separation and

9. HIGHROLLER RIPROLLER >>Available from Knott’s Outdoor Paradise

Designed for professional fisherman, HighRoller fishing lures are proven tough and performance tested. Originally made for largemouth and smallmouth bass, HighRoller offers poppers, aggressive walking baits, noisy crank baits and

world-class prop baits that outperform, out-cast and out-catch the competition. Their original HighRoller, a custom-walking lure, spooks the competition. Designed for exceptionally long casting, the original HighRoller is the most versatile lure they make.

The PopRoller is a subtle bait, ideal for calm conditions and river fishing for smallmouth bass and spotted bass. The RipRoller series is their number one seller due to the noise that the prop creates when ripped through the water.

The ChugRoller, with its echoing deep chug, calls fish from great depths and triggers dramatic strikes.

10. OUZO GOBY >> Available from World of Fishing

This unique bait was designed to mimic a real goby. After extensive testing the Ouzo team found this bait will imitate all bottom hugging bait fish including barbel, with its natural vertical tail and front pronounced fins that slowly fan back and forth at the slightest movement or move the bait more aggressively for rapid tail action of a fleeing bait fish.

Ouzos custom colours allow you to match the hatch for your region’s fresh water ponds. Hangon when using the Goby as fish will attack with explosive strikes.

11. YAMAMOTO ZAKO >> Available from Knott’s Outdoor Paradise

13. WOLF LURES MOTSUMI Designed by Brett Hite the Zako Swimbait joins the ranks of Yamamoto’s legendary line of soft plastic baits. Its segmented body and forked tail allow it to excel as a vibrating jig trailer, and its split-belly makes it a great choice for weedless Texas-rigging. The Zako also features a large-belly baitfish profile that perfectly mimics bluegill and shad, while also giving you more plastic to feed onto a jig-hook. Available in a wide range of Yamamoto’s signature colours, the Zako Swimbait is sure to be a staple in every angler’s box.

12. HILLBILLY ROUNDHEAD SHAKY HEAD >> Available from Knott’s Outdoor Paradise

Services Repairs Maintenance Authorized 56 SA BASS February 2017

The Hillbilly Shaky Football Heads are built around a super sharp 4/0 Mustad Ultra Point Hook with a black nickel finish. Each Shacky Head is also equipped with a screw-loc bait keeper. A great choice for tough days on the water and finicky fish with a horizontal line eye to help resist snags. Available in several sizes.

>> Distributed by Wolf Lures

A brand new exciting addition to the Wolf Lures range of soft plastics is the Wolf Motsumi.

Deriving its name from the Sotho word for “hunter, this bait is set to be hunted by the big boys. With legs and feelers imitating a range of creatures, this bait can be rigged Mojo, Texas, Carolina, on its own or even pinned as a trailer on a jig.

Fished slowly at a trawl or with erratic twitch movements, the Motsumi gives off more vibration and movement than most creature baits available.

What makes it so versatile is that it has just as much action when fished as a top water lure.

Available in two sizes, 9cm or 11cm, and a variety of colours. This bait has already proven itself during testing, with massively aggressive takes.

Scan the QR-code to see a video of this lure in action.

Contact us for a quote on any reel service or repair Tel: 078 548 1301 Email: hotreeltec@gmail.com Service Center

>> SA BASS PRODUCT NEWS

1

Essential items M Make sure your tackle box is restocked and you’re ready to go. Here are some eessential items which will make a huge difference to your fishing! Call Lowrance SSouth Africa or your nearest dealer for more information.

1. OceanLED Lights

2

Jazz up your boat and light up your wake with OceanLED’s Xtreme Trailer SSeries. These extremely bright lights create incredible night-time lighting effects aabove and below water which also attract fish and bait.

S Suitable for all hulls – you can expect the following: tt )JHI MVNFO PVUQVU FYUSFNFMZ SPCVTU BOE JNQBDU SFTJTUBOU tt &BTZ UP JOTUBMM PO UIF USBOTPN IVMM PS BCPWF XBUFS PO ZPVS 5 UPQ FOHJOF brackets (and more) tt "OE GPS OJHIU MBVODIJOH PO ZPVS USBJMFS PS UBJMHBUF tt 6MUSB -PX QPXFS ESBX OP TUBSU VQ DVSSFOU SFRVJSFE tt 3FWFSTF QPMBSJUZ QSPUFDUJPO tt IPVS MJGF

