SA BASS Oct 2017 by SABASS

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DIGITALLY Unbelievable! There are only a couple of months left until the end of the year. For me working at the magazine it’s even a bigger eye opener, that 2017 is nearly over and looking at what we have accomplished so far this year. The second FLW season is in full swing with the second Cast-for-Cash tournament in the series already done and dusted. Many anglers are enjoying their preferred sport as most of the fishing venues are now in spawn across the country. At the same time, fishing serves as a tension reliever for working so hard. It will help give anglers additional energy to push through towards the end of the year. There are people who like to connect in physical activities like running marathons or playing sports, then there are those people who prefer something totally opposite. These people find relaxation and relief when they are indoors and spend their life away in front of play stations by playing video games, baking or cooking. My suggestion to them is to do something completely different than the usual, like camping or fishing. Fishing is an extremely relaxing activity and it can become your leisure pursuit. This way you will meet people that you would never meet indoors. An angler is forever around nature, the tranquillity and peacefulness of the environment helps him de-stress. You will find yourself using all your senses in nature. Aside from that, fishing is believed to have health benefits for the human body too. You need to enjoy life, we only live once. You might want to know what the benefits of a social day’s fishing are. It is easy, there is no need to rush or no need to exhaust yourself too much and drain your brainpower to fish. This means that the brain can just unwind and relax for a few hours. You can sit back and enjoy the natural environment while releasing any stress you are suffering from. Fishing does not have to have any time pressure or deadlines unlike your usual daily business. This month’s issue is once again full off contributions from our highly experienced anglers and sharing their fruitful knowledge to help you as angler on when, where and how to fish. This will help you to best use the last quarter of the year to your advantage. Last but not least. Early in October, South Africa is hosting the Black Bass World Championship on the Vaal River and we look forward to see some top anglers from across the world on our turf. We at SA BASS wish all teams all the very best and may the best team win! Bennie Wiese / Editor

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SA BASS 01 October 2017

Contents

SA BASS Magazine

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

Office hours:

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

Contact numbers:

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

Postal Address:

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

Publisher:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Editor:

Bennie Wiese - bennie@sabass.com

Assistant Editor:

John Badenhorst

Field Editors:

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

Junior Field Editors:

Jean-Michel Gravenor

International Columnists:

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

Advertising Manager:

Wilma Lindeque - wilma@sabass.com

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Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

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Chris Greenland

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www.magzter.com

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Storm Deezigns - dee@stormdeezigns.co.za

Distributed by RNA:

Jannie Junius (011) 248 3536

About SA BASS magazine: SA BASS, which is editorially and financially independent, is a monthly magazine catering exclusively for the bass angling community in Southern Africa. SA BASS is distributed country-wide by RNA to outlets, not only in South Africa, but also in Namibia, Swaziland and Botswana. SA BASS is designed as a specialist bass fishing publication and has catered for a welldefined niche market since April 2001. It enjoys the support and endorsement of nongovernment organisations, but is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Our mission is to promote bass angling as a socially acceptable and popular outdoor recreational activity, and in addition, to encourage acceptable angling ethics. As such, SA BASS provides pertinent information on a wide range of subjects. These include providing a platform for informed debate on issues affecting the sport of bass angling, providing information on bass angling strategies and techniques, bass angling waters and opportunities, and also creating awareness of new products. Within this editorial mix, due consideration is given to developing the sport among all the 02 SA BASS October 2017

country’s people (including the youth), and to the practical conservation of the country’s natural resources. Copyright is expressly reserved and nothing may be reproduced in part or whole without the permission of the publisher. All enquiries regarding editorial correspondence, manuscripts and photographs should be directed to: editor@sabass.com Address contributions to the editor. Manuscripts, photos and artwork will be handled with care, but their safety cannot be guaranteed. Enclose a stamped, self addressed envelope with all editorial submissions. The publisher and editorial staff are not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy or copy right of the material provided for publication in SA BASS magazine. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this magazine, the publisher does not accept responsibility for omissions or errors or their consequences. Readers are advised to use this information with the understanding that it is at their own risk. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, editorial staff or SA BASS Society.

REGULARS & FORUMS 04

STRATEGY “Topwater Action!” I always image that Shakespeare was talking about an African summer when he said: “I speak of Africa, and golden joys.” – Dewald Viljoen

08 10

SA BASS “Spawning Time” Spring has arrived and the bass are already starting to do what nature is telling them to do. Do you know what stage the bass are in, in their spawning phase? – Bennie Wiese

STRATEGY “Changing the Game – An Introduction to the StutterStep Topwater Lure” Surface lure fishing has to be on top of the list when it comes to knee trembling, nail biting, explosive action, and the advent ent of catching st adds to the tiger fish on topwater lures just overall attraction of the method od when used for any species – Greg Budd

BOATING “Kickboating… Here too Stay” Many anglers start off their adventure into the different aspects of our sport by beating the bank or walking and stalking. I’m sure not many anglers started out from the beginning with a shiny new boat and enough rods and tackle to stock the average tackle shop – John Badenhorst

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.

STRATEGY “Dealing With Tough Scenarios - Part 3” In the previous issues we discussed high winds, no wind, extreme heat and falling water levels. Lastly, we’ll discuss ultra clear and muddy water – Divan Coetzee

STRATEGY “Tournament Strategy (Part-1)” You have been practicing for a few days before the next tournament; you did very well and now you want to test yourself against other anglers. But are you ready? – Bennie Wiese

30 36

TOURNAMENT REPORT “Region 5 – Claw Dam Zimbabwe” Is there a greater honour than representing your country in the sport we love? While not for everyone, the dedication of the competitive angler is something to behold – Clint Skinner

STRATEGY “Catching Big Bass from a Kick Boat” I’ve been fishing from a kick boat and float tube for years now, which has taught me many ways to improve my fishing. But, best of all, it’s taught me how to catch big fish. – Bryan Leppan

SA BASS “Black Bass World Championships - South Africa” The Bass World Championship is an Olympic-style event where countries compete for medals.

STRATEGY “HBC Annual Mteri Trip” What words does one use to describe a dam that is just a fishing heaven? Mteri in the Zimbabwe Lowveld is still producing bass that any angler worldwide would call a trophy and yet at the same time is producing fish numbers that make it the perfect place to take even the most inexperienced angler and guarantee them “fish on” – Clint Skinner

SA BASS “SABAA” Currently clubs are busy dying a slow death, and as such communications from SABAA (South African Bass Angling Association) are not seen as of particularly high importance in the struggle for survival – Kevin Lofstedt

38 STRATEGY

“Jerkbaits for Roodekopjes Dam” I find great pleasure rambling through my social media posts from friends and connections. There is so much to be learned from our contacts if we can just stay in touch – Roger Donaldson and with Evert Laubscher

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01

MY CAST

READERS-go-BASSING

Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results

GEAR UP

Angling International

>> 8-TREK TUBE The All-Purpose Ointment

PRODUCT NEWS

INTERNATIONAL “Combating Rough Water (Part 1)” The Columbia River is a worldclass fishery that needs no introduction in the world of bass and multispecies angling, from smallmouth to salmon to sturgeon, and you name it. – Fishingboy and David Swendseid

LESERSKOMPETISIE 47

>> Bass Lake Lodge Karavaanpark

ON THE COVER “James Boulton caught this trophy all on his own” Image: Jonathan Boulton SA BASS 03 October2017

>> SA BASS STRATEGY

Topwater

Action! A

bank angler might be forgiven to think that the summertime exists purely to provide him with good sport, and with good reason. Firstly, most bass start to feed in accessible areas at predictable times, thereby radically

>> Dewald Viljoen*

increasing the success ratio of the prepared bank angler. Secondly, the long summer days provide us with much more fishing times and those more predictable fishing times now fit in nicely before and after office hours. When it comes to techniques

Pop baits

A pencil bait

A prop bait

04 SA A BASS Octoberr 2017

I always image that Shakespeare was talking about an African summer when he said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I speak of Africa, and golden joys.â&#x20AC;? Summertime on our continent is truly a golden time and so much more so when one happens to be a bass angler! and lures it is also a great time for you to experiment with a number of things and to build some confidence in some of the lures you may not be so familiar with. In general though, the low light and warm water conditions of the prime fishing times is perfectly suited for surface lures. Whether you like hard or soft baits, this is usually a good time to throw them! Before we talk about lures though, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discuss a bit of bass behaviour. To improve your success in summer a bank angler needs a basic understanding of two key factors in nature that affects a bass during summer. These factors are light and temperature. As the long days of summer roll on, the water temperature steadily increases and a chain reaction is started that affects our slimy green friends in a number of ways. As the temperature rises, the metabolism of all the organisms in the water increases with it. This higher metabolism means that the bass starts growing and needs fuel to support this growth. Fortunately most of our indigenous tilapia and barb species also start breeding profusely around the same time, proving the bass population with an endless supply of food. Since most of these species usually nest in shallower water and relatively close to shore, it works well in favour of the stalking bank angler. Unfortunately the bright light conditions that usually go with the long summer days means that bank anglers have two relatively short windows of opportunity every day to really jump on some proper fish. It works like this: imagine you are standing outside on a bright day at noon. If you were to look at your

Surface lures come in a number of shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common. They are all bank angler friendly! With the odd exception, surface lures are shallow water baits. Fishing them, as with all lures, has much to do with confidence and with condition and design. So here are the basics that a bank angler needs to know. surroundings and take in how much detail you are seeing right then, you have a rough idea of what a bass can see at first light in the morning! Now imagine staring into the sun at noon trying to spot a bird flying around it, well that is what a bass in a clear body of water has to contend with from about 8am to 4pm! Bass have no eyelids so to get away from the sun during the

day they have two options, either go find a hiding place in the shade or go sit in deeper water where the light is less intense. Unfortunately for bank anglers, warm water holds less oxygen too so most bass will rather opt for the deeper, cooler water choice, which more often than not take them out of the range of bank anglers. Because of these factors, summertime bassing for

bank anglers is an early morning and late afternoon exercise. During the low light times, aggressively feeding bass are often found moving around in relatively open water, chasing down schools of bait fish. Throwing a surface lure around is often a very good and very exciting way to get active fish to react.

Hard Baits

Hard baits, although open retrieve grows you will soon be able hooked, are relatively weedless and to walk-the-dog quite rapidly. These because of their inherent weight can lures and their technique are best be cast a long distance. Hard baits are used when the water is glass smooth divided into three types. Pencil baits, or with a very light ripple. pop baits and prop baits. Pencil baits Pop baits are usually made with are pencil (some might say cigar) a cup shaped face and are retrieved shaped lures with two or three treble with a short, sharp twitch causing hooks and are commonly fished the lure to splash up water while with a technique called walking-the- making a loud popping sound. Some dog. This is a technique that makes popping lures are fitted with wide the lure swim on the surface with a cup-like lips or flat paddle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like zigzag motion. This is achieved by arms and should be fished with a twitching the rod tip in a down ward constant retrieve. motion making the lure react by Unless the fish are very swimming of to one side. The angler aggressive, I have found that allows for some slack to develop pop baits work best when in the line before twitching again, there is a bit of a chop on the effectively changing the direction of the lure. As your proficiency with the water or when visibility is lower.

