SA BASS November 2016 by SABASS

has gone digital !! GET YOUR FAVOURITE SA Bass MAGAZINE

DIGITALLY Starting a new fishing season can have its challenges. Whether its stress, unsuccessful fishing trips, club politics… the list goes on and on. It is very important to start your season with the right frame of mind. By being negative you might as well pack away you tackle and wait for next year. What is the most important thing for you as an angler when fishing? Is it your personal challenge to catch your PB this year, or is it to become the best in your club, division or even in the whole of South Africa? Whatever it is you need to get your head in the game. Do your home work, respect the fish and respect your opposition in your quest. Make the best of every day and you will find that doesn’t matter what the end result was, but what you have learned whether you won or lost. Even now that SA BASS will be hosting an FLW South Africa Championship in our lovely country the stress in being competitive is going to get even tougher for everyone. All types of different personalities will be competing with different mind sets. Trust me if I tell you that the game is going to be on. You will have double, or even triple the competition than you had before. You will have to be cool and calm. Situations will get though on the water. Tempers will flare up and lines will be broken and at the end of the day you will still be standing with the rod in your hand. So retie your lure, calm down, focus and continue fishing. Every moment you don’t have a line in the water is one less chance you have to catch another bass. But if it gets a bit tough; take a few moments and look around. Appreciate the opportunity to be on the water, notice the beauty around you and get your thoughts together. Sit and have a cold drink and look at your game plan. See where you went wrong and get your ducks in a row. Pick up your rod and continue fishing, but never give up because you will not recover for you next outing again. I always had one very important rule on my boat, comes rain, hail or sunshine - at the end of the day I always want to be able to say “Now that was a fun day at the office!” Having fun in what you are doing is all that matters. Bennie Wiese / Editor

Y ONL pm R28

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SA BASS 01 November 2016

Driving through the river instead of taking the bridge? Amarok can. Now with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Volkswagen Amarok. Greatest load capacity. McCarthy Volkswagen Wonderboom Cell: 083 488 8529, Tel: 012 567 9345

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SA BASS Magazine

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

Office hours:

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

Contact numbers:

Office: (087) 808 5406, Alternative: (083) 306 2718 Fax: (086) 234 5026

Postal Address:

SA BASS, PO Box 24938, Gezina, 0031

Contents

Publisher:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Editor:

Bennie Wiese - bennie@sabass.com

Assistant Editors:

Chris Greenland, Grant Hewitt

Field Editors:

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

Junior Field Editors:

Jean-Michel Gravenor

International Columnists:

Bertrand Ngim, David Swendseid, Clint Skinner

Advertising Manager:

Wilma Lindeque - wilma@sabass.com

Subscriptions:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Digital subscriptions:

www.magzter.com

Layout and Design:

Storm Deezigns - dee@stormdeezigns.co.za

Distributed by RNA:

Jannie Junius (011) 248 3536

REGULARS & FORUMS 06

FLW BASS NEWS “15 Finesse Rigs Options for the Toughest Days” Anglers use a combination of equipment and lures to make the perfect presentation in trying outsmart bass to take the lure. Here are 15 finesse rig options for the toughest days. – Tyler Brinks

BASICS “Spinnerbaits 101” Bass are in all kinds of phases of spawn by now. Flourished trees, warm days followed by hopefully some due spring rain are not the only signs of a healthy spring season, but also some baby bass fry popping up can be a sign of relieve for us bass anglers knowing it’s a successful spawn – Neels Beneke

About SA BASS magazine:

SA BASS, which is editorially and financially independent, is a monthly magazine catering exclusively for the bass angling community in Southern Africa. SA BASS is distributed country-wide by RNA to outlets, not only in South Africa, but also in Namibia, Swaziland and Botswana. SA BASS is designed as a specialist bass fishing publication and has catered for a well-defined niche market since April 2001. It enjoys the support and endorsement of non-government organisations, but is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Our mission is to promote bass angling as a socially acceptable and popular outdoor recreational activity, and in addition, to encourage acceptable angling ethics. As such, SA BASS provides pertinent information on a wide range of subjects. These include providing a platform for informed debate on issues affecting the sport of bass angling, providing information on bass angling strategies and techniques, bass angling waters and opportunities, and also creating awareness of new products. Within this editorial mix, due consideration is given to developing the sport among all the country’s people 04 SA BASS November 2016

(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.

MASTER CLASS “Setting the Stage for Largemouth Bass” There is a very clever strategy for targeting largemouth bass around the spring time. Many anglers may be scouring the shallows in search of bedding fish, but the time may just have been a little too early to find them up shallow – so where are they? – Roger Donaldson

How to use QR-codes 1. Open the QR-code reader/scanner app on your smartphone. Most smartphones models often have an app pre-installed. If not, visit your phone’s app store and download the app. 2. Keep a steady hand while the QR-code is centred on the screen. 3. As soon as it is done scanning, whatever information should present itself for your viewing pleasure.

CLASSROOM “Swimbaiting 101 In my Opinion” Swimbaiting has yet to explode onto the local bass fishing scene in this country, possibly due to our conservative approach to bass fishing, and some of our tournament formats are limit focused. I guess it is understandable, however thing are changing – Bryan Leppan

BOATING “Why Your Next Boat Should Be Paddled” With the rapid growth kayak fishing in the world’s largest bass fishing market, the USA, more and more anglers are buying kayak, either as a first boat or an additional watercraft by existing boat owners. In South Africa anglers tend to largely overlook kayaks as an option for getting on the water. – Dewald Viljoen

“It’s All In The Vibration” Chatterbaits must be one of the most versatile baits on the market and in 2006 it became famous over night in the USA and worldwide after bass pro anglers dominated the field with it. All over the world it has been used and anglers are not just catching bass on it, but other species as well – Bennie Wiese

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

CLASSROOM 01

MY CAST

READERS-go-BASSING

Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results

GEAR UP

LIFESTYLE – Boating & Birding – p g - Witkopkiewiet” p “White Crowned Lapwing

DESTINATION – Bergg Bauhaus

SA BASS “Weekend Warrior” The week has been long! Maybe the last couple of weeks have consisted of running here, running there, meetings, more meetings and in the end a huge mountain of bills to pay. The planning is done, the weather looks good and Saturday morning couldn’t come sooner – The Bass Addict

PRODUCT REVIEW/ NEWS

SA BASS

“Creature Baits for Life” If a 1.8kg bass loves creature baits then will a 4kg bass and also a 6kg bass. – Hendrikdrik

INTERNATIONAL “Bass Fishing in South Korea Geumho Lake Shoreline Bassin’” I want to begin this new series with special thanks to my South Korean friendcum-host, Mr. Kang Hohyeong, as well as all the readers who have been following my articles on SA Bass. – Fishingboy

CLASSROOM

“Pre-spawn / Post-spawn” The water temperature is warmer but largemouth bass can still play so many tricks on us – Adrian Luff

>> The New Daiwa BG Reels

>> Garmin Striker Series

>> Southern Division Juniors

SABAA NEWS XMAS SPECIALS 56

>> Nice 2 Have

READERS’ COMPETITION 51

>> Lalizas Readers Competition

SA BASS “Holy Cow! - Spawning Season – Again!” Every year in the middle of winter we console ourselves about how bad the weather is, with the thought of how good THIS spawning season is gonna be. Now, the choice of wording when I say “holy cow” is NOT accidental. – Kevin Lofstedt

ON THE COVER “Adriaan Zwarts at Roodekopjes Dam” Image: Roger Donaldson SA BASS 05 November 2016

FINESSE RIGS

OPTIONS FOR THE TOUGHEST DAYS $QJOHUV XVH D FRPELQDWLRQ RI HTXLSPHQW DQG OXUHV WR PDNH WKH SHUIHFW SUHVHQWDWLRQ LQ WU\LQJ RXWVPDUW EDVV WR WDNH WKH OXUH +HUH DUH È´QHVVH ULJ RSWLRQV IRU WKH WRXJKHVW GD\V

>> Tyler Brinks 3KRWRV E\ 0DWW 3DFH

6-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm

2/0 Roboworm Rebarb

1. Drop-shot Rig Rigging tip: Jimmy Reese employs the lighter drop-shot weight for depths up WR IHHW DQG WKH KHDYLHU ZHLJKW IRU È´VKLQJ WR IHHW GHHS Where to use it: 5HHVH È´VKHV WKH GURS VKRW HYHU\ZKHUH EXW GRFNV URFNV DQG YHJHWDWLRQ DUH SULPH WDUJHW DUHDV +RZ WR È´VK LW 7KH &DOLIRUQLD SUR È´VKHV WKH ULJ RQ D VODFN OLQH DQG VKDNHV LW PRGHUDWHO\ WKUHH WR IRXU WLPHV EHIRUH UHHOLQJ LQ WKH VODFN DQG PRYLQJ WKH EDLW D OLWWOH DORQJ ERWWRP 1/4-to 3/8-ounce drop-shot weights

1/8-ounce chartreuse Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ JigheadZ Z-Man Finesse TRD

2. Ned Rig Rigging tip: &DVH\ 0DUWLQ SUHIHUV WR XVH WKH OLJKWHVW MLJKHDG KH FDQ GHSHQGLQJ RQ ZLQG FRQGLWLRQV +H EHOLHYHV WKH FKDUWUHXVH KHDG RXWSHUIRUPV RWKHU FRORUV EHFDXVH LWÈ&#x2021;V PRUH YLVLEOH 6RPH DQJOHUV XVH DV OLJKW DV RXQFH MLJKHDGV Where to use it: 7KLV LV VWULFWO\ D FOHDU ZDWHU WHFKQLTXH DQG 0DUWLQ VD\V KDUG FRYHU LV EHVW È&#x201A; URFN ULSUDS DQG EULGJHV +RZ WR È´VK LW 7KH $ODEDPD JXLGH VXJJHVWV VLPSO\ FDVWLQJ WKH ULJ DQG OHWWLQJ LW IDOO Î&#x2013;PSDUW VOLJKW DFWLRQ E\ WZLWFKLQJ LW DQG SRSSLQJ LW EXW WKH OLJKW MLJKHDG DQG VPDOO SODVWLF PDNH IRU DQ HDV\ PHDO DV ORQJ DV EDVV FDQ VHH WKH ULJ

06 SA BASS November 2016

5-inch Yamamoto Kut Tail Worm

3. Shaky Head Rigging tip: 6ZLWFK EDLWV GHSHQGLQJ RQ Č´VK SUHIHUHQFHV &KRRVH FRORUV EDVHG RQ ZDWHU FODULW\ DQG GHSWK Where to use it: 5HHVH Č´VKHV WKH VKDN\ KHDG XQGHU GRFNV DQG DURXQG RSHQ ZDWHU URFN SLOHV IURP WR IHHW GHHS +RZ WR Č´VK LW 7U\ QRW WR PRYH WKH EDLW YHU\ PXFK VD\V 5HHVH 6LPSO\ VKDNH LW LQ SODFH D IHZ WLPHV ZLWK WKH URG WLS DQG WKHQ GUDJ LW VOLJKWO\

6-inch Roboworm Fat Straight Tail Worm 3/16-ounce Frenzy Baits NAIL

4. Paddle-Tail or Swimming Worm Rig Rigging tip: 6FRWW 0DUWLQ VD\V WR DGMXVW ZHLJKW VL]H EDVHG RQ WKH WKLFNQHVV RI WKH JUDVV Č&#x201A; KHDYLHU IRU WKLFNHU JUDVV IRU LQVWDQFH Where to use it: 0DUWLQ KDV Č´VKHG VZLPPLQJ ZRUPV IRU \HDUV RQ /DNH 2NHHFKREHH DQG VD\V WKH WHFKQLTXH ZDV GHYHORSHG WKHUH DV D ZD\ WR TXLFNO\ FRYHU YDVW VZDWKV RI JUDVV +RZ WR Č´VK LW )LVK WKH ZRUP MXVW EHORZ WKH VXUIDFH ZLWK D VWHDG\ UHWULHYH Î&#x2013;I KH Č´QGV KROHV LQ WKH YHJHWDWLRQ 0DUWLQ ZLOO Č&#x160;NLOOČ&#x2039; WKH ZRUP DQG OHW LW IDOO WR WKH ERWWRP 5- to 6-inch paddle-tail worm

RÎ?VHW ZRUP KRRN 12- to 18-inch leader

4/0 Trokar extra-wide-gap hook

1/8- to 3/16-ounce River2Sea Tungsten Worm Weight

Zoom Trick Worm

Swivel

5. Floating Worm Rigging tip: %)/ DQJOHU 7KRPDV +DUULV RI 9LUJLQLD ULJV KLV ČľRDWLQJ ZRUP ZLWK D EUDLGHG PDLQ OLQH +H FRQQHFWV D ČľXRURFDUERQ OHDGHU WR WKH EUDLG ZLWK D VZLYHO ZKLFK KHOSV WR SUHYHQW OLQH WZLVW %H VXUH WR XVH D ČľRDWLQJ ZRUP Where to use it: $ EULJKWO\ FRORUHG ČľRDWLQJ ZRUP ZRUNV ZHOO DURXQG DQ\ W\SH RI VKDOORZ FRYHU 'RFNV ZRRG DQG JUDVV DUH SULPH ORFDWLRQV HVSHFLDOO\ LQ ULYHUV RU RÎ? FRORUHG ZDWHU 7KH ULJ ZLOO ZRUN DQ\WLPH WKH EDVV DUH VKDOORZ EXW LW H[FHOV LQ VSULQJ DQG VXPPHU +RZ WR Č´VK LW +DUULV ULJV WKH ZRUP ZLWK D VOLJKW EHQG QHDU WKH WRS 7KLV DOORZV LW WR VSLQ DQG URWDWH DV LW LV WZLWFKHG DORQJ WKH VXUIDFH

Bait option: 6-inch Creme Scoundrel

SA BASS 07 November 2016

Top Brass Tackle Peg-It light tungsten worm weight 18 inches up the line

Bait option: Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Finesse Worm

Roboworm Rebarb sized WR È´W

0RGLÈ´HG 6SOLW 6KRW 5LJ Rigging tip: &RG\ 0H\HUÈ&#x2021;V PRGLÈ´HG VSOLW VKRW ULJ HOLPLQDWHV SRVVLEOH OLQH GDPDJH IURP FULPSLQJ WKH ZHLJKW WR WKH OLQH DQG WKH SHJJHG WXQJVWHQ DGGV PRUH VHQVLWLYLW\ +H SHJV WKH ZHLJKW DSSUR[LPDWHO\ LQFKHV DERYH WKH VRIW SODVWLF Where to use it: 0H\HU ZLOO XVH LW LQ SODFHV ZKHUH KH ZRXOG GUDJ D &DUROLQD ULJ EXW WKLV ULJ H[FHOV RQ VKDOORZ ÈµDWV DQG DURXQG VFDWWHUHG JUDVV DQG URFNV +RZ WR È´VK LW 6ORZO\ GUDJ WKH EDLW WKURXJK FRYHU

Strike King 3-inch Rodent

1/4- to 3/8-ounce tungsten worm weight VWUDLJKW VKDQN ÈµLSSLQJ KRRN

6th Sense Lures Peg-X Stopper

7. Finesse Pitchinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rig Rigging tip: 0DUN 'DQLHOV -U SUHIHUV WR XVH WKH EREEHU VWRS RQO\ ZKHQ È´VKLQJ KHDYLHU FRYHU :KHQ WKH ZHLJKW LV ORRVH WKH EDLW KDV D VORZHU IDOO ZKLFK LV NH\ WR WKH WHFKQLTXH +LV ZHLJKW VL]H YDULHV EDVHG RQ ZLQG DQG SUHIHUDEO\ KH ZLOO XVH WKH RXQFH VL]H WR DFKLHYH D PRUH QDWXUDO IDOO Where to use it: 7KH VOLJKW DFWLRQ RI 'DQLHOVÈ&#x2021; WZR SUHIHUUHG EDLWV ZRUNV ZHOO IRU SUHVVXUHG RU LQDFWLYH È´VK +LV SULPDU\ WDUJHWV DUH EXVKHV OD\GRZQV GRFNV RU RYHUKDQJLQJ OLPEV +RZ WR È´VK LW 7KH NH\ LV OHWWLQJ WKH EDLW IDOO RQ D VODFN OLQH 0DQ\ RI WKH ELWHV ZLOO FRPH DV WKH EDLW LV GHVFHQGLQJ

Bait option: Missile Baits Baby D Bomb

Missile Baits Missile Craw

8. Wacky Drop-shot Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Fat Baby Finesse Worm

No. 2 or 4 Owner Mosquito Hook

Rigging tip: 0H\HU GRZQVL]HV WR D VPDOOHU KRRN È&#x201A; PXFK VPDOOHU WKDQ PRVW DQJOHUV XVH IRU D GURS VKRW È&#x201A; IRU EHWWHU DFWLRQ +HÈ&#x2021;OO DOVR XVH WKH OLJKWHVW ZHLJKW KH FDQ JHW DZD\ ZLWK IRU D VORZHU IDOO Where to use it: 0H\HU IHHOV WKDW WKH ZDFN\ ULJJHG YHUVLRQ JHWV ELWHV IURP ZDU\ EDVV XVHG WR VHHLQJ RUGLQDU\ QRVH KRRNHG RU ZHHGOHVV GURS VKRW ULJV +H VD\V LWÈ&#x2021;V EHVW IRU SUHVVXUHG È´VK DQG IRU WKH VHFRQG DQG WKLUG GD\V RI WRXUQDPHQWV +RZ WR È´VK LW 6KDNH WKH ULJ PXFK PRUH WKDQ D VWDQGDUG GURS VKRW VD\V 0H\HU +H DOVR È´VKHV LW ZLWK PRUH RI D KRUL]RQWDO SUHVHQWDWLRQ LQVWHDG RI È´VKLQJ LW VWULFWO\ YHUWLFDOO\

1/8- or 1/4-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Drop Shot Weight

contd. on p10 08 SA BASS November 2016

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contd. from p8 5-inch Yamamoto Senko

rubber O-ring

1/O Gamakatsu Split-Shot/Drop-Shot Hook

Bait option: Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket

DQ\ VWUDLJKW WDLO È´QHVVH ZRUP

3/32- or 1/8-ounce Zappu Inchi Weedless Wacky Head

9. Wacky Rig Rigging tip: :DOPDUW )/: 7RXU FR DQJOHU &DVH\ 2È&#x2021;'RQQHOO LPSURYHV KRRNXSV E\ EHQGLQJ RXW WKH KRRN SRLQW Where to use it: 6FDWWHUHG JUDVV DQG GRFNV DUH SULPH ORFDWLRQV 2È&#x2021;'RQQHOO IHHOV WKH ULJ ZRUNV EHVW LQ SUHVVXUHG VLWXDWLRQV +RZ WR È´VK LW 2È&#x2021;'RQQHOO È´VKHV WKH ZDFN\ ULJ RQ D VODFN OLQH WKRXJK KH VKDNHV LW VOLJKWO\ DV LWÈ&#x2021;V IDOOLQJ :KHQ È´VKLQJ DURXQG VXEPHUJHG JUDVV KHÈ&#x2021;OO OHW WKH EDLW IDOO WR WKH RXWVLGH HGJH DQG VKDNH LW MXVW DERYH WKH JUDVV

10. Weighted Wacky Rig Rigging tip: 6PDOO GLDPHWHU PRQRÈ´ODPHQW RU ÈµXRURFDUERQ ZRUNV EHVW :DWFK WKH OLQH WKH ELWHV RIWHQ DUH VXEWOH SLFNXSV Where to use it: 'DQLHOV È´VKHV WKH ZHLJKWHG ZDFN\ ULJ VWULFWO\ LQ FOHDU ZDWHU VLWXDWLRQV DV LW LV D YLVXDO WHFKQLTXH +H DOVR OLNHV WR È´VK LW DURXQG ERDW GRFNV DQG EUXVK +RZ WR È´VK LW 7KH OHVV DFWLRQ WKH DQJOHU LPSDUWV WR WKH ULJ WKH EHWWHU &DVW LW RXW OHW LW IDOO RQ D VODFN OLQH VKDNH LW D IHZ WLPHV DQG WKHQ UHHO LW LQ WR UHSHDW WKH SURFHVV

1/0 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook

11. Nail-Weight Rig

piece of straw or shrink tubing

Zoom Finesse Worm or any straight-tail drop-shot worm

Rigging tip: &RVWD )/: 6HULHV :HVWHUQ 'LYLVLRQ DQJOHU 5LFN\ 6KDED]] VOLGHV D SLHFH RI VWUDZ RU VKULQN WXELQJ XS WKH ZRUP DQG VOLSV WKH KRRN XQGHUQHDWK LW È&#x201A; SDUDOOHO ZLWK WKH ZRUP ERG\ 7KLV PDNHV WKH EDLW ODVW ORQJHU DQG LPSURYHV KRRNXSV 7KH KRRN VKRXOG EH VOLJKWO\ DERYH WKH PLGZD\ SRLQW RI WKH ZRUP Where to use it: 6KDED]] VD\V WKH WHFKQLTXH LV EHVW IRU GHSWKV WR IHHW DQG WKDW DQ\WKLQJ GHHSHU LV EHWWHU VXLWHG IRU D GURS VKRW +RZ WR È´VK LW 0RVW RI WKH ELWHV ZLOO RFFXU RQ WKH IDOO VR 6KDED]] È´VKHV LW RQ D VODFN OLQH 2QFH WKH EDLW KLWV ERWWRP KH ERXQFHV LW DORQJ D IHZ WLPHV EHIRUH UHWULHYLQJ LW DQG PDNLQJ DQRWKHU FDVW Lunker City Insert Weight

contd. on p12 10 SA BASS November 2016

contd. from p10 3/16-ounce Coolbaits Down Under

3-inch Basstrix Flash Trix

12. Under-Spin Rigging tip: %H SUHSDUHG WR XSVL]H RU GRZQVL]H WKH XQGHU VSLQ DQG EDLW EDVHG RQ WKH VL]H RI WKH IRUDJH WKDW EDVV DUH FKDVLQJ Where to use it: &RVWD )/: 6HULHV &KDPSLRQVKLS FR DQJOHU ZLQQHU 7RGG .OLQH XVHV WKH XQGHU VSLQ DQ\WLPH È´VK DUH IHHGLQJ RQ VKDG +HÈ&#x2021;OO WDUJHW DQ\ DUHDV ZKHUH EDVV DUH FKDVLQJ EDLWÈ´VK +RZ WR È´VK LW .OLQH ZLOO EXUQ WKH EDLW TXLFNO\ LI È´VK DUH QHDU WKH WRS RI WKH ZDWHU FROXPQ Î&#x2013;I EDVV DUH GHHSHU RU QRW DV DFWLYH KHÈ&#x2021;OO VORZ UROO WKH EDLW DW YDULRXV GHSWKV XQWLO KH FRQQHFWV

3/O Hayabusa WRM951 Wide Gap Hook

Bruiser Baits Rad Shad

13. Single Soft-Jerkbait Rig Rigging tip: 7KLV ULJ ZRUNV IRU È´VKLQJ LQ VKDOORZ ZDWHU RU QHDU WKH VXUIDFH EXW LQ GHHSHU ZDWHU 6FRWW &DQWHUEXU\ ZLOO VZLWFK WR D ZHLJKWHG KRRN Where to use it: &DQWHUEXU\ SUHIHUV WKH VRIW SODVWLF MHUNEDLW ZKHQ È´VK DUH VFKRROLQJ +H DOVR XVHV LW IUHTXHQWO\ ZKHQHYHU VPDOOPRXWKV DUH SUHVHQW +RZ WR È´VK LW &DQWHUEXU\ XVXDOO\ È´VKHV WKH ULJ ZLWK D VWRS DQG JR UHWULHYH TXLFN MHUNV IROORZHG E\ SDXVHV WR OHW WKH EDLW IDOO :KHQ È´VKLQJ FXUUHQW KH ZLOO FDVW DQG DOORZ WKH EDLW WR ÈµRZ QDWXUDOO\ ZLWK WKH FXUUHQW

14. Weedless Tube Jig Rig Rigging tip: $FFRUGLQJ WR 7RGG +ROORZHOO WKH MLJKHDG PXVW KDYH DQ H[WUD ZLGH JDS KRRN ZLWK WKH KRRN SRLQW SRLQWLQJ WR WKH KRRN H\H 7H[DV ULJ WKH WXEH RQWR WKH MLJKHDG Where to use it: +ROORZHOO VNLSV WKH ULJ GHHS XQGHU GRFNV DQG RYHUKDQJLQJ WUHHV %HFDXVH RI WKH ZD\ LWÈ&#x2021;V ULJJHG LWÈ&#x2021;V YLUWXDOO\ ZHHGOHVV DQG VNLSV EHWWHU WKDQ D VWDQGDUG 7H[DV ULJ ZLWK D ZRUP ZHLJKW +RZ WR È´VK LW 7KH ULJ LV JUHDW IRU HOLFLWLQJ UHDFWLRQ VWULNHV IURP ERWK IHHGLQJ DQG LQDFWLYH È´VK +ROORZHOO VD\V WKH PDMRULW\ RI EDVV WKDW KLW LW ZLOO GR VR DOPRVW LPPHGLDWHO\ DIWHU LW ODQGV Î&#x2013;I QRW OLIW GURS LW D FRXSOH WLPHV DQG WKHQ VNLS LW DJDLQ

River Rat Tackle Northern Series Tube 4.0

3/16-ounce River Rat Tackle Tube Jig

12 SA BASS November 2016

contd. on p14

allnewsportage.co.za

contd. from p12

two 4/0 Trokar extra-wide-gap worm hooks

two SPRO welded ball-bearing swivels

soft-plastic jerkbait

15. Double Soft-Jerkbait Rig Rigging tip: 6FRWW 0DUWLQ SUHIHUV WKH ZHOGHG EDOO EHDULQJ VZLYHOV WR SUHYHQW WKH OLQH IURP JHWWLQJ FDXJKW RU GDPDJHG LQ D VSOLW ULQJ Î&#x2013;QVHUWLQJ D RXQFH QDLO ZHLJKW LQ RQH MHUNEDLW FDQ DLG ZLWK FDVWLQJ DQG KHOS PDLQWDLQ VHSDUDWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH EDLWV GXULQJ WKH UHWULHYH 7R ULJ LW SXW WKH PDLQ OLQH WKURXJK WKH H\H RI RQH VZLYHO DQG WKHQ WLH LW WR WKH VHFRQG VZLYHO $WWDFK DQ WR LQFK OHDGHU WR WKH PDLQ OLQH VZLYHO DQG D VKRUWHU WR LQFK OHDGHU WR WKH VOLGLQJ VZLYHO Where to use it: 7KH GRXEOH VRIW MHUNEDLW ULJ H[FHOV RQ EOXHEDFN KHUULQJ ODNHV EXW ZLOO ZRUN DQ\ZKHUH EDVV DUH VFKRROLQJ DQG IHHGLQJ RQ EDLWČ´VK +RZ WR Č´VK LW 0DUWLQ OLNHV WR ULS DQG MHUN WKH ULJ TXLFNO\ DV KH UHWULHYHV LW $ IDVW UHWULHYH ZLOO NHHS WKH EDLWV MXVW EHORZ WKH VXUIDFH

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Credit to FLW Bass Fishing magazine, USAâ&#x20AC;?

14 SA BASS November 2016

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>> SA BASS BASICS Spinnerbaits can be fished at various depths

Spinnerbaits 101 Bass are in all kinds of phases of spawn by now. Flourished trees, warm days followed by hopefully some due spring rain are not the only signs of a healthy spring season, but also some baby bass fry popping up can be a sign of relieve for us bass anglers knowing it’s a successful spawn. >> Neels Beneke

ppearance of fry and other baitfish in the shallows is prime conditions for spinnerbaits but choosing spinnerbaits can be overwhelming especially with all the different blade combinations, blade colours, skirt colours and weight variations to choose from. With only a few bucks tto spend you can’t buy all colours with each colour the co having a different blade havi combination and different co sizes for each weight size, si iit just gets too much and yyou don’t have the years eexperience to have fished sspinnerbaits to narrow it down to when to use what and you desperately wh want to add this technique wan Spinnerbait your arsenal. Well this will to you 16 SA BASS November 2016

serve as a good shortcut to get to narrow down your choices and answer your “whys” in this spinnerbaits 101 guideline.

Weights The weight of a spinnerbait can largely impact ones efficiency in the given conditions. Spinnerbaits are now available in tungsten or lead heads. Tungsten is heavier than lead and thus you could get away with a heavier but smaller spinnerbait than the equivalent size weight in the lead head version. So when is bigger, lighter, heavier or smaller better?

Depth Your weight selection should depend on the depth of water column you are fishing at. The lighter the weight, the higher in the water column it will run.

Wind The fastest way to frustration is trying to cast a finesse spinnerbait in windy conditions as far as you would if

there was no wind, therefore going up one weight size can avoid lots of wasted time trying to fix over winds in windy conditions.

Spinnerbaits can be used throughout the year

Cover The type of cover you are fishing can also be a factor as to what weight to fish. Most times I fish vegetation I prefer to burn the spinnerbait over the top of the grass and therefore I opt for the 1/4oz or 5/16oz weights, just ticking it over the top of the grass. Other days I like to pitch a spinnerbait into the holes of grass and then I’ll go with a 1/2oz or 1oz and a thicker 32 degree wire. Ticking rocks can also be a great technique but it requires a heavy spinnerbait to stay in contact with the ground. Slow rolling a 1oz or more is perfect for those situations. Ticking tree tops at certain depths for suspended bass is a great time to use heavy spinnerbaits. Most open water fishing days the water column I’m fishing in or the depth at which I see bait balls on the sonar is going to decide at what depth I would want to fish which directly affects my weight decision.

Skirt and blade colours There are a few main colours that need to be in your tackle box before you start experiencing with other colour variations to find a more accustomed colour specific to the venue, baitfish and weather conditions. White, white & chartreuse, golden shiner and bluegill! With these colours you can face any conditions in any season at any venue. I use these colours 95% of the time I fish a spinnerbait. Blade colours in my opinion should not be restricted to weather conditions and water clarity, but rather than how active the fish are to a certain blade colour for the day. Surely a painted blade will be a better option in stained muddy water than a silver or bronze blade but in other cases I just let the fish tell me which blade colour flash aggravates them more. A mix of silver and bronze always produce bites so next time you get fish hitting the blades, try experimenting with the blade colours first before you change your skirt colour.

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Blade combinations Most fisherman over look this part of spinnerbaits and just buy any blade combinations they want without giving thought to it, but this is one of the most important part of the spinnerbait. Next time you choose a blade combination, consider the following.

Bait size More than often it is best to try and suit your blade sizes to the size available baitfish around, keeping in mind the bigger the blade the more water it displaces which leads to our next consideration.

Vibration and speed Trying to burn a Colorado blade won’t be as easy as burning a willow leaf blade, that is because of the shape of the blades. A Colorado blade displaces the most water and therefore will thump the most vibration at a slower speed

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SA BASS 17 November 2016

The hidden hook of a spinnerbait

wh whereas a willow leaf blade bl is more slender a doesn’t resist as and much water as a Colorado. Indiana blades c be considered can as a in between of the Colorado and willow leaf. Mixing the bla blades up can give differe you different variations of vibrations and speed to suit your retrieve.

stretch to it leading to better hook sets on those far casts. Twelve to fifteen pound fluorocarbon is perfect for 80% of spinnerbait patterns.

Trailer hooks Plain and simple, trailer hooks increase your fish land ratio and must be fished with all the time unless fishing in heavy cover where you will get snagged up more. Next time try a trailer hook and you will lose less fish, then try a red trailer hook and you might just get even more bites.

Retrieval techniques There are three retrieval techniques I use depending on water clarity and water temperature.

Braid, monofilament or fluorocarbon?

Burning it

In recent years I’ve spent a lot of times experimenting with different types of line for spinnerbaits and have found the following for my success.

Burning a spinnerbait is an extra fast retrieves suitable for high sun and clear water situations where you are trying to entice bass to react or aggressively feed on baitfish.

Braid

Slow rolling

When I’m fishing in grass, I love to use braid for the simple fact of being able to winch the bass in on 30lb strong braid before it snags me up in the thick grass. Grass can’t cut through braid like it does through monofilament and fluorocarbon; instead braid cuts through grass increasing your fish landing ratio.

Bass in colder water are more likely to feed on slow moving baits due to their own metabolism being slowed down by the cold water. Slow rolling keeps the bait in the strike zone longer and some time for a lethargic bass to commit to it.

Monofilament Fishing in and amongst heavy timber or brush piles monofilament is hard to beat just because of its high abrasion properties resulting in less fish lost around timber.

Fluorocarbon I use fluorocarbon most of the time I can get away with it. It is a great all round line for spinner baiting where you don’t need the strength of braid or high abrasion of monofilament. It’s a clear invisible line with almost no

Twitching, ripping, bursts Bass reacts to fast twitches, burst of twitches or spinnerbaits being ripped free from cover. I almost always do some sort of twitch or erratic movement with my spinnerbait from time to time to get that bigger fish to react. Now that you have the 101 of spinner baiting, you can confidently build your experience and perfect the technique by getting the basics right from the start and realise that it’s not just a ‘spanner’ you throw in windy conditions.

Combinations:

Double willow leafs

Willow plus Colorado combo

In clear water you generally want a fast retrieve so that the bass can’t have a too good look at the bait, thus the slender blades makes it an excellent clear water combination.

Combining a Colorado blade with a willow leaf will slow down the bait slightly, keeping it in the strike zone longer for those lethargic bass.

Indiana

2 18 SA BASS November 2016

Colorado Plain Colorado blades displace a lot of water and vibration, giving bass time to detect and hone in especially in muddy water situations.

The Indiana blade offers a slightly reduced amount of vibration compared to the Colorado option. It’s mostly combined with a Colorado blade to make an excellent poor water visibility bait as alternative to just Colorado blades.

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>> SA BASS MASTER CLASS

Setting the Stage for

LARGEMOUTH BASS >>

There is a very clever strategy for targeting largemouth bass around the spring time. Many anglers may be scouring the shallows in search RI EHGGLQJ Č´VK EXW WKH WLPH PD\ MXVW KDYH EHHQ D OLWWOH WRR HDUO\ WR Č´QG WKHP XS VKDOORZ Č&#x201A; VR ZKHUH DUH WKH\"

Roodekopjes Dam

>> Roger Donaldson*

any years ago I recall walking into Tatlow & Pledger, which was the original business name for the Rapala VMC Distributors South Africa. I was there to meet up with Darryl Quinton to rattle his brain about targeting largemouth bass in and around the spring time. When I walked into his open office there was already a heated debate on the go about what they had found on the weekend whilst pre-fishing for an upcoming tournament. The conversation swayed from subjects including â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bedding bassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pre-spawn fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;post-spawn hideoutsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;staging fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I was immediately entertained by this den of sultry conversation, which at the time I knew very little about.

20 SA BASS November 2016

This debate can turn into a very lengthy one. However, in lore of simplifying the stages for you I found a wonderful story from a local angler, who used his knowledge of the bassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; seasonal activities to uncover its â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stagingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; haunt. While I was keeping up with my Facebook friends I stumbled across Adriaan Zwartsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; photograph of a bass he caught in Roodekopjes Dam, just north of the town of Brits. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always found Roodekopjes Dam to be particularly testing and I certainly havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t managed to tap into the size of fish that Adriaan managed to land. So my interest heightened tremendously and I had to ask him if he would let all the readers hear more about his strategy. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re finding his

story just as enlightening as I did: We were fishing in 15 to 18ft of water. We concentrated our efforts on that depth because we found a gill net with three 3kg bass horribly snagged lying in that depth of water. We took the time to carefully remove the entangled fish and released them as soon as we managed to resuscitate them. It certainly seemed as though these large bass found themselves snagged in the net whilst moving from their deeper winter hideouts toward to pre-spawn staging areas. The water temp in the morning was only sitting at 10ÂşC, but heated up to 14ÂşC in the afternoon hours. The water visibility coming out of winter is also very good and we had around 6 to 8ft of visibility.

With this good visibility in mind we rigged up with 12lb fluorocarbon line in order to reduce the chances of the bass being able to see the fishing line. I also chose to fish a weightless rigged 5” Senko. In my experience this technique would also complement the challenging conditions as the lures natural action is unparalleled when fished weightless. A “go slow” presentation also suited the structure we were targeting - allowing the bait to stay longer in strike zone if the fish were suspending. I don’t believe the colour of the bait made too much difference, as long as we stayed within the “basics” i.e. go natural for clear water. I believe it was more a case of being at the right place at the right time and throwing the “correct” bait for the situation. We were targeting vertical standing structure, it most definitely differs from season to season, and as Roodekopjes is an extremely versatile dam in terms of different types of structure and cover. Normally you have to figure out if they are relating to rock piles, trees, or rock piles with trees. Sometimes they choose vegetation in the summer months and the snotterbelle plants seem to deliver the most fish. However, in the winter months I have been most successful in deeper water and around rock piles. With the very still conditions I was able to make a long cast toward my target area beneath the water. When the bait landed I would feed a few feet of line from my reel and then allow the Senko to descend toward the submerged rock piles. It’s incredibly important at this time that you apply the utmost attention to the speed at which your line is sinking – if it speeds up rapidly, or you notice a slight twitch in the line it is most likely that you’ve found your quarry. I do warn you though that this can be a very painstaking process and will require your greatest patience. Shortly after releasing the large bass from the net and after only a few casting attempts there was the all too familiar ‘tapping’ sensation which radiated through my graphite rod to rouse my fingertips. I rapidly took

up the slack line and applied a solid hook-set to make sure the hook would find purchase in the bass’ mouth over a long distance. The larger bass were certainly in the staging hideouts and now one of them was putting maximum pressure on my12lb line. Eventually the large fish broker the surface and gave a tremendous head shake in an attempt to free itself of the hook. Fortunately my boat partner and I were armed and ready and within just a few minutes the bass was in the boat. I knew that Roodekopjes Dam held some very good quality fish, but it is not often that you get to see them. The tussle and strategy we applied to find this 4,66kg fish will certainly go down in my book as one of my most memorable. Like they say in the classics, with great patience comes great reward!

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.

*Roger Donaldson is an experienced journalist and knowledgeable bass angler who has enjoyed many enlightening

Adriaan Zwarts with a bass he A caught in Roodekopjes Dam

SA BASS 21 November 2016

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.

AMAZON WOLF FISH My quest for a word record sized Amazon Wolf fish, started while I was on a scouting mission for our new guided fishing tours that I do in one of the most remote parts of Guyana’s Amazon jungle. I arrived early in the morning just as the fog cleared on a deserted bush strip in the middle of nowhere surrounded by 120ft trees as far as the eye could see. A good friend of mine and missionary pilot had a flight to a nearby village taking supplies to a bible worker who has been stuck in another village not far away for a couple months, luckily for my part he had an open seat for me and my gear, and was happy to drop me off provided I supplied the avgas for my leg of the flight. Being a bush pilot in Guyana myself this would also be a good opportunity for me to get to know the area better from the air as well so I jumped at the chance. This particular area is protected land belonging to the last Wai-Wai tribe left in Guyana, and has the most pristine rivers running through it one can ever imagine. 22 SA BASS November 2016

After paying my respect to the village elders and Toshao I was introduced to Steven, he was instructed to be my WaiWai guide on this journey and together we set out into the unknown in a traditionally made 30ft long dugout canoe with small outboard motor. Our primary objective at the time was to scout potential camp sites and catch as many different species as possible in my time there, as fate would have it this very quickly turned into an obsession with the elusive river demon, the wolf fish or aymara as the locals here call it. Whilst talking to Steven about the different catfish species, some growing to over 400lbs, I couldn’t help but lose myself in the beauty of the area. Crystal clear waters,

with rapids around every second bend in the river. Just the amount of wildlife was astonishing, we saw over one hundred wild macaws in the first couple of hours, a gigantic green anaconda wrapped around a fallen tree, hanging over the river, patiently waiting for its next unsuspecting victim, and countless monkeys, which I would over the next couple days learn is better tasting when cooked over the fire than the best Free State Bonsmara steak; especially the spider monkey. It didn’t take long for me to realize the difficulty of my task as my timing was a bit off being in the middle of the raining season the river was extremely high and pushed at some points more than 100ft into raw Amazon jungle. The first three days of the fourteen day expedition was spent casting lures for big peacock bass and arowana with no success. I would see the bait fry being rounded up and hunted by the bass, but nothing I did could get them to strike. After what felt like a million casts and catching countless piranha I realized I was wasting my time, the water was simply too high. That night around the campfire, with the sweet smell of a freshly hunted monkey on the grill we decided to change our tactics and target the big wolf fish that we have been hearing jumping in the jungle. Fishing for this fish is extremely difficult and close quarters, real guerrilla style fishing, as they inhabit the smaller creeks and when the water is this high the jungle itself. They are widely considered as the most elusive fish in the Amazon to target on rod and line, especially trophy sized fish. It is mostly an ambush predator lurking in the shadows feeding on other fish and small mammals falling into the water. Once hooked you have to hold on, as this fish will do all it can to get off, jumping and biting at anglers as they try to net them up is not an uncommon occurrence. On lure anything from top water spooks, frogs, to big spinner baits will do the trick to attract an attack. The aymara itself is absolutely beautiful, big black eyes, with a mouth filled with teeth that would make you think twice about taking your evening river baths. The official IGFA world record is currently recorded at 32,7lbs, we were determined to break this, judging by the sounds of the splashes we were right on the honey hole concerning the big ones. They are primarily

nocturnal hunters although not uncommon to catch during the day, but in order to increase our chances of a big one we decided to sleep during the day and fish through the night. I was determined to catch one over the 50lbs range as myself and Steven knew that they existed to this size in this river. Like a disease the thought of an aymara this size consumed every bit of my thought process. After catching four aymara breaking the 40lbs range I knew it was going to happen, and having unofficially broken the world record a couple times just made us more determined to accomplish our goal. Together Steven and I spend over 100 hours behind a rod with 16 to 18 hour fishing days sleeping in the day, fishing through the night, some days without a single bite, targeting no species other than the elusive wolf. Conditions was the most brutal I have ever encountered, days spent in 6 hour nonstop rain where the boat would fill up to ankle deep in water. I remember telling Steven on more than one occasion that we are already wet so we might as well push through instead of heading to the comfort of our hammocks and campfire. When it didn’t rain we were being eaten alive by insects, tired and sore we ventured on like true champions do, giving up was not an option. When my spirit was at an all time low, and running out of gear Steven mentioned to me an age old tradition of the Wai-Wai, eat half a raw spider monkey liver and use the other half as bait. Whether this is true or if he just wanted to see how far this crazy South African was willing to go, that night eight minutes after casting my half monkey liver bait, 5m from the dugout, fishing the jungle itself and not the river I hooked onto what is set to be the fish of a lifetime, a humongous 54lbs wolf fish. At that moment all the wait, pain and suffering faded away, we succeeded. I believe without a doubt a 60lbs plus wolf will be caught during low water in September. And yes I ate raw monkey liver... *Danie Kruger goes deep into Amazon virgin waters on the hunt for piraiba, red tail, jau, peacock bass, arapaima giga, different species pacu, wolf fish, payara and many more. E-mail: dk.kanukutours@kanukusuites.com

VAALRIVIER We were fishing the Vaal River in September. On Saturday the wind was gusting at 43km/h with temperuatures only reaching 15ºC. I managed four fish on Saturday and as seen in the photo, two of them were good ones caught at willow trees next to walls with sandy bottoms on the Free State side. Sunday was another story! Max temp reaching 7ºC with wind, rain, hail and rumors of little snow! What a great gathering of social people it was. Thanks to Wendy and kie that sat under blanket waiting for the fishers to weigh in. Your great! We drove back to Newcastle Sunday afternoon and had to go slow through the snow at Memel. Wouldn’t have miss it for the world. I urge all interested fishers to join a Natal club and start fishing. The guys are friendly and very helpful! See you at the next trial – Pieter Bootha, Newcastle SA BASS 23 November 2016

KOSTERDAM Dit was ‘n lieflike dag om bass te vang. Ek het hierdie vis by Kosterdam op ‘n pikswart Fluke geflous. Die vis het goed baklei maar ek het uiteindelik hierdie mooi vis van 2.225kg geland. Na die fotos gneem is was die vis weer veilig vrygelaat! My leuse: “Fear none, respect all anglers”. – Ruaan Lourens

This month ’s

WINN

ER BIGGEST I caught this 2.5kg bass on a Green Pumpkin Baby Brush Hog. I caught it at a dam on the farm we live on. The day was slow for me but once the sun stared to set I caught three fish over 2kg and this one was my biggest. – Nathan Gilbert (16)

READERS GO BASSING Mail a & Win

E-mail your picture and details of your catch to editor@sabass.com and stand a chance to win a BASS HUNTER 150PC. STARTER KIT sponsored by MIAS Woodmead. Please send us good crisp pictures of good quality. Pictures sent electronically must be at least 250KB. (We prefer pictures of 1MB). Potential cover pictures must be at least 3MB. All photos published in Readers-Go-Bassing are for the exclusive use of SA BASS magazine. Any photos previously published, or published by other magazines will not be considered. 24 SA BASS November 2016

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>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

Swimbaiting 101 3d-line-thru-swimbait

In my y Opinion p

Swimbaiting has yet to explode onto the local bass fishing scene in this country, possib possibly due to our conservative approach to bass fishing, and some of our tournament forma formats are limit focused. I guess it is understandable, however thing are changing. >> Bryan Leppan*

’ve been exploring this facet of bass fishing for over two years now and am still learning more and more on every outing. Many people refer to paddletails as swimbaits and that’s fine but the swimbaits I’m talking about are between 7 to 12 inches and from 2 to 4 or even 5 ounces. I’ve experimented with dozens of styles and brands, hard body and soft and so far the Savage Gear 3D Real Trout and 3D Line throughs have proved to be the most successful for me. This technique is all about realism. My advice would be to buy the most realistic ones that you can afford, it is money well spent to have the best because you will have more confidence in the best and won’t be thinking about changing lures every five minutes. Swimbaiting in the sense that I am referring to is a specialised technique that requires very specialised tackle. Unfortunately proper swimbait rods are impossible to come by locally at this stage and that’s another factor that holds guys back from trying out this technique. I’ve tried out several rods that are available locally but had to come to terms with the fact that I was trying to make it work, but it’s just not working… like trying to play snooker with a broomstick. So the time has come and I have a few new swimbait rods on the way from the USA. Reel wise I would recommend a fast retrieve speed reel. Yes I’m sure some of you reading this would have heard some pros in the US punting slow retrieve speed reels but there are also the pros who share the high speed reels view

26 SA BASS November 2016

for one simple reason… when that big fish is on you need to be in control of that fish. Many times that fish will swallow the swimbait and swim right towards you…You will never be able to catch up to the fish with a slow or medium retrieve reel and you will most likely lose that fish. Swimbaits are big and heavy - big bass and slack line equals the bass throwing the bait. Yes retrieve speed is critical with swimbaiting, most certainly, you want that bait to swim as slowly as possible yet still get the full action out of the bait. You need to establish how that bait feels through the rod, reel and line when it’s giving off its best action at the slowest possible speed. Once you have become comfortable with the feel of the bait at the end of a sixty metre cast with an eight foot swimbait rod you’re in the game. To give you an idea; I started off with a 3.5:1 ratio reel… learned the hard way not being able to catch up to a “tank-dogbehemoth” and bought myself a 5.5:1 the next Monday. Although better than the super slow reel, it still could not control the fish... I’m now settled on a 7.1:1 and all I have to focus on now is being slow on the reel handle to get that bait to swim just right. The “feel” is one of the important reasons why I fish it on fluorocarbon as appose to braid. Fluoro is super sensitive. It allows me to feel the bait swimming and that feel helps me with my personal confidence because I can feel the bait giving off a great action and I’m aware of what my bait is doing at all times. Many times bass will swallow a swimbait and all I’ll feel is the vibration of the bait stopping. Seconds

real trout swimbaits

Swim Swimbaiting in the sense that I am referring to is a specialised technique that requires very specialised tackle.

later er all hell breaks loose as the rod loads up… but that initial awareness of when your bait has been inhaled will ensure more fish in the boat. I fish 20 to 25 pound fluorocarbon out of necessity. It’s not fun snapping line and losing a big bass and a 500 buck swimbait. Sure in open water you could maybe go less but I wouldn’t because there is no need. Braid being super thin cuts through the water very quickly and make these heavy baits sink like a stone. I’m not a fan of that. Also on the line through models with trebles, the lack of stretch in the line is not ideal for me. Monofilament is like an elastic band with next to no sensitivity; hard to feel bites and hard to set the hook when that fish is fifty plus metres away. Water clarity is the big determining factor with regards to swimbaiting. The water needs to be clear, the clearer the better. There baits have an incredible ability to make bass travel a good distance to eat them. A meal of that size is very appealing to big bass and is certainly worth the effort. This drawing-power actually makes these baits very affective in targeting aggressive bass because you can cover a lot of water very quickly. You compare casting along grass lines or standing timber of 50 or even 60 meters at a time, with pitching those same grass lines or trees.. That’s a whole lot of pitches to make one single swimbait cast. You also have that nervous-confidence of knowing that any second you could have a ‘’donkey-go-heehaw’’ latch onto your ten inch; four ounce swimbait. It certainly has a lot more appeal to me than flicking around a four inch soft plastic.

The awesome thing about it as well is that you are targeting bigger fish right away. Right off the bat you’re giving yourself the opportunity with every cast to get yourself a new PB. I am no swimbait pro and my biggest so far on a swimbait is 4.16kg so after a few more years of mastering this technique, I’m pretty sure that I will smash that. I want to catch the biggest fish in the body of water that I’m fishing and I believe that this is the way. Having said that, my smallest fish on a seven inch – three ounce swimbait is 1.4kg, so they do still catch average sized fish and on a five inch 1,5oz version, I’ve caught 800g fish. So whilst you’re breaking your arm slinging a keeper-sized bait all day, it’s not like you’re only fishing for one bite a day. Realistically, I would say you’re fishing for five bites a day with this technique. If the conditions are right and you work the bait slowly all day you might get five… You’ll most likely get two or three and probably half a dozen follows from bass the size that you haven’t seen before. It’s all part of the game. Good quality polarized sunglasses are a must for this clear water technique. You will get follows from big bass and the earlier you see that fish the more chance you have of enticing it to bite, either by speeding the bait up or slowing it down. If you’re lucky you’ll spot it early and be able to alter your retrieve to get that bass to bite. Do not let the size of the bait intimidate you. *Bryan Leppan is the Cast-for-Cash KZN organiser, a provincial angler and pro staff angler for Bass Warehouse. SA BASS 27 November 2016

>> SA BASS BOATING

Why Your Next Boat Should Be Paddled With the rapid growth kayak fishing in the world’s largest bass fishing market, the USA, more and more anglers are buying kayak, either as a first boat or an additional watercraft by existing boat owners. In South Africa anglers tend to largely overlook kayaks as an option for getting on the water. >> Dewald Viljoen*

n this article I would like to highlight the advantages of owning a kayak and hopefully get more anglers to take new look these very versatile fishing vessels. Let me start by explaining what a kayak is by modern definition. There are three popular vessels today that fall under the broad description of a fishing kayak. First is the sit-in-kayak. These are reminiscent of the traditional Eskimo kayak. A long, slender boat with a small to mid size entry port on top. Traditional, white water and racing kayaks usually have a stretchable apron that seals the hull and prevents flooding should the boat capsize or get washed over. Fishing kayaks do not have an apron to allow the angler access to tackle and storage areas and have either sealed compartments or other flotation devices to stop the boat from sinking in case of an incident. The main advantages of sitin-kayaks are low overall weight and high manoeuvrability. Disadvantages are, a very low seat position and lower carrying capacity. The second, and by far the most popular kayaks are the so called SOT’s

28 SA BASS November 2016

or sit-on-top’s. With a SOT you get a moulded, sealed hull that doesn’t take on much water when rolled over making them very hard to sink. There are dozens of SOT designs and propulsion options include everything from paddling to pedalling to electric motors. The most popular models range between 12 and 14 foot and some models will carry as much 260kg! These kayaks are super stable, quick, manoeuvrable and versatile. These kayaks are often specifically designed with bass anglers in mind and can be rigged in exactly the same way as a big bass boat. In fact some of them, like the Wilderness Systems ATAK 14 models comes with removable pods that can house a fully powered fish finder, attachment points for power poles and electric motors, a very comfortable long range seat and such stability that the angler can fish off a raised platform that can be attached behind the seat! While the advantages of a SOT are obvious, the disadvantages are there too. A fully rigged SOT is a fairly heavy boat and can easily weigh in excess of 80kg which means man handling it becomes a problem, which means moving your boat between home and fishing will probably require

either a trailer or a lengthy assembly and disassembly exercise every time you go fishing. The final “kayak” that is gaining a lot of support lately is the SUP or stand-up-paddleboard. While not truly a kayak I feel that they should be included both because they require paddling and because of their popularity with especially the flat water fly-fishing fraternity. SUP’s are lightweight, easy to transport and very stable to fish from, the downside is the lack of storage and the relatively slow speed. While picking a kayak style is a personal choice, the benefits are very similar across the range. The biggest benefit in the long run must surely be cost of ownership. Kitting out a kayak with the latest in electronics and other gadgets can be quiet expensive but will never get anywhere near the basic cost of kitting out a full size bass boat. Since a motor is not needed you save on fuel, maintenance and purchase cost there too. Most kayaks are rotomoulded in durable, heavy duty plastic which means that they are tough! No punctures, cracked fibreglass or rotting wood. In other words: virtually maintenance free.

Since a kayak can be launched just about anywhere one can reach the water, it creates a lot of new angling opportunities too and once on the water the shallow draft and relatively light weight means that you can reach waters that never see a lure from bank anglers or boat angler. In fact on the massive shallow stump fields of Lake Fork in Texas, where a kayak is the only way to successfully chase ten pounders, kayak angling has become so popular that the locals started to refer to it as the Kayaker Cult! While off shore and endurance kayakers might gain some cardio workout benefits from kayaking, I can assure the average bass angler that need not fear! I have regularly paddled in excess of 10km a day from the day I started kayaking and I can honestly say that the physical workout aspect is nothing to be feared! It is not the hard work you think it should be! Finally, kayak fishing is rapidly becoming a very competitive sport and it is only a matter of time before it reaches our shores in a serious way. Currently there are two world championship tournaments for kayaking with one, the Adventure Fishing World Championship, being arguably, the most difficult fishing tournament in the world requiring anglers to fish, paddle, navigate and strategize. The end result being a tourney that requires you to fish along a route with checkpoints covering up to twenty miles and doing it in nine hours! This sport is here to stay and we can only hope to get it to a level where we as South Africans can compete on a world stage and breathe life into a unique way to experience our fishing and enjoy our African climate and environment! *Dewald Viljoen is sponsored by Canoe & Kayak Centre, the owner of Hot Reels Service Centre, partner and designer at AfriBaits. SA BASS 29 November 2016

>> SA BASS TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Gauteng Money Winners Datum: 01 Oktober 2016 Venue: Vaalrivier UITSLAE: 1 2 3 4 5 5

7.26kg, Team Lombaard - Gerrie & Cornel Lombaard with 5 fish, won R6500 cash 6.84kg, Team Maverick - Ian van Rooyen & Herhold Venter with 5 fish, won R2200 cash 6.63kg, Team Knotts Wolf Evinrude - Joe Mendes & Bennie Wiese with 5 fish, won R2200 cash 6.62kg, Team Tranaxle - Richard Dunn & Henry Peterson with 5 fish, won R2100 cash 6.24kg, Team Blue Water Gear - Frans Swanepoel & Lesley Montgomery with 5 fish, won R650 cash 6.24kg, Team Bucket Mouth - Henri Wolfaardt & Schmidt Venter with 5 fish, won R650 cash

GROOT VIS: 1st: 2.20kg - Team Tranaxle: Richard Dunn & Henry Peterson 2nd: 2.07kg - Team Lombaard: Gerrie & Cornel Lombaard 3rd: 2.03kg - Team Knotts Wolf Evinrude: Joe Mendes & Bennie Wiese

Joe Mendes met sy span se twee “kickers”

Back: Joe Mendes, Bennie Wiese, Richard Dunn, Henry Peterson, Frans Swanepoel, Lesley Montgomery Front: Gerrie Lombaard, Cornel Lombaard, Ian van Rooyen, Henri Wolfaardt, Schmidt Venter

VERSLAG: Gauteng se laaste kompetisie vir die seisoen was gehou op die Vaalrivier en die opkoms was baie goed. Die spanne het vroeg weggetrek en die meeste is stroom af. Deur die dag het plesierbote die manne laat ronddans op die bote net om hul balaans te hou. Die hengel was baie goed en vroegoggend het die meeste spanne alreeds hulle vyf visse gehad. In totaal was daar 221visse ingeweeg waarvan die swaartse 2.2kg geweeg het 30 SA BASS November 2016

wat deur Richard Dunn op ‘n Mojo-strop gevang is. Net een span het nie vis ingeweeg nie.

SPONSORS: SA BASS would like to thank McCarthy Volkswagen Wonderboom for the VW Amarok double cab towing vehicle and Pure Fishing for the lucky draw prizes.

Die wenstrategieë kan as volg opgesom word:

Team

Structure

Best time

Depth

Lure

Colour

Rig

Team Lombaard

Rocks

08:00

3ft

Jnr Fluke

Black

Texas

Team Maverick

Spawn Banks

14:00

3ft

Craw

Watmln

Texas

Team Knotts Wolf Evinrude

Walls

08:30

8ft

Fluke

Grn Pmkn

Texas

Team Tranaxle

Spawn Banks

09:00

12ft

Fluke

Grn Pmkn

Mojo

Team Blue Water Gear

Walls

08:00

5ft

Fluke

Black

Mojo

Team Bucket Mouth

SpawnBanks

07:30

5ft

Jnr Fluke

Junebug

Mojo

GRAND PRIX STANDINGS* Na afgloop van die seisoen kwalifiseer 32 Gauteng spanne om aan vanjaar se Champion-of-Champions deel te neem en die top tien spanne op die punteleer is as volg: 1.

1085-points

Team X-Factor Six 8

Jooste Wasserfall & Tobie Uys

1027-points

Team Blue Water Gear

Frans Swanepoel & Lesley Montgomery

975-points

Team GR82Fish

Robert Tuzza & George Paar

961-points

Team Greens

Adriaan & Johann Zwarts

954-points

Team Never Give Up

André Pretorius & Tony Ernst

949-points

Team New Anchor

Calman Grobler & Dirk Smith

945-points

Team Bass On

Riaan Spangenberg & Henk Venter

942-points

Team Wolf

Clint Dalglish & Alastair Vorster

923-points

Team Bass World

Willem Verster & Etienne Wurth

10.

922-points

Team Bee Gee

Tony Lagesen & Gareth Dryden

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

SA BASS 31 November 2016

Limpopo Wenners Datum: 25 September 2016 Venue: Tzaneendam UITSLAE: 1

4.341kg, Team TFF - Leon Lordan & Theo Janse v Rensburg met 5 visse

3.915kg, Team Beli Tomato - Wayne Eastman met 5 visse

3.589kg, Team DO-MI-NUM - Attie Barnard met 5 visse

2.978kg, Team Varkenelli Customs - Justy Varkevisser & Partner met 5 visse

2.959kg, Team Bouwer - Eugene & Len Bouwer met 5 visse

Team TFF, Team Beli Tomato, Team Do-Mi-Num, Team Varkenelli Customs, Team Bouwer

GRAND PRIX STANDINGS* Na afloop van die laaste kompetisie is die huidige puntestand vir die seisoen as volg: 1.

1147-punte

Team Xterminator

Andy Kyriacoudes & Riaan Bam

2. 3.

1144-punte

Team TFF

Leon Lordan & Theo Janse v Rensburg

1124-punte

Team Bouwer

Eugene & Len Bouwer

1122-punte

Team JV Hydraulicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Wessel du Toit & Johnny Verster

1021-punte

Team Slabbert

Robert & Jaques Slabbert

999-punte

Team Lannie Motors New

Paul du Toit & Wayne Dames

979-punte

Team Geartec

J van Rooyen & Hannes de Jager

898-punte

Team Beli Tomato

Wayne Eastman

498-punte

Team DO-MI-NUM

Attie Barnard

10.

381-punte

Team Varkenelli Custom

Justy Varkevisser & Partner

Mpumalanga Wenners Datum: 24 September 2016 Venue: Nooitgedachtdam RESULTS: 1 7.435kg, Team Go Fish Custom Baits Buks Human & Louis Cooper with 5 fish 2 7.370kg, Team Bass Couple - Jacques Schoeman & Corne Schoeman with 5 fish 3 5.995kg, Team Stretch 60 - Mike Cloete & Piet van Wyk with 5 fish 4 5.540kg, Team Vortex - Divan Coetzee & Rowan Zerf with 5 fish 5 5.000kg, Team Bass Fever - Flip & Manie Maritz with 4 fish

VLNR: Flip Maritz, JP Maritz, Piet van Wyk, Buks Human, Louis Cooper, Mike Cloete, Jacques Schoeman, Corné Schoeman, Divan Coetzee, Rowan Zerf

GRAND PRIX STANDINGS* Vir die eerste keen in die geskiedenis word die eerste plek gedeel deur twee spanne en na afloop van die laaste kompetisie is die huidige puntestand vir die seisoen as volg: 1.

1134-points

Team Stretch 60

Mike Cloete & Piet van Wyk

1134-points

Team Go Fish Custom Baits

Buks Human & Louis Cooper

1093-points

Team 460

Jaap Pienaar & Wikus le Roux

1086-points

Team Vortex

Divan Coetzee & Rowan Zerf

1046-points

Team Hengelvriend

Anton Bouwer & Boet Grabie

989-points

Team Bass Couple

Jacques Schoeman & Corne Schoeman

955-points

Team Crewless

Grant Baker & Lappies Labuschagne

950-points

Team Bass Masjien

Dewald Pretorius & Jaco vd Merwe

899-points

Team MMS

Alfred Siegl & Darren Hockly

10.

893-points

Team Go Fish Custom Baits 2

Arthur Symington & Chanelle Stewart

CURRENT TOP THREE GRAND PRIX STANDINGS Net om te wys hoe sterk die kompetisie in en tussen die streke is, is die top spanne uit elke streek is as volg met Mpumalanga wat twee spanne aan die bopunt van die punteleer het: 1.

1147-punte

Team Xterminator

Andy Kyriacoudes & Riaan Bam

1134-points

Team Stretch 60

Mike Cloete & Piet van Wyk

1134-points

Team Go Fish Custom Baits

Buks Human & Louis Cooper

1085-points

Team X-Factor Six 8

Jooste Wasserfall & Tobie Uys

Cast-for-Cash 2016 Season Upcoming Events: Die nuwe Cast-for-Cash seisoen begin in November 2016 wat as kwalifiseringsrondtes dien na die FLW Suid- Afrika Kampioenskap in Julie 2017. Teen druktyd was die volgende streke aanboord om mekaar die stryd aan te sê naamlik Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Suid-Kaap en Wes-Kaap.

Visit our website www.sabass.com for all the results, tournament-information, -schedules and -rules. The results are also available on our Facebook page SA BASS 33 November 2016

>> SA BASS CAST-FOR-CASH

(Photo: Garrick Dixon)

SA BASS CAST-FOR-CASH Die nuwe Cast-for-Cash seisoen begin in November en regoor die land is swartbaarhengelaars baie opgewonde oor die feit dat dit nou binne elke hengelaar se bereik is om aan FLW toernooie deel te neem. >> Hannes Lindeque

ie plaaslike Cast-for-Cash swartbaarhengelkompetisies dien as kwalifiseringsrondtes na die FLW Suid-Afrika Kampioenskap wat in Julie 2017 gaan plaasvind. Die goeie nuus is dat deelnemers nie aan enige klub hoef te behoort om aan die kompetisies te mag deelneem nie. Ook maak Cast-for-Cash voorsiening vir hengelaars op alle vlakke want al die kompetisies bou op na iets groter en meer kompeterend. Byvoorbeeld; vir die wat nog nie die nodige ervaring het nie is daar Cast-for-Cash Minnow Smallmouth Trail

en vir die meer ervare hengelaars wat graag volgende jaar November in die VSA aan die Costa FLW Series Championship wil gaan deelneem, is daar Cast-for-Cash Lunker Largemouth Trail.

Cast-for-Cash streke en organiseerders Elke streek se organiseerder bepaal self die datums wanneer die kompetisies gehou gaan word maar in beginsel is dit gedurende die laaste naweek van elke maand (behalwe in Desember).

Die streke en organiseerders in 2017 is as volg: Gauteng

Hannes Lindeque

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Mpumalanga

Lizette Jonker

Suid-Kaap

Adrian Luff

Limpopo

Wessel du Toit

Wes-Kaap

Andy de Jager

34 SA BASS November 2016

Bryan Leppan

Dreams do come true; John Cox Forrest Wood Cup winner 2016 SA BASS Cast-for-Cash Minnow Smallmouth wat wen gaan deur na die Costa FLW Series Championship. Die “skipper” van die eerste en tweede plek kry die twee Trail Die Minnow Smallmouth Trail is Cast-for-Cash in sy huidige formaat en die inskrywingsgeld beloop R500 per span per kompetisie, betaalbaar by die dam tydens registrasie. Die Minnows neem deel teen mekaar en het hulle eie prysgeld wat ook gelukpakkies insluit. Aan die einde van Junie 2017 kwalifiseer die topspanne van elke streek om aan die FLW Suid-Afrika Kampioenskap deel te neem.

“pro-angler” posisies en die twee bootmaats kry die twee “co-angler” posisies. Dit beteken dat die Lunker-spanne hul spanlede baie goed moet kies om seker te maak hulle wen die FLW SA Kampioenskap EN moet vooraf weet wie in Amerika die “pro” en wie die “co” gaan wees.

Costa FLW Series Championship: 2 - 4 November 2017 - Vier FLW Suid-Afrika-hengelaars

SA BASS Cast-for-Cash Lunker Largemouth het die geleentheid om in Amerika op Kentucky Lake, Trail Paris, Tennessee teen van die beste hengelaars van regoor Die vlak is meer kompeterend en die span bestaan uit maksimum drie lede en kies self vooraf wie die “skipper”, bootmaat en reserwe vir die seisoen gaan wees. Slegs die Lunkers het die keuse om vooraf in te skryf. Die inskrywingsgeld per span (vir sewe Cast-for-Cash toernooie) beloop R5,250 betaalbaar voor 11 November 2016. Vir die laat-slapers wat eers volgende jaar wil inskryf betaal R850 per span per kompetisie by die dam tydens registrasie. Die Lunkers het hulle eie prysgeld en gelukpakkies om te wen. Aan die einde van Junie 2017 kwalifiseer die topspanne van elke streek om die FLW Suid-Afrika Kampioenskap deel te neem.

FLW-SA Kampioenskap ALLE deelnemers wat hieraan wil deelneem moet teen 28 Februarie 2017 FLW Suid-Afrika lede wees. (Lidmaatskap is R800 per persoon per jaar – sien ons advertensie wat die voordele is om aan FLW te behoort). Die Minnow Smallmouth-spanne wat deelneem staan die kans om kontant- en ander pryse te wen. (Die groot verrassing was teen druktyd nog nie bekend gemaak nie Red.) Die Lunker Largemouth-spanne neem deel in spanverband en staan die kans om kontant- en ander pryse te wen. Daar is geen geskiedenis wat eers opgebou moet word nie en die groot prys is; die top twee Lunker spanne

die wêreld te kompeteer. Hier gaan die Suid-Afrikaners nie meer in spanverband deelneem nie, maar elke dag saam met iemand anders moet hengel. Behalwe vir die top Amerikaanse hengelaars is daar ook deelnemers uit FLW Kanada, FLW Mexico, FLW Sjina, FLW Suid-Korea en FLW Suid-Afrika. FLW Amerika voorsien bote aan die Suid-Afrikaanse “pro anglers” tydens die kampioenskap en FLW SuidAfrika sal die vier FLW Suid-Afrikaanse hengelaars se vliegkaartjies, verblyf en voertuighuur tydens die Costa FLW Series Championship betaal. Die top hengelaar oor drie dae vanuit die gasdeelnemers - m.a.w vanuit die spanne van Suid-Afrika, Mexico, SuidKorea, Sjina en Kanada - ongeag sy posisie teenoor die Amerikaners, gaan deur na die Forrest Wood Cup in 2018.

Forrest Wood Cup Deur net te kwalifiseer is die deelnemer klaar gewaarborg van $10,000 prysgeld. Die geleentheid word regoor die wêreld gebeeldsend en FLW Live bereik 564 miljoen huishoudings. Dit is die olimpiese spele van swartbaarhengel en die geleentheid waaroor almal droom! Waarvoor wag jy? FLW Suid-Afrika bied aan elke hengelaar die geleentheid om jou drome binne een seiseon te verwesenlik. Sien jou langs die water. Die volledige stel reels, datums en kontakbesonderhede is op ons webwerf www.sabass.com of skakel 082-416-5524 vir navrae. SA BASS 35 November 2016

>> SA BASS

Creature Baits

FOR LIFE If a 1.8kg bass loves creature baits then will a 4kg bass and also a 6kg bass.

>> Hendrik

hat about a ½kg bass? Sorry they won’t love it that much but I have caught some on creature baits in the past. Creature baits draw out bigger fish in an area. It really doesn’t matter what your favourite brand is; the fact is creature baits are big bass baits. If the dam is known for big fish then creature baits are the first lures I’ll be using. Hooking a creature bait is like putting a carrot in front of mule. It is going to draw a lot of attention. It is like bass can’t resist the attachments on the bait flapping around and the big profile makes it look even more mouth-watering. Apart from the bass that loves them the whole situations needs to play to your advantage. The questions are: What is your plan

Damiki Craw Fish

36 SA BASS November 2016

forward and what type of fishing do you plan on doing? Well, a creature bait is a primary lure in only few situations. I will only use creature baits when I want to flip timber, fish a Carolina rig and when I’m using a jig.

Flipping timber When fishing any type of timber whether it’s a lay down, stumps, willow trees or even boat docks, a creature bait will be the first lure I flip in there. If there is any chance of any big fish in the surrounding area of the timber you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m going to flip a creature in there. For this type of timber I prefer a creature bait above a jig purely because it is less likely to get caught up in the thick stuff. Fishing these baits in the thickest and nastiest stuff is just what the bass

doctor ordered. The creature bait is going to present the bass with a big profile which would be very appealing to the bass. I normally would use a nice flipping ½oz tungsten flipping weight which is pegged in order for everything to stay together when coming through the thicker stuff and while you at it use a strong line to your preference. Please don’t go doing this with 12lb or 14lb test line; you are setting yourself up for a disappointment.

Carolina rig There are so many types of lures that you can use with Carolina rig but when it boils down to getting the job done, I will use a creature bait above all other lures. Why you may ask; because it’s my favourite lure to use. Just look at it and then tell me that you won’t go for it if you were a bass.

Sweet Beaver

Just imagine the one ounce weight kicking up all the sediments on the bottom as you drag it along. The bulky profile with all the appendages floating behind it surely sounds like “bass chow to me”. Dragging all of this in the vicinity of a big bigmouth would be too good of an opportunity to be passing by. I like a one ounce weight, 20lb main line, and 15lb leader for Carolina rigging, and that’s the same whether I’m dragging it in 5 or 50ft of water. My presentation will always be the same; doesn’t matter what depth I’m fishing. I tend to keep it plain and simple by making a long cast and let it sink to the bottom. Sweep to the side and make sure you feel the contact with the bottom. When you feel a pick up, take up the slack and set the hook as hard as you can. When dragging your lure; pull it along and then stop. As soon as you pull it over something let it fall to the bottom and let is just lay there for a few seconds and then continue. Not many angles still use this technique anymore and those whom do won’t tell you anyway. This is a great way to cover a lot of water. What creature colours? It’s pretty much basic with my colour preferences. I like some form of green pumpkin or watermelon, and I’ll use those somewhat interchangeably. I also like blue/black and Junebug. When to use which colour is not as much based on conditions as what the fish show a preference toward any given day.

Jig When targeting big bass you can’t go wrong whe when you add a creature bait

Mizmo Baby Swam Monster

as a trailer on your favourite jig when fishing off shore structure. This combo is vital for fishing in late autumn for big bass and you can continue right through the winter as well. In other words this combo will be affective for the most times of the year. I prefer not to trim anything on the creature bait when using it as a trailer on the jig. Rigging it on a ¾oz jig is ideal for me. It gives me a bulky profile, length and with that weight all the appendages will be flapping like crazy and that is just what the bass likes. Keep your colours of the creature bait close to the jig and skirt colour; mismatching is not preferable to me. Presentation is also straight forward for me. Make a long cast, give line and let it drop to the bottom. Retrieve back to boat by bringing it over the bottom. When you feel structure you can pull it over gently or even give it a quick jerk which might trigger a strike. Try not to hop the bait at all. I like to keep contact with the bottom as much as possible. You might think that a bulky bait like this could spook fish in clear water but I think big bass don’t mind at all. But again the amount of success for this technique is going to be determined by your determination to master this skill. The more you use it the more confidence you will have in using creature baits. Like with jigs; I used to avoid them until I had success and now I’m a firm believer and this counts for all my other type of techniques as well; but that is a lesson for another the day.

Baby Brush Hog

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Vlei Kurper Ĕú łŜŜúş şłŜ îłĶíęĸúŦ ŰĔú íúŦŰ łČ íłŰĔ ƑłşĭôŦ łČČúşęĸč Ò Firetiger ŜłŜŜúş ƑęŰĔ Ò ŰÒęĭ ŦŜęĸĸúş Čłş Ķłşú ÒŰŰşÒîŰęłĸȫ Ĕú ŰÒęĭŦ ŦŜęĸĸúş ÒčęŰÒŰúŦ ŰĔú ƑÒŰúş ŦęĶŸĭÒŰęĸč Ò îşúÒŰŸşú ŦŰşŸččĭęĸč Űł úŦîÒŜúȫ łŜɁęŰ čúĸŰĭƗ łş ƐęčłşłŸŦĭƗ ƑęŰĔ ĭłĸč ŜŸĭĭŦ ęĸ íúŰƑúúĸȫ

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ełŦŰ ŜşúôÒŰłşƗ ƥŦĔ ħŸŦŰ ĭłƐú Űł úÒŰ îşęîĪúŰŦȫ Ĕú ŸĭĭɁúĶ şęîĪúŰ ęŦ ôúŦęčĸúô Űł ŦƑęĶ ħŸŦŰ íúĭłƑ ŰĔú ŦŸşČÒîú ƑęŰĔ Ò Ƒęôú Ƒłííĭúȫ =ęŦĔ ŰĔú îşęîĪúŰ łĸ Ò ŦĭłƑȦ ŦŰúÒôƗ şúŰşęúƐú ŰÒĪęĸč îÒşú ĸłŰ Űł Ƒęĸô Űł ŞŸęîĪĭƗ

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Ĕú ĭÒŦĔ şÒĸĪ ęŦ Ò ĶúôęŸĶ şŸĸĸęĸč ĭŸşú ƥŰŰúô ƑęŰĔ Ò ĭĭłŸô şÒŰŰĭú îĔÒĶíúşȫ Ĕú ĭÒŦĔ şÒĸĪ Ƒęĭĭ ôęƐú Űł Ò ôúŜŰĔ łČ ǵɁǶČŰȦ ôúŜúĸôęĸč łĸ ĭęĸú ôęÒĶúŰúşȫ úŦŰ ƥŦĔúô ł ÒşłŸĸô ŦŰşŸîŰŸşú ƑęŰĔ Ò ŦĭłƑȦ ŦŰúÒôƗ şúŰşęúƐúȫ ÄłŸ îÒĸ ƐÒşƗ ŰĔęŦ ƑęŰĔ ŜÒŸŦúŦ ęĸ íúŰƑúúĸȫ

www.cullem.co.za SA BASS 11 November 2016

Firetiger

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

Pre-spawn / Post-spawn The water temperature is warmer but largemouth bass can still play so many tricks on us. >> Adrian Luff* I took the time to focus on a local clear water lake from the pre- to the post-spawn period. I just had to figure out all the tricks and I had all kinds of obstacles that made things interesting.

Trip 1: Pre-spawn

Trip 2: Pre- to spawn

In the pre-spawn, the water level of the dam was at about 90% and the fish was mostly in about 8 to 15ft with an early morning water temperature of 11ยบC. I got most of my fish on drop-shot using small worms. Suspending them about 50cm of the bottom and fishing a jerkbait. The bag was about 5kg. The males enjoyed wetting the boat with long thin streams.

A week later, in the pre- to spawn, I could still target my staging fish but the odd nesting male started to appear. The early morning water temperature was now up to 12ยบC and I could pull fish of nests as they were pretty eager to eat. I landed males of up to 1.5 kg. The jerkbaits and slow rolling square bills started to really pay of now on the better size fish. But staging fish in off shore water was still the goto, and the drop-shot method still filled the bag. But the suspending height of the bait was definitely working better now at 30cm and I could use it as a sight fish method for fish in 5 to 8ft of water. The bag weight increased to 7kg.

Bertus Jansen van Rensburg 38 SA BASS November 2016

Adrian Luff

Trip 3: Pre- and Spawn

Trip 4: Spawn and Post-spawn

Five days later; the early morning temperature was at about 14ºC, and late afternoon it got up to 16ºC. Big females appeared on the scene and fish was just about everywhere in 10ft of water and up. Some males even had eggs in the nests with many paired fish around. All of a sudden the fish weren’t eating so easily and we had to aggravate the bite; especially if they have seen the boat. It was full moon and we had a long day ahead. The trusty drop-shot hardly got time in the water and out came the weightless 4 and 6 inch Senkos. I would spot fish from far a distance and made long weightless casts. Step two was to move closer to the nests. By now we had to try really hard to get these fish to eat. Dead sticking Senkos and other baits inside the nesting area only got the fish to look at the bait. Moving it a centimetre at a time would sometimes get a pick up. I couldn’t help but notice that some of the fish was chasing other bass away from the nesting areas and then it dawned on me. Seconds later a big hard swimbait came out to play. It was the slow sinking one. I would cast it at least 4m beyond the nest; allow it to sink a foot or two and then I slowly swam it into the nest. Just about every time… boom! They hated other fish in their nests. So the pattern started! Every now and then I would find a fish that wasn’t that agro just yet. The remedy was simple - a small bug jig with a UV glow white twin tail grub. Plant it close to the nest; dead stick and boom! So darkness came and we decided to fish the full moon light. What a pleasure! I fished a top water frog, and my partner came to the deck with a dinger Texas rigged. Within thirty minutes we each had a 2kg. Happy we went home – our total bag weight was 10kg.

A week later, so after a cold front the lake was up with about 3ft. Nests that was in 7ft water now sat in 10ft water. Some males have left areas they were in and another pattern came in to play - the Ned rig. It worked like a bomb but there was plenty of fish now in post conditions and they were just cruising around. They definitely gathered towards the main inlets of the lake and catching them was hard work. Changing to the closest natural diet of these fish just made them eat. So I used a jig to imitate the crabs and a small top water to imitate the dragonfly bite. After another awesome day we managed to put a 9.55kg bag on the boat! I hope you can use some of this in your next outing. Never stop trying new skills! Enjoy! *Adrian Luff is a SABAA national champ and wrangler angler and pro staff to tribal boats and Thornveld angling.

SA BASS 39 November 2016

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

It’s All In The

Vibration

Chatterbaits must be one of the most versatile baits on the market and in 2006 it became famous over night in the USA and worldwide after bass pro anglers dominated the ﬁeld with it. All over the world it has been used and anglers are not just catching bass on it, but other species as well.

>> Bennie Wiese*

uring the last few months these lures resurfaced and out got anglers talking about it again on this side of the world.. If you look at chatterbait type baits it looks just like a jig with an added swim blade. The blade is the secret behind the success of the chatterbait. When retrieving the lure the blades are creating a vibration and noise. e. Chatterbaits are available in all sizes, colours and some models have painted blades.

When to use it Chatterbaits can be used during i most parts off the year in almost every condition. Most of my success with these baits was in autumn and during spawn. You will be surprised to see how many big fish will fall victim to it. These baits must be the best bait to fish in stained water because the vibrating helps the bass to pinpoint the bait easy.

Where to fish it Because of all the sizes these bait are available in they can be fished for shallow to deep water. I fish them from shallow to around ten foot (3m). I have caught bass in around 23ft by fishing it slowly the same way you will slow roll a big spinnerbait in dams like Mokolo. I prefer to fish the heaver chatterbait in Mokolo in areas where the river channel hugs close to the shoreline and even better is where you can find bends in the channel. Cast the chatterbait out it to the deeper water into the 40ft range and let it fall to the bottom. Then slowly retrieve it back to the boat, bumping it against the river channel. All the venues don’t always have these unique areas to fish. 40 SA BASS November 2016

Submerged Submer grass will also give you great opportunities oppo to fish these baits and will most probability be the most productive areas to use it. pr

H How to fish the chatterbait These baits are so versatile and can be used in many different ways. Just by changing tthe setup one can find different ways to fish it and maximize the w chances of catching fish. ch The Th most common retrieve for the cchatterbait will be the normal retrieve by just reeling it back at a speed. It will always work and you constant spe bites will get bites. There are also many other ways to fish this bait, depending on the fish’s mood for the day. Use a different retrieve by fishing it fast, slow or bounce it. When fishing reeds I will cast it parallel to the stretch of reeds and the key areas will be where the reeds have a cove where the bass will be ambushing. I use a normal retrieve and when the lure gets close to the cove I will slow it down or give it a jerk; trying to imitate bait fish fleeing. When fishing it around lay downs or casting it I will retrieve it like when fishing spinner- or crankbaits. The difference will be when the lure gets to the limp of the tree I will pull it across and let it free fall by giving it slack line for a two or three seconds; then rip it up and start the retrieve again. The clicking variation sometimes will get the bigger fish to react on it. Retrieving the chatterbait depends on what structure you are fishing. If I am fishing rocky or hard bottoms with crab holes on the side I will cast it out and let it fall to the bottom; then retrieve it all the way back making sure to keep contact with the bottom.

Fishing grass I will fish it as close to the crass as possible like when you are fishing spinnerbaits with a fast or slow steady retrieve. When fishing venues like the Vaal River or Bronkies where there are jetties I prefer to fish the chatterbait just right below the edges of the jetties; bumping the underwater jetty structure. Floating jetties similar to the ones at Bronkies; you must look for the ones that extend far over the drop offs. They will produce most of the time better quality fish.

Trailers You will catch bass with a chatterbait without a trailer but adding some type of trailer will give the lure a different dimension to it; you just have to experiment. Every time you add a different trailer to the bait it will have a new look and action. From ribbon tail worms, creature baits, lizards, sweet beavers and paddle tail baits and because chatterbaits are available in different sizes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to match them. Most of the time I will match the colour to the fodder fish the bass are feeding on. Green pumpkin with orange works well during prespawn when fishing the harder bottoms. Watermelon works when I am targeting grass areas. On windy days I will fish chatterbaits with white skirts and a gold blade, white/ chartreuse or a black bait works great in murky water.

>::Ć&#x2DC; Ĺ¸3<<>8 Try these creatures from CATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S in POPULAR assorted colours

'LVF /L]DUG

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Equipment Rod: 7â&#x20AC;&#x2122;-7.5â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Medium heavy fast rod. Reel: I use a 6.3:1 gear ratio most of the time because I can reel faster when I want to burn the bait. Line: 14 to 20lb depending on what structure you are fishing. Remember; when you go fishing - just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fish it once. It is all about gaining confidence. *Bennie Wiese is the editor of SA Bass magazine and an experienced provincial bass angler.

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>> SA BASS

Weekend Warrior >> The Bass Addict

he week has been long! Maybe the last couple of weeks have consisted of running here, running there, meetings, more meetings and in the end a huge mountain of bills to pay. The planning is done, the weather looks good and Saturday morning couldn’t come sooner. You tell yourself that you’ve earned this, a couple of hours out on the water will be good for you, to de-stress, clear your thoughts and of course to catch a couple of fish. Tackle checked, rods rigged, cooler box stocked and the night before you can hardly sleep... Saturday morning is here, up early, loaded and best of all, the weather is 42 SA BASS November 2016

holding and you and your buddy head out to your local pond for a few hours. You get to the water and there is a slight mist drifting across the mirror surface of the water and here and there you can see fish rising and it all just feels right. Inflating the boat, sorting all the goodies to take with and soon you’re off and on your way. As you use your trolling motor to get you to your spot, the last thing on your mind is work deadlines and the nagging of your boss. You get to your spot, drop an anchor, choose a rod, make that first cast and as you’re still trying to enjoy the moment, the line suddenly snakes away and you feel the rod load up and you STRIKE... fish on! In a

mad dash for freedom a healthy 1kg specimen boils to the surface shaking its head. After a bit of tug of war, you slip the net under the fish and as you lift it out for a quick photo, you smile... Yes, this is what it’s all about, sometimes it’s not about the quantity of fish you may catch or even the size of the fish but more about being out on the water, in nature and enjoying the company of a good friend. It’s extremely difficult to pin point exactly what makes this so addictive, is it the anticipation of the take, the actual strike or the fight itself. No one can say for certain but this is our addiction and the only way to satisfy it is to be out on the water.

...He does not care that it’s not just him on the water but other & $ *+ ,'' !& 4' , tubes, kayaks and on much smaller boats. Between a steaming mug of coffee, some friendly banter between you and your buddy, the morning progresses and the fishing is good with a gentle breeze disturbing the mirror like surface. Hearing the birds in the reeds and undergrowth, the odd dog bark in the distance and the soft lapping of water against the boat is like soothing music for your overworked soul. Not only you and your buddy but a few other anglers have the same idea and here and there is another inflatable or float tube dotted along the dam. Around 11am you’re suddenly aware of a different sound... the sound of a screaming outboard motor... and a big one too. As you look towards where you launched a few hours ago you see a huge boat being launched in the same

place and with the big 4x4, that nice launch will now be a pool of mud along the side. Oh well, you think… the guy wants to do some fishing too and anglers are in a way part of a brotherhood. Thirty minutes later and your tranquil place in the universe is shattered as the big boat comes screaming past throwing up a huge wake while the driver laughs with his buddies and thunders across the dam. This is The Weekend Warrior. He has no regard for you or your fellow anglers, he is not here to fish and enjoy nature, he does not care that this particular pond does not according to law, does not allow for any boat with a motor bigger than 10hp. He does not care that it’s not just him on the water but other anglers too in float tubes, kayaks and on much smaller boats. He does not care that his selfish actions right here on the water is making things very unpleasant for a number of people. I suppose the beer in his hand does not help matters and the fact that his buddies on the boat are just as loud as he is, somehow gives him the courage to continue being and idiot. Trying to approach such a Weekend Warrior is also sometimes not a good idea as in most cases these people have no regard for the law, let alone you and your buddy wanting to do some peaceful fishing and such an approach could well lead to charges of assault. Best to call the authorities and let them deal with the Weekend Cowboy. The thing is; it’s not just at a local pond but at many dams across South Africa where it becomes extremely unpleasant for anglers even on big bass boats to enjoy their chosen sport and recreation due to the Weekend Warriors that frequent the same body of water. Racing across the dam with their jet ski’s or boats towing skis or tubes, it becomes a game of dodge instead of a relaxing day out on the water and in most cases leaves you as the angler more tense than the upcoming boardroom meeting scheduled for Monday. Seeing someone operating a boat or watercraft in an unsafe manner is not cool, but here lies the problem, who to report it to? There are two types of Weekend Warriors, those that have no regard for other water users and will do whatever they feel for their own enjoyment and

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SA BASS 11 www.sensationtackle.co.za November 2016

the amusement of their buddies. Then there is the Weekend Ninja. Somehow I’m sure we have all had such an experience, if not, don’t worry it will come. Here you sit on your spot, the fishing is good, the bite is on and its happy days... until another small craft approaches and comes slap bang into the zone where you are making your cast and getting your fish and when you give the two fellows on the other boat some lip, one simply give the middle finger and they move off very reluctantly but as an afterthought will make a cast directly at your boat. That’s the middle finger in a different way. These guys will creep up on your spot with stealth and cunning because they can’t catch a fish and see you catching fish, they want some of that action too. Recently at a local venue, something similar happened with two teens on a red and white boat fitted with a 5hp motor. To the right of me, about 40m away was an angler throwing a fly

for bass and having made a few good catches, the two youngsters decided it’s a good idea to just slide in between myself and the other boat and with the 5hp motor in idle, it picked up the fly line and that was another R500 down for the fly angler. We gave the youngsters some lip and they moved away. Low and behold, the very next day they did the same thing to another group of anglers and SURPRISE... on the third day started doing circles around the other boats to put the anglers off while shouting words that would make a sailor blush. On this occasion I had my fiancé with me and obviously only using a trolling motor meant that I couldn’t even think of going after them to give them a piece of my mind. Aaaah… but this is where it gets fun, the two went to another spot on the dam and knowing where they launched we approached that area before they could get there only to find their dad waiting for their return. We then informed the dad of the situation

and hopefully these boys will not continue their way of fishing or their attitude towards other anglers. The point is this... no matter where you decide to fish or de stress, there is always the chance of encountering the Weekend Warrior or the Weekend Ninja. Waving arms, screaming and getting upset is only going to push your blood pressure up and spoil your own fun. Relax, take it easy, call the cops or complain to someone that can do something about it. As bass addicts, we look forward to those moments out on the water, we plan for it and in many cases it costs us a fair deal of money too and just like any other water users, we have the right to use the water for our chosen recreation. Another solution is to try and take that break during the week when our waterways are much calmer and the fish have less pressure too... make the most of the outing and enjoy what’s there, get some fish and feed your addiction.

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44 SA BASS November 2016

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

4 - 10 December 2016 We at SA BASS are inviting all avid young anglers between the ages of 7-16 years to join us for loads of fun and adventure. Venue: Boskoors Farm, 30km North of Pretoria on the Moloto Road.

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

>> SA BASS PRODUCT REVIEW

The New Daiwa BG Reels

fter nearly half a century of reliability the original legend returns, the new 2016 BG. Daiwa’s newest heavy-duty super reel starts with Daiwa’s legendary Real Four design formula. An amalgamation of Real Engine, Real Control, Real Endurance, Real Custom, and Real Four gives rise to spin excellence that is unrivalled in design, performance and quality. BG’s aluminium body and side plate forms a reel body that is precision machined, and highly corrosion resistant, making it the ultimate body for the offshore environment. Rigid, strong and highly durable the unyielding body allows for seamless gear function and prevents twisting when the reel is under load and results in greater cranking force. Reaping the full protection and strength benefits of the new body is technologically advanced Digi-gear system. A highly evolved drive system, Digi-gear features a high precision cutting technique that achieves perfect gear meshing and ultra smooth performance. Daiwa’s new drag, ATD implements structural changes to the spool metal of the reel that provides greater support of the spool across the entire length of the main shaft. This additional support of the spool reduces spool twist under load, promotes more even wear of the drag washers and ultimately reduces “pulsing” of the drag when fighting the fish. Combined with new improved drag grease that exhibits a low viscosity at rest, yet becomes more viscous immediately after drag start up. This reduces initial drag

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46 SA BASS November 2016

start up inertia and combined with the structural changes of the ATD Drag System results in a smoother drag from the initial hook up. For ultimate strength and rotation, BG uses the latest version of Air Rotor, this super strong light rotor is like no other – a new revolution in strength and sensitivity. This design disperses pressure to the entire lower section of the rotor, dramatically decreasing weight, stress and flexing while massively increasing the strength. Big on looks and big on features, the all- new, all-black and gold BG offers up a powerful combination of performance, strength and reliability in one of Daiwa’s most renowned names in heavy duty spin reels. The Daiwa BG spinning reels will be available from most leading fishing tackle stores countrywide and at The Kingfisher in Durban 031 368 3903, Check out their website on www. kingfisher.co.za for info on other products.

>> SA BASS INTERNATIONAL The early 4:50am sunrise on South Korea’s Geumho Lake. This is the north lake

Bass Fishing in South Korea

(Part 1)

I want to begin this new series with special thanks to my South Korean friend-cum-host, Mr. Kang Hohyeong, as well as all the readers who have been following my articles on SA Bass.

Words by Fishingboy Images by Fishingboy and Kang Hohyeong

ll in all, the fishing in South Korea was absolutely a blast. So far, it is probably the one and only trip where I had caught largemouth bass in fresh and brackish water, as well as seabass offshore which I will talk about in the upcoming articles. There is so much to share and tell. So, let me begin with part one of this two-part opening article in a nonlinear narrative sequence as I bring you to the epicentre of the action at Geumho Lake along with some interesting insights into shoreline bass fishing on a day that is filled with ‘obstacles’ and breakthrough. 48 SA BASS Novembver 2016

The unofficial ‘Lake Biwa’ of South Korea Where and what is Geumho Lake, or Geumhoho as it is known in South Korea, and why is it unofficially known as South Korea’s Lake Biwa? Here are my personal viewpoints. ‘Lake Biwa’ means ‘lute-shaped’ lake. ‘Geumhoho’ means ‘zither-shaped’ lake. In this instance, both lakes are coincidentally named after stringed musical instruments and are generally believed to be named so because of their aerial shape resemblances to those instruments. From a fishing perspective, however, Lake Biwa has put Japan front and centre in the world of bass fishing since

2009 with Manabu Kurita’s world record-tying catch of 22lbs 5oz. Geumho Lake, on the other hand, may not be as high profile as Lake Biwa and it is practically unknown outside South Korea simply because professional tournament bass fishing on a is still in its infancy in the country, but that is set to change soon in the future. Just like the world famous Lake Biwa, Geumho Lake is an ‘iconic’ lake that is well-known for producing big largemouth bass averaging 2.5 to 3kg, and a top destination for bass fishing in South Korea which packs potential. Bizarrely, the lake lacks public boat launching facilities and that was the main reason why we had to fall back to good old bank fishing tactics, but even so the quality of shore fishing was still outstanding as we shall see.

Mr. Kang caught this solid fish on a Jackall TN70 in deep-water

Fishing slow in style My day at Geumho Lake started terribly slow but in style simply because I could not figure out a way on how to get started on the shore of this massive lake. I basically had a tough time getting adjusted from the tidal water conditions of the Yeongsan River where I had fished a day ago to the clear, open-water fishing conditions that Geumho Lake is well-known for. We will talk more about the Yeongsan River and bass fishing in tidal water in the next article. Geumho Lake is an incredibly large lake. It is about four times larger than Loskop Dam in South Africa. For that reason, we could only select three key areas to focus

R13500

SA BASS 49 November 2016

It took me two hours to figure out how to catch big bass in Geumho Lake

Mr. Kang was on a fish catching spree that morning

on our day trip. The first two spots were areas that consist of floodgates and riprap breakwater that is located on the ‘north lake’. The third spot is a rather uncharacteristic, seminatural ledge adjacent to a busy expressway on the west side of the ‘south lake’ which we will talk about in Part 2. Though I am a shore angler for most of the time, I had never before bank fished on the shoreline of big lakes. Nevertheless, the first two hours of daybreak were a disaster for me. Despite trying practically everything that I knew, I still ended up totally clueless, but in a positive way.

The ‘weightless’ breakthrough Everything changed when I decided to fall back on a ‘valuable’ technique that I had learned in South Africa a few years ago where I was fishing with Hannes Lindeque and Bennie Wiese of SA Bass on Loskop Dam, and that is the ‘weightless Texas-rigged Senko’. The weightless Senko may not be my favourite bait, but it was a key technique that course-corrected my day. I rigged up a Gary Yamamoto 5” Senko in cinnamon red and blue flake colour and cast it far into open-water. I let it free fall all the way to the bottom of a depth of 3 to 4m on controlled slack line. The bait took about half a minute to fall to the bottom. I then glided it slowly, raising the rod tip slowly and lowering it with extremely long pauses in between. Amazingly enough, my Senko got picked up less than 10’ away from the bank, right before I was about to lift it 50 SA BASS November 2016

>> SA BASS

- Spawning Season – Again!

>> Kevin Lofstedt*

very year we seem to discuss the same old things. Namely, the ethics involved in fishing at a time when these poor okies are trying to ensure their survival as a species. Now, let’s be completely honest with each other here, and all of us need to be able to look ourselves in the mirror, and say, no, I’m not “THAT” guy! It’s about balance, and I am of the opinion that catching a bass on the nest, taking a picture and releasing it does very little harm. Repeatedly catching that fish for an hour is just dumb, and serves no purpose whatsoever. As I mature, I also will try to spread the effect over as many dams, and or rivers during this time, thereby reducing my personal “damage footprint” on any body of water. Just like we each have to take responsibility for any damage we do during this time, we also have a duty to COLLECTIVELY police our waters and EXPOSE all those that feel that they have the right to systematically deplete our bass waters for whatever purpose they choose. Some of the excuses you will come 52 SA BASS November 2016

across are: This is not YOUR dam/ river, and I will take as many as I like. (Some people like to believe we live in a completely lawless society, and will use ANY EXCUSE to take advantage of the perceived lawlessness for their own selfish ends.) We are catching these fish and giving them to the less fortunate in our community. (To you guys, and you KNOW who you are, I say. If you feel SO STRONGLY about the shortage of food in the underprivileged areas, sell your boat, your tackle and take this money along with the money you would have spent on fuel, and start a feeding scheme – THAT MAKES way more sense than removing ALL the breeding bass from any body of water. This is VERY SHORT SIGHTED!) Then there are those that believe bass are an alien species, and based on this premise, will use this as a license to plunder our waters. All the while masquerading as having the interests of other species at heart, and that they are actually doing us a favour? Okay, now that we’ve got this out of the

way, we can get down to how best we can balance our insatiable craving for catching bass, with the obvious (and sometimes) unnecessary damage we do. I have in the past taken part in tournaments that have been organised in the middle of the spawning season and, if I am perfectly honest with myself, am not feeling particularly comfortable about this. I believe that if this is a necessary evil of competitive bassing, we need to look at how best we can manage this particular situation.

Other developments: It seems that there have been other developments which are currently being implemented. Some dams are being “Rated” as category “A” and some category “B”. What does this mean? Well when a dam falls into the WRONG category, Boskop Dam near Potchefstroom for example, it seems that the authorities have put in place a decree which says that #1) When there is an event to be held at such a venue, certain authorities will

need to be notified. Like the SAPS, Emergency Services, The Green Scorpions, amongst others. #2) A permit for such an event will then be granted (provided all the requirements are met), and the appropriate authorities will be present at these events to ensure that all criteria, including the destruction of all bass caught, are adhered to. All bass caught at any organised bass tournament / event will need to be destroyed. YES DESTROYED! Now there have been many, many people that have (behind the scenes) done their utmost to try to undo what, on the face of things seems to be an EXTRAORDINARILY HARSH decision. There are many that have done their best to try to put in place exemptions to this “destroy” policy. Many of these people come from Westvaal, and there have been many, many phone calls / discussions all of which, at this time seem to have come to naught. Interestingly, TROUT, which also fall into this category, have come off unscathed, and there exists no policy at this time in place to destroy Trout. Why is this? Have the trout anglers handled things differently to the way the bass guys have. DAMN RIGHT THEY HAVE! This is where YOU come into this. Start asking questions. If you are a “Paid up Bassmaster” it’s time to start getting some answers. This is OUR sport, and as is the case in many other regards, the time is NOW for all to get involved.

HALCO’s MadEyes Take The Bass Market To New Heights! HALCO MadEyes soft plastic lures can withstand repeated strikes because of it’s construction with the latest in Rubber Stretch Technology (RST)

Available in assorted colours: rs rs:

5” Flick Stick 5” Paddle Prawn 3.5” Whippy worm Octoskirt

WORDS OF WISDOM: You have enemies? GOOD! That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life! - Winston Church *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).

www.tackletraders.co.za

SA BASS 53 November 2016

I caught all my fish on just one weightless Texas-rigged 5” Senko

Here’s another easy e-mail competition for SA BASS readers! Answer the easy question below and stand a chance to win a Sigma inflatable lifejacket from Lalizas. Sigma 150N Inflatable lifejacket out of the water to make a second cast. Frankly speaking, that was how I caught my first big bass in South Korea, literally on my first cast after switching from a weighted Texas-rigged worm to a weightless Senko. It was a substantial patterning breakthrough that would dictate the way on how I engaged other areas of Geumho Lake for the rest of my weeklong trip. We will talk more about that in the future instalments.

The unexpected setback Unfortunately, I could not develop the pattern further and had to adhere to our tight schedule for the rest of the day where we would be fishing a ledge on the west side of the south lake. As strange as it might sound at that moment in time, I had literally ‘consumed’ my one and only Senko on that big bass I caught. I brought two packs of Senko with me to South Korea but just so happened to have forgotten and left the rest in the guesthouse. It was a setback out of my own recklessness, but nevertheless, we were able to improvise for what is in store next. To be continued… Acknowledgements A big thank you to all my sponsors for their support and contribution:TCE Sports Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), Nice Fish! Distribution (UK), Bitez (Singapore) and SportyFish (Singapore)

The Sigma life jacket from Lalizas is an economic life jacket available in auto and manual version. The ultra lightweight design makes Sigma comfortable to wear and its webbing system makes it a user-friendly life jacket. This cost effective life jacket is available, in red and its transparent area allows the user to check the operating head function. The inflatable bladder, which is manufactured from high visibility yellow fabric, is folded into a nylon red valise with Velcro closure and it is also equipped with Lalizas retro reflective tapes and whistle. They are provided with lifting loop and heavy duty D-ring for easier rescue.

Some other features: Compatible with all major suppliers CO2 bottles; Easy re-packing; Economical re-arming kits; Auto heads designed not to fire in heavy weather; Maintain the correct flotation position in the water (face-up); Fully adjustable straps and more.

Visit www.lalizas.co.za or a dealer near you. (See Lalizas’ advertisement elsewhere in this issue) QUESTION: What is the e-mail address shown in the Lalizas advertisement? To enter simply e-mail your answer to: competitions@sabass.com to reach us on or before 30 November 2016.

RULES: The prize may not be exchanged for money The closing date for entries is 30 November 2016. To enter simply e-mail your answer to: competitions@sabass.com The first correct entry drawn on the closing date will be the winner By entering this competition you agree to all rules and accept that the decision of the publisher is final and that no correspondence thereto will be entertained SA BASS 51 This competition is open to all readers of SA BASS except employees of SA BASS, November 2016 BB Print and Lalizas and their immediate families.

Juniors

Southern Division

>> SA BASS SABAA NEWS

Joe Khourie winner and big fish Vaal River

>> Joe Khourie

e fished the second Southern Division Junior Bass Fishing tournament in September on the Vaal River. The weather was fair but got very windy throughout the day. The day warmed up to 31°C with the water temperature between 18°C to 20°C. The water was not as clear as always with a visibility of about 35cm. It was quite a challenging day with some club competitions and Natal Senior Division practising as well, not to mention the pleasure boats and jet skis. On the Saturday I landed fifteen fish of which I caught a 2.05kg fish which was the biggest fish of the day. On Sunday I landed ten fish but had a lot of bites where the 54 SA BASS November 2016

fish did not commit and the hooks weren’t set. I caught the biggest fish of the day again with a weight of 2.05kg. The key pattern was to fish right up against the walls and into any little corner you could find on the walls and to find the deeper jetties with the big spawning females. While everybody went downriver I went upriver, hoping that the fishing pressure would be less. I pre-fished the spot the previous week, so I knew that I would get less bites but better quality fish. It’s very important to pre-fish as that was part of the success in finding the key spots that held the big fish. Most of all, keep calm, believe in yourself and enjoy the fishing.

SA BASS PRODUCT NEWS

Striker Series " OFX MJOF PG öTIöOEFST PGGFSJOH $)*31 USBEJUJPOBM TPOBS BOE $)*31 %PXO7Í BOE 4JEF7Í UFDIOPMPHZ

armin Southern Africa are excited to announce the Striker Series, the first Garmin fishfinder series to include colour screens, CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP DownVü and SideVü technology that come standard with a built-in high-sensitivity GPS receiver. Fishermen will now have the ability to not only see fish and structure below the boat, but also to mark fishing locations and get back to them. With GPS on board, users will also have access to accurate speed over the ground (SOG) information, even at very slow speeds. The Striker series is a powerful tool to help inland and near-shore anglers find and catch more fish and raises the standard for fishfinder performance and ease of use. The Striker Series is available in bright, sunlight readable 3.5”, 5” or 7” colour displays that feature a new rugged design and keyed interface that is built to withstand the harsh marine environment. All models are equipped with a built-in high-sensitivity GPS antenna and waypoint map, so marking and navigating to favourite fishing spots and other areas of interest is quick and easy. When trolling, the high-sensitivity GPS provides an update once per second, giving fishermen the precision needed to dial in the exact trolling speed and optimize lure presentation. Users can also share waypoint data across multiple Striker units, as well as all echoMAP series devices.

For anglers who want to see objects and structure below the boat, the Striker dv fishfinders feature builtin CHIRP DownVü scanning sonar, which provides a nearly photographic image with detailed representation of objects, structure and fish in both freshwater and saltwater. The premier 7” Striker 7sv also adds SideVü scanning for customers who want to see targets and structure up to 230 meters on each side of the boat, without being directly over them. Users can use the split screen feature to show various sonar options along with the waypoint map. All Striker fishfinders come with everything anglers need – including a trolling-motor and transom transducer and mounting hardware – to make getting on the water fast and easy. The five new models offer flexible mounting so the devices can tilt and swivel for an optimumviewing angle. An optional flush-mount kit is available for in-dash installation. Additionally, the Striker series is compatible with a wide-range of optional Garmin scanning transducers to customise sonar performance and installation options. For review units and additional information on new products, features, pricing and availability regarding Garmin Southern Africa’s (GSA) products and services please contact Jenna or visit www.garmin.co.za

Tel: 078 548 1301 Email: hotreeltec@gmail.com

Service Center SA BASS 55 November 2016

>> SA BASS XMAS SPECIALS

Nice 2 Have

Christmas is around the corner and here are a few nice to have items you may consider for yourself, or for your loved ones.*

Rolling Travel Duffel Bag g @ ¢ ¢ @ f¢ |} | @ u @ g | @ t ~| | @ c |} |} | @ g ~ @ d| | @ e |} e ~ ~

Four Person Picnic Set @ ¢ ¢ @ { | | ~ | @ t | ~ @ e |~ |} | } @ q ~ ~ ! q | ~ | | ~ | |} ~ | ~ ~ }

56 SA BASS November 2016

R1265.00

R834.00

Cooler Bag with Braai Set @ ¢ ¢ @ q| | | @ u ~ @ u }|~ ~ @ p ~ @ c |} |} | @ b || ! b ~ } | } || | | } || } || | |

Out of Africa Travel Duffel Bag

R449.00

@ ¢ ¢ @ p c ~| qwd d @ m| ~| |~ | ~ | @ d| | @ c |} |} | @ u | | ~ @ n | | | @ e |} e ~ ~

R625.00

De esk Weather Station @ ¢ ¢ @ b ~ @ e | | | | @ u | u | @ n| @ e | | @ c | ~ | | | }|

Ballpoint Pen with Laser er pointer en LED light

R196.00

@ ¢ ¢ ~ @ t | }| | ~ | @ ¢ | @ q | ~ | @ q | ~ }| @ ~| |~

R419.00

R129.00

R379.00

Windscreen Sun Shade e @ ¢ ¢ ~ @ u g |} | @ ~ | @ q ~ ~ @ g | | @ t @ b |~ }|~

Hip Flask Gift Set

PVC Waterproof Beach h Bag

R219.00

@ ¢ @ qwd | } |~ | | @ o ~| | @ q | ~ ~| |}

@ ¢ ¢ @ p p } @ b| ~| @ d @ e | @ t ~ | }

@ b| @ b @ u |~ ~ | @ m| @ x mfe @ q|~ | | | | } ¢ | | } ¢ @ b| ~

Fo our Piece S/ste eel Mug Set

Slim Aluminium 4000mAh Power Bank

R79.00

R219.00

@ ¢ ¢ @ | @ g | @ g @ t | | qv ~ ~ @ x ~ | ~ @ x | } ¢

Lockback Knife

R99.00

@ ¢ @ ~ | } | @ m ~ }|~ ~ | @ t | t

100% Cotton Angler Towel

R109.00

@ ¢ @ ~ @ q | ~ ~ @ c | |} s b |~ h o|

*Please E-mail info@sabass.com for the order form *All products will be branded only on receiving a combined minimum order of ten units per item. * Prices exclude delivery cost

SA BASS 57 November 2016

>> SA BASS CONSUMER NEWS

1. WOLF LURES NIGHT FURY >> Distributed by Wolf Lures, Flies & Feathers

Wolf Lures introduces the Night Fury... named after a movie character. This bait has already started making its own impact with those that have used it. Developed by the Wolf Team to create as much action, vibration and disturbance as possible. Fished weightless, Mojo, Texas or Carolina rigged, its subtle tail action on the drop and wild flapping on an upward jerk is sure to drive the bass crazy. Burn it across weed beds for explosive top water takes. This bait gives incredible movement on even the slightest twitch of the line. A must have plastic for the new season. Available in three sizes; 10cm, 12cm and 14cm and in all popular colours.

2. DAIWA NINJA SPINNING REELS >> Available from The Kingfisher

Quite simply, the Ninja reels are staggeringly good. Their highly noticeable look is of course backed up with an array of features and typical Daiwa performance. Their graphite body combined with Air Rotor not only starts the design off with a weight saving benefit but the enhanced rotor shape adds to the reels performance under load. Front drag orientated they are perfect for use even with braid. Winding smoothness is enhanced with 4BB and Infinite Anti-Reverse. Finally rounding off the value for money there is a spare spool supplied. Available now at most fishing tackle stores country wide and at The Kingfisher in Durban.

3. BASS PRO SHOPS LURE RETRIEVER KIT >> Available for BassWarehouse

The Bass Pro Shops E-Z Lure retriever kit rescues all lure types even live bait rigs. Its unique design takes it easily past sinkers and hardware. For lures too well snagged to be bounced free, the chains will entangle the hooks, allowing you to pull the lure free with the added feature of a wind-up line retriever. 58 SA BASS November 2016

4. WAR EAGLE TANDEM WILLOW SPINNERBAITS >> Available from Bass Warehouse

For when you absolutely have to catch fish. Every War Eagle spinnerbait is balanced to perform properly out of the package, and the layered premium silicone skirts are hand-tied to ensure correct strand orientation. Frames (head, hook and wire) are plated with either nickel or 24K gold; equipped with Sampo swivels and Mustad NeedlePoint hooks.

5. BOSS OUTDOORS BANDED PUNCH SKIRTS >> Available from Bass Warehouse

Perfect for flipping/punching heavy grass, the Boss Intruder Punch skirt dresses up any soft plastic bait and allows you to attempt the â&#x20AC;&#x153;punchingâ&#x20AC;? technique that has been taking the country by storm. The Boss Intruder Punch skirt also features a built-in teaser tail trailer. The trailer provides the ultimate action, while not adding mass to the hook shank and allowing for higher percentage hook ups. The teaser tail trailers are made of 100% super durable silicone, the teaser tails are firmly secured, so they never slide down the hook, and leave you with the confidence that your presentation is always true.

6. VICIOUS MOSS GREEN BRAID

8. REACTION ACTION STRIKE REVOLUTION RAT

>> Distributed by Hook on Bass

>> Distributed by Hooked on Bass

The definitive choice for strength and durability, Vicious Braid excels where monofilament and fluorocarbon fear to tread. Woven with the highest quality Spectra fibre, the line has virtually no stretch allowing for bite detection at any depth and lightning fast hook sets. Their U.R.C. process helps eliminate abrasion and makes it resistant to the effects of UV rays and water absorption. For the perfect combination of power and finesse, this is the line you can count on.

Mice and rates are active around water and often swim which rings the dinner bell for hungry, opportunistic bass. The Reaction Strike Revolution Rat is the perfect imitation of a mouse or small rat. It has a very cool feature in its soft rubber tail, which is replaceable by simply twisting a new one on. It also allows you to change the colour profile of the bait without buying multiple baits.

7. BD 1.5 SOFT SQUARE BILL >> Distributed by Hooked on Bass

The BD 1.5 Soft Square Bill is an incredibly innovative concept. The body is hollow, like a frog, and collapses when it is hit, just like a frog. Bass will hold on to this bait a long time because it feels real. The end result is more bass on the boat. Designed to dive down to 3-4 feet in water depth, and fitted with sharp Kitana hooks, the BD Cranks feature a fast wobbling action and deadly deflection capabilities generate violent reaction strikes.

9. SPRO COATED PREDATOR SHOULDER BAG >> Distributed by Outdoors 365

A functional shoulder bag designed for the active angler. The EVA foam section offers easy and quick changing of lures. Easy swing over onto your chest to select tackle. The bag further features a holster for pliers and a karabiner hook for hanging tools such as a fish gripper or forceps. Includes two tackle boxes.

>> SA BASS LIFESTYLE

White Crowned Lapwing - Witkopkiewiet

>> Jo Dreyer

e recently visited the Kruger National Park in August and had mixed feelings about the park. I for one couldn’t decide if I was truly enjoying myself or not. We saw a tremendous amount of animals which was amazing but sadly, with the drought, they are suffering. The trees are carrying very few leaves, the grass is dry and food for the herbivores is scarce. In the beginning of the year I wrote an article called “dealing with drought” and now more than ever my statement needs to be observed with a view of what can we do to help. Firstly, use less water. Think about the devastating impact it has on the environment when doing something as simple as washing your hands, washing dishes or even taking a bath or shower with excessive amounts of water. Consider the consequences when you finished washing yourself in the shower and decide you would like to just stand in the spray for a few minutes longer because it makes you feel good. I agree it can be quite nice, but when we are living in the extreme conditions nature has provided us with this year, give that extra few minutes a good think and consider the animals that could benefit from such a luxury. The less water we use, the more there is available for them to consume too. The great thing about the park this year with the drought; is we got to see so much more with the grass being low and animals moving greater distances to find food and water. We were there for a week and got to see practically everything the Kruger had to offer. The only animal on our common list we did not get to see was a Cheetah, although many other park visitors got to see them quite easily. One sighting in particular, which I thank my mother-inlaw for her amazing eye-sight, was a Giant Verreaux’s EagleOwl. He sat right out in the open and wasn’t even disturbed by us, even though we got real up-close and personal. He was fast asleep of course or was pretending to be, but great pictures we got nonetheless. This month’s article is about a bird that once was quite a difficult subject to photograph as it seemed like it was camera shy. I always struggled to take a picture of one as it would fly off or move away too quickly and most likely to the other side of the water body, and with the Kruger Park, you cannot get out of your vehicle, so fighting for a spot in the car where you can best see the bird is a great challenge. The White Crowned Lapwing is an uncommon to rare 60 SA BASS November 2016

resident in South Africa and is regarded as near threatened. It is found mostly North and North East of South Africa and is generally restricted to major river systems with sandy shores, generally sedentary, but moves when water levels become too low. They are often found in pairs but can be in a group of up to twelve birds. With the Sabie River dropping at a drastic rate, we were able to find them quite easily on Sunset Dam close to Lower Sabie. I have never seen them on Sunset Dam, although I do not frequent that part of park so I cannot confirm if they are common on the dam or not, although I can comfortably say that they are resident to the Sabie River as I have seen them on the river each time I have been to the park over the years. It has a little longer wattle than that of the African Wattled Lapwing. Its breast is off-white with a distinct black shoulder extending the inside edge of the wing which then has a white bar separating the black from the rich brown back and outer feathers. In flight the wings are mostly white and the black outer coverts and brown upper wing is visible when you can see the bird from the top in flight. The beak is yellow, tipped black. The eye is a pale green colour with a black centre and yellow outer ring. The head and back of neck is grey with an off-white throat. It has a white crown that extends from the top of the beak to the back of the head. The belly is white and its legs are the same pale green as the eye. An interesting feature I observed on these lapwings is the two spurs that look like they protrude from the left and right hand side of the chest. They are in fact on the wings. I am not sure what they are used for but found it particularly interesting to mention.

The best way to distinguish between the African Wattled; and White Crowned Lapwings is the neck. The African Wattled has a distinct white and black striped neck and the White Crowned has only grey and white feathers. The White Crowned Lapwing lays 3 to 4 eggs in a shallow scrape in the sand. It favours breeding at the end of the winter season as it prefers the sand banks and islands reaching maximum exposure as a result of the low water flow. During incubation these birds can be quite protective. Not even a buffalo or elephant is a challenge for these birds. They simply observe the movements of the animals coming for a drink on the river and if their nest is threatened, they put on quite the display to deter the animals from their nests with resounding success. Animals have an instinctive respect for each other and with the result, the nests are left intact. The eggs need a maintained temperature in their incubation period as to not get too hot when the temperatures start to rise in the heat of the day, so the lapwings then wet their belly feathers before lying on the eggs. I hope that I gave a bit of insight into rethinking water usage as you can see how important the river systems are to animals and birds alike. Use what you need and be sparing. We all want to have a great lifestyle and can achieve that by looking at the bigger picture. Happy Birding

has gone digital !! GET YOUR FAVOURITE SA Bass MAGAZINE 14

BASICS

CLASSROOM

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

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

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

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

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

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01 38 56

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

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

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

DIGITALLY

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

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

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

CLASSROOM

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

SABAA NEWS 40 41

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

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

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

>> Bassin’ in Europe

BESTEMMING 54

>> Aloe Rock - Waterberg

READERS’ COMPETITION 01

ADVERTORIAL

TOURNAMENT NEWS

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

INTERNATIONAL KLASKAMER

>> Subscribe and win with COBB

>> SA Bass Readers Competition – Raylite Ultimate AGM Battery

Win with GRIP Hooks

MONTHLY GIVE AWAYS

ITAGS Takes you directly to the SA BASS website.

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

ON THE COVER “Willie Swart” Image: Hannes Lindeque

SA BASS 03 November 2014

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

CLASSROOM

STRATEGIES

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

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

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

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

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

36 “Vicious Fishing Line”

Win with GRIP Hooks

ITAGS Takes you directly to the SA BASS website. – Craig Fraser

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

“Willie Swart” Image: Hannes Lindeque SA BASS 03 November 2014

For your Apple, Android or Windows 8

Y ONL pm R28

Compatible with:

http://www.magzter.com/

SA BASS 61 November 2016

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

SELF CATERING COTTAGE

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

Champagne Valley / Central Drakensberg www.bergbauhaus.co.za Olaf - 083 450 1450 8 sleeper luxurious home 3 Bass dams

Tournament season starts in November 2017

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>> SA BASS DESTINATIONS

SA BASS PRESENTS FISHING

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

Berg Bauhaus

erg Bauhaus (German for ‘Mountain Farmhouse’) is a secure, pet friendly self catering cottage situated on a working farm in the Central Drakensberg near Winterton. With a magnificent view of all the major Central Drakensberg peaks, it is an eight sleeper freestanding home overlooking three bass dams with beautiful walks and cycling on the farm. Based in the heart of the Berg, the Bauhaus is close to all attractions that the area has to offer, with the Nest Hotel

and uShaka Horse Trails being immediate neighbours. The Champagne Sports Resort’s 18 hole championship golf course, as well as the world renowned Battlefields and Drakensberg Boys Choir are a short drive away. An abundance of wildlife and birds live on and around the farm; a constant reminder of the beauty of the Berg. There are many fine dining opportunities in the area as well as several convenience stores for those much needed holiday necessities.

For more information or bookings, please contact Berg Bauhaus on 083-450-1450 or by e-mail at info@bergbauhaus.co.za or visit www.bergbauhaus.co.za 64 SA BASS November 2016