2. Esca Lures 2

3

Esca Lures use blinking lights to attract fish to your bait! At night-time or deep EFQUIT EJêFSFOU TFB DSFBUVSFT VTF B CVJMU JO MJHIU PSHBO UP OBWJHBUF PS BUUSBDU PUIFS E ëTI FJUIFS GPS TQBXOJOH PS GPS DBUDIJOH QSFZ &TDB -VSFT XPSL JO UIF TBNF XBZ ë &BDI UJOZ MJHIU XFJHIU CMVF PS HSFFO MVSF HFOFSBUFT JUT PXO FMFDUSJDJUZ OP CBUUFSJFT & OFFEFE BOE GFBUVSFT EJêFSFOU CMJOLJOH GSFRVFODJFT XIJDI NJNJD OBUVSBM MJHIUT JO O tthe sea. ɨFTF FOWJSPONFOUBMMZ GSJFOEMZ MVSFT BMTP FNJU UIF TBNF GSFRVFODZ BT LSJMM BOE TTRVJET XIJDI TUBSUT B GFFEJOH GSFO[Z CSJOHJOH UIF ëTI UP ZPV ɨFZ PêFS h hours of active fishing (salt water only).

3. Water Wolf underwater camera 3 Did you know you can see the world below your boat – for real!

D ɨF OJGUZ 8BUFS 8PMG VOEFSXBUFS DBNFSB JT HSFBU GPS USPMMJOH DBTUJOH ìPBU PS bbottom rig fishing.

Easily attaching to your line behind the lure – the camera becomes your eyes on ZZPVS SJHT VOEFSXBUFS SFWFBMJOH KVTU IPX ëTI CFIBWF UIFJS GFFEJOH IBCJUT BOE TUSJLF patterns! p :PV IBWF GPVS IPVST PG OPO TUPQ SFDPSEJOH PO B (# NJDSP 4% DBSE o SJHIU EPXO UP NFUSFT E

4

4. Salt Assassin 4 E Every boat maintenance kit should include this water-based protective ttreatment! Salt Assassin is good for: * Flushing an engine’s cooling system. * It breaks down and removes salt and corrosion. * Leaves motor rust-free and protected. * Treats over-heating from salt build-up. * Car washing - does not strip wax or bond to surfaces.

OPO IB[BSEPVT OPO UPYJD BOE CJPEFHSBEBCMF "WBJMBCMF JO › MJUSF USJHHFS CPUUMF MJUSF CPUUMF MJUSF CPUUMF MJUSF CPUUMFT MJUSF KFSSZ DBOT BSF BMTP BWBJMBCMF CZ TQFDJBM PSEFS For F more information on any of the above products call Steph at Lowrance SA on (031) 368 6649 or e-mail steph@lowrancesa.co.za or visit your nearest Lowrance dealer.

SA BASS 57 February 2017

>> SA BASS ROD BENDER

The Truth

In a previous issue the Commander and Chief of Under Water (USO) called agent Clay Banks and ordered him to deliver a report across the big blue to agent Rod Bender.

M

axx Dragg and Clay Bank, after meeting up are now on route to Rod Bender with a message that he is not going to be happy about. The Commander and Chief sent them and it was a direct order. Rod Bender has committed his life to the protection of his species and now he has to hear that the Aliens are everywhere. The intel was showing only limited sightings and encounters with these intruders, but in actual fact they have been around for a long time.

“Mr. Clay” Maxx calls, “How far still to go?”

“You just asked me that five minutes ago.” Clay replies impatiently.

“I know, but we have been travelling for days and surely we should be close.” Maxx says.

“We are close, about two hours of salt left then into clean fresh water, then about an hour to reach our destination.”

Clay says pointing east.

They both are reasonably tired and rather hungry. Even as well trained and extremely experienced agents they also need to refuel and rest from time to time. Finding a spot under a rock, a rock with a view, they settle for the night.

Looking through the crevice in the rock at the bright light in the sky Clay thinks back “So many nights under this

58 SA BASS February 2017

light”. He rolls over on his side to settle in for the night and sees Maxx, flat on his back, gills flaring, snoring like a whale swallowing a pipe. He has bubbles coming out of his mouth in a rhythmic fashion; two short then three long.

“I am never going to sleep tonight” Clay says to himself looking for sea weed to plug his ears.

He eventually fell asleep and woke up with a yellow light shining into their overnight apartment. Maxx is still snoring away but looking at him Clay see bubbles now coming out of both ends of this pile of muscle lying before him.

“That surely is not right” he says softly frowning at this spectacle before him.

“Maxx” Clay calls bumping him on his shoulder. “We have to get going” “Huh, huh… what?” Maxx says stumbling to an upright position.

“Food” is the first word out of Maxx’s mouth “I need to eat.” he says scratching under rocks close to him.

“We will find something before we cross over into the river.” Clay says feeling the same urge.

They are about 50km from crossing over and it is their best chance to find proper food before going to Rod.

Swimming at a reasonable pace they approach a reef in front of them and Clay shows Maxx with hand signals to keep his eyes open for breakfast .Getting closer to the reef Clay sees something strange on the surface.

“What is that?” he says to Maxx but before he could blink Maxx was off chasing after this what seemed to be a struggling peace of breakfast on the surface.

“Wait!!!” Clay calls but it was too late. Maxx was flying straight towards his pray, smashing into it at a rate of knots.

“I got it” Maxx calls back to Clay and then realizes that there is something stuck in his mouth.

“Get it of me!” Maxx shouts, swiping at it with his tail.

“Get it of me”.

He feels he is being pulled in a direction towards the surface and then for the first time Clay sees the real Maxx Dragg in action - pure muscle and machine coming together.

“No one pulls me around.” Clay heard Maxx mumble and then turned and swam down in his direction. Smiling at Clay Maxx snaps his head forward, crushing the weird piece of pink wood in his mouth, bending the wire that was holding it there and sending it floating out before him.

Destroyed!

“No one pulls me around.” Maxx says looking at Clay, “No one!”

Clay caught and shared his catch with Maxx and they were now ready to cross over into the river. After going up the river for a while Maxx looks at Clay “It tastes funny” he says.

“What?” Clay asks looking at him.

“The water.” he says.

“Yes, fresh and great.” Clay says smiling.

Reaching the coordinates on their trackers they need to look for Rod Bender.

“Are we in the right place?” Maxx asks Clay sounding very uncertain about their location.

“Yes, relax we are in the right place.” Clay replies.

“Morning Mam” Clay says to the first fish they find swimming by.

“We are looking for Rod Bender. Do you know him and maybe where he is?” Clay asks politely.

“Do I know him! Everybody knows him. A real saint and saviour of his species; of course I know him and you will find him at the Falls where Albert stays.” she says pointing them in a direction.

“Real saint; everybody love him…” Clay mumbles to himself. “A real hero, yada, yada, …” Clay carries on swimming in the direction she pointed.

Maxx is smiling at Clay as they swim of.

“What now?” Clay asks.

“I’m going to see my old friend, my partner, my favourite fish in the water.” Maxx says.

“Really, I just can’t wait to meet this super hero.” Clay mumbles again.

As they came over a ridge, they saw schools of younglings spread over a large area, all in lines, lines that form blocks.

Hundreds even thousands of them doing the same movements and singing military songs.

“Are my eyes deceiving me?” Clay asks Maxx perplexed with what he is seeing.

“No, no, this is Rod at his best.” Maxx says proudly.

“These younglings are being trained - trained like we were trained back in good old days.” Clay says concerned.

Rod sees them on the ridge and swims over immediately.

Maxx goes to meet him half way and they embrace, like old friends. They laugh and joke and embrace once again.

“Really happy to see each other.” Clay mumbles once again.

“Who is your friend?” Rod asks pointing in Clay’s direction.

“Banks, Clay Banks.” Clay says introducing himself as confidently as he can.

“I have heard about you...” Rod says looking him straight in the eye.

“We need, to talk.” Maxx interrupts this awkward stare down. “We really need to talk…” *In this series of articles Rod Bender, the director - Under Water USO (Unidentified Shadow Object) is called to help unsolve mysteries alien appearances, in and around Lake Eerie.

SA BASS 59 February 2017

>> SA BASS LIFESTYLE

White-fronted Plover

>> Jo Dreyer

A

break from the hustle and bustle is very important when it comes to the end of the work year. You don’t necessarily need to go away to fulfil the need, you simply need to find something you enjoy to unwind.

Some do go away while others simply go to their local fishing waters to get that well deserved break and some just stay home and enjoy the idea of not rising early and indulging in home comforts. This is usual practice for our family, but this year I decided that a visit to my mom would be the best ending to the busy year.