The prop bait is the third type of commonly used hard top water baits. These are baits with a similar body design to the pencil baits but come with a metal propeller attached to one or both ends of the lure. For some reason, large prop baits are very effective and popular in the warmer low lying dams of South Africa and Zimbabwe, where they draw massive strikes. Prop baits are very simple to fish. After casting the lure out, let it settle for a bit until the ripples have disappeared, then give the line a sharp twitch, snapping the lure forward for a foot or two. This action will cause the props to spin, making a gurgling noise and generating a bubble trail.

Wire Baits

There is only one type of surface wire bait and that is the buzzbait. A buzzbait is very similar looking to a spinner with a skirt on a lead head attached to a wire frame, the only difference being the large propeller like blade. This fast moving bait is really simple to fish and just about as weedless as a spinnerbait. Once

The third and probably most popular surface bait is the soft frog. you have cast the buzz bait out it is a simple matter of retrieving it at a fast enough speed to make it run on the surface (which is slower than one might think for this wire and lead

contraption!) These are also divided into two separate types, namely the hollow body frog and the solid body frog. Both designs are weedless type baits and they are best suited for heavily vegetated waters. The hollow body frog comes with the hook built in while you use similar hooks on SA BASS 05 October 2017

Wire Baits

your solid body frog to what you would use for other types of soft baits. With a hollow body frog you have to impart action to the lure with your rod tip by twitching and popping it, and since these frogs float they are also the best choice for when the bass is a little lazy and not interested in eating moving baits. Solid body frog designs come in two types of leg designs namely a ripple tail or a paddle tail. Both designs do essentially the same thing which is to churn water and the best design is the one you are comfortable with. My personal choice is one with ripple type legs, as I like the more

subtle action it imparts as opposed to the kicking type legs. To fish these, simply cast them right on top the structure and swim them back to you at a speed that will keep them on the surface, and hang on! With all of these baits it is necessary to retrieve the lure back as close as you can; it is not uncommon to get a strike with only a meter or two of line out. Pay attention to the speed of your retrieve as it will usually take a few casts to figure out what the fish want on a particular day, and remember what you were doing when you got the bite! It is also important to fish surface lures on a floating

contd.

line, preferably braid but a strong monofilament will also do the trick. Fluorocarbon line sinks and will thus compromise the action of the lure. Also be sure to keep more than one type of these baits. Like anything else in bass fishing, different surface lures work under different conditions. I would start with the two types of soft bodied frogs and then add to my collection systematically. A seven foot medium heavy rod should do you just fine for most of your surface angling from the bank. As for a reel, just make sure it is tough, especially if you are to using braid.

Target Areas For a good surface bite focus on shallow areas. In most cases surface strikes come in areas that are less than four foot deep. Perfect for a wading angler! Target the same type of structure you would normally fish, like rocks, trees, grass and lily pads. The denser the structure the more weedless the bait you should be using. The wading angler has a

distinct advantage here as you can stalk bass in the grass and under lily pads very quietly and often have the advantage of some cover to hide yourself too, that a boat angler never has and you can often get into place that a boater can only dream about! In the early summer, surface fishing can be spectacular and it is an awesome way for any bank angler

Scan this QR-code and see how Scott Martin walk-the-dog

06 SA BASS October 2017

to get into a few good fish but it is an even better way to get a friend or a child into bass fishing, since the adrenalin rush that comes of a surface strike is completely addictive an can result in you having a fishing buddy for life!

Get out there, get your feet wet and stay safe!

*Dewald Viljoen is sponsored by Canoe & Kayak Centre, the owner of Hot Reels Service Centre, partner and designer at AfriBaits.

>> SA BASS

Bass nest

SPAWNING Spring has arrived and the bass are already starting to do what nature is telling them to do. Do you know what stage the bass are in, in their spawning phase?

time

hile you are busy determining what stage they are in you must eliminate the pieces of water where they won’t be. As usual it’s not just going to be a walk in the park, you need to do your home work once again and be prepared. The first question that needs to be answered is “What type of water are we going to fish?” is it going to be a local pond, river, farm dam or a major piece of water like for instance Loskop? All the time, keeping in mind that every piece of water is going to change in different ways. The 08 SA BASS October 2017

>> Bennie Wiese*

water temperature is going to warm up differently. Pay attention to other factors like; is the water level constant? Are there currents? This will help you in choices that need to be made. The time of the year also plays a big role, although its spring, early spring and late spring differ greatly. Start watching the weather patterns, whether it’s been warm for a couple of days or if there has been a couple of cold days with a front, it all plays a big role in the spawning cycle of a bass.

Pre e prre-spa awn n

Pre--spawn

Sp pawn

Post-s spaw wn

This is the first main time period for the bass. In this time the bigger females will start to stage between their winter grounds and spawning beds. In this stage I will concentrate on points that will be close to their winter areas, like structure that’s laying on a drop off. The water temperature will still be cold but as it warms up the fish will move up. I will normally use a crawdad tip crank that I will run between 7ft and 10ft. You will find a transition area like this can be very productive this time of the year.

Now we get “prespawn” and it’s a very important time for the bass. This is of course when the fish will move onto the spawning banks. You will always get the smaller males that will be eager to build their nests. Water temperatures will start to get warmer too. One thing that you will notice is that the bass will be very object orientated and you will find them on the shallower side of a piece of structure next to its nest. Although I’ll be tempted to go for those males I will move to water with a depth of between 4ft and 7ft. Why you might ask? There I’ll be looking for scattered females which are normally bigger than their counterparts and they’ll still be feeding and because they are scattered, they will be moving fast and chase the bait. This is when I’ll be using a jerk type bait.

Spawn is the most predictable part of the spawning cycle. Did you know that some states in the USA have banned bass fishing in spawn because anglers are causing havoc on the spawning bass? But that aside, this is when the water temperature is getting to the ideal stage and this is when the big momma’s will move in on the freshly built nests. This period might be anything from a couple of days to a couple of weeks all depending on the water and weather conditions. One year we were catching spawning bass for more than a month, we couldn’t go wrong. I’ve found that a large, bulky bait which irritates the bass might just be what the doctor ordered. A magnum lizard is a good lure to start with. If you use a small bait the fish might just push it out off the nest, it’s not really going to feel as irritated as when you plunge a giant bait next to it.

Now we get to the fun part of spawn and that is “post spawn”. You are still going to get some males guarding the nests, and yes its fun catching them, but leave them to look after the nests. There are bigger prizes waiting for you close by if you know where to look. A lot of anglers assume that the females have moved to their summer areas and we all know what they say about assumption, assumption is the mother of all screw ups, that’s putting it nicely for the kids. A lot of these females will be hanging around at a nearby piece of structure like a brush pile, rock pile or even one big piece of concrete that just lying around. This is when I’ll be looking in my prespawn areas. Remember, they were familiar with the structure in the pre-spawn and the chances of them going back are very good. Once again I will use a search type bait to try and locate these females. Make no mistake, this is the most unpredictable time of the spawning season but when you cracked the code you are going to have a lot of fun and you will usually catch the good fish that is still hanging around.

You always hear of anglers talking about pre-spawn and spawn, but in actual fact there are four stages to the spawning cycle. So, when you hit the water this spring, determine what stage of the spawn the fish are in and you will be well on your way to having a successful day on the water! By

paying attention to the water and your surroundings, you can quickly find the fish and have a leg up on the guys who are still searching. *Bennie Wiese is the editor of SA Bass magazine and an experienced provincial bass angler.

Authorized

Tel: 078 548 1301 Email: hotreeltec@gmail.com Service Center SA BASS 09 October 2017

>> SA BASS STRATEGY

Changing the Game – An Introduction to the StutterStep Topwater Lure

>> Greg Budd

urface lure fishing has to be on top of the list when it comes to knee trembling, nail biting, explosive action, and the advent of catching tiger fish on topwater lures just adds to the overall attraction of the method when used for any species. Although this is a bass magazine and therefore about bass, it would be erroneous not to mention the origins of the lure you are about to meet, because fairly, while this lure was originally designed for tiger fish, it found its true place choking mega bass firstly in Zimbabwe and then in the plentiful waters of deep, dark Southern USA. The StutterStep by Bill Lewis Outdoors was never intended to make the stir that it did in the USA. Its first and primary objective was to catch big tiger fish in the middle Zambezi River in landlocked Zimbabwe. When fishing in moving water conventional surface lures, like the good old spook, whilst proven and worth their salt in any tackle box, just didn’t have the dynamics to get moving quick enough before the current swept the lure out of the strike zone. Borrowing from the traditional

10 SA BASS October 2017

soft plastic paddle-tail type lures, the StutterStep’s hard tail, attached to a rigid body, is simply a matter of dynamics. When the lure is moving forward water hitting the flat surface of the angled, downward facing tail has three options. It can go right, it can go left, or it can go downwards, and on the principle of Mohamed going to the mountain instead of visa versa, rather than the water mass moving too much, the lure does all the boogying, thus creating an effective and instant wobblewake action. It’s simple physics really. This way, flowing water or not, as soon as cranking pressure is applied to the lure it dances in a snaky, enticing way; what I believe to be the best strike trigger for tiger fish hunting near the surface. It wasn’t long before the StutterStep proved itself on the tiger fish and moved from flowing rivers to still lakes targeting bass. Tweaked a bit on the drawing board it assumed a banana type shape in order for the nose not to plough or dip when water slips downwards off the tail. The lure took on a unique shape in a case of

Bill Lewis pro staffer, Bobby Barrack, with a healthy chunk of bass

form following function and demonstrated other actions that weren’t too apparent in flowing water. Following what became known as the wobble-wake action, its next jig was affectionately called the stutterstep action. In the USA stutterstep refers to a sideways stepping foot technique, almost like a side step in rugby. Originating in Tennis the term also refers to a dance technique, as well as a ‘fake’ manoeuvre in basketball and football. When considering how the lure moves this name is quite apt to describe its 180 degree walk- Bill Lewis President, Wes Higgins and the-dog type action, Bassmaster Elite Series pro, Cliff Crochet, with some nice enabling the lure to StutterStep 4.0 slabs move forward less and remain in the strike zone longer than other walk-the-dog type baits; a perfect effigy of a sidestepping, faking football player. While the bait walks, the tail kicks water creating quite a surface ruckus. When combined with the wobble wake action; retrieving the lure and adding a rhythmic cadence to the rod tip, the wag of the tail action is formed. When nothing seems to be working this erratic weave is certain to get any predatory fish’s blood pumping. I like to speed this action up thus creating a really mindless and frantic ‘escaping prey’ retrieve pattern. Bass love it but it does tend to reduce the hook up rate slightly, as it would on any lure. Finally the StutterStep can also do the ‘turn around twitch’. This action is unique and like all the previous actions it doesn’t require high levels of skill to make it work. While performing any of the above actions in a retrieve and pause fashion, by allowing the lure to settle, twitching the rod tip as if starting to walk the bait again and then dropping it to give the bait slack line, the lure will do a complete 180 degree turn and face backwards. If a bass was pursuing the bait, or in situations of high pressure fishing, repeating this confrontational ‘in your face’ type action often provokes a reactionary strike. It’s like squaring off against the bass and saying “do you want some of this”? I think the StutterStep will earn its place in serious anglers tackle boxes in a short space of time. It’s completely different to any other topwater lure out there and proudly African by design. It comes in two sizes – the 5.0 and the 4.0 which are 5” and 4” respectively. The 5.0 weighs a hefty ounce and is a ‘big fish’ bait, though small fry don’t mind having a go too. The 4.0 is more manageable at 5/8 ounce and is a subtler presentation though it performs all the same actions. Available in fourteen different colours there’s a choice for every occasion. Have a peek when you can. I think you’ll like what you see!

Pro staff fisherman for Bill Lewis Africa, Bruce Cooke

SA BASS 11 October 2017

>> SA BASS BOATING The advantage of fishing from a kickboat is the ability to get silently into hidden fishing spots

y a t S o t e r e H >> John Badenhorst*

any anglers start off their adventure into the different aspects of our sport by beating the bank or walking and stalking. I’m sure not many anglers started out from the beginning with a shiny new boat and enough rods and tackle to stock the average tackle shop. As all bank anglers know, when bank fishing, one is kind of limited by the amount of rods and tackle you can carry and hence some planning needs to go into every outing. As we progress through our learning and desire to catch more and bigger fish, there is naturally always a yearning for something better. It’s human nature. Way back when the idea first emerged of a floating devise that could support the average angler, kickboats were rather crude devices made mainly from disused vehicle inner tubes. As anglers became more determined and creative, it spawned a new dawn on what we see today as kickboating. From adding a seat of some form or another, to adding a simple, yet crude rod rack, to the manufacture of dedicated vinyl swim bladders strapped together with aluminium support bars and the capabilities of adding a small trolling motor, we can 12 SA BASS October 2017

all agree that this aspect of our sport has grown incredibly from its infancy. In the beginning, kickboats were more of a V-shaped inflatable bladder with a sling between the two arms for the angler to sit on. This realm of fishing was first explored by trout fly fishermen on their explorations of larger bodies of water and has from there become more and more popular with new and even salted bass anglers. One simply needs to look on the internet to see the fantastic craft available to anglers in the form of kickboats. As with all aspects of our sport, there is constant development in this branch of bass fishing. Not only here in South Africa but also on a growing international level. More and more, bigger and better tournaments are being held specifically for this branch of bass fishing and the number of anglers joining kickboat clubs are growing by the day. At some social events, it’s not unusual to have around hundred anglers or more. With the advancement of technology the price of these units have also come down, making it way more affordable for the angler starting out. Some kickboats are so advanced that they can seat

two anglers in total comfort and still be fitted with a trolling motor, fish finder and even a portable live-well for competitions. Oh and a decent rod rack to hold a host of differently rigged rods. Speaking to veteran kickboat anglers at these events will give you a sense of their camaraderie and it soon becomes apparent that there is a different social aspect at play amongst this dedicated group of men and women. Tournaments are being held in all provinces but mainly during the months of September through to April, although there are comps taking place during the cold winter months but this is not for the faint of heart. There are very distinct advantages and disadvantages to this method of fishing just as with boating or beating the bank has its pros and cons. One of the advantages of this method of fishing is the ability to get into spots holding fish that a boat angler either cant or has to approach with caution due to weedbeds, submerged trees or thick reed cover. A kickboat also has the advantage of being very quiet and as we know, sometimes stealth results in better fishing results. With a small trolling motor fitted, the angler can also widen his or her fishing area with less time kicking their way to a spot and more time spent actually fishing. As I’ve said before, Africa is not for sissies and choosing your pond or dam to fish using a kickboat is very much dependent on what other creatures besides our beloved bass lurk in the deep. Let’s just say that kickboats, hippo and crocodile don’t make good fishing. The other disadvantage of using a kickboat is getting a puncture while out on the water and having to do a repair while floating. Something such as a small puncture can surely ruin a good day out on the water. With a kickboat there is no need for a 4x4, trailer and all the other goodies. Units are simple to put together and within a few minutes the kickboater can be out on the water. Upon returning, the angler simply deflates and packs away the unit into a carry bag or can in most cases pack the entire unit into the boot of an average vehicle.

As with every sport, there is always a progression towards bigger and better. More space relates to more comfort and more tackle. Even the top of the range units don’t cost an arm and a leg and you won’t have to be nice to the bank manger to afford one either. Moving to a float tube or kickboat is a natural progression and with more anglers joining the bass community each day, more anglers are experiencing their own evolution from beating the bank and bush to being out on the water. More professional tournaments are being held and pretty soon tournaments on a national level and even international level will be on the cards. It’s affordable, simple and gets an angler out on the water to hunt those that dwell in the deep. Kickboating is also a healthy way to spend a day in pursuit of bass especially if you’re kicking your way around using a set of flippers or fins. Even boat anglers sometime go back to using

their faithful kickboats as some dams don’t allow larger craft or it’s simply impractical to even try and launch a bass boat. Having a browse on the internet will put you in touch with a variety of local and international brands at different prices and with different capabilities to suit everyone. There are even some very good second hand units available at the fraction of the cost. A further search on the internet will put you as angler in touch with anglers in your area or a local social club where you can explore a different aspect of catching bass. Many of these clubs and groups also have strictly private access to bodies of water where no other anglers are allowed. Private waters mean less pressure and always better fishing in the end. Look around, find a kickboat that suits your needs and budget and get out on the water. Summer is almost here and I think the fishing will be

good this time around. See you out on the water. *John Badenhorst is assistant editor of SA BASS magazine and a keen angler himself. He is also a regular contributor for SA BASS and a custom lure maker for Wolf Lures, Flies & Feathers.

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LENGTH TYPE ACTION SECTIONS 7'0" Spinning Medium Heavy 2PC 7'0" Casting Medium Heavy 2PC 7'0" Casting Medium Heavy 1PC

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LINE WEIGHT 8 - 17lbs | 3.6 - 7.6kgs 10 - 20lbs | 3.5 - 9.1kgs 10 - 20lbs | 3.5 - 9.1kgs SA BASS 13 October 2017

>> SA BASS STRATEGY

Dealing With TOUGH SCENARIOS

(Part 3)

In the previous issues we discussed high winds, no wind, extreme heat and falling water levels. Lastly, we’ll discuss ultra clear and muddy water. These two opposites account for a lot of headaches – especially if you are accustomed to one or the other. around more in search of bait. From this we can deduct that covering a large amount of water would be beneficial, and once you’ve located some fish, you can slow down and pick the area to pieces. Clear water makes fish skittish, they don’t enjoy being

As always, we’ll start with how the fish relate to each environment. The bonus with clear water however, is the fact that you now potentially have an opportunity to see how the fish react to your specific presentation. This in turn allows you to make adjustments if your This 3kg fish refused a weightless initial presentation was refused. bait several times and eventually latched onto a jerkbait Muddy water will not afford you this luxury. Firstly, let’s define ‘clear water’. Being able to see the bottom at 10ft would be a good generalisation. Many of our impoundments may consist of both ultra clear and muddy water. The cleaner water would normally be towards the dam wall area, and the dirtier water towards the river section. Vegetation plays a major role when it comes to water clarity; rock is the other common denominator. When there’s lots of vegetation present, the bass will obviously relate to it in some fashion if it’s within their comfort zone. This makes fish easier exposed whatsoever. Making long to find as they will normally operate casts to the target area before coming around a specific depth and cover onto it proper will increase your catch type. But what if there is nothing rate. If vegetation is present, you for the bass to relate to? Their only need not worry too much about your option is to head deep or suspend. I’ve approach, fish are less cautious in the mentioned in the previous articles that presence of abundant cover. bass need to operate under some sort One of the disadvantages of clear of cover, and use whatever is available water is the fact that the fish can get to them. In most clear water cases a better look at your presentation. they revert to depth and darkness – This means that if your bait does especially the bigger fish. not conform to certain prerequisites Bass tend to have quite a big strike it will be ignored. My advice would zone in clear water, they also move be to stick to natural / neutral colour 14 SA BASS October 2017

schemes and combinations to avoid that the fish peg it as a fake right off the bat. If you feel the need to stray from natural colours, keep in mind that you need to give the fish less time to inspect the bait – in other words, a faster retrieve. With regards to line size; there is a general consensus that one has to downscale, but have you ever considered the reason for this? Think that the fish can see your line? Unless you’re using braid or mono the answer should be ‘No’! Fluorocarbon is theoretically ‘invisible’ and whether you’re using 6lb or 25lb the principle still remains. The main reason you need to downscale on certain outfits is to ensure that the action or capabilities of a particular bait isn’t compromised. For example: a four inch Senko will perform much better on 0.25mm as opposed to 0.38mm. The same goes for drop-shot and deep running cranks, crankbaits will run deeper on a thinner gauge line and jerkbaits will perform better as well. These are tiny details that contribute greatly to your catch rate.

Muddy water Let’s define muddy water; if you lose sight of your bait 20cm below the surface then the water can be classified as ‘muddy’. Diminished light penetration will force bass shallow and tight to cover. With impaired sight, the bass will rely on other senses to orientate themselves and to detect bait. Their strike zone also

>> Divan Coetzee

Clear water

dramatically decreases due to impaired vision and you need to saturate your bait for long periods in order to allow the bass enough time to find the bait. Heavy downpours are the primary factor when it comes to discoloured water, if the transition is gradual then all is good and well, but if the discolouration occurs overnight, fish need time to adjust. Rains trigger the baitfish to spawn and the bass follow them shallow. General tactics would include hugging the shoreline and presenting your bait to the most obvious and visible structure. Bait selection is not as critical as the specific presentation; most of your bites will be out of reaction. Cover lots of water until you determine what the fish are relating to in terms of depth and structure, and duplicate the pattern in other areas to achieve maximum results. Fish are less skittish in muddy water as it creates â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;coverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on its own. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying that you can slam your hatch closed without repercussions, but they are certainly more comfortable. For muddy water I prefer heavy rods and line due to the nature of my presentation and the cover that bass are likely to relate to. Jigs and craws rank as some of my favourite baits for this scenario as the pattern would consist mostly of pitching to shallow cover. Spinnerbaits also do well along with shallow running cranks.

A fantastic specimen taken on a deep diving crank in 20ft of water

I sincerely hope that these insights guide you to better success and decision making. See you on the water!

A selection of jerkbaits suited for clear water (left) and muddy water (right)

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.

MTERI Herewith a picture of a 5.3kg bass caught by Richard Collyer at Mteri on Saturday, 12 August 2017. – Clint Skinner

POTCHDAM

NEW PB Ek het hierdie pragtige vis met ‘n “jerkbait” in Buffelspoortdam gevang. Dit is tot op hede my grootste swartbaar wat ek gevang het. Dankie vir al die hengelwenke in die tydskrif – Louis Bezuidenhout 16 SA BASS October 2017

Ek het die swartbaar laasjaar in November in Potchdam gevang. Dit was ‘n somersdag, warm, geen wind en die water was so plat soos ‘n spieël. Ek het die vis met ‘n sagte plastiese wurm gevang. Ek het nie ‘n skaal byderhand gehad nie, maar uit my ervaring sal ek sê swaarder as 3kg en minder as 3.5kg. ALTYD “catch-and-release”, dit is wet! Daardie dag is ‘n hele paar visse op “plastics” gevang, almal tussen 1 en 1.5kg – Gerhard Havenga

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August 2017 Results North West 1. Team SA Rare Game Breeders - 10.195kg 2. Team Never Give Up - 9.420kg 3. Team Westvaal BM - 9.355kg 4. Team Pta Masters - 7.50kg 5. Teams Greens² - 7.180kg

L-t-r: Johann Zwarts, Vikesh Parbhoo, Barry Devenish, Clinton Jansen van Rensburg, Pieter Swanepoel, Anton Vogt, André Pretorius, Nigel Potgieter

18 SA BASS October 2017

Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga 1: Team Venom Lures - 9.26kg 2: Team Woollybugger Farm - 8.63kg 3: Team Cube Design Innovations - 7.8kg 4: Team VB Commander - 7.325kg 5: Team Double Trouble - 4.85kg

Agter: Vaughn Jonker, Wynand Bosman, Arthur Symington, Chanelle Symington, Roche Fourie, Steve Humphries, Simon Bezuidenhout, Adriaan Louw Voor: Hennie Schoeman, Ruan Wahl, Jono Yearsley, Frank Gottschalk

Limpopo 1: Team TFF - 6.895kg 2: Team Beli Farming - 6.76kg 3: Team Fear no Fish - 6.7kg 4: Team Beli VC - 6.605kg 5: Team Bass Hunter - 6.26kg

Back: Leon Lordan, Billy Eastman, Stefan Badenhorst, Gert Smith Middle: Theo van Rensburg, Wayne Eastman, Alex Kuisis, Reed Eastman, Hilgard Greyvenstein Front: Team TVR, Lucy & Rui Loucao

SA BASS 19 October 2017

KZN

KZN 1: Team Bass Warehouse Fishtec - 12.393kg 2: Team Gamakatsu Outdoors 365 - 8.74kg 3: Team Predator - 6.875kg 4: Team Pesca/Lews - 5.79kg 5: Team Peter Maskell Auctions - 5.03kg

L-t-r: Michael Cannon, Bryan Leppan, Robbie Olivier, Neels Beneke, Mark Meyer, Clive Vorster, Kevin Naidoo, Ashraf Shaik, Neil Button

Cast-for-Cash Orange Free State Our new O.F.S. region include venues like the Vaal River, Sand River, Klerkskraal Dam, Disaneng, Boschkop Dam and Vaal Dam. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out! For more information contact John Bulpitt on 079-479-3582 or visit ou website www.flwsouthafrica.com

Gauteng 1: Team Stompie - 6.29kg 2: Team Rapala VMC - 6.15kg 3: Team Cobat Transport - 6.09kg 4: Team Wacky Bass - 5.78kg 5: Team Knott's Nissan Woodmead - 5.71kg

Back: Joao Mendes, Bennie Wiese, Fanie Wolmarans, Stephan Wolmarans, Hennie du Preez, Johan Cloete, Troy Batty, Front: Bryn Batty

20 SA BASS October 2017

Cast-for-Cash Bass Angling Tournaments The SA BASS Cast-for-Cash bass angling tournaments are qualifying rounds to the FLW South Africa Championships in 2018. You don’t have to belong to a club to be able to participate. Each team consists of maximum two persons per boat who are allowed to weigh five fish per day. Because it is a catch-and-release event, teams are penalised for weighing any fish that cannot swim away from the way station. The top five heaviest bags for the day are declared winners at prize giving. Apart from the cash prizes contestants also have a chance to win various lucky draw prizes, but they have to be present at prize giving to receive the prize. Next event: Visit our websites for full results and tournament dates www.sabass.com and www.flwsouthafrica.com

Great Start August 2017 - Cast-for-Cash Report >> Hannes Lindeque Sponsors & Benefit Providers: After last season's success and the good turnout at the recent FLW Championship at the Vaal River, additional sponsors came onboard. SA BASS would like to thank the following partners in supporting our Cast-for-Cash FLW tournament trail: Garmin South Africa, Yamaha Distributors, Arma Iuris, SA BASS magazine, Hillbilly Poison, Branding.co.za, COBB South Africa, Varkenelli Custom Baits, Outdoor Warehouse, Wayne Louw, Vikesh Parboo, Bass World, Bass.co.za, Bass Warehouse White River, MasterCars Wonderboom, Brilliant Bass Boats, and Cube Design Innovations. The second FLW South Africa season has just started with qualifying rounds being fished in North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Kwa-Zulu Natal. Two other regions, Orange Free State and Western Cape were not ready and will catch up with double-up events later the season. The FLW rig visited the new North West region where 32 anglers took to the water. The weather was great, just like the fishing. Everybody brought fish to the scales and even the team who came dead last weighed one fish weighing 1.605kg! In total 69 fish were weighed with an average weight of 1.357kg (the normal average weight during tournaments is 800gram). Big fish were brought to the scales and the competition was tough. In the end it was Team SA Rare Game Breeders: Anton Vogt & Pieter Swanepoel who walked away with the first prize. Their total bag weight was 10.195kg placing them at the top on the score board. The winning bags were mainly caught in shallows, between 3 to 6ft, on jerk- and spinnerbaits. The biggest fish was caught in a spinnerbait. But, it was at Cast-for-Cash KZN were the real action happened. The average bag weight at Albert Falls Dam was 1.4kg and Michael Cannon of Team Bass Warehouse Fishtec caught a whopper weighing 4.625kg! This bucket mouth together with his boat partner, Bryan Leppan's kicker of 3.3kg boosted their total bag weight to 12.393kg. Michael is now applying for an official FLW tournament record. Mpumalanga's total bag weight of 9.26kg came in third place compared to the other regions.

Looking at the score boards and the names on the list we are surely in for a great season. The winning teams for the weekend were as follows: KZN: Team Bass Warehouse Fishtec; Michael Cannon & Bryan Leppan - 12.393kg North West: Team SA Rare Game Breeders; Anton Vogt & Pieter Swanepoel - 10.195kg Mpumalanga: Team Venom Lures; Frank Gottschalk - 9.260kg Limpopo: Team TFF; Leon Lordan & Theo J van Rensburg 6.895kg Gauteng: Team Stompie; Barry & Hayden Blunt - 6.290kg Next event: Gauteng; 30 Sept – Rust de Winter Dam Mpumalanga; 30 Sept – Nooitgedacht Dam Limpopo; 30 Sept – Tzaneen Dam Kwa-Zulu Natal; 30 Sept – Inanda Dam North West; 30 Sept – Klerkskraal Dam Orange Free State; 30 Sept – Boschkop Dam (Potch) Western Cape – date & venue depending on water levels * Please visit our website for more information about our tournament trial, full results and log standings on www.flwsouthafrica.com.

Anton Vogt & Pieter Swanepoel at Roodekopjes SA BASS 21 October 2017

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>> SA BASS STRATEGY

Tournament Strategy Part 1

Look for active fish by using search baits like a spinnerbait

Start by breaking the dam into different sections, taking into account the following: time of the year, ^OLYL [OL IHP[ ĉZO ^PSS IL ^LH[OLY HUK THYR VMM [OL unproductive water on your map. Get as much information as possible on the venue

ou have been practicing for a few days before the next tournament; you did very well and now you want to test yourself against other anglers. But are you ready? To win a tournament you have to have the edge over your competitors and certain tactics can produce a win. Every so often just doing extra groundwork and preparation can make a difference. The key factors that can help you to win are confidence, practice and having a plan. So, by working your way up the rankings at club in-houses, divisional and provincial, can be a good start to getting that confidence. To prepare mentally and physically for the challenge are two of the most important things to do. Ask yourself the question: How many times have I fished for two or three days in a row? Yes, maybe socially, but there was no pressure and you didn’t fish against time and other anglers.

Mental and physical preparation Many people think that bass fishing is a laid-back sport. They don’t realize that a tournament day takes eight hours and that you can make thousands of casts during the day. This means you have to be in top shape to win tournaments, and it takes preparation ahead of time. If you consider embarking on club in-houses, divisional and provincial tournaments you must be in good physical condition. That means you must able to pick up, turn, bend, and move about in a variety of positions, without injuring yourself. To be competitive you must not only eat and sleep right, but do regular physical exercise to get into excellent shape in order to pick up gear and leap from the front to the rear of the boat. Good balance is critical, as are fast reflexes, eating and drinking on the go without wasting time. Manoeuvring can be important too, like jumping down on your knees quickly and moving in many directions efficiently. Losing that one fish could be the difference between winning and losing. Many anglers put their tackle 24 SA BASS October 2017

>> Bennie Wiese* away in winter and in between tournaments. But this is the time to practice pitching, flipping, and various casting techniques. If it gets too cold to be outside, set up boxes and practise pitching, flipping and casting to targets to test your accuracy. Knowing your tackle like the back of your hand, and being able to promptly carry out a plan is critical in a tournament. Practising all techniques frequently is vital to give you the confidence that you need to win when you get to the tournament. Being able to control your emotions and staying calm in the preceding days and nights can give you an edge over the inexperienced anglers. Many anglers that fish club in-houses, divisional and provisional at intermediate levels are at the top of their game, and take it very seriously, so a slight edge can mean a great deal. Anglers that can keep their cool, and can stick to their game plans under pressure, are the ones that are placed in the top final positions time after time.

Study the venue The first thing you want to do before you start to prefish is to get as much information as possible on the venue. Look for maps, see what types of bait fish can be found and what the dam’s conditions are. Have a look at the past tournament results of the same venue. By visiting the local tackle shops and talking to anglers you can find some valuable information. Look at the shelves of the local tackle shop to see what the local hot colour is. Most of the time it is the one that is low on stock or out of stock. Now you can start to work out a game plan. Do what you have been told, or put together your own plan for the venue. Find out more about the composition of the dam bottom, structure, both natural and manmade, along with water quality and levels. All of this will help you decide where to start your pre-fish. Start by breaking the dam into different sections, taking into account the following: time of the year, where the

bait fish will be, weather and mark off the unproductive water on your map. These days its easy to pull the maps from Google earth on the internet, then select the most likely area to find fish, for example, if its summer and very hot, look for drop-offs. If your budget allows it, make a complete run of the dam so you have a physical look at the dam before you fish. Now consider working at the grass, lay-downs, humps, rocks and also keep your eye on the shore line to see where there can be drop-offs (Unfortunately there are no contour maps available of the dams in this country). By doing your homework you will have a better idea of structure and the conditions of the dam.

your five fish limit, then go and look for areas where you can look for kicker fish. A kicker fish is a big fish that gives your bag’s weight a boost. In Part-2 we will look at alternative baits, managing your fishing time and landing big fish. Until then, enjoy your fishing.

To be competitive you must do regular physical exercise

*Bennie Wiese is the editor of SA Bass magazine and an experienced provincial bass angler.

Fishing Start by looking for active fish using search baits like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, lipless cranks and buzzbaits. When you find the active fish don’t go and pin ever fish that you get. Pin at least one to see what size fish is around and mark the spot by using a GPS. If you want to make sure there’s more fish on the spot, use the same lure without hooks. If you have time or practise more than one day, visit the marked spots at different times during the day to determine the best time to fish the spot. Some times in the year bass will stage on a single piece of structure as small as a twig, reed stem or blade of grass. The bass are just looking for some type of structure to hold next to. The goal is to get at least four spots where you can get

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SA BASS 25 October 2017

>> SA BASS STRATEGY

Catching Big Bass from a Kick Boat I

>> Bryan Leppan*

’ve been fishing from a kick boat and float tube for years now, which has taught me many ways to improve my fishing. But, best of all, it’s taught me how to catch big fish. Who says you need a boat to be able to catch big fish? Yes, it does have its advantages; especially on a big body of water. However, it also has its disadvantages too. Being on a kickboat means you are probably limited to a smaller area and can’t cover as much water as you would on a larger boat, but it does allow you to fish a certain spot or stretch of water more thoroughly. Here is a prime example. On a recent trip to a local dam, I got there bright and early as always. I have a certain spot that I normally like to fish, however it is a long kick to get there, even though I know I always catch fish there. Instead, I decided to rather try the areas that I never fish and spent some time working those areas thoroughly. I got to the first spot and after a few minutes I managed to land my first fish on a crankbait. It was a small male, and knowing that it is currently prespawn conditions, I thought there could be a decent sized female nearby. I made about twenty more casts in the same area and then hooked into what I thought was a barbell. It shot off and never broke the surface of the water, giving me a great fight. It slowly tired and as I reeled it in closer, my excitement set in, it was a beauty of a bass! I landed the fish and it weighed in at 4kg on the dot. A few casts later, a bit further up the bank, I was into another decent fish of 2.6kg. As the day went on, the fishing conditions made things a bit more difficult, but I was still catching fish. Because I don’t use a fish finder, I looked for the same kind of structure on the bank. In this case it was a rocky bank with a bit of a drop off, the same kind of bank where I got the 4kg. I changed over to a Texas rigged Yamamoto Kreature bait. This allowed me to fish slower and keep the bait in the strike zone for a bit longer. My patience paid off as I hooked into another big fish, this one weighing in at 3.8kg. The best way to catch big fish from your kick boat, in my opinion, is to be knowledgeable about the dam. Throw different Take note of the surroundings, where you have caught baits and be before and where the fish are most likely to be. Before patient heading out for the day, I often look at contour maps or old pictures of the dam and try read up on articles if I can. The best tip I can give to other fishermen is to fish an area properly, throw different baits and be patient; you never know when you’re going to get that big bite. Sometimes fishing new areas can pay off, even if you don’t think so at first. So be patient, relax and just enjoy yourself out there.

The best way to catch big fish from your kick boat is to be knowledgeable about the dam 26 SA BASS October 2017

*Bryan Leppan is the Cast-for-Cash KZN organiser, a provincial angler and pro staff angler for Bass Warehouse.

>> SA BASS

Black Bass World Championships - South Africa Date:

2 to 7 October 2017 starting with two days of practise. Venue: Emerald Resort & Casino

The Bass World Championship is an Olympic-style event where countries compete for medals. According to U.S. Angling, it is part of a growing effort spearheaded by the Confederation Internationale de Peche Sportive (CIPS) to make bass fishing an Olympic sport. An application for recognition has already been submitted to the International Olympic Committee.

28 SA BASS October 2017

t a press conference held in the FLW booth at ICAST in Orlando, U.S. Angling announced the members of the 2017 USA Bass team, which will be competing in the 2017 Bass World Championship on the Vaal River in South Africa. Members of the USA team include team captain Scott Martin, David Dudley, Mark Rose, David Fritts, James Watson, Scott Canterbury, Fred Roumbanis and Lionel Botha. They’ll compete against 15 other national teams from countries such as Russia, Spain, Italy, Mexico and South Africa. We are thrilled that these accomplished anglers have agreed to represent our country in these championships,” says U.S. Angling President Joel McDearmon. “The angling world will be watching as this team expands bass fishing’s popularity worldwide. We are determined to showcase America’s mastery of the sport and bring home the gold.” “I am thrilled to be part of the group that will help make bass fishing an Olympic sport,” adds USA Bass Board of Director member and Team Manager John Knight. “It is going to take a huge effort from American anglers and the fishing industry to make this happen. This great sport is ready to span the globe and join the Olympics.” U.S. Angling is a 501c3 charitable organization that supports a number of fishing teams that compete in world championship events around the globe. According to a press release distributed by U.S. Angling prior to ICAST, the organization is also planning a Pan American event to include Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Canada, Cuba and others to help garner support for bass fishing as a future Olympic sport. The tournament will be held from the Emerald Resort & Casino which is situated in the middle of the

fishable tournament area. This area starts at the causeway at the power station below the wall of the Vaal Dam and all the way down to the Barrage, some 40km downstream. Feeder rivers in this stretch are the Suikerbosrand, Klip-, Taaibos- and Leeuspruit, all flowing in from the Gauteng side.

Tungsten weights

The South African team consists of Justy Varkevisser (captain), Ruan Wahl, Richard Eldridge, Shane Estran, August Lingnau, Darryl Quinton and Kieron Samkin.

1/4 oz

Fishable shoreline The main body of the river varies in width from about 50m to over 200m and when one includes the four feeder rivers one has a fishable shoreline of over 100km.

Fish species available The river has an abundance of fish species with the main attraction being largemouth bass, carp, barbel, mudfish and yellow fish.

1/8 ozz 5/16 oz

Structure The 100km plus river banks has a wide range of unbelievable fishing structure from the top to all the way to the bottom and includes the following reed beds, willow trees, log jams and lay-downs, sheltered bays, lily pads, water grass, rocks, sand banks and endless jetties and boat houses.

Recommended lures The river is the perfect hosting venue in that it has something in it for everyone. No matter what style of fishing you enjoy, the river has it for you. Popular types of baits used are lures with a good vibration, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, plastic worms, creature baits and so on.

1/16 oz

1/16 oz 1/1 o

Weather conditions In October South Africa is well into spring and approaching the start of summer. The river is 1694m above sea level with an average daily temperature of 18ºC and an average maximum of 24ºC. The expected minimum temperature is about 12ºC. The average rainfall for this time of the year is low with an average of 7mm for the month of October. The normal rainfall season for the Vaal River is in summer and as we will be in the very early stages of summer it is possible to have rain, but it is not a high probability. If we have rain it is normally thunder showers that occur usually in the late afternoons and generally last for an hour or two. The expected sunrise is at about 6:15am with it getting light at around about 5:50am. We wish all the participating teams the very best for this championship and look forward to having them here.

1/8 oz

Tel: (031) 261 42 33 | Fax: (031) 261 43 33 Cell: 082 892 2674 PO Box 30478, Mayville, Kwa-Zulu Natal, 4058 E-mail: catsj@telkomsa.netSA BASS 11 Website: www.catsﬁshing.co.za October 2017

>> SA BASS TOURNAMENT REPORT

Region 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Claw Dam Zimbabwe I

s there a greater honour than representing your country in the sport we love? While not for everyone, the dedication of the competitive angler is something to behold. The amount of hours that go into the club, divisional, provincial and finally National Selection are incredible, to say nothing of the cost! For the majority of us who fish socially this is totally out of reach but if you ever get the chance to fish with one of these professionals grab it with both hands. What you and I are still

30 SA BASS October 2017

learning about this sport these guys have already forgotten! Claw Dam attracted the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best at the end of July. Travelling from South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Mozambique the best of the best came to take on reigning champions Zimbabwe who had won their trophy at Nandoni in 2016 and were now hoping to defend it on home waters. Claw Dam had been selected as the venue and it proved to be the perfect destination. The camping facilities and ablutions had been extended in

>> Clint Skinner preparation; the rains had seen the dam fill and the fish were willing and waiting. Long journeys for many teams but everyone arrived safe and ready for the two days of practice and three days on the water. Teams settled in and were treated to typical Zimbabwean hospitality. Great food and cold drinks with plenty of laughter and banter. The serious business of fishing started and teams soon settled into patterns that they hoped would hold up for the week on a dam that is well known to change with fishing pressure. Most teams had managed to practice and all were confident going into the official tournament days. Africa is however Africa and one South African team had to put their landing net to good use removing a puff adder that had decided their engine was the place to rest up after the second practice day. Day one saw the Zimbabwean team storm into a lead they never let go of all the way to the end of the tournament, extending their lead

Overall results were as follows: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

daily even though they were one fish short on the second day. With a 3lb average the Zimbabwean team were certainly on the fish, however Sharon Wardley competing for Mozambique brought a 5.16kg fish to the scales on day one showing the gents how it really should be done! With five fish bags being the order of the day, leads were going to be hard to pull back although the Zambian team gave the South African team a massive scare at the end of the second day by closing to within three points of them. Unfortunately for them they could not maintain the catches on the final day which saw SA consolidate their second place overall. Speaking to members of the Zimbabwean team after the event, they shared that fish were caught on a variety of techniques. From main lake trees, grass lines and anthills many fish were taken on Jerk baits, spinnerbaits and the traditional plastic lures such as flukes. Up the rivers, pitching plastic baits produced fish although most of the teams seemed to have

Total

1 Zimbabwe

59.39

52.00

48.29

159.68

2 South Africa

49.89

40.02

40.13

130.04

3 Zambia 4 Namibia 5 Mozambique

39.09 28.63 29.26

47.08 36.74 29.38

27.48 27.53 30.94

113.65 92.90 89.58

found this pattern. The plan was not specific but more a combination of individual team memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own plans and the ability and versatility of the team being able to change as the fish did. As indicated before, this is truly where the experience of these anglers comes to the fore. Fishing with one of the Zimbabwean team members before I had watched him change lures, throw the new one for one cast and catch a 9lb fish before cutting that lure off immediately and trying the old one back onâ&#x20AC;Ś his reasoning was that he just felt there was a fish there wanting a different colour! Incredible skill that has been learned and honed over many years of practice. To the Zimbabwean Team the honours, to the others no disgrace though. Many of these anglers will meet again on the Vaal River for the 13th World Black Bass Championship from the 2nd to the 8th of October. We take this opportunity to wish the Southern African Team well as they compete against teams from all over the world.

Zimbabwe took the trophies

A group photo of all the contestants

SA BASS 31 October 2017

>> SA BASS CONSUMER NEWS

SAFAD 2017 PART 1

1. BILL LEWIS STUTTERSTEP

Edito r Choic ’s e

Originally designed for tiger-fishing in Zimbabwe, the StutterStep has proven in early testing to be a phenomenal bass lure. Most impressive, the StutterStep offers up to three distinct topwater actions that aren’t exactly like anything we’ve seen before. This may be the beginning of a new topwater category. Its namesake “stutter-step” action allows for the angler to make the bait walk on 90-degree cuts instead of the standard 45-degree walks that traditional walking baits get. Instead of the lure coming right to the angler, this allows for the lure to be “stutter-stepped” back and forth right next to targeted cover prolonging its hang-time over the strike zone. Edito r 2. QUANTUM Choic ’s e

TEAM KVD CRANKBAIT CASTING RODS

Designed specifically for one of Kevin VanDam’s favourite techniques cranking the new Quantum Team KVD Crankbait Casting Rods feature the very same actions KVD uses on the Elite Series. Offering some key upgrades and a new look as well, the advanced, lightweight EGC blanks deliver the perfect parabolic bend for long casting capabilities, cushioning the strike, and fighting big fish hooked on tiny trebles. Newly designed reel seats with anodized winding nuts also offer direct access to the rod blank for increased sensitivity transfer into your hands, and Soft Touch EVA split grip handles deliver all-day comfort. Lightweight aluminium-framed guides with aluminium-oxide inserts round out the high quality features and deliver excellent durability, as well as, increased casing distance and accuracy. 32 SA BASS October 2017

Best Freshwater shwater reel

3. HILLBILLY POISEN SPRING LOCKER The HillBilly Spring Locker is very light centring pin lock designed for fishing from thinner type baits up to top water frog type baits. The centring pin allows you rig the bait right in the centre for a perfect setup. With the spring lock screwed onto the hook of the eye allows the baits to be secured in the centre of the nose of the bait for a perfect rig, the open gap of the ultra point Mustad hook will allow for a perfect hook set and it helps extend the life of you lure. Edito 4. HILLBILLY r Choic ’s POISEN e FINESSE POISEN

Don’t let their scaled-down size fool you; HillBilly Poisen Finesse jigs are no lightweights when it comes to bass attraction. Made from premium tungsten, the Finesse Poisen jig offers a more compact construction than lead jigs of the same weight, making it less intrusive and perfect for pressured waters. Built using super fine-cut rubber skirting, Finesse Poisen jigs deliver a subtle pulsing and breathing that comes to life with the slightest bit of rod movement. Fitted with a titanium weedguard, Finesse Poisen jigs are able to move through tight spots where other, bulkier jigs might get hung up. Offered in a number of fish-catching colours, it’s a must-have for those extra-tough days.

5. SHIMANO CURADO 200K CASTING REEL The next generation of Curado is here. A longtime favourite among tournament anglers, the Curado series is constantly setting the benchmark for reliability and the Curado 200K casting reel is no exception. The next chapter in the Curado legacy, the Curado 200K casting reel features the latest in Shimano’s cuttingedge technology, like MicroModule gearing for smooth engagement cast-after-cast. Giving anglers the ability to adapt to conditions on the fly, the Shimano Curado 200K casting reels employ the SVS infinity braking system for fine-tuning when the wind kicks-up or it’s time to switch baits. Slightly smaller than previous iterations, the Curado 200K casting reel is fitted with a longer handle and rubberized paddle grips for increased control.

6. QUANTUM SMOKE S3 CASTING REEL Loaded with convenient, highly functional technologies, the Smoke S3 casting reel provides a low profile design that puts smooth performance in the palm of your

hand. Precisely tuned, the Smoke S3 casting reel features double-shielded stainless steel bearings that have been carefully lubricated with Quantum’s PT Hot Sauce for superior protection and unmatched smoothness. Built with an oversized spool and the new ACS 4.0 control system, the Smoke S3 casting reel offers near-limitless adjustment, extending control and casting distance. Delivering exceptional strength and lightweight design, the Smoke S3 casting reels features an aluminium X-frame design that decreases weight, while limiting flex. Ensuring that you always know what size line you have spooledup, the Smoke S3 casting reel features a line memo knob on the side of the 95mm handle, taking the guess work out of spooling.

7. QUANTUM ACCURIST CASTING REEL Beneath the Accurist casting reel’s new, cool black-and-white paint scheme is a low profile frame and gear side cover made of industry leading light and tough aluminium. The Accurist also makes casting an effortless blackand-white issue thanks to both an internal ACS centrifugal cast control and external magnetic settings, which provides an astounding ten external adjustments and six internal adjustments. This gives you all the precision you’ll ever need regardless of wind gusts or the weight of your lure. Furthering Accurirst’s smooth casting qualities is a hard ceramic coating of titanium-nitride on the line guide. And when you’re ready to retrieve, seven PT bearings will pull in line with a polished feel.

Quantum’s unique Flippin’ Switch can also be used to engage the gears instantly every time you take your thumb off the thumb bar, so that you’re never out of hook-setting position when pitching a short string into heavy cover.

8. SHIMANO CHRONARCH 150G Jam-packed with most advanced technology, the Chronarch 150G delivers high-end performance that freshwater and saltwater anglers can both appreciate. Encased in light, yet durable Ci4+ side plates, the Chronarch 150G is powered by Shimano’s MicroModule gearing, providing a more efficient gear train with a smoother, more positive feel.

9. ABUGARCIA REVO PREMIER GEN4 CASTING REEL Taking REVO’s top-tier design to the next-level, the fourth generation of the Revo Premier Gen4 casting reel is packed with Abu’s top-of-the-line technologies for unshakeable performance. In a class all its own, the REVO Premier Gen4 features the all-new Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag System, which generates some of the highest drag pressure of any low profile reels. When the wind kicks-up or it is time to change baits, the REVO Premier Gen4 is built with the IVCB-6L (Infinity Variable Centrifugal Brake) breaking system that offers complete control for any situation and even more adjustment with additional locking brake modules.

Best Hardbait

10. TEAM LEW’S MACH CRUSH SPEED SPOOL SLP CASTING REEL

An advanced combination of materials and technologies, the Lew’s Mach Crush Speed Spool SLP casting reel delivers next-level performance that competitive anglers can appreciate. Made using a strong, yet lightweight graphite frame and side plates, the Lew’s Mach Crush Speed Spool SLP boasts a premium 10-bearing system with double-shielded stainless steel ball-bearings and Zero-Reverse one-way clutch bearings, providing clean and seamless rotation.

12. SAVAGE GEAR 3D BAT

Based on a 3D scan of an actual bat, the 3D Bat delivers an oversized profile and a unique crawling action that elicits brutal topwater strikes. Built with large articulating metal wings, the 3D Bat creates a super-frantic waddling action that draws-in big fish from a distance.

Best Soft Lure

13. LUNKHERHUNT PROPFISH SHAD

11. LUNKHERHUNT PROP FROG

The Prop Frog is an extremely efficient fish catcher. Able to move over pads, wood, and slop with ease, the Prop Frog features two prop feet that can cruise over cover re-enter the water, and start churning back up without skipping a beat. Moving plenty of water and creating a one-of-a-kind disturbance, the Prop Frog’s double prop feet move plenty of water and make it easy for fish to track-down. Active and reactive fish cannot resist its call. When they hit, a full set of super-sharp weedless hooks are there to greet them. Designed to deflect cover, but hang-on to fish, the Prop Frog features an integrated hook system that encases the body and sits perfectly between the prop feet. Offered in a number of detailed colours, the Prop Frog delivers an innovative and highly effective frog imitation. 34 SA BASS October 2017

Modelled after one of the most popular bass forages, the Propfish Shad combines the effectiveness of a hollow body topwater with unique sputtering design. Built with a subtler action than the frog, the Propfish Shad features a single prop that creates a hard-churning action that closely mimics the movement of a baitfish breaking the surface, perfect for times when fish are pressured, spooked, and shallow. Built to move through the thickest cover with ease, the Propfish Shad is shaped with a streamlined profile and a weedless hook system that is head-and-shoulders above other hollow-body baits. Offered in a number of realistic colours, the Propfish Shad delivers a highly individualized topwater presentation that is sure to become a staple among all anglers.

14. YUM FINESSE WORM

When you absolutely have to get a bite, the Yum Finesse Worm will put fish in the boat. Featuring a slender body with a bulbous tail, it produces an exaggerated wiggling action with the slightest movement of the rod tip. The Finesse Worm is also extremely versatile and can be used on a shakey head, Carolina-rig, drop-shot, or the newly popular Neko rig with a nail weight in the head.

15. MUSTAD TITANIUM MICRO SS SPLIT RING PLIERS

This versatile Mustad Titanium Micro SS Split Ring Pliers also features spring-loaded “stay open jaws”, and are packed with extra features that all anglers can appreciate, including line cutters and cutaway holes for crimping lead. For the ultimate in convenience, the Titanium Micro SS Split Ring Pliers come standard with a retractable steel vest clip as well as a ballistic nylon sheath and coiled lanyard.

16. STRIKE KING KVD POPPING PERCH’S BODY

Undergoing round after round of modification, the Strike King -inducing eyes, and baitfish shaped fins. Built around a perfectly matched 4/0 hook, the KVD Popping Perch features a small hole in the top of the bait, which allows air to escape, increasing collapsibility. Fitted with long rubber skirting, the KVD Popping Perch can be walked with a lightning-fast march to entice reaction strikes or meticulously crawled to encourage lethargic predators. Developed and refined by the best in the industry, the KVD Popping Perch raises the bar for hollow body topwater baits.

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The patented COBB cooking system grills, fries, bakes, smokes, boils and warms. This unique light-weight cooking system is portable, simple to use and virtually smokeless.

dŚĞ ǁĞůů ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ĐŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƵŶŝƚ ĞŶƐƵƌĞƐ ĞǀĞŶ ŚĞĂƚ ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ĂůůŽǁŝŶŐ ĨŽŽĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŽŬ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚůǇ ĞǀĞƌǇ ƟŵĞ͘ tŚŝůĞ the Cobblestone makes your COBB searing hot on the inside, the base remains cool to touch on the outside and can be picked up and moved around while cooking. Each part of the COBB is dishwasher safe and replacement parts are readily available in South Africa. Cooking delicious food on your balcony, in your backyard, on your boat or while camping has never been this easy. This is the future of outdoor cooking. This is the COBB.

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>> SA BASS

SABAA >> Kevin Lofstedt*

urrently clubs are busy dying a slow death, and as such communications from SABAA (South African Bass Angling Association) are not seen as of particularly high importance in the struggle for survival. SABAA SHOULD KNOW THIS. For this reason communication between some clubs and their members leaves a lot to be desired, and should be considered by SABAA when they need to communicate a message to all paid up members. Now I know this has the potential to, and has already in some instances, become a really contentious issue. For this reason, it must be stated that the views expressed in this article are mine, and in no way do they necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or the staff of SA Bass magazine. If you read the communication from SABAA (pictured), it seems innocuous enough. However, if you have a close look at the choice of wording, it clearly seems to be an INSTRUCTION rather than a polite request to us to refrain from organising any events of the Vaal River over “the period concerned”. Also INSTRUCTS regular, nondivisional fishermen to “stay away”. Is this a case of the “tail wagging the dog?” Failing to adhere to SABAA’s demands creates the impression that the majority of anglers, (nondivisional / recreational fishermen) don’t care what happens at national level, and are unsympathetic to the SA BASS Team. This is NOT TRUE! Before I go into the problems that I personally have with this, I wish to place on record my full support to the South African Bass Angling Team, and any comments are not directed at them, their managers, coaches and or reserves. I paid my dues to SABAA last year, and as far as I can tell, they have all my, and every affiliated club member’s contact details on their system. With this in mind, I believe it may well have been appropriate for SABAA, to either send emails directly to all their paying members, or to send a request to clubs to ask for consideration in regard to the 36 SA BASS October 2017

Vaal River and the World Champs. Next, we then see that the SA Team may continue to fish the River until the 17th September. The logic of this escapes me, and I’ll tell you why: This time of the year: pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn, the river is evolving and patterns are changing all the time, so in my (maybe not so intelligent opinion) anything learnt during this period could be negated by three or four days of heavy rain. Therefore, any information gained about conditions even two weeks before the event, could be, but most probably will be null and void by the time the event takes place. Truth be told, this is how it should be. I know our SA Team has the talent and the dedication to win this thing under any conditions, and I do not believe we need, what I, and others, might consider an unfair advantage. We have home water advantage, and that is enough for our guys to do us proud. The situation regarding the way thing are going in the federation at the moment leaves a lot to be desired. The Interprovincial Team “selection” is based on one criteria. “Can you fish at Clanwilliam for a week?” – Yes, good, you’re in the team. Come on guys, this makes a mockery of what this event is supposed to represent. Anglers should be fighting tooth and nail to go and represent their particular province. Why is this happening? Well, seems to me that hosting such events has become more important than what they are supposed to represent. The question needs asking: how many interprovincial anglers go on to seriously compete for National Colours? How many are even competing at national level? Seems to me that the system should be as follows: 1) Fish for your club. Earn the right to get an invitation to compete in your provincial team. 2) Earn your right to compete at national level by proving yourself at provincial level. 3) Earn your right to compete at national selection events. In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our guys well, and hope they make us as well as the country proud. Words of wisdom “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.” - Thomas Payne. *Kevin Lofstedt is a regular writer and a well known veteran bass angler with three times Southern Gauteng Colours since 1985. He is also the main founder of Clearwater Bassmasters Bass Chapter (1994). He can be reached at kevin@sabass.com “The official cut-off date to be on the water for all participants is sunset on 17 September 2017, as per the FipsED rules. All Provincial Presidents endorsed that they will not organise or arrange club events, nor will any SABAA members that are not part of the Protea World Champs Team fish the Vaal River from 1 August 2017, this was to ensure that SABAA can host the best World Championship possible.”

>> SA BASS PRODUCT NEWS

8-TREK TUBE The All-Purpose Ointment

opular 8-Trek all-purpose ointment is now available in a bigger size - a 50ml tube. Fishing is a wonderful sport but one of the unfortunate consequences of enjoying this great pastime is the likelihood of getting cuts and nicks on fingers and hands. 8-Trek ointment is an all purpose ointment to treat any mishaps and can be kept in fishing tackle boxes as part of a first aid kit. Trek ointment treats all minor injuries which don’t require medical attention, like cuts and nicks, grazes, insect bites, eczema, splinters and boils. 8-Trek ointment is useful and economical and it should be kept in fishing kits, sports and travel bags so it is always on hand when needed. It is important when treating any abrasion with 8-Trek ointment, to wash hands and the affected area with a mild liquid antiseptic and dry well. This prevents any potential infection from recurring or spreading. Applying a regular amount of 8-Trek ointment will assist in the healing process and help soothe the area.

8-Trek ointment is suitable for the whole family and can also safely be used on children. Both sizes are available from Dis-Chem and Independent Pharmacies.

Completely Focussed on Fishing

es g experienc in h s ﬁ t a e r G reat tackle start with g g shoppin

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>> SA BASS STRATEGY Evert Laubscher with a very healthy winter bass taken on jerkbait at Roodekopjes Dam

Jerkbaits for Roodekopjes Dam >> Roger Donaldson and with Evert Laubscher

find great pleasure rambling through my social media posts from friends and connections. There is so much to be learned from our contacts if we can just stay in touch. My most recent find was a post from a friend, Evert Laubscher who had a whale of a time fishing jerkbaits in the cold, June winter waters of Roodekopjes Dam in Kameeldrift, just 30km outside of Brits. This great catch really spiked my interest because it is seldom that I hear of anglers fishing jerkbaits and actually

sharing their stories, in fact seldom that I hear anglers who are confident in fishing a jerkbait at all! Jerkbaits are certainly top of my list when it comes to searching for bass, as they are a profound option for covering water quickly and they can turn a really dull fishing day into a fun-packed, action induced frenzy. I sat with Evert to interview him and learn from his fishing experience on Roodekopjes. These are his secrets he was willing to divulge:

Roger

Evert

With whom were you fishing at Roodekopjes Dam and was there any specific reason you had chosen this venue for the day out on the water? What species of fish are the predominant baitfish species in Roodekopjes ?

It was just a social outing which I was fortunate enough to experience with my friend Rudolph Venter.

What depth of water did you choose to target?

38 SA BASS October 2017

There has been a boom in the population of various species in the dam over the last year or so. This was evident when we fished an art lure league there in February, and nine different species were caught on the day. This is truly phenomenal and proves that the fishery is certainly a healthy one. I believe the most abundant baitfish species in the dam are blue kurper, canary kurper and mosquito fish. We started the day off by targeting some shallow vegetation in about 1 to 1.5m depth of water. We then moved to deeper structure, targeting rock piles and boulders in the 3 to 5m depth. At around midday we had not had a single bite and decided to move back into shallow water.

Roger

Evert

What caused you to make the move back shallow water?

It really can be a process of elimination and you need to think on your feet. With no success in the deeper water, we thought by 12pm the shallow water could be a bit warmer and this generally attracts feeding activity more so than colder water. It was a relatively warm winter’s day and this was soon to make sense. The morning temperature was just above 16ºC, rising gradually throughout the day to reach 18ºC in the afternoon. The water clarity was very good, with about 2.5m visibility in some areas.

What was the water temperature on the day? What was the water clarity like on the day? What breaking strain line were you using and did you try different fishing rigs? What type of line i.e. mono, fluoro, braid, etc. and why did you choose that line?

Why did you choose to fish the jerkbait at the time?

Did the colour of the bait make a difference?

Give us a bigger hint on where we can find these fish that you located? Okay, time to boast; what was the weight of the largest fish you caught and the average fish and how many bass were you able to land on the day?

Yes, we played around with different techniques and bait options. I rigged up with 18lb fluorocarbon line for my jig and plastics on a medium-heavy baitcasting set up. However, for my jerkbait I chose 15lb braid with a 18lb monofilament leader. I like to fish my jerkbaits on a 6’6” medium spinning setup with a 2500 spinning reel. By using braid for this technique I feel I have greater casting distance, which is very important when fishing jerkbaits in clear water. The braid also gives me more direct contact with the fish, while the monofilament leader has good abrasion qualities and also allows a bit of “give” relative to the braid. I prefer the shorter spinning rod for this technique as it allows you to impart good action on the lure without any restricted movement on the boat. The medium spinning rod also ensures that the smaller trebles on the jerkbait will not ‘pull’ as easily compared to a stiffer set up. We weren’t having any luck with the slower finesse techniques so Rudolph opted for the jerkbait to try and get a ‘reaction’ bite. On his first cast he was on, and this was all the motivation we needed to continue with this technique! Not at all. We caught fish on three different colours. The action of the lure was very important, as well as the depth we were working it at. The Salmo Sting sinks very slowly and this allowed us to work the lure a bit deeper in the water column, which I believe made a difference on the day. We found that the fish were holding around rocks in 1 to 2m water depth. We also focused on the western bank, as it received most sun during the day. No boasting at all as the fishing was not easy by any means and it took quite a bit of thought to locate a pattern and a productive area. We landed six fish for the day and lost a couple too. The average weight was around 1.1kg, with the biggest fish weighing 1.5kg.

Thank you to Evert and Rudolph for allowing us to learn from their experience on the water. I could certainly do with that quality of fishing the next time I visit Roodekopjes Dam. *Roger Donaldson is an experienced journalist and knowledgeable bass angler who has enjoyed many enlightening hours with many of South Africa’s top, competitive bass fishermen. As a competitive angler himself, he also enjoys sharing his expertise with fellow bass fanatics in the hope that they find the same joy in this unique sport.

SA BASS 39 October 2017

>> SA BASS INTERNATIONAL

The Allison BasSport Pro XB-21 in The Dalles Yacht Club boat dock launched and ready to head out to rough water

Swendseid works a deep water area beside a bluff

Combating Rough Water (Part 1)

>> Story and Images by Fishingboy and David Swendseid (DUO Realis U.S.A)

he Columbia River is a world-class fishery that needs no introduction in the world of bass and multispecies angling, from smallmouth to salmon to sturgeon, and you name it. In spring 2017, I had the honor of fishing with the R&D Specialist of DUO Realis U.S.A, David Swendseid on the Columbia River for early season smallmouth in some of the most gruelling and intense river conditions I had ever come face-to-face with in bass fishing. Stay tuned as I bring you the Day-1 highlights of my trip, from combating rough water while I learned to catch smallmouth on Lake Bonnevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s east pool, plus some insights into useful tips you could use to elevate your smallmouth bass fishing approach in South Africa.

Bass fishing in the U.S. Pacific Northwest Before I talk about the fishing focuses on Lake Bonneville, let us veer onto the subject of bass fishing in the U.S. Pacific Northwestern regions of Oregon and Washington State. The U.S.A is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third largest country by land area, as well as the bass fishing capitol of the world, and 40 SA BASS October 2017

a geographically diverse country. From a bass fishing perspective, however, the same holds true. Although the sport may not be as popular as the U.S. states in the West, Midwest, Southeast and Southwest, the Pacific Northwest packs lots of untapped potential, notably smallmouth whereby the species is widespread in this region of abundant rainfall with moderate, oceanic climate that is wet, windy and cool in autumn, winter and spring. Swendseid and I are scheduled to hit the water on back-to-back days, a week in mid to late April, during the spring transitional period that is marked by highly unstable weather that sets up incredibly challenging conditions, literally on my first day on the water in the U.S.A.

My first U.S. bass fishing trip I have been counting down the days to my first bass fishing trip in the U.S. since I was in college. Over the years, my work as a freelance columnist for angling magazines overseas has progressively enabled me to bass fish in several other countries through collaborative teamups and invitations but opportunities from the U.S. never emerged until recently.

A fishy looking area where the current is incredibly heavy

In fact, the seeds of the opportunity finally landed in 2015 in the form of a strategic team-up between myself and the R&D Specialist of DUO Realis U.S.A for a front cover story on spybaiting for Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rod&Line magazine (issue #235, July 2015), as well as a short feature on DUO Realis Crank G87 deep crankbaits for Lure Magazine of South Korea. In retrospect, even if I could afford guided bass fishing trips in the U.S., in all honesty, that is not the way I envisioned myself going forward with a trip I have yearned for since my college days, especially if it is the first trip and I want it to be a meaningful experience. No doubt, the Columbia River has always been high on my bucket list of smallmouth waters. Though I have caught largemouths in countries such as France, China, South Africa and South Korea, I have still yet to experience smallmouth bass fishing in any shape or form but that is set to change.

This is an area where I caught a big smallmouth on Texas-rig Zoom Trick Worm

Lake Bonneville felt more like an ocean with conditions that thrill seekers would go windsurfing instead of bass fishing. However, there is some science behind the windy weather phenomena. Rough water conditions in the Columbia River is mainly

The road to Lake Bonneville My road trip to Lake Bonneville, a Columbia River reservoir in the Columbia River Gorge, from central Oregon totalled 211kms or three hours on scenic The Dalles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; California Highway of Route 97 and 197, respectively. We were headed to The Dalles Yacht Club marina for an early launch on a seemingly calm day but everything changed the moment we idled past the marina breakwall. That day, I learned not to trust the weatherman when it comes to forecasts on the Columbia River areas.

Battling rough water Our battle with rough water began as soon as we exited the marina. For most of the day, we were climbing and evading waves as high as 3m, for which had also inconveniently become a routine of the day for us. In fact, SA BASS 41 October 2017

The chartplotter guided us into a shallow area on the Washington State shoreline

caused by atmospheric pressure differentials east and west of the Cascades mountain range creating a wind tunnel effect in the deep gorge that generates 60km/h winds. In addition to topological factors, rough water could also be caused by heavy current generated from flow regulation of the run-of-the-river dams.

Swendseidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of summarizing his day on Lake Bonneville

Locating early season smallmouth From a fishing perspective, I read that the best fishing season for smallmouth up north starts in late April or early May, ahead of the spawn. And, locating smallmouths in those conditions often depend on the temperature gauge. Every fishery is unique and the Columbia River is no different. However, the key factors to look out for when it comes to locating high percentage fish holding areas could not be any dissimilar. I was glad that Swendseid had

My two biggest smallmouths of the day came on a glidebait and straight tail worm 42 SA BASS October 2017

The DUO Realis M65 Crank 8A is one of the top baits of the day

no reservations in sharing his views and experience as a tournament angler on strategies for locating smallmouth in cold water. The worst of cold water conditions is muddy water that is rising with falling temperatures. That holds true even in equatorial climate fishing conditions in Malaysia where I fish for butterfly peacock bass in the Perak River system lakes, especially during the monsoons. On the Columbia River, however, we were dealing with early season conditions where the water temperature gauge primarily reads 7Â°C. Now that is a whole different story. To be continuedâ&#x20AC;Ś

Swendseid caught this solid fish on a DUO Realis M65 Crank 8A

>> SA BASS STRATEGY

HBC

Annual Mteri Trip What words does one use to describe a dam that is just a fishing heaven? Mteri in the Zimbabwe Lowveld is still producing bass that any angler worldwide would call a trophy and yet at the same time is producing fish numbers that make it the perfect place to take even the most inexperienced angler and guarantee them “fish on” >> Clint Skinner

arare Bass Chapter did their annual trip to Mteri in August. The dam was sitting at 99.2% but had spilled for the first time in four years in the preceding rainy season. Yet again Harare Bass proved their commitment to junior angling with almost every boat having at least one youngster on board and there is no better place to learn about bass in Africa than Mteri! Theses junior anglers certainly put the seniors to the sword throughout the tournament and showed that they are indeed the future of Angling in Zimbabwe. A special mention of thanks to the parents and skippers for taking the time to take these kids fishing. With the moon having just been full there was a lot of expectation of large females and sadly this was proven to not be the case. While a beautiful 5.3kg fish

44 SA BASS October 2017

was taken by Richard Collyer pitching a six inch Senko to a tree in 6ft of water the average fish caught over the three days of tournament fishing was in the region of 1kg. But when one considers that every angler was catching their limit many times over throughout the day one could hardly complain. With the dam being full the bream life was an incredible sight to behold. So much so that I questioned why the bass would want to eat anything other than live bream! Every bass that did come out was fat! Little rugby balls in fact. To the extent that one of the 2lb fish I caught did not make the minimum 300mm length because of his round body. Interesting to note was also the fact that the fish had very small mouths in comparison to their bodies… no doubt the sheer volume of fish had caused very quick growth. This meant that smaller than usual baits for Mteri were the way to go and some of the bigger fish were caught on junior flukes and four

and five inch Senkos. Lighter line also found its place as a result and those that were brave enough to throw 8lb and 10lb line caught more than those throwing the heavier tackle. Very few fish were found in the trees, most were gorging on bream in the shallows and dead-sticking a bait was producing the numbers leading to hours of fun for most. As the week progressed those that persisted in the trees or found things the others did not in the grass got the bigger fish, proof that one needs to never stop trying something different. The grass bite was an interesting one. The bream were moving into the shallows and lying on their sides to mouth the stems of the grass as they fed. This often turned the bottom silver around you and seemed to be done on que. One second, nothing and the next, just bream all around. Long casts with smaller baits either produced a fish in the first second or one had to leave it on the bottom for some time. The thought process being the bass would move in and with the lure being the only thing not swimming away would eat itâ&#x20AC;Ś made for a lot of fun and many anglers were catching their limits within minutes of the day starting. The bream fishing in Mteri can also be incredible. Many a tale to be told of stripped reels from three plus KG bream. Several were caught during the tournament on a swim jig or fluke but it was after the tournament that some of us found time to throw a number three or four inline spinner at them. More fun could not be had than chasing these schools around Palm bay, waiting for those fins to break surface, putting that cast a few metres behind the school and then holding tight as one turned the blade. While not getting a fish every cast, the adrenaline rush when one does hit is just incredible. Some Harare Bass Chapter members stayed a few extra days after the tournament and time was spent assisting the Hippo Wildlife team in removing bits of net from trees as well as lifting some of the recently placed illegal nets in the dam. While there were not many it is sad to see that poaching just cannot be stamped out. The Hippo team is really in need of a small boat and outboard as currently they paddle out in a canoe to lift nets. If anyone out there has the ability to donate towards their efforts please make contact with me on treasurer@hbc.co.zw The catered lodges were constantly busy with boats on the water from all around Zimbabwe and many South African boats out. Speaking to these South African guys, they had all had a reasonably easy trip up from the border to the dam itself and while also not finding the big fish easy to catch, everyone was enjoying themselves and all indicated the trip was worth it. So, if Mteri is not on your bucket list it should be! I for one believe the dam will be fishing better and better again over the next few years after filling this season so get planning. Until next time, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fish on Dadâ&#x20AC;?. SA BASS 45 October 2017

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

SELF CATERING COTTAGE

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

46 SA BASS October 2017

Bass Lake Lodge Karavaanpark

Antwoord een maklike vraag en staan ‘n kans om een GRATIS naweek staanplek vir een gesin (maksimum 6 persone) te wen. Bass Lake Lodge Karavaanpark is in die prentjiemooi Bobbejaansberg omgewing gevestig; ongeveer 30 minute noord-oos van Pretoria. Vir die afgelope 6 jaar spog die park met 34 gelyke, ruim en grasbedekte staanplekke en byna vyfster ablusiegeriewe. Soveel so dat hulle in 2016 ‘n toekenning ontvang het as Gauteng se tweede beste oord van die jaar volgens ‘The Great Outdoors Guide’ se lesers. Elke staanplek, van ongeveer 12m x 12m, is toegerus met verskuifbare braaiers asook boma-konkas vir koue wintersaande. Alle staanplekke het kragpunte en is naby aan waterpunte geleë. Vir diegene opsoek na bietjie meer privaatheid is hierdie kampterrein beslis ‘n moet. Elke staanplek is omring met struike wat die grenslyn van elke kamp duidelik sigbaar maak asook privaatheid aan elke kampeerder bied. Daar is twee damme met swartbaars en kurpers. Die park bied ook ander prettige aktiwiteite soos natuurwandelpaadjies en wateraktiwiteite soos pedaalbootjies en kajakke. Op elke dam is daar ‘n vlot. Die aanloklike heldergroen grasperke om die kouewater swembaddens, springmatte en ‘n klimraam is die perfekte piekniekