SA BASS Jan 2018

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

January 2018

Issue 201

E FRE k

Baicssue e Sav 9 R3

Lures for Beginners

5

Grub Basics the A-rig

www.sabass.com

Backyard Bassin’ | Bass Fishing in Summer | Fishing Crankbaits | Fishing Thermoclines | Michael Matthee Q&AQ&A Matthee Backyard Bassin’ | Bass Fishing in Summer | Fishing Crankbaits | Fishing Thermoclines | Michael Hosting FLW pro-angler MattMatt Reed | Industry News | Dag Saam MetMet Henry Petersen | Product News Hosting FLW pro-angler Reed | Industry News | Dag Saam Henry Petersen | Product News Psychology Competition Fishing | Destinations | Sonbrandroom & Knoffelsous | 3 Frogs...

Top Frogs...

Psychology of of Competition Fishing | Destinations | Sonbrandroom & Knoffelsous | 3 Top

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Contents

SA BASS Magazine

is published monthly (12 issues per annum)

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Bennie Wiese - bennie@sabass.com

Assistant Editor:

John Badenhorst

Field Editors:

Bryan Leppan, Colin Willmer, Derrek Stewart, Dewald Viljoen, Divan Coetzee, Evert Laubscher, Gareth Dryden, Gordon Brown, Hendrik, Joe Dreyer, John Badenhorst, Kevin Lofstedt, Louis Bezuidenhout, Mzi Tyhokolo, Neels Beneke, Philip Kemp, Roger Donaldson, Rowan Zerf, Rudi Dreyer

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REGULARS & FORUMS 06

SA BASS “Bass Fishing 2017/2018” Sitting here, writing this overview on Thursday morning the 30th of November, I contemplate what was, what is and the exciting times to come.

– John Badenhorst

08

INTERVIEW

12

MASTER CLASS

“20 Questions with Michael Matthee” The 31-year-old is a longtime winner in the South African tournament circuits who has earned alpha status in his home country with a blend of undying determination, skill and versatility – George Robey

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

SA BASS is designed as a specialist bass fishing publication and has catered for a welldefined niche market since April 2001. It enjoys the support and endorsement of nongovernment organisations, but is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group.

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

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

country’s people (including the youth), and to the practical conservation of the country’s natural resources.

Copyright is expressly reserved and nothing may be reproduced in part or whole without the permission of the publisher. All enquiries regarding editorial correspondence, manuscripts and photographs should be directed to: editor@sabass.com Address contributions to the editor.

Manuscripts, photos and artwork will be handled with care, but their safety cannot be guaranteed. Enclose a stamped, self addressed envelope with all editorial submissions.

The publisher and editorial staff are not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy or copy right of the material provided for publication in SA BASS magazine. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this magazine, the publisher does not accept responsibility for omissions or errors or their consequences. Readers are advised to use this information with the understanding that it is at their own risk. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, editorial staff or SA BASS Society.

“Basic Grub Fishing” Even after fishing grubs for over two decades, there are always new techniques coming to light when bass fishing.

– Gordon Brown

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.

14

TECHNIQUE “Dredging The Depths” Cranking is not for everyone. There are many reasons to avoid having to throw a crank. I can think of six reasons right of the bat.

– Divan Jurie Coetzee

16

28

BACKYARD BASSIN “Backyard Bassin for 2018” Backyard Bassin is a SA Bass Magazine initiative which started about a year ago with a few articles giving info on some local ponds.

– John Badenhorst

29

STRATEGY

26

“Bass Fishing in Summer Time” Summer fishing in my opinion is one of the best times of the year to pack the boat and head of to your favourite fishing spot to look for the post spawning fish – Calman Grobler & Dirk Smith

“Ribbokkloof, die Oukraalliedjie en Baarshengel” Jy met jou mandolientjie, ek met my bandolientjie, sing ons die Oukraalliedjie saam...

– Philip Kemp

CLASSROOM “Three Top Frogs” I’ve always had a selection of three frog style lures to choose from, as each of them act differently from one another and can be fished in different fishing scenarios.

– Roger Donaldson

STRATEGY

STRATEGIE

BESTEMMING

42

CLASSROOM “Fishing Thermoclines for Summer” This article discusses the influence of various scientific and physics principles on the world of fishing – Lourens Joubert

SA BAARS “Top 5 Sagte Plastiese Ase vir beginners en natuurlik die skoner geslag” Natuurlik bly ons dames gek oor enigiets wat pienk van kleur is.

– Marlene Kemp

KLASKAMER

CLASSROOM

40

44

32 “Sonbrandroom & Knoffelsous” Die lente het die jaar ook maar net vir ‘n oomblik kom gesig wys en nou is die somer ook al weer op ons.

Van vroeg... die rooidag in, voel jy reeds die son se intensie om jou vandag weer goed te laat les opsê.

– Philip Kemp

36

“‘n Dag Saam Met Henry Petersen” Dit is nogal intimiderend vir enige hengelaar (skrywer) om saam met ‘n hengelaar te hengel wat een van die uitgesoektes in ons land is – Philip Kemp

“Hosting FLW Pro - Matt Reed” Graceland Outdoors had the distinct privilege of hosting FLW pro-angler, Matt Reed on is South African excursion – Divan Coetzee

22

“The Alabama Rig” I fished the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship at Kentucky Lake and the Alabama Rig was one of my primary patterns and produced some key bites that helped me to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup – Michael Matthee

“Pshycology of Competition Fishing” Competition fishing is the measure of skill, temperament, determination, patience, courage, instinct and sometimes temptation.

TEMPTATION? What the hell?

– Kevin Lofstedt

30 20

TACTICS

34

SA BASS “Summer Fishing is Tough Work!”

The long days of summer are finally here!

You have been dreaming about these hot days all winter, but to be a successful bass angler at the height of summer is not as easy as you had hoped – Dewald Viljoen

CLASSROOM

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 04

MY CAST

18

READERS-go-BASSING

38

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48

>> Spinner What?

INDUSTRY NEWS

INTERVIEW

“Can You Handle The Pressure?”

Whenever I buy a fishing magazine, I always go straight to the “readers go fishing” section. I love looking at pictures of everyday people catching quality bass – Len de Kramer

ON THE COVER “Slade Hawman” Image: Shandon Hawman SA BASS 03 January 2018

has gone digital !!

GET YOUR FAVOURITE SA Bass MAGAZINE

DIGITALLY What are you beginning today? What new energy will you bring into your life? What will this New Year be about for you?

How will you use the gift of a new year? This coming year is a most precious gift, and once it’s gone, none of us will ever see it again. How did you use last year’s gift of time? Are you proud and pleased? Good! Use that energy to begin another year to be proud of.

There will always be many possibilities in life, it happens to you or to anyone else, if it’s making new friends, healing old wounds or having a great day with your family, make the most of it. Even the bad events, being human, we have gotten over them or most of them. So, if we look back to the past, we can gain the knowledge to look forward and bring our best abilities forward. By looking forward, it can help us to focus where we want to be or what we want. We would have the will to achieve instead of getting twisted all over in the troubles of the past.

Are you grateful for many gifts and much help from your Higher Source? The best way to show your gratitude is to take the help and make the most of it. Are you discouraged and despondent? Now is your chance to wipe the slate clean and begin anew, look for help if you don’t know where to start.

Anything can be healed or turned around, even if it’s just because you adjust your attitude.

Most of us will feel a mixture of these reactions to the past year, and a corresponding mix of anticipation and worry about the new. Give yourself a New Year’s gift: spend a few hours in contemplation of what has gone before, what you would like to keep going, and what you would like to change. My New Year’s gift to you is the following exercise, intending to help you take charge of yourself and your year from the beginning, and to help you take advantage of the renewal of energy that is possible now. You can do this alone or with friends, whichever feels better to you. You can make it as complex or simple as you wish. I’ve made this as non-denominational as I can, but feel free to modify it to suit your own faith.

Bennie Wiese / Editor

Y ONL pm R28

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04 SA BASS January 2018

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>> SA BASS

Bass Fishing

2 17/18 Jo

hn

Badenh

or s

this overview on Thursday morning the 30th of November, I contemplate what was, what is and the exciting times to come.

t

I

n bass fishing, we’ve seen incredible events, inventions and some epic failures in 2017. As a host and MC of various fishing tournaments around the country, those events mirror my sentiments this morning. Before a tournament there is that anticipation, excitement and a sense of adventure. During the tournament, it’s all focus, adrenalin and joy when landing that fish that counts. After the tournament we’re sometimes left feeling satisfied and sometimes coming down from that rush leaves us feeling rather empty... until the next big tournament.

2017 saw the first ever FLW South Africa Championship being held on our shores with anglers competing for a ticket to the USA. We saw South Africa host the 13th World Black Bass Championship. We saw various national, divisional and provincial championships being held too.

For some, it was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication in time and money just to be there. For others, the end result means going back and trying again for 2018.

Mike Matthee and his team mates represented FLW South Africa on their journey to the USA where Mike earned top honours.

The Proteas put their skills against thirteen countries from around the globe and took home the gold and title of World Black Bass Champions.

We’ve seen new developments in rods, reels, techniques and even lures like the 3D-Bat. Simply put, it’s been an exciting year for many anglers and there are even more exciting times to come.

FLW South Africa anglers; Henry Petersen, Michael Matthee and Wayne Louw at the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship, USA 08 SA BASS 06 January May 20122018

Sitting here, writing

>> John Badenhorst* 2018 sees the upcoming launch of an internet radio station broadcasting from South Africa with dedicated fishing shows on Thursday and Monday nights. We look forward and see the upcoming launch of the Basskings app via mobile devices, putting local anglers from all walks of life in a position to fish tournaments against the likes of Scott Martin, James Watson and more.

We hear rumours of new breakthroughs in technology in tackle and electronics. We continue looking ahead and see small craft tournaments giving their anglers the opportunity to head off to the USA as part of the FLW South Africa team at the 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship and I take another deep breath.

Apart from the current Cast-for-Cash tournament trial, FLW South Africa is also introducing the FLW SA Tour.

(In the USA the FLW Tour is the world’s premier bassfishing tournament circuit and home of the Forrest Wood Cup championship). Now our Cast-for-Cash anglers just have so much more allies to make their “dream come true” because in comparison with other tournaments, only FLW can guarantee international anglers a spot at the highest level of bass fishing; that is the Forrest Wood Cup! In addition to the FLW South Africa Small Craft Championship, FLW South Africa will be hosting an FLW South Africa Open Championship, giving non tournament anglers the opportunity to win BIG prizes. To top it off, we look forward to highly interesting television show on DStv kykNET in which our top FLW South Africa anglers will get national (and international) exposure. More details will soon be announced.

2017 was fun and exciting, but my bass fishing friends...

2018 will blow your mind. As a writer, radio presenter, MC, dedicated lure designer and an angler, I’m beyond excited for the future and as an amateur or pro angler, so should you be.

New articles, tournaments and challenges are ahead.

Let’s embrace it and make 2018 the best year yet. *John Badenhorst is assistant editor of SA BASS magazine and a keen angler himself. He is also a regular contributor for SA BASS and a custom lure maker for Wolf Lures, Flies & Feathers.

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BUILT-IN

QUICKDRAW CONTOURS

>> SA BASS INTERVIEW Matthee - Photo By Andy Hagedon

20 Questions

with Michael Matthee

08 SA BASS

January 2018

Matthee - Photo By Jesse Schultz

“I live and breathe just to catch fish,” says Michael Matthee.

Get to know FLW South Africa’s first Forrest Wood Cup qualifier

>> George Robey

T

he 31-year-old is a longtime winner in the South African tournament circuits who has earned alpha status in his home country with a blend of undying determination, skill and versatility. Look no further than his meteoric rise in the first ever sanctioned FLW South Africa fish-off.