I didn’t give the family half a chance to protest, so after quite a few years of not going away over the festive season we packed up our stuff, loaded the car, hooked the boat and set off to the East Coast. My mom lives in a birder’s paradise which is why there was no holding back and no chance of an argument whether it was a great idea to do yet another long haul with the boat. The area where she lives is called Glen Eden and it host over 350 bird species of which most are easily seen if you know what to look for and if all you do is bird when you’re there. If I had my way I would definitely bird all day and all night as I can easily get carried away.

I had to curb my excitement when we finally got into the Wild Coast’s Jikeleza Route after the twelve hour drive from home, it is paradise! Once again the kids handled the long drive pretty well although a few moans and groans did come out this time but we did push to get there. I think 60 SA BASS February 2017

the beach calling this time was what made the drive seem longer for them however I could never see any drive as too long, I see a lot of birds on the way and that keeps me alert and entertained on any trip.

Rudi always keeps an eye on the weather conditions when we travel anywhere or when he goes fishing and the weather forecast for our trip seemed a bit gloomy but for some reason with it being mostly overcast coupled with the warmth, it was a perfect holiday. The birds of course enjoy it too. They seem to be more prolific and out in abundance when such weather presents itself. Instead of hiding under the forest’s canopy for protection from the blistering sun, they were able to roam freely and come out to the forest edges as well as

above the tree tops. The light wasn’t 100% adequate but it sufficed and I got amazing sightings and photos of the forest birds. No single bird stood out for me this time as they were all great to see although some birds needed a bit of coaxing to come closer for a photo.

The shoreline and beaches provided just such an abundance of birds, the coastal line in this part of our country beams with birdlife.

There were over thirty species of birds I found just flying over or living on the rocky beach and in the river mouth.

One specimen in particular which is visible on our entire coastline is the White-fronted Plover. This bird is so small at 17cm and so well camouflaged that you only really see

it if it moves, and when it moves, it moves fast! I had to stalk a number of them to get a great shot. They are very fascinating; it almost looks like they are trying to lure you to something with their body language and the way they move away, never taking their focus off you, but get too close and zip, they are gone.

Although the White-fronted Plover is found mainly on the entire Southern African coastline, it is sometimes found inland on large eastflowing rivers and pans.

It is a pale, grey-brown plover with a white forehead, cheeks, neck, chest and parts of the belly. On closer inspection you will observe the light brown plumage on the chest and belly, but in most non-breeding males, it looks absent. It has a darker greybrown crown which then lightens as it extends down the wings, back and tail. The eye is black with a fine stripe extending from the edge of the beak to just beyond the back the eye. It

has a short, thick, black beak which is used to quickly catch small insects, crustaceans, worms and molluscs on the beach and in between the rocks. Its legs are a very pale grey almost white with black tipped toes and nails. The tail has a bit of black feathers which are also present in the wing tips.

Two eggs are laid in a shallow scrape in gravel or sand. Eggs and young are tended to by both male and female.

I recommend the Jikeleza Route for an avid birder that needs to unwind and stay in a great area for a beach holiday. We practically stayed in the forest at a lodge and the deck where we ate extended to under the canopy of the trees. Only a short walk got you to the beach and the rocks.

There is a path that goes around the back of the forest which starts at the lodge and it hosts so many birds, you need not go anywhere else. I managed to list 140 bird species in the time I was birding although I know I could

have easily gotten 200 if I was left on my own.

The New Year has begun and new challenges are ahead and after our well-deserved break, I am ready!

As equally as it is important to unwind at the end of the year, it is very important to enjoy your hobbies and interests too. So take some time off when it is due and get out of the rat race and do what you love.

Happy Birding

R13500

SA BASS 61 February 2017

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS The size of each classified advertisement block is 44mm (w) x 40mm (h). Advertisers can book one or more blocks per issue. The cost is R271.00 VAT excluded, per block, per issue and is payable strictly upfront.

Advanced payment can be made into our BB Print bank account at ABSA, account number 404 881 8651, branch code: 334 645 before the 25th of each month to appear two months later.

Proof of payment plus a contact number must be faxed to 086 234 5026 or e-mailed to advertise@sabass.com

SELF CATERING COTTAGE

Self Catering Cottage t Off N11 Between Ladysmith & Newcastle t 6 Dams t 3 Beautiful en-suite bedrooms t Sleeps 6 t Fully Equipped t Bass Boat Available t Dam stocked with Trout Tel: 034 6511 664 - Cell 083 389 6614 www.thatcher.co.za

Championship – 28 to 30 July 2017

62 SA BASS February 2017

@

on o n

6SDFH CAGE 6

Here’s another easy e-mail competition for SA BASS readers!

Answer the easy question below and stand a chance to win a Space CAGE from Tonneau KING worth R2500!

The Space CAGE fits any bakkie and can just as easily be removed in seconds. Space CAGE gives you extra space for recreational equipment or work related activities. When the tailgate is down Space CAGE not only gives you more space, it also keeps the little things from sliding out. When the bakkie’s tailgate is up Space CAGE can also be flipped inwards to create a convenient boot area. Combined with its wrap around cargo net, it is perfect for keeping groceries, golf clubs, helmets, jerry cans, tool boxes, fishing gear, or any other smaller items in place that would normally lie loose in the back. Made from lightweight anodized aluminium and high impact UV protected nylon composite components, Space CAGE is tough enough to work hard and play hard while maintaining a cool, modern appearance.

Space CAGE also comes with a seven day money back guarantee for complete peace of mind.

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

02 - 08 April 2017 We at SA BASS are inviting all avid young anglers between the ages of 7-16 years to join us for loads of fun and adventure.

Venue: Boskoors Farm, 30km North of Pretoria on the Moloto Road.

For more information visit Tonneau KING’s website www.tonneauking.co.za or call them on 012-997-4544.

Email: sales@tonneauking.co.za

QUESTION: Who is the distributor for Space CAGE in South Africa?

To enter simply e-mail your answer to: competitions@sabass.com to reach us on or before 20 February 2017.

Bookings are essential!

We have limited spots available as we like to keep the number of campers at a minimum, to ensure that every child gets the necessary individual attention and guidance.

Please call Wilma on 087 808 5406 or 083 306 2718 to book your spot. For more information visit www.sabass.com or e-mail wilma@sabass.com

RULES: The prize may not be exchanged for money The closing date for entries is 20 February 2017 To enter simply e-mail your answer to: competitions@sabass.com The first correct entry drawn on the closing date will be the winner By entering this competition you agree to all rules and accept that the decision of the publisher is final and that no correspondence thereto will be entertained This competition is open to all readers of SA BASS except employees of SA BASS, BB Print and Tonneau KING and their immediate families.

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Southern Division Juniors 2016 Prize Giving

Junior

>> SA BASS SABAA NEWS

uniors anglers under the age of 18 years represent various bass clubs from around Gauteng that are affiliated to SABAA and they fished in four events from August to November 2016. The main objective was to make the eight man squad to represent the Southern Division to fish against all other provincial teams at the annual National Tournament which will be held at Wriggelswade Dam in the Eastern Cape in March 2017.

Our prize giving was held on Friday, 13 January 2017 and some important guests were invited to celebrate our year end function. In particular Gerry Leach, representing our senior committee, met with the juniors and told them that 35 years ago he was one of the pioneers that imported bass fingerlings and had invited Ray Scott the founder of Bass Anglers Sportsman`s Society in the USA, to come and promote the sport in South Africa.

64 SA BASS February 2017

Ltr: Reece Geldard, Luke Kloppers and Bryce Geldard

>> Ian Geldard* Gerry also thanked the sponsors who make bass angling grow as it has. The development of juniors is therefore critical and Darryl Quintin from Rapala VMC reminded us that the parents are responsible in helping take the sport forward and he congratulated the juniors on receiving their team colours and encouraged them to do well at the National event and continue with their passion in the seniors.

The junior president, Barry Grove, added official status to the function and confirmed that our season had indeed been a great success having attended a few weigh-ins and seen the quality of bass caught and more importantly the team spirit and fun the juniors were having.

Barry encouraged the team to do their best with the opportunity to qualify for the Junior Protea Team that would be hosting the very competitive Zimbabwe team in December 2017

for an international bass angling tournament.

Results 1

Luke Kloppers

2

Reece Geldard

3

Bryce Geldard

4

Jason Harrison

5

Joe Khourie

6

Tristan Franck

7

Kewan Ninaber

8

Jordan Kreser

9

Cameron Stonely (reserve)

The final results for the Southern Division Junior 2016 season are as follows: Biggest Fish - Bryce Geldard 3.19kg *Ian Geldard is the Southern Division Manager for Juniors