Matthee and team mate Wayne Louw, swamped a field of 100 competitors to earn a berth in the Costa FLW Series Championship on Kentucky Lake in November, where he finished ninth overall and first in the International Division to qualify for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup at Lake Ouachita.

We wanted to learn more about Matthee and his prospects as a Cup competitor, so we assembled this list of 20 questions.

1. Where did you grow up?

I’m from South Africa and grew up in Centurion.

. 2. How did you get started fishing?

My parents are from Zimbabwe, and I spent many holidays there with my grandparents, fishing Kariba Dam, the Zambezi River, Darwendale and stayed often at my grandparent’s beautiful home on the banks of Lake Mazvikadei.

3. What types of fishing have you done in southern Africa?

Tiger fishing, deep-sea fishing, specimen carp fishing; those are some of my favourite fish species in southern Africa.

4. What inspires you about bass fishing?

From a very young age I was inspired by my grandfather

Published with the express permission of FLW - USA and father. I spent most weekends on the water fishing with them and learning this fantastic sport. As I got older I spent time watching all the pros and following them in the magazines. The American pros inspired me to become a professional fisherman. South Africa is a beautiful country, and I have been blessed to travel throughout southern Africa and meet people that are as passionate as I am about fishing. All these interactions inspire me.

5. What is your occupation?

I am currently a self-employed cabinetmaker. I started my business before I left school in 2003, borrowed my dad’s van and tools to do installations of cabinets, and earned enough money to buy my first machine. I started the business in my parents’ backyard, then moved to a very small rented factory. Today, 14 years later, I have my own much bigger factory with 30 employees. It’s hard work, but it allows me to go fishing every weekend, which is my biggest passion.

6. How does your business work ethic translate to fishing success?

My business is very disciplined. I am proud of our product and our service, and I think this shows who I am and the way I approach fishing.

7. What or who caused you to focus on competitive bass fishing?

My first introduction to competitive fishing was as a junior. I earned my Protea Colours a few times. Then I left competitive fishing to focus on my business. Eventually, I started with competitive fishing when a friend’s father asked me to fish a local club tournament, and from that day forward I was hooked. Now, all I can think of is bass fishing.

SA BASS 09 January 2018

opportunity to fish the Costa FLW Series Championship 8. How many tournaments do you fish in South Africa in a year, and what are some of with a chance to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup. your biggest successes?

12. Was the championship your first trip to Without a doubt, qualifying to compete in the Costa America?

FLW Series Championship through FLW South Africa is one of my greatest achievements. I am also proud to have earned both my South Africa Junior and Senior Protea Colours.

I fish a series of tournament circuits every year that keep me on the water most weekends, including, SABAA Divisional, SABAA Nationals, EBass, SA BASS Cast-forCash and FLW South Africa Gauteng Division.

9. What is your preferred method of bass fishing on your home waters?

Power fishing. Trolling motor on high, covering as much water as I can.

10. What were your top fishing strategies in Africa that enabled you to qualify for the Costa FLW Series Championship?

I fished completely different than the other competitors, always looking for something different. I like to show fish something different than what the other anglers are using.

It was tough to qualify because South Africa has so many top-quality anglers.

It was my first trip to the USA.

13. After qualification, what was your preparation plan? Was it difficult to make practice arrangements? And how much practice did you get?

I didn’t have much preparation. Three days before I left for the USA I was fishing SABAA National Championship here in SA. I did a lot of internet research on Kentucky Lake and a lot of mapping homework. I only had three days practice, one day from a tinny (aluminium johnboat) up at Kenlake Marina and two days on a Ranger boat I borrowed from FLW.

14. Who are your heroes in the world of bass fishing? Did you get to meet any of them at the championship?

Denny Brauer, KVD, Gerald Swindle, JT Kenney and Bryan Thrift. I was very fortunate to meet Bryan.

15. What did you think of Kentucky Lake?

11. What do you have to say about the trend toward international competition?

Wow. It’s massive. Completely different from any of our fisheries in South Africa. It’s an amazing Lake. I caught seven different species of fish.

I joined FLW South Africa for the opportunity to fish in the USA. This was a lifelong dream of mine, and when I qualified my dream came true. It took me about a week to realize that I actually qualified to fish the Costa FLW Series Championship and compete against some of the world’s best anglers. Thanks to FLW, many international anglers have been given the same opportunity. It’s a lifetime

16. What pattern did you develop, and how did it hold up during the tourney?

Matthee - Photo by D.Wreed

10 SA BASS January 2018

I developed two main patterns. Firstly, I targeted medium-depth water around 6 feet near schools of shad with a Zara Spook Jr. Secondly, I used an umbrella rig around deep bluffs and sand humps, covering lots of water, Matthee - Photo By Jesse Schultz

looking for bites. In practice, I found fish on rocky banks in medium to deeper water. Once I figured out where the fish were holding I would try and duplicate that on my electronic maps, looking for contour lines and channel edges.

17. How does fishing in Africa compare to American waters? What, if any, adjustments to your style had to be made?

I found that it was totally opposite to our fishing in Africa. We don’t have large roaming schools of shad here, and the baitfish we have do not school the same way, so I adjusted my strategy by using my deep-sea experience, finding baitfish to find bass.

18. Now that you qualified for the Cup at Lake Ouachita, what are your thoughts? Are you confident?

I am honoured and grateful to be representing South

Africa at the Forrest Wood Cup 2018 and hope this will take South Africa’s bass fishing to the next level. I must admit, I am a little intimidated to be fishing the biggest competition in bass fishing, but will put my heart and soul into the Forrest Wood Cup.

19. What will you do to prepare for Lake Ouachita? Do you have plans in place?

I will do a lot of homework and mapping and research on the lake. I do not have any plans in place yet but plan to travel across the ocean and practice for at least seven days.

20. What are your future plans? Any thoughts of joining the FLW Tour?

The plan is to fish the Forrest Wood Cup in 2018 and join the FLW Tour in 2019. The only things stopping me from joining the Tour in 2018 are some business matters.

Scan this QR-code to see a video of the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship highlights

2018 Forrest Wood Cup, Lake Ouachita, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 10 - 12 August 2018

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SA BASS 11 January 2018

>> SA BASS MASTER CLASS

Basic Grub FISHING (YHQ DIWHU ÂżVKLQJ JUXEV IRU RYHU WZR GHFDGHV WKHUH DUH DOZD\V QHZ WHFKQLTXHV FRPLQJ WR OLJKW ZKHQ EDVV ÂżVKLQJ ,I \RX KDYH MXVW VWDUWHG EDVV ÂżVKLQJ RU KDYH GRQH VRPH JUXEELQJ , ZLOO VKDUH VRPH LQWHUHVWLQJ LQIR ZKLFK ZLOO SXW D EDVV RQ WKH HQG RI \RXU OLQH ZKHQ ÂżVKLQJ JUXEV >> Gordon Brown*

R

slide freely. Using a 7ft rod and 12lb to 15lb line, cast the 4,5� grub out and let it fall to the bottom on a controlled slack line. In any technique always watch your line, often a fish will take your bait on the way down. Now work the bait back with hop/swim motion always keeping in contact with the bottom from time to time. This technique is most suited for fishing structure e.g. over rocks, lay-downs, stumps any solid cover or even along reed banks.

A Texas rig is also very good for pitching trees and heavy cover. For this technique, always put a rubber stopper Âą50mm on the line above your sinker. This is to stop the sinker from sliding up your line when working the grub through the cover. When this happens, you will not detect all the bites.

Texas rig

Carolina rig

12 SA BASS January 2018

Magic Mix Black

rig

Another An nother way is fishing the grub on a “Carolina rig.�

Thiis is done by placing a Ÿ, 3/8 or ½ oz ball sinker This on n your line, then tying on a small swivel and ¹500 mm of line from the swivel to a 4/0 wide gap hook. m The size of your weight will be determined by the depth of water you are fishing. The deeper the

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The first basic technique is a Texas rig. Slide a Âź oz bullett weight up your line and tie on 4/0 wide gap hook on the line. The weight should

T

ight now some people may ask “what is a grub?�

Well, a grub is a short, fat body, almost a cigar shaped plastic bait with a broad thin oversized tail.

The thin tail designed for maximum flutter at minimum retrieval speeds. Grubs these days are more lifelike and resemble bait fish bass feed on, like kurper, bluegill, etc. with smoke, salt and pepper, Junebug, watermelon, green pumpkin, etc. colours and various coloured flakes.

A grub that has produced large numbers of good bass is the Damiki Mr Jumbo 4½�. Shoo ---! It is a well-kept secret for a good while! Although Damiki and other manufacturers make grubs from 1� to 6� in size the Mr. Jumbo is great for catching those keeper fish and bigger bass.

water, the heavier the weight e.g. 15ft or more use a ½ oz sinker. This trace (±500 mm) I like to use 12lb line. This rig is very versatile as it can be pulled through structure as in the Texas method but is more suited for fishing open banks, points and drop-offs. The beauty of this method is one can cover a large area in a short space of time. When fishing grass or weed the some method is used by replacing the ball sinker and swivel with a #1, 2 or 3 Mojo sinker using rubber stoppers.

Weighted keel hook The last rig I want to expand on is the weighted keel hook with a screw lock on the eye of the hook. To rig the grub, just turn the head of the grub into the little wire screw lock up to the eye of the hook. I prefer to end the grub with the tail facing down. This gives the bait more action when the grub is falling. These weighted hooks come in different weights for the same size hook. Try fishing different weights. I like a lighter weight 3/32 oz when fishing over vegetation or grass beds and a slightly

heavier ⅛ oz when fishing deeper structure. You will see how natural this magnificent 4,5” grub swims as you fish this bait through grass etc. As mentioned before, grubs come in different sizes. Using a 2” or 3” grub is also very effective. When using smaller grubs, downsize your hook.

This is when one can switch to a spinning tackle and use 8lb to 10lb line.

Finally, in clear water at this time of the year watermelon red or watermelon gold are excellent colours. In the more off coloured water green pumpkin or Junebug are a better choice. One colour that has had great success is “black magic mix.” Shoo ---!

The grub is a bait that can be fished all year round; at any time in a variety of structures. So the next time you are out basin, serve your fish a decadent Mr. Jumbo grub, using one of the above techniques and you will be satisfied to the full. *Gordon Brown is a multiple Protea bass angler and a regular SA Bass contributor.

How to rig a grub: Step 1 – Insert the hook’s point about 10mm into the lure’s head Step 2 – Push the point through and slide the lure up the shank to cover the hook’s eye. Rotate the hook one-half turn and lay the hook over the bait.

Step 3 – Avoid twisting the grub and push the hook through the lure.

Step 4 – Make the hook weedless by skinhooking the point back into the lure.

1

3

2

4

SA BASS 13 January 2018

>> SA BASS TECHNIQUE

Dredging T >> Divan Jurie Coetzee Cranking is not for everyone. There are many reasons to avoid having to throw a crank. I can think of six reasons right of the bat. Secondly, the proper models cost more than a decent bottle of single malt. But make no mistake, if you don’t have a selection of decent crankbaits capable of covering a large spectrum, you’re definitely missing out.

D

eep cranking is hard work... making a thousand odd casts a day with a heavy duty 7’11 cranking rod tends to ruin my evening somewhat.

If I have to be honest, for me, it’s probably one of the most fool proof methods of catching bass, all it requires is for you to take an almighty swing, fling that sucker out as far as your tackle allows, and reel it straight back to the boat. That’s the easy part, the difficult part starts with establishing a viable pattern. Firstly you need to select areas that are within the running depth of the average deep diving crank, which is about 20ft. Fishing any deeper would not be as productive unless there is sufficient cover in the water column. Hitting bottom for as long as possible during the retrieve will get you the best results. If the bank you are fishing has a heavy slope, it is recommended to cast parallel with the shoreline to ensure that the bait runs in the preferred depth zone for a longer period of time.

Using your electronics to establish what depth the fish are relating to will narrow down the zone you need to focus on.

Without electronics, you have to do it the old fashioned way, start shallow and work your way deeper until you find something to guide you in the right direction. Persistence is key! Making ten casts and putting the rod back in the hatch is no good.

Considering depth Selecting the correct bait to match the depth the fish are holding at is critical. There’s no point in throwing a 10ft bait in 20ft of water when the fish are relating to the bottom. One needs to over compensate with regards to depth. If the fish are sitting on the bottom at 20ft, then you need to tie on something that will go down to at least 27ft or more. Big cranks cover a long distance before hitting their stated depth, thus long casts are required to ensure bottom contact at some stage during the retrieve. If the fish are sitting in 15ft, throw a bait that goes down to 22ft... you get the picture. Once you have established what depth the bites are coming from it’s easy to duplicate the pattern in other areas.

Quality vs quantity

The Z-Boss 25. Note the slanted head that aids diving and reduces resistance when coming through the water 14 SA BASS January 2018

Not all crankbaits are created equal. Stay away from cheap imitations, they only pile up. Rather purchase proper quality baits and invest in a lure retriever as a matter of principle. Baits can successfully be recovered if used correctly and conditions allow. The fear of losing

The Depths an expensive bait obviously plays a major role, but that’s part of the package. The irony is that we spend a fortune on a proper selection and yet we all revert back to the same confidence baits every time, more than 80% of my hardbaits has not seen water in over three years, I’m sure many of you can relate.

Bait styles There are two primary styles of crankbaits to choose from, round sided or flat sided. The fundamental difference between the two would be the hydrodynamic signature, the round sided bait would have a wider, more pronounced wobble, whilst the flat sided bait will have a much tighter action. Bill and head design also play a major role in terms of the depth gained versus the distance covered. The quicker the bait gets down the better.

Most deep diving crankbaits from several different companies are similar in profile and colour pattern. Tiny details separates the excellent from the average - a simple design tweak that reduces the amount of resistance the bait offers, making bite detection easier and takes strain off you and your gear.

Tackle setup To effectively be able to fish a deep diving bait you need a rod capable of wielding it. Some of the bigger baits weigh up to two ounces and requires an application specific rod.

Standard 20ft baits don’t require special treatment, a 7’6 or 7’11 cranking rod should be fine. Reel choice is a personal thing along with line class. My advice would be to go as heavy as you can get away with. Twelve to 15lb would be a good general choice for large cranks.

These baits are similar in size and profile, yet they differ vastly with regards to action and how quickly they attain their stated depth

In closing, deep water cranking remains one of the most effective ways to target summer bass. Fish migrate to offshore areas and tend to bunch together. This provides the opportunity to get several good fish from one area, but you still have to find it! Learn to interpret your electronics properly and look for those key, isolated areas. Get the bait to make contact with either the bottom or cover and be persistent. See you on the water!

Contact us for a quote on any reel service or repair Services Repairs Maintenance

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Tel: 078 548 1301 Email: hotreeltec@gmail.com Service Center SA BASS 15 January 2018

>> > > SA SA BASS BASS B BACKYARD ACKYARD BASSIN BASSIIN

BACKYARD

Bassin for 2018 >> John Badenhorst*

B

ackyard Bassin is a SA Bass Magazine initiative which started about a year ago with a few articles giving info on some local ponds. The aim of the articles is to inform readers of the so called smaller venues which are literally on our very own doorstep and what the potential fishing prospects are for these venues.

During 2018, assistant editor John Badenhorst will be writing a series of articles on a monthly basis with the emphasis on explaining the tactics used on various venues and his approach to getting the best possible results on these waters. Not all anglers have access to big boats with all the gadgetry and as we know, there are many bank, kayak, float tube, kickboat and small craft anglers out on the water every weekend and these informative articles will use a small craft approach.

Using a Crackleback 360 Bass Lite from Escape Boating in Benoni and fitted with the latest power plant in the form of a long shaft Yamaha 15hp motor from Yamaha Distributors and electronics from Lowrance, this series of articles are sure to give readers a better understanding of the prospective venues to be featured.

There will also be regular lure reviews as part of the series with various lure suppliers and manufacturers

16 SA BASS January 2018

supplying their latest baits for testing. As part of this upcoming series in general, video clips will also be filmed and edited out on the water, showing the best tactics and lure rigging methods.

During a recent radio interview, John had this to say: “I’m very excited to be doing this feature again for the New Year.

With enough space to fit all the tackle and rods needed and bigger deck space than most boats its size or even bigger boats, Neil from Escape Boating has helped with the procurement of his latest Crackleback Lite which is easy to launch, super stable in rough water and handles like a dream. Having the new Yamaha 15hp from Yamaha Distributors also allows for quick access to better spots and thus, giving more time actually fishing than moving from one spot to another.” He said further: “Smaller dams can have their moods, just like bigger venues and hopefully our approach to these venues and sharing that information and techniques will help other anglers get better results. Some places are tough by nature, but this is after all why we call it fishing.”

The first venue that will be featured will be Bronkhorstspruit. For some anglers, an easy venue and yet for others, known as a tough venue. *John Badenhorst is assistant editor of SA BASS magazine and a keen angler himself. He is also a regular contributor for SA BASS and a custom lure maker for Wolf Lures, Flies & Feathers.

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.

NEW PB

FIRST BASS I recently caught my first bass at Rust de Winter Dam. It weighed ±1,5kg and was caught on grubs. It is my biggest catch ever! I’m very proud of myself – Danette de Lange

This is my new PB, weighing 1,5kg! It was caught in the Umgeni River right before Nagle Dam. It is very scenic and has tons of cover to fish. The fish was caught on a pumpkin coloured Zoom Trick Worm. The fish gave a lovely fight and was released for someone else’s future enjoyment.

– Jason Wing

WORTH IT We went for a fishing trip to a private dam in Thabazimbi this past weekend.

Even though it was cold, wet and windy, I caught this 3.6kg beauty at 12:30, which is now my new personal best.

I tore my ankle ligaments runnig back to the water after the weight measurement, but it was definitely worth it. She was safely released to be caught again another day, when she grows past 4kg. Thank you for a great bass fishing magazine.

– Llewellyn Kruger 18 SA BASS January 2018

WELL DONE Keaton Ramsey caught his first ever bass of 0,863kg at Roodekopjes Dam on a white Hillbilly spinnerbait. He said it felt like the bass was going to pull him of the boat.

He fought back and lip landed this beautiful bass himself.

– Hennie Wiese

MONSTER

WACKY Ek het albei hierdie bass by Oppie Koppie Bass Farm, net buite Brits gevang. Albei is gevang met ‘n bruin Senko wat ge-Wacky rig was... Baie dankie vir ’n wonderlike tydskrif en al die goeie raad – Dean Strydom (Let wel: Oppie Koppie Bass Farm is nie meer oop vir die publiek nie – Red.)

My seun, Declan (15), het in Oktober 2017 by Riverside Lodge naby Loskopdam gaan kamp en die swartbaar van 1.1kg met 4” Watermelon Black Minnow gevang. Hy het weer probeer en toe ‘n kurper van 1.7kg (‘n monster) met ‘n finesse Bullfrog wurm aan ‘n Wacky rig gevang.

– Johan du Toit

PROUD DAD I took my son, Nathan (8 years old) out to a dam just outside Ceres/Hamlet and the water was super clear. You could see the bass swimming after your lure and just turning away from it. He was throwing a Berkley Juice Worm and picked up this monster of a bass. His was the only one caught that day making me a very proud dad indeed.

– Mark Quinn SA BASS 19 January 2018

90% of the year bass are only concerned about two things…

>> SA BASS STRATEGY

Hosting FLW Pro Matt Reed

Graceland Outdoors had the distinct privilege of hosting FLW pro-angler, Matt Reed on is South African excursion.

Matt is a professional tournament angler and guides clients in his spare time. He has lost count of the number of 10lb fish he’s caught and has numerous repeat clients.

Rowan had met Matt on one of his previous visits to the US and formed what would probably be a friendship for life.

fter collecting Matt from OR Tambo International airport, our journey officially started. The trip to De Hoop Dam took about three hours and we arrived at our destination at about 10 o’clock the evening. We were off to a slow start the next day and eventually got on the water around mid morning. Matt wasted no time and after a couple of casts landed his first South African bass on a Falcon Special Spinnerbait. With limited time, we wanted to show Matt as much of the venue as possible, this would enable him to form a general idea of what options the fish have and how they relate to specific cover and structure.

The weather deteriorated drastically during the day and we were forced to seek out the protection of the river sections, this limited us somewhat in terms of what we were trying to achieve, but it didn’t hamper Matt at all, it was business as usual for him, head down and burning water... “I’m looking for the one’s that want to eat, you can’t catch ‘em if they don’t want to eat” was his reply to the obvious question. They (US anglers) fish much faster than anything we are accustomed to, this was evident right from the start. The sneaker ran at high speed for the majority of the day. We were able to get a couple of fish sporadically throughout the day, but in general the fishing was super tough. We got back to camp as the last light faded and started to prepare the boats for the next day.

We woke to howling winds and overcast conditions on the second day, after a quick discussion it was decided 20 SA BASS January 2018

>> Divan Coetzee

to abandon any further efforts on De Hoop and retreat to Nooitgedacht Dam outside Carolina. The idea was to try and find stable weather in any form, but as we crossed over the escarpment it became very clear that we would not be able to outrun the front on any level. Upon arrival at Nooitgedacht the wind was doing 45km/h plus... I had trouble keeping the camera boat in position even though the sneaker was on full speed. I nearly offloaded myself and our camera crew on several occasions. Unsafe to say the least. Eventually we made our way into a bay and found some protection from the gale force conditions. Matt and Rowan scanned the area with the electronics and managed to isolate a good looking area, one cast later and Matt had his first Nooitgedacht bass swallow a Z-Boss 20 Crankbait.

Matt liked what he saw and wondered out loud about the potential of the venue on a good day. He also noted the lack of baitfish in comparison to what he’s accustomed to in the US. Baitfish is a primary factor when trying to locate fish on a venue you’ve never fished. “90% of the year bass are only concerned about two things: bait and comfort! If you find these two together, you’ve got yourself a honey hole”. Numerous short fish were caught during the day, but the bigger ones failed to commit. Towards the afternoon a massive thunderstorm approached from the West. Matt, having been struck by lightning before, was having none of it. I was happy to oblige and we got out of there in record time with the comforts of our guesthouse looming in the

distance. Carolina would be our overnight venue due to its proximity to the border.

With two bad days behind us we were eager to make amends with regards to the fishing. We crossed the border into Swaziland as soon as it opened the next morning.

The target species shifted from bass to tigerfish and after a decent breakfast we hit the water with renewed energy.

It didn’t take Matt long to get on the board, he’s initial response was; “These fish are damn crazy, you just can’t keep up with them. I thought y’all were talkin’ a bunch a crap about these fish, and apparently these are the little ones”. (Making reference to a 2kg fish) Priceless stuff... we proceeded to catch a whole bunch.

The target species shifted from tigers back to bass, but this time we were hunting giants. Z-Boss 20’s and big jigs became the order of the day. Working steeper banks did the trick as is typical of this time of year. Bass prefer to move vertically through the water column without covering too much distance horizontally. It conserves energy. We had set the camera boat about 50m ahead of Matt and Rowan when I heard the latter say: “that’s the one” referring to a tree about 20m from us. Matt nodded in agreement and they made their way in. This specific tree Rowan was interested in was different from everything around it. It was situated in the middle of a pocket, or small bay, and surrounded by thinner brush. Rowan chucked a jig in there and got flattened. The fish had wrapped around the main limb and was too deep to net in time. Rowan was left to reel in the slack, 20lb fluorocarbon stood no chance. About a minute or so later, just behind our boat, a giant fish with jig still in its mouth tail walked and shook its head violently to get rid of the bait. We can only speculate about the weight.

The weather started to turn as we made our way back to the border early the next morning, Matt was keen to get back on Nooitgedacht again, and so were we. Everyone was somewhat relieved when we were greeted with blue bird skies once the mist had cleared. The dam was a glass off, near perfect conditions for everything but fishing. During the day there would be little periods when the wind blows just enough to create a ripple on the surface. It was during this time that the majority of the bites would come. Late afternoon Matt landed a decent fish on a football jig and not long after we were forced ashore by a severe looking storm.

We sat it out until it was decided that conditions were safe to carry on fishing. With two hours of light remaining, we headed towards the upper reaches and fished a steep bank tapering towards a shallow bay. Matt steered us into the shallows and we managed five fish in quick succession off the same rock structure. Matt lost a good one at the boat which would have been great to seal his trip. With thunder and lightning all around us it was decided to end the day’s proceedings and get off the water while there’s still light.

We had our luxurious accommodation to look forward to as Carolina would once again be our overnight stop before we head back to Pretoria.

The following evening Matt did a seminar at Rynfield Dam in Benoni. The feedback we got from everyone has

Matt Reed

been tremendous and we appreciate the support greatly.

This motivates us even more and hopefully we can duplicate such events in the future. Congratulations to all the prize winners of the evening. If you weren’t there, you surely missed out!

Thanks to Matt for taking the time to come out to Africa on his busy schedule, a man that has the growth of the sport close at heart. It was an absolute pleasure having you.

See you on the water.

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

Arma Iuris is a national legal cost insurance company rendering a service to individuals and businesses for the past 11 years. The individual legal cost product consist of the following: We provide legal advice to our clients 24/7 by means of a 0861 emergency number which is answered by an attorney. / We draft and provide any form of legal documentation as needed by our clients i.e wills, contracts, agreements etc. / We render legal administrative services i.e firearm motivations (licensing and relicensing), pension fund enquiries, tax issues and problems experienced with service providers like local authorities etc. / We represent our clients nationally whether magisterial or higher court cases for civil or criminal law suits. Your spouse and/or all financially dependants also enjoy cover under this policy. / This service will be offered to FLW members at a reduced fee of R250 (VAT Excl). Terms and conditions apply.

SA BASS 21 January 2018

Die skrywer met ‘n mooi baars in die middel van die somer. ‘n Breërand hoed, ‘n hemp met ‘n kraag en lang moue is belangrik

>> SA BAARS KLASKAMER

k het reeds my strategieë vir die dag beplan, sonbrandroom aangesmeer en nadat ek my hande op die gruisbodem van die dam gewas het, is ek reg vir die groen vissies wat my lewe so oorheers. Die spuitkannetjie met knoffelsous word uitgehaal. In die warm toestande is baars maar traag om te byt, en sal ek enige moontlike taktiek gebruik om hulle te flous.

Om in die somer baars te hengel is beslis nie grappies nie en is dit belangrik om deeglik bewus te wees van die gevare wat baarshengel in die somer kan inhou. Ons moet deeglik voorsorgmaatreëls tref vir die warm somerson en dan is daar die skielike somerstorms wat die hengelaar skielik op die water onkant kan betrap.

& Die skrywer met ‘n breërand hoed, sonbrandroom en knoffelsous vir die mooi baars

Knoffelsous

22 SA BASS January 2018

Die lente het die jaar ook maar net vir ‘n oomblik kom gesig wys en nou is die somer ook al weer op ons. Van vroeg... die rooidag in, voel jy reeds die son se intensie om jou vandag weer goed te laat les opsê.

>> Philip Kemp* Wat die somer egter andersins makliker maak, is die feit dat die baars meer voorspelbaar is en makliker gehengel kan word. Die baars, wat suurstofryke koeler water verkies, sal dus in areas van die dam vertoef waar die toestande perfek is. Belangriker nog, is om die weersomstandighede goed dop te hou. Omrede die meeste van ons net oor naweke kan hengel, kan ons nie bekostig om te wag dat die weer ons lot bepaal nie. Ons moet elke beskikbare geleentheid wat ons kry gebruik om by die baarswaters uit te kom.

Watergras In die meeste van ons damme in Suider-Afrika sal ons watergras in die vlakker water vind. Dit is natuurlik ‘n baarsparadys. Nie alle baars migreer van diep na vlakker water nie en omgekeerd. As daar genoeg watergras in die omtrek (vlakwater) is, sal die baars ook hulself diep in die watergras ingrawe soos die dagtemperature begin styg of ‘n hoogdrukstelsel inbeweeg. Hierdie baars is nie altyd maklik om te vang nie, maar wel makliker om op te spoor. Ek sal in die oggende vroeg die oewerkant van die watergras teiken omrede baars die oewer patrolleer op soek na kos. Later in die dag sal ek weer die diepwaterkant van die watergras teiken. Baars beweeg na die buiterante van die watergras, nader aan die diepwater en sekondêre punte waar die water koeler en dus meer suurstofryk sal wees.

Ek verkies om soggens die vlakwater met gewiglose plastiekase te hengel. Vroegsomer, wanneer daar heelwat klein vissies in die vlakwater is, sal ek beslis ‘n fluke, in die grootte van die vissies waarop die baars jag maak, hengel.

Ek sal ook harde plastiek-ase soos poppers, Hula Poppers, Crazy Crawlers, Jitterbugs en “Spooks” gebruik. Een van my groot gunstelinge is egter SPRO paddas en as die baars vinnigbewegende ase soek, sal ek Horny Toads vinnig oor die betrokke area hengel. In damme waar daar groter druk van hengelaars is, en die baars kleiner ase soek, sal ek Speed Craws of Twin-tail grubs vinnig op die oppervlak hengel.

Ek verkies om ‘n koeëlsinker op die neus te hengel en so nou en dan die aas in gapings (pockets) in die gras te laat insak. Hierdie is egter ‘n tegniek wat beter werk later in die dag aan die diepwaterkant van die watergras.

Soos die dag warmer word verskuif ek my fokuspunt na die watergras, omrede die baars nou uit die vlakker water na die dieper water of watergras beweeg. Die rede hiervoor is dat die watergras meer suurstof dra. Ek verkies die Texas-strop, maar gebruik ‘n swaarder tungsten sinker om makliker deur die gras te val. Gedrogase (creature baits) werk in die gevalle goed, maar as die aas sukkel om deur die gras te val sal ek selfs Senko’s en Flukes gebruik. Dit is egter belangrik om ‘n stewige stok en braid te gebruik.

Ek gebruik ‘n 7’4” pitching stok met 50 pond braid. Die braid sny maklik deur die watergras en die langer stok help om die aas makliker in die openinge in die watergras te werp. As die baars moeilik is om op te spoor sal ek my Texas-stok gereed hou en met my weightless stok ‘n Horny Toad vinnig oor die gras trek. Meeste van die tyd sal die baars die Horny Toad probeer gryp. Indien die baars nie

suksesvol is met sy poging nie, sal ek die stok neersit en dadelik my “opvolgstok” (‘n heavy Texas-strop stok) op die presiese plek gooi waar die baars gedraai het. Nege uit die tien keer sal die baars dan die aas gryp.

Aan die buitekante van die watergras gebruik ek graag ‘n Fluke of Mr Jumbo grub op ‘n Mojo-strop. Spuit gerus ook maar weer ‘n bietjie knoffelsous op die aas. Ek hou daarvan om die Mojo-sinker nader of verder van die aas te skuif. Hoe nader die sinker aan die aas gestel word, hoe vinniger sal die aas val en andersom. Ek vind dat baars in moeilike omstandighede verkies dat die aas stadiger sak. Die knoffelsous help ook om die baars te oorreed om die aas te gryp en langer vas te hou. Sodoende word die hengelaar meer tyd gegun om die hoek vas te slaan.

Kunsaas wat sonder gewiggies gehengel word werk ook goed in sulke omstandighede. Liplose, harde kunsvissies soos Rattle Traps werk in hierdie gevalle skitterend.

Hengel hulle parallel teen die kante van die watergras af.

Sodra die wind egter opsteek sal ek dadelik my swaailem ase (spinnerbaits) uithaal. Ek het ook vroeër genoem dat gedrogase op ‘n Texas-strop goed werk as hulle oor die gras gehengel en in die openinge laat val word. Ek sal die aas ook tot op die rand van die watergras hengel en dan net op die rand van die watergras laat val. Baars patrolleer of skuil op die rante van die watergras en sal die aas gretig gryp.

Diep struktuur Soos die dag warmer word sal die baars ook stadig begin terug beweeg in die dieper water in waar hulle op sekondêre punte sal hang. Hierdie baars is nou ook moeiliker om te vang. Hoogdrukstelsels het ook ‘n duidelike effek op die baars en as gevolg van die druk op die baars se swemblase sal hulle nie so gewillig wees om te eet nie. Deur vinnig te hengel kan daar dan ‘n reaksie by die baars uitgelok word en kan die hengelaar so ‘n baars uitlok om die aas te gryp.

Harde plastiek kunsvissies wat vyftien voet en dieper duik werk dan goed. Probeer egter diepwater waar daar skuiling gevind kan word. Ek hengel ook graag Carolina-stroppe in die dieper water op warmer dae. Sodra die baars druk ervaar en nie wil eet nie, of selfs traag is om jou aas te gryp, is dit altyd raadsaam om eerder ‘n finesse tegniek met kleiner ase te probeer, óf plastiese ase wat min vibrasie afgee. In sulke omstandighede is Senko’s ‘n wenner. Die beste hengeltyd is net voor ‘n inkomende storm of ‘n skielike verandering in die lugdruk. Die hengelaars moet egter ook in die tyd baie versigtig wees om betyds van die water af te kom omrede so ‘n storm baie gevaarlik kan wees as daar weerlig is. Grafietstokke is baie goeie geleiers van elektrisiteit en dus kontakpunte vir weerligstrale. Koeler bewolkte dae is egter die ideale dae om in die somer te hengel omrede die lugdruk aansienlik laer is en die baars dan makliker sal eet. Selfs op sulke dae kan ons maar die sonbrandroom aansmeer en die knoffelsous spuit. *Philip Kemp is ‘n gesoute swartbaarhengelaar en ‘n gereelde bydraer.

SA BASS 23 January 2018

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>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

Bass Fishing in

Summer Time

>> Calman Grobler & Dirk Smith*

S

ummer fishing in my opinion is one of the best times of the year to pack the boat and head of to your favourite fishing spot to look for the post spawning fish. It is the ideal opportunity to target the aggressive fish on reaction lures.

The sun is up early and goes down very late, ensuring more time on the water and a great opportunity to catch that big one.

The bass are very active as a lot of fish have spawned, however, it can still be challenging at times to catch them with factors such as weather conditions, boat traffic or abundance of bait fish. The right approach is the key. I always start off by searching for active fish, by fishing fast with reaction lures.

Early morning I like to start the day searching for active fish with reaction baits, like Horny Toads, Zara Spooks and twitching weightless flukes in shallow water. Usually the fry hides in the shallows as the water is still cool in the mornings; this attracts feeding fish and anglers. On a recent trip to Bronkhorstspruit Dam we had one of our best days on the water using this pattern. My partner and I left home, extremely excited, at 04:00 and had lines in the water by 05:15. We targeted a bank at the yacht club that had some underwater grass patches. We started off fishing top water with Zara Spooks and within the second cast I was on with a nice sized fish. A top tip to remember; when a fish short strikes your lure, keep using the same action, or your partner needs to put his lure (or a different lure) in that same area. The same fish will often come back and smash the lure.

We went on to catch quite a few decent sized fish on the top water lures. There is no better bite than a surface bite early in the morning to get the adrenalin pumping.

Mid-morning (9:00)

Dirk Smith 26 SA BASS January 2018

Usually, if the wind picks up, I like to switch to spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and if the structure allows it, crankbaits. This was also the case at Bronkies. We started to target the deeper water just off the edge of the grass line in about 6ft of water with spinnerbaits and went on catching more than forty fish. We covered a lot of water by constantly casting our lures next to one another. Different

types and colour spinnerbaits (white/chartreuse with gold Colorado blades worked well), or different retrieving speeds can often make a difference in getting fish to react. A helpful way to get more hook ups is to add a trailer hook.

Midday (12:00) During midday, the fishing normally slows down due to heat and in some cases boat traffic. The fish tend to head deeper in search of cooler water. That’s the time of day I normally slow down my approach and prefer to use a light Mojo rig; Texas rig or my favourite, the drop-shot rig.

I like to use these rigs along with soft plastic baits like junior flukes, grubs and paddle tails. A Junebug fluke on a light Mojo rig (8lb line, depending on structure) does work well and is often my preferred method when the bites are few and far between.

Once again this paid off on our fishing trip at Bronkhorstspruit Dam as it often does on most dams.

We caught a couple of fish on the abovementioned and continued having fun throughout the day.

Calman Grobler

Late afternoon

Summer fish tend to move around looking for schools of bait fish and you need to be there to present your lure to catch the next big one.

This is the pattern that I like to follow during summer months in most local dams, especially after a good spawn.

Happy New Year and Enjoy your fishing!

Depending on the weather conditions, I often repeat the same pattern as in early or mid morning. I always make sure to cover a lot of water and not stick to a spot for too long, unless you find an area or a pattern that requires it.

*Calman Grobler and Dirk Smith are competitive FLW tournament anglers who have fish the SA BASS Cast-for-Cash Tournament Trial for many years and had many podium standings.

SA BASS 27 January 2018

>> SA BASS TACTICS

The

Alabama Rig I fished the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship at Kentucky Lake and the Alabama Rig was one of my primary patterns and produced some key bites that helped me to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup.

>> Michael Matthee*

W

ithin FLW tournament rules anglers are allowed to use a five wired Alabama Rig. The A-rig is composed of five wires angled like an umbrella so that it images a school of bait fish. Only three lures have hooks on and the other two lures without hooks (called dummy baits).

It can be fished all year round, especially when bait fish are schooling. Ideal places to throw the Alabama Rig are points, bridges, humps, over bush piles, deep grass beds and offshore rock piles.

One off the best things about the Alabama Rig is that it doesn’t require a lot of technique or experience to fish it efficiently. The main objective is to keep the bait up in the water column, just keeping it above the fish or structure being targeted. Simply cast past the targeted area and count down to the desired depth and slowly wind it back with frequent pauses. You can also use heavier weights on the bottom lures and lighter or weightless on the op lures to prevent this bait from spinning when retrieving.

Recommended baits to use: Strike King Titanium Umbrella Rig or Strike King Titanium Bladed Rig Jig Heads - Strike King Squadron Swimbait Jig heads Plastics - Strike King Rage Swimmer 3.75 inch.

Recommended tackle requirements: 7 to 7.6ft heavy power rod 6.5 to 7.5:1 speed reel 60lb braid 18lb fluorocarbon leader

Selecting a rod: When selecting a rod, there are three things to consider: action, power and length. The right combination of power and action allows longer and more precise casts with a given lure or technique. With the proper length the rod provides effective control over a hooked bass. All three elements will also prevent angler fatigue.

Difference between rod power and rod action: Power is the amount of pressure an angler has to apply to make a rod bend. Heavier action rods require more pressure to bend, while light action rods bend much easier.1 Action describes how and where the rod blank flexes when a force is applied. Or, the action is how easily and how far from the tip a rod will bend. *Michael Matthee is the first FLW South Africa Champion.

He qualified for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup by winning the International Division at the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship. He became the first international angler to also make the top-ten and is also the first angler from Africa to fish the Forrest Wood Cup. 28 SA BASS January 2018

SA BASS STRATEGY >>

PSHYCOLOGY

of Competition Fishing Competition fishing is the measure of skill, temperament, determination, patience, courage, instinct and sometimes temptation. TEMPTATION? What the hell?

O

kay, let me explain. It’s 3’o clock and the comp ends at four. You’ve got one fish (a small one) and a guy pulls in front of you (maybe casting distance) and pulls two really nice fish. Damn! Temptation is twofold. One – you are really tempted to tell this guy that he’s too close, or two – sneak as close as this guy that

>> Kevin Lofstedt*

you can to maybe hook one or two fish for yourself. There is a third option, but I’m told violence will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification. So like the rest of us I would go for option two (sneak), and then, after the comp, tell everyone you know that “that guy” cost you the win!

Relax… Just kidding! Moving on:

SKILL:

TEMPERAMENT:

COURAGE:

PATIENCE:

Skill and luck sometimes go hand in hand. Skill is finding the better fish, and by “better fish” I mean bigger than the opposition. Once you’ve located and hooked those fish, luck very often happens between the bite and the net.

How many times have you hooked a “goodie” had a ten minute “conversation’’ that goes like this: “stay on, stay on, stay on pleeeeease!” put the net down on the deck and the hook falls out! When this happens, buy a Lotto Ticket with the same number as Jacob Zuma (He wins every other week!)

Good temperament is forcing yourself to fish just a little slower when the bite is tough.

Bad temperament is when you’re not getting bites, and you’re fishing at 220km/h and getting even less action.

Frustration usually has the effect of making us throw our toys out the cot, but with the cost of our toys these days, it’s most likely the speed will increase dramatically. Wrong!

The dreaded cold front that’s been predicted has hit last night with a vengeance and you say to yourself, “We’re lying in 20th position, so it won’t make any difference, and anyway the fishing’s going to be impossible!”

Then you phone your partner and ask what time you must pick him up! Or, you phone and say you forgot, but you need to clean the garage. If you’re courageous, and do decide to go, God speed!

Events during conditions like this should award extra attendance points for courage!

I come back to this now… be patient!

Words of Wisdom “People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.”

- Anton Chekov

DETERMINATION: That is when its 3:30 and you have no fish, and you tell your partner it’s not over yet! How many times have you and I stood at the prize giving and heard the winner say “we caught all our fish in the last half hour? For me: Never! But I have heard it said many times that at 2:30 we had no fish, and bang; we made a small change and all hell broke loose! True story!

INSTINCT: Never, never, never ignore the little voice/voices in your head that tell you they don’t care if the wind is not blowing, and keep telling you to throw a spinnerbait – do it, and do it immediately. I’ve got voices that tell me to throw the weirdest things at the weirdest times, and often the voices lie, but when they don’t, hold tight and do not be surprised!

“fish we have caught is not a reflection of our worth to society” Individual Aspects of Sport Performance

Group Dynamics

Lastly, and most important of all: when you realise at the end of the day that this is what we do for fun, we must always remember that how many, or how big a fish we have caught is not a reflection of our worth to society, but merely a scorecard of what we did for a few hours on any given Saturday. If you have a bad day, don’t beat yourself up about it. There’s always next Saturday!

Now patience… Sorry out of space, see next month’s article.

Mental Preperation for Sport Performance

Competition Effects

SPORT Psychology

Consequences of Sport Performance

*Kevin Lofstedt is a regular writer and a well known veteran bass angler with three times Southern Gauteng Colours since 1985. He is also the main founder of Clearwater Bassmasters Bass Chapter (1994). He can be reached at kevin@sabass.com.

SA BASS 29 January 2018

>> SA BAARS STRATEGIE

‘n Dag Saam Met

HENRY PETERSEN >> Philip Kemp*

Dit is nogal intimiderend vir enige hengelaar (skrywer) om saam met ‘n hengelaar te hengel wat een van die uitgesoektes in ons land is.

Die eienaar van Sediba Kwele, Lourens Vorster, sy vrou Cindy, Sally (personeelbestuur), Henry en die plaasbestuurder Janus

Die skrywer en Henry geniet ‘n oomblik saam 30 SA BASS January 2018

H

enry het saam met ‘n groep uitgesoekte hengelaars Suid-Afrika by die FLW toernooi op Lake Kentucky in Amerika verteenwoordig). En hoe verkeerd was ek nie! Om ‘n meer beskeie en opregte mens soos Henry te ontmoet sal ‘n mens ver moet gaan soek. Ek het die voorreg gehad om saam met Henry Petersen by een vvan my gunsteling hengeldamme, Sediba Kwele, te gaan va he hengel.

Na bykans ses jaar van intensiewe kompetisie hengel, het Henry en sy bootmaat, Richard Dunn, dit hierdie jaar he reggekry om tussen die voorstes in die eerste FLW-reeks in re Suid-Afrika te eindig. Terwyl die ervare Richard die boot Su voor as skipper beman het, het Henry op sy rustige en vo kalm manier die agterhoede op die boot gedek. Vir baie ka hengelaars kan dit nogal intimiderend wees om juis agterop he ‘n boot te hengel, omrede jy water hengel wat die voorste hengelaar reeds gehengel het, maar die twee het mekaar so he go goed leer ken dat dit op ‘n wen-wen situasie uitgeloop het.

Dit was vir Henry nie moeilik om by baarshengel betrokke te raak nie. Sy broer, Corrie Bateman, hengel be vir Swaziland en dit is hy wat vir Henry oorreed het om vi by baarshengel betrokke te raak. Danksy Henry se groot vriend en hengelmaat, Richard Dunn, het Henry se vr baarshengelvernuf baie gou verbeter en was hy baie gou ba ko kompeterend. Henry se geduld en geloof in wat vir hom w werk, het my beïndruk. Ondanks al Henry se sukses het dit my opgeval dat hy ‘n man is wat honger is om meer te leer, m en selfs ‘n tegniek wat ek as een van my geheime beskou, he het hy probeer… en ja, met groot sukses toegepas ook.

Die groot voordeel daarvan om op Sediba Kwele se veertien hektaar dam te hengel, is die gemak waamee ons ve die groot baarsboot te water kon laat. Ons kon dit gemaklik di met ‘n bakkie doen sonder dat ons 4x4 nodig gehad het. m Bote kan selfs met ‘n gewone sedan voertuig ter water B ge gelaat word.

Gedurende ons drie dae van hengel by Sediba Kwele, w was dit egter Henry se beurt om die boot voor te beman.

D Dit was vir my duidelik dat Henry ‘n analiseerder by ui uitstek is. Benewens die feit dat ek Sediba Kwele goed ken, he het Henry baie gou sy eie analise van die toestande en die w water gemaak en sonder om my te volg, sy tegnieke en m metodes met groot sukses begin toepas. Die grootste fout w wat die meeste van ons hengelaars juis maak, is om ‘n ander te volg en soos hulle te probeer hengel. Henry en Richard is juis daarop uit om nie dieselfde tegnieke en metodes te

Sediba Kwele het uit hulle pad uit gegaan om dit vir die skrywer en Henry so gemaklik moontlik te maak

Selfs die skrywer kon ‘n mooi baars of twee vastrek

gebruik nie nie, veral as hulle die groter vis begin teiken teiken. Henry verkies gewiglose stroppe bo meeste ander aanwendings en alhoewel Henry opgemerk het dat hy nie daarvan hou om in gras te hengel nie, het hy veral op die tweede dag met sy “secret bait” soos hy dit noem, die een mooi baars na die ander aangekeer. Sediba Kwele het egter nooit ‘n vaste patroon, wat die hengelaar kan sê, altyd sal werk nie. Die patroon wat vir my die eerste dag goed gewerk het, het op die tweede dag glad nie gewerk nie. Henry het egter volhard met sy patroon met verbasend groot sukses oor al drie die dae.

Natuurlik het die ou grote weer weggekom en was Henry my enigste getuie. Ons het met verbasing gekyk hoe die baars eers my lyn van my katrol begin stroop en daarna my knoop met gemak breek. Natuurlik het ek nie my knoop oorgeknoop na die vorige baars wat ek gevang het. Amateurfout! En dit terwyl ek saam met een van ons land se beter hengelaars op die boot is.

Sediba Kwele is voorwaar ‘n hengelparadys en na die afgelope droogtetoestande en die dam wat weer bykans 85% vol is, hengel die dam nou werklikwaar baie goed. Die vyf-ster geriewe by Sediba het die kuier saam met Henry nog meer aangenaam gemaak en het Sediba Kwele en die eienaar Lourens Vorster werklik uit hulle pad gegaan om dit vir ons so gemaklik as moontlik te maak. Die kos was uit die boonste rakke en ons kamers, met eie yskas, ensovoorts, was eersteklas. Dit is min dat ‘n mens op die boot kan staan en wild besigtig wat kom water drink en natuurlik die leeus wat laat skemer begin brul op die aangrensende plaas. Die

‘n Trotse oomblik – Henry se vis het gemaak dat Suid-Afrika die “International Friendship Tournament” by Costa gewen het

hengel was egter so aangenaam dat ek en Henry nie regtig tyd gehad het om wild te besigtig nie. Voor ons ons oë kon uitvee, was die hengel verby.

Dit was vir my ‘n eer en ‘n voorreg om die drie dae saam met Henry Petersen op die water by Sediba Kwele te kon spandeer. *Philip Kemp is ‘n gesoute swartbaarhengelaar en ‘n gereelde bydraer.

Redakteursnota: En sowaar– Henry het gesorg dat FLW Suid-Afrika met ‘n trotse eersteplek teruggekom het vanaf die International Friendship Tournament wat deur FLW Amerika aangebied is.

SA BASS 31 January 2018

>> SA BASS

Summer Fishing

is Tough Work! >>

The first and most obvious lures to consider are suspending jerkbaits

The long days d of ssummer are finally here!

You Y have ve been been dreaming about these hot h days all winter, winte e but to be a successful bass bas ass anglerr at the height of summer is not had as easy ass you ha ad hoped. The day starts d then th h suddenly dd denly d l th h fishing becomes really out wellll and the tough and all the bass disappear! Sound familiar? >> Dewald Viljoen*

L

iving in Africa, we are blessed with long, bright, hot summer days − perfect for living outdoors, braaing swimming and soaking up the rays. If you are a bass however, these features are not quite so wonderful. Hot days makes the water heat up, which in return speeds up bass metabolism, making them grow faster, which keeps them hungry.

While these all sound like great things to an angler, the fact remains that

fishing at the height of summer can be very difficult.

Two things ultimately influence bass behaviour during this season, namely light and heat. Having no eyelids, bright light becomes a real issue for bass during summer, especially in clear water. Also, being an ambush predator, they need to remain unseen as much as possible.

This is why they are most active when the angle of the sun on the water is

the greatest, i.e. during early mornings and late afternoons. This is a great time for fishing in the summer! Large packs of bass move into the shallows, actively hunt and can often be found by simply keeping one’s eyes and ears open for the tell-tale splashes of fleeing baitfish.

The second and much more difficult problem for bass to deal with is warm water. Since bass are cold blooded animals and their body temperature

<< Heavy jigs take a lot of effort to fish effectively, but it is well worth the effort 32 SA BASS January 2018

<< Use a slow sinking weightless lure where fish are suspending and activity levels are regulated by external water temperature, water temperature is of vital importance to them. The problem with warm water though is oxygen. The warmer the water, the lower the dissolved oxygen content, making it harder for bass to breathe. Bass, being the smart fish that we know them to be, have found a solution to both problems â&#x2C6;&#x2019; thermoclines. Thermoclines are cooler layers of water that run through any large body of water.

These layers provide fish with a buffer zone where there are higher levels of oxygen and low enough light for them to sit out the heat of the day.

The result of all this creates one of bass fishingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest challenges â&#x2C6;&#x2019; catching suspended fish!

Bass lures are not generally designed to work out in the middle of the water and this becomes a problem when all the fish are in the middle.

This does not mean one cannot catch them though. Depending on where the fish are suspending, there are a few standby techniques that angler can go to for suspending fish.

The first and most obvious lures to consider are suspending jerkbaits.

These super versatile lures really come into their own in summer conditions.

As always, the cadence (the rhythm they are fished at) is of vital importance. I find that a few short twitches with long pauses in-between yields the best results this time of year. The lure should be matched to local fodder colours and should be

able to reach down to the prevailing thermocline, which can often be as deep as twelve foot.

The next popular technique is a slow sinking weightless plastic. This technique lends itself well to situations where fish are suspending next to vertical structure. The key for me in this presentation is to use a lure that sinks as slowly as possible to maximize the time spent within the strike zone.

Should you find that the fish are feeding aggressively while suspending, it is usually a good opportunity to upgrade to a faster sinking lure to maximize the amount of casts one can make.

A technique that works very well when the fish are suspending next to standing timber is a heavy jig with a bulky trailer. I prefer a fast dropping design in the one ounce range. I like to pitch it tight against the timber and let it plumb down a medium tight line. This usually gets the bigger fish to react to the big intruder in their midst! It is also a good technique to use to cover a lot of water.

High summer fishing is hard work!

Jerk baits and a heavy jig takes a lot of effort to fish effectively, but it is well worth the effort. The most important things to remember though are sunscreen and lots of liquid because nothing takes the fun out of fishing as quickly as heat or sun stroke! Until next year, keep catching them! *Dewald Viljoen is a custom lure maker and the owner of Hot Reels Service Centre.

SA BASS 33 January 2018

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

Barometer App - The blue squares on this barometer App show the pressure.

Note the sudden drop in barometric pressure. So, the Thursday morning would be the ideal time to have been on the water

>> Len de Kramer

rie Ab

henever I buy a fishing magazine, I always go weekend stay at the dam. We wanted our wives to get into straight to the “readers go fishing” section. I fishing, so we dragged them along too. love looking at pictures of everyday people The venue was great; a large farm dam and only us catching quality bass. Don’t get me wrong, photos of the staying at the cottage. The whole place to ourselves! pro’s catching are always exciting! However, when I see The Saturday morning Abrie and I were up early due Oom Jannie and Tannie Sannie catching, it makes fishing to the prospect of good fishing and headed down to the seem more realistic for me. If they can catch big bass, then water. so can I! Unbelievably, Abrie was on with his In an old May 2016 edition of SA Bass second cast. He was still landing his fish magazine, I saw a couple of pictures when my first bass struck. We were from a family that went fishing at both next to the water for under Little Long Creek near Vrede in five minutes and both pulling in the Free State. There were photos our first fish. The next cast held ranging from little kids through another fish. The next one again. to grandparents with their It was some of the most intense prized fish. It seems everyone fishing I had ever done. We was catching that weekend. landed just under twenty fish A quick search on Google in thirty minutes. We were so showed Little Long Creek spoilt, that we started changing was a private dam on a stud our lures to see which ones were farm. It was stocked with Florida more effective. If a fish did not Er as g bass and offered very reasonable bite in three casts, then that lure was mu in sw rn mo ith e cast aside and another one tried. We accommodation. Without delay, I h his se t cond bass of wanted to get the best combos for when phoned my mate Abrie and booked a 34 SA BASS January 2018

An aerial photograph of Little Long Creek

the girls woke up and joined us. This would be the day they got hooked on fishing!

A steady breeze picked up and we headed up towards the house for breakfast. Then that breeze grew into a howling wind that did not abate until we left Sunday evening. We never caught another fish that whole weekend. No matter what we tried, we could not coax another bite. We used a boat with a fish finder, tried structure, deep water (9m in places) and shallows. Not a single bite. Needless to say, the girls were not too impressed.

This really bothered me and I started wondering why the fishing was so good and then suddenly so bad. A lot of research in this topic suggests that it all has to do with the barometer. Fish feel the bad weather approaching by sensing the drop in atmospheric pressure (barometer).

They feed in a frenzy to gorge themselves and then wait through the passing storm.

n Le

dominated by unstable conditions. Under a depression air is rising, forming an area of low pressure at the surface. This rising air cools and condenses and helps encourage cloud formation, so the weather is often cloudy and wet.

While the air rises, the pressure is lifted and becomes low. This fall in barometric pressure is the golden time to fish as this is the time when bass are at their most active.

When the front arrives, there is a sharp rise in pressure as the cold air settles in and pushes down on the earth.

Once a cold front has been around for a couple of days, the fish will come back on to the bite because they are able to adjust to the new high pressure in the area.

Unfortunately, barometric pressure cannot be predicted like normal weather can. However, it can be monitored.

There are many barometer apps available for smartphones as well as actual barometers that you could get your hands on.

So what does this mean for the average weekend warrior fisherman like you and me?

How does air pressure work?

If you are planning a fishing trip, keep your eye on the When air is cold, it sinks. So, a cold front is a high weather predictions. Watch SABC news and pay attention pressure system. Lots of cold air molecules descend from when they show the different fronts moving towards your up high and cause an increased atmospheric pressure. Cold fronts are usually cloudless blue sky days. While these days fishing spot. Had Abrie and I known about the effects of are fantastic for photography and boat rides, they are not barometric pressure before our weekend, we would have woken the girls up at 05:00 on the Saturday morning and great for fishing. This is because fish have a swim bladder gotten three good hours of unbelievable fishing that reacts to the atmosphere pressure. These in before the front hit. changes in pressure make the fish lethargic and disturb their eating patterns, If you know a cold front is going much like a middle ear infection in to hit, try your best to fish just humans. before the weather turns sour as this will maximize your fishing When we think of a cold experience and help you catch front, we think of clouds and more as well as bigger bass in a rain, but in truth, this is not shorter period of time. the cold front. This is the low pressure system that always Remember that you are precedes a cold front. Before not necessarily looking for a cold front hits, the pressure an extremely low barometric drops as a low pressure system pressure as this is not ideal for moves in, and then this gets fishing either, but rather a falling de replaced by a cold front. pressure because this indicates an Kr am er w approaching front.

A low pressure system, also known ith hi s first fish as a depression occurs when the weather is Goodluck and Happy New Year!

SA BASS 35 January 2018

>> SA BAARS BESTEMMING

Ribbokkloof, DIE OUKRAALLIEDJIE EN BAARSHENGEL ek met my bandolientjie, sing ons die Oukraalliedjie saam; >> Jysingmetonsjouvanmandolientjie, waterstrome, slange in olienhoutbome en ‘n ribbok wat daar teen die rantjie staan. >> Philip Kemp

T

erwyl ek vir Mufasa, my Landrover, se neus wegdraai op ‘n 4km grondpad, weg van die Middelburg-Stofbergpad, en ‘n reuse bord my groet en vir my die rigting wys na Ribbokkloof, kom die ou “Groep-2” volksliedjie onwillekeurig in my gedagtes op.

Die drie passasiers, my vrou Reniece, Eunice my dogter, en haar vriend Heinrich, of sal ek eerder sê haar kêrel, is ewe opgewonde oor hierdie lekker hengeluitstappie.

Heinrich het al lankal aan my erken dat hy nog nooit ‘n baars aan die hoek gehad het nie. Komende van ‘n man wat kuier in ‘n huis waar meer as die helfte van die gesin, dis nou Eunice uitgesluit, mal is oor baarshengel, is dit ‘n saak wat spoedig reggestel sal moet word. Daar is immers vir elkeen ‘n visstok ingepak.

Nadat ons die sleutels vir ons chalet met die naam Aalwyn, by Elize, die bestuurder by Ribbokkloof, afgehaal het, is ons die vallei af. Ons is begroet met seker een van die mooiste uitsigte wat ek in ‘n lang tyd gesien het. Iets wat ek vir enige natuurliefhebber sterk sal aanbeveel. Reg voor ons huis was daar ook ‘n pragtige dammetjie met g g ggeen baars in nie. ongelukkig

die iece, kon van die bootjie af Die skrywer en sy vrou, Ren bs van gru bo Jum .

Mr . kry k hoe die baars, een na die ander, aan Sensation was ‘n wenner

36 SA BASS January 2018

Ribbokkloof in Mpumalanga is 45km noord-oos van Middelburg en sowat twee ure se ry vanaf Pretoria en Johannesburg. In 1990 het die eienaar van die plaas, Daan Bothma, se seun en kleinseun besluit dat die pragtige kloof beter benut kan word deur sewe chalets in die kloof te bou. Die klip en die gras wat die chalets mee gebou is kom alles van die plaas af en net die vensters en balke is aangekoop. Ons chalet, Aalwyn, wat ses mense kan slaap, is ten volle toegerus en al die chalets maak van sonkrag en gas gebruik.

Nadat die chalets voltooi is, is daar ook ‘n swembad gebou, 4x4-, stap- en bergfietsry roetes uitgelê. Vir die wat ‘n bietjie meer van die opelug hou, is daar ‘n pragtige kampterrein nie ver van die hengeldam af nie. Die hengeldam het die meeste algemene visspesies daarin onder andere swartbaars, karp, kurpers en babers. Daan se dogter, Riekie Pretorius, het ‘n reuse aandeel in die bemarking van Ribbokkloof gehad. Daar is op haar aandrang ‘n pragtige onthaalsaal gebou waarin daar al ‘n menigte troues, funksies en onthale gehou is.

Heinrich gee sy eerste baars

die tradisionele soen

Ons het met groot afwagting die visstokke gereed gekry ry en afgesit water toe. Sommer met my eerste gooi het ekk ak die bekende pluk-pluk aan my lyn gevoel en vasgemaak er met my eerste baars. My vrou, Reniece was nie ver agter it nie en gou het ons begin baljaar onder die baars en dit m van die oewer af. Dit is altyd vir my ‘n hoogtepunt om it te sien hoe iemand sy eerste baars aan die hoek kry. Dit te was vir Heinrich ‘n trotse oomblik toe hy daardie eerste y. baars, en later ook ‘n klompie meer, aan die hoek kon kry. n Sy eerste baars moes ook natuurlik die tradisionele soen p kry. “Kan ek nou maar met Eunice trou?!” wou die knaap toe weet. “Eers die dag as die baars horings kry”, dink ekk y, toe so by myself, óf die dag as hy ‘n 7kg baars gevang kry, dan kan ons praat. ell Die grootste deel van die suidelike oewer kan gehengel word met voetpaadjies wat al langs die dam af kronkel.l. n Hierdie dam is egter meer geskik vir opblaasbote en natuurlik skopbote. Ons het die dam gehengel pas na n ‘n yskoue front verby beweeg het. Dit het moontlik ‘n er groot rol gespeel en daarom kon ons nie werklik groter et baars aan die hoek kry nie. Hierdie dam is beslis ‘n moet n vir die gesin of die hengelaar wat nog nooit ‘n baars kon vang nie. Hier gaan jy beslis besig gehou word want die baars hou net nooit op byt nie. Terwyl ons van die bootjie af gehengel het, het ons ook heelwat wild opgemerk en so ook natuurlik die seldsame ribbokke wat so teen die randjies staan en wei. Dit het my onverwyld laat wonder

Puik akkommodasie en pra

gtige natuurskoon

die Oukraalliedjie Ouk ukraaal alli lied li edji j e nie ji nie dalk ni lk hier hie i r op p Ribbokkloof Ribbo bokk okk kkl klo looff sy sy off die ontstaan gehad het nie. Kry gerus jou hengelgerei gereed, pak die visstokke en die bergfietse en gaan maak ‘n draai in hierdie pragtige vallei.

Vir enige inligting of besprekings kan Elize gekontak word by 082-388-3247/49. E-pos: info@ribbokkloof.co.za

6.5" The Beast

3.57" Punch Craw Clear Bream

4.25"/5.25"/7.5" Quiver Stick

33 Colors

3"/4" Swimming Frog

24 Colors

4.5" Curly Tail Stick Junebug Chartreuse Tail

Watermelon Yellow Belly 39 Colors

36 Colors

10" Ribbontail Worm Black UV Red Tail

3.5" Swim Ripper Black Blue Flake

4.25" Flapping Hog Watermelon Red

5.5" Eyed Drop Shot Worm Black Blue Flake 32 Colors

Wild Minnow Black Special 32 Colors

27 Colors

4.5" Big Foot Toad Watermelon Red Flake

3.75"/4.75"/6"/7"

Watermelon Red Chart Tip 27 Colors

Contact: Pieter Bezuidenhout pieterbez@mweb.co.za

27 Colors

30 Colors

4.5" Swim Shad Sexy Swim Shad

Trade enquires only

Brown Pumpkin Copper

32 Colors

30 Colors

SA BASS 37 January 2018

>> SA BASS PRODUCT NEWS

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I

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Bettamed™ products contain CHD-FA (Carbohydrate Derived Fulvic Acid) which is a patented form of Fulvic Acid that has been clinically tested in human safety trials. This active ingredient was discovered when a researcher observed that some plants were super resistant to viral, fungal and bacterial infections. Studies carried out in Europe have shown that CHD-FA has a broader antimicrobial

spectrum, than most conventional treatments prescribed today. It acts as a catalytic agent in human biological systems, triggering effective nutrient absorption, rebuilding depleted immune systems and speeding up healing. Colds and flu symptoms, are less severe and their duration is significantly reduced. Bettamed™ also helps body cells maintain their balance and its anti-inflammatory action reduces allergy symptoms, soothes eczema, rashes and inflammation.

Bettamed™ Care Cream is available at pharmacies without a prescription and is covered by most medical aids.

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SA BASS 39 January 2018

Three Top

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

FROGS T

ackle stores provide and exceptional choice of frogs to choose from and the options can be quite overwhelming. I stuck to the following three which have proved themselves equally, but need to be considered independently in order to extract the best results.

Kicking frogs: Easy to use, just cast and retrieve, and alter your retrieve every now and then.

Bass fishermen will most commonly refer to this frog as a Horny Toad, but many manufacturers have similar options. This frog is built for two purposes; to be fished on a constant retrieve on the surface of the water, and also to be allowed an extended pause in the retrieve and given time to sink, or flutter beneath the surface where the angler has highlighted a potential bass hideout.

40 SA BASS January 2018

Explosive strikes can be had with both strategies and anglers need to be properly equipped in order to capitalise on these bites, as they are often the bigger fish who take advantage of an escaping frog. Deep consideration should be taken with regard to the rod and line selection.

A rod with a strong back bone is a must. In a constant retrieve anglers can get away with using either braid line, or a monofilament / copolymer option. Remember fluorocarbon line sinks and is therefore not suitable for a topwater retrieve. When allowing the frog to sink into holes amongst lily pads, next to lay-down logs, around jetties, or between reed lines you will be well rewarded when sticking with a good monofilament line, as braid will not conceal itself as effectively beneath the water surface.

>> Roger Donaldson*

Floating kicking frogs: Also easy to use, just cast and retrieve, and alter your retrieve every now and then.

There is often a time when you do not want your frog to sink below the surface as this can cause the lure to get snagged and then irretrievable. A good example can be when fishing over carpets of flooded grass, thick floors of lily pads and the like. The floating frog such as the Gene Larew variety have been my most valuable companion in this situation.

Bass anglers can choose two retrieve options with the floating kicking frog; either the constant retrieve to keep the lure splashing along the surface and away from getting snagged, or it can be paused at any time in order to provide the bass time to make its decision and strike. The latter option can suit a wide variety of fishing throughout the year,

I’ve always had a selection of three frog style lures to choose from, as each of them act differently from one another and can be fished in different fishing scenarios. including lazy, hot summer afternoons and also chilly winter mornings when bass need an extra few seconds to move their stiffened muscles.

The choice of rod and line is very similar, but now you may want to stick with braid line only as the lure will not be swimming below the surface at all.

Braid will give you exceptional strength and allow you to apply maximum pressure to keep the bass’ head up, preventing it from diving beneath the treacherous vegetation, or structure which you have chosen to fish around.

Floating popping frogs: Another easy to use bait, will require you to purge water taken on during retrieve.

Ever popular and rightfully so are the SPRO Bronzeye frog variety. I like the Classic option instead of the Popper Frog, although they do both deliver their own unique, attractive fishing abilities.

The Bronzeye frog has the neatest swimming action almost as if it actually kicks and then pops up on each jerk of the rod tip whilst systematically retrieving the lure. There’s absolutely nothing like it and if you’ve been lucky enough to witness a bass strike at the bait you‘ll understand how effective this piece of plastic is.

This frog will only be fished across the surface only and therefore braid line is the most preferred option to keep the lure effectively swimming up high and delivering the most attractive ‘kick and pop’ action. You will do well to allow your frog a two or three seconds to rest on the surface between retrieves, as this gives the tassel legs to flare out as they gentle subside, preparing for the next life-like ‘kick’! I have witnessed some pretty impressive strikes right at this stage where bass have been completely entranced by the lure only two meter away from the boat.

In this particular article I do not want you worrying about the colour selection, as I believe that once you get the fishing action correct you’ll be setting a hook on impressive fish that will keep you wanting more and more and more… *Roger Donaldson is an experienced journalist and knowledgeable bass angler who has enjoyed many enlightening hours with many of South Africa’s top, competitive bass fishermen. As a competitive angler himself, he also enjoys sharing his expertise with fellow bass fanatics in the hope that they find the same joy in this unique sport.

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

Fishing Thermoclines FOR SUMMER

Dissolved oxygen stratification and decomposition

This article discusses the influence of various scientific and physics principles on the world of fishing. It is not intended to directly assist in fishing but a better understanding and consideration of these principles should assist you in making more informed decisions.

>> Lourens Joubert e all know that bass are cold blooded, but what does this mean? It basically means these fish have no method of generating their own body heat. If you sit in an air conditioned room at 16ºC your body temperature will remain at 37ºC. That is because our bodies have the ability to regulate temperature by burning for the generation of heat. Fish can simply not do this and they are completely at the mercy of their environment as they will adopt their surrounding temperature. So movement is their only option available to fish in order to regulate temperature.

If we look at a body of water it does have some definitive characteristics when studying the influence of temperature on it and by understanding and considering this, it might be possible to better understand fish behavior.

If we consider a stagnant stable body of water like a dam we know the water temperature will be predominantly affected by the outside environment. If it is warm, the shallows will 42 SA BASS January 2018

heat up fast and vice versa if it is cold. Then with a process of mixing due to wind, currents and conductivity the water temperature of the surrounding water will also heat up. If this process is studied with respect to the water depth we will notice that deeper in the water column there is less heat to disperse and the normal mixing mechanisms have a reduce impact i.e. the water down deep is a lot more stagnant than that close to the surface. Over a long enough period of time this leads to the formation of a distinct layer referred to as a thermocline. A thermocline is a thin layer of water where the temperature changes more rapidly than the layers on top of it and by its very nature it’s preventing mixing between the layers.

This layer can be detected with sensitive sonar equipment by setting sensitivity dates all the way up and has been the source of many fishing speculations. But let’s understand the facts about it first. This distinct layer once recognized should have an approximately stable depth throughout the

The yellow line indicates a thermocline

A down scan showing a thermocline at 40ft

body of water i.e. once you have determined where it is it can be assumed that it is fairly consistent throughout the body of water.

This thermocline is normally much more prominent during the summer months and as this stable layer stagnates and does not circulate it gets depleted of oxygen.

This depletion process occurs because the organisms of whatever nature consume the oxygen in the stagnant layer and there are no mixing mechanisms in place to replenish oxygen at this depth.

Now as the seasons change the temperature fluctuations between day and night increase more and so the temperature of the top layer of water cool down fairly rapidly. So the top layer of water then cools down to a point where it is more dense and heavier than the bottom layer below the thermocline, and remember the thermocline was still preventing mixing. This then results in an affect called the turnover, where the bottom layer of water moves to the top and forces the top layer down. The bottom oxygen deprived layer will often take a significant amount of organic matter to the surface and this is often the clearest indication to the angler that the turnover is in progress. The process itself last for a fairly short period of time and soon the top layer will be oxygenated again and the excess organic matter will settle to the bottom.

So what is the fishing relevance of this you might ask?

Fish want to regulate their body temperature with their location in the water, often in the summer months the water heats up and forces fish to go deeper in order to find cooler more comfortable water. But as they descend they pass through the thermocline and although they often have no problem living below this thermocline layer as the temperature might be ideal the reduced oxygen levels might make it more comfortable above the thermocline.

Thus more often than not fish can be seen suspending just above or below this thermocline layer as if they are trying to find their own balance between comfortable temperature and comfortable levels of oxygen.

As for the process of turnover. This commonly occurs in the fall or early winter and normally does not occur across a whole body of water in at the same time. I have read many articles on how to attempt to fish this but simply the best advice I have is to move onward, watch the temperature and find a place where this process is still to take place or has completed. Not sure if it is the oxygen deprivation or discoloration of the water but this is normally accompanied by some of the less good fishing days.

SA BASS 43 January 2018

>> SA BAARS

Top 5 Sagte Plastiese Ase

Natuurlik bly ons dames gek oor enigiets wat pienk van kleur is. Daarom het plastiese ase dadelik my oog gevang.

Ongelukkig moes ek gou uitvind dat pienk nie noodwendig altyd ‘n baars se gunsteling kleur is nie.

>> Marlene Kemp

D 1 2

3

ie eerste plastiese wurmpies is in die laat 1950’s en vroeë 1960’s gemaak. Dit het uit harde rubbermateriaal bestaan en was nie effektief in water nie, omdat die rubber te hard was en nie ‘n mooi aksie in i die water gehad het nie. In 1972 het Mister Twister die “Curly Tail” konsep uit ‘n sagte, plastiese Twist silikoon basis gemaak en dit het die aksie van die wurmpie in di die water baie natuurlik laat lyk en was vir die baars ‘n maklike teiken. maklik In 1980 het Mister Twister ‘n groot hoeveelheid kleure wu wurms ur op die mark gebring wat beskikbaar was aan elke hengelaar wat daarmee wou hengel. Vandag nog is die he e pl p plastiese kunsaas baie effektief in die baarshengelwêreld.

Daar is baie verskillende kleure en soorte plastiese kunsase op die mark en ‘n groot verskeidenheid om van te ku kies. Om mee te begin sal ek voorstel om die kleur van die ki aa aas altyd so natuurlik as moontlik te hou.

In hierdie artikel wil ek beginners help om my vyf gunsteling plastiese ase te gebruik, wat die baars net gunst gu eenvoudig ee envoudig nie sal uitlos nie.

#1 # – Grub Gru Dit is ‘n dik wurmpie met’n stertjie wat ‘n baie n natuurlike natuurlik aksie in die water het. Die stertjie flous elke keer die baars met sy unieke beweging in die water.

#2 – Senko

4

Dit is’n plastiese wurmpie wat soos ‘n stokkie lyk en D baie minder aksie in die water het as ‘n normale wurm met ‘n stert, maar tog is dit soms juis dit wat die baars nie me afskrik nie. af

#3 – Fluke #1 Grub #2 Senko #3 Fluke #4 Horny Toad #5 Dead Ringer 44 SA BASS January 2018

5

Hierdie Fluke lyk natuurlik soos ‘n klein vissie met ‘n V-vormige stertjie. Jy kan hom vinnig hengel of baie stadig en soms kan jy hom laat lyk asof hy seergekry het deur jou stok te pluk en die aas links en regs bewegings in die water te laat maak. Omdat so ‘n klein vissie ook deel van ‘n baars se prooi is, sal die baars hierdie tipe plastiek nooit kan miskyk nie.

#4 – Horny Toad Die Horny Toad lyk soos ‘n padda met twee bene wat verskillende bewegings in die water maak. Hy kan vinnig bo-op die wateroppervlak gehengel word of stadig op die bodem, en lyk net soos ń natuurlike padda wat swem.

Hierdie padda-aas werk gewoonlik op sy beste vroegoggend, laatmiddag en selfs in die aand wanneer paddas op hul mees aktiefste is.

Die skryfster met ‘n baars wat sy in Rietvleidam vasgetrek het

#5 – Dead Ringer Die Dead Ringer is ‘n lang dun wurm met riffels op sy lyf en ‘n lang, dun, gekrulde stert wat stadig op die bodem gehengel kan word, en is baie effektief as dit warmer raak in die middel van die dag en die vis nie so aktief is nie.

Kies van kleur Onthou om altyd na die kleur van die water te kyk; hoe donkerder die water, hoe donkerder kleur aas en hoe skoner die water, hoe ligter en natuurliker die kleur van die aas.

Die tipe prooi in die omgewing sal ook ‘n rol speel, want baars sal altyd eerder natuurlike prooi vreet.

Daar is baie verskillende ase wat ook lag-lag die baars sal flous, maar ek was baie suksesvol met bogenoemde vyf.

Ek glo dat beginners ook ‘n baars aan hul hoeke sal kry met hierdie ase.

SA BASS 45 January 2018

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Fishing League Worldwide, also known as FLW, is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest WRXUQDPHQW Č´VKLQJ RUJDQL]DWLRQ )/: FRQGXFWV EDVV Č´VKLQJ WRXUQDPHQWV DFURVV WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV DQG VDQFWLRQV WRXUQDPHQWV LQ &DQDGD &KLQD Î&#x2013;WDO\ 0H[LFR 3RUWXJDO 6RXWK .RUHD DQG 6RXWK $IULFD (DFK \HDU )/: RÎ?HUV DQJOHUV RI DOO VNLOO OHYHOV WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR FRPSHWH IRU PLOOLRQV LQ SUL]H PRQH\ DFURVV WKH JOREH LQ Č´YH WRXUQDPHQW FLUFXLWV IRXU RI ZKLFK RÎ?HU D SDWK WR WKH PRVW OXFUDWLYH WRXUQDPHQW LQ SURIHVVLRQDO EDVV Č´VKLQJ Č&#x201A; WKH )RUUHVW :RRG &XS :H SURYLGH XQSDUDOOHOHG Č´VKLQJ UHVRXUFHV and entertainment to our members, anglers, VSRQVRUV IDQV DQG KRVW FRPPXQLWLHV 7KURXJK D YDULHW\ RI SODWIRUPV )/: LV FRPPLWWHG WR SURYLGLQJ D OLIHVW\OH H[SHULHQFH WKDW LV WKH EHVW LQ Č´VKLQJ RQ DQG RÎ? WKH ZDWHU )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ YLVLW ZZZ ČľZVRXWKDIULFD FRP SA BASS 47 January 2018

>> SA BASS INTERVIEW

SPINNER

WHAT? He’s 25 years old and probably one of the most unpretentious humans that I’ve ever had the opportunity and honour to meet. Born in Kansas, after which he moved to Missouri at a young age.

For most of us he is known as Spinnerworm

>> John Badenhorst*

B

randon has always been a keen angler and hunter.

He is the eldest son of a mom who works as a professional nurse and a father that does computer programming. With younger fraternal twins as his siblings, there was never a shortage of company on his many young adventures.

After leaving school, he moved to Florida to pursue his dream of becoming involved in film making and production and spent two years studying film making.

Then came the day that he was offered the gig as camera man for a saltwater fishing show and knowing his love of adventure, he jumped at the opportunity. This, he did for the next two years, filming and honing his skills as camera man and video editor. It just so happened that one of the guests on this particular saltwater fishing show happened to be upcoming bass angler, Scott Martin and soon enough, after a few sessions on the water together, Brandon and Scott became friends.

One day, out of the blue, Scott called him up and offered him the gig for Scott Martin Productions which is affiliated to American Broadcaster NBC. A total professional and being passionate about the sport, it was the right move at the time and although the job will never make him rich, it does afford him the opportunity to meet interesting people from around the world. It also takes him to new and exciting places and destinations and experiences the fishing world that some anglers only dream about, all the while filming the adventures.

During the recent 13th World Black Bass Championship held on the Vaal River and hosted by South Africa, I had the opportunity to sit this rather quiet young man down for a quick and exclusive interview between rather busy schedules and got some insight into Brandon as a person, angler and formidable camera man.

A typical day would start anywhere from 3am to 4am with a cup of coffee and sorting out cameras, batteries and all the technical gear needed for a shoot. The next step is getting to the location and getting there could be a quick drive or in some cases could involve an 18 hour road trip.

On these occasions, Scott would fly ahead while Brandon drives the Trokar Battle Wagon and Ranger boat across the country. Schedules are tight and in many cases, Brandon 48 SA BASS January 2018

would arrive at the destination, grab a quick couple of hours of sleep and soon be out on the water, filming the next episode of The Scott Martin Challenge. At the end of the filming, it’s a matter of grabbing a few hours sleep and then heading back on the long journey home again.

Amongst all of this, Brandon has to ensure that there is constant and fresh content to upload for viewers. When working close to home, the best part of the evenings are spent editing footage for YouTube.

The secret to having a very successful YouTube channel or so called Vlog is to keep viewers interested by uploading new content on a daily basis and where time and editing allows, to post as much as possible. As we’ve seen recently, the Scott Martin YouTube channel has also been doing more live streams via the internet and this has engaged incredible viewer participation.

Some know him as Brandon, for most of us, he is known as Spinnerworm. This name was given to him by Scott one day out on the water. The two of them were busy fishing and being pretty new to bass fishing, Brandon rigged up a white spinnerbait and found a discarded Senko lying on the deck of the boat, he threaded this on the hook and two casts later, caught the biggest fish of the day! A fan from the USA even designed a special Spinnerworm T-shirt and sent it to him as a gift. Since then, he has taken part in more challenges and has spent a bit more time on camera than behind the camera.

Since starting to work with Scott, Brandon has been a part of the Martin family and household and has become rather well known in his own right with a steadily growing following on YouTube. A very quiet, down to earth kind of guy, he was taken by surprise when on their visit to South Africa, members of the public came up to him, asking for his autograph and he even blushed a few times.

Quiet, with a dry sense of humour and an all-round nice guy to work with, Spinnerworm is making his own mark as video editor and outstanding camera man and angler in his own right. *John Badenhorst is assistant editor of SA BASS magazine and a keen angler himself. He is also a regular contributor for SA BASS and a custom lure maker for Wolf Lures, Flies & Feathers.

R16 350

Photo by Patterson Leeth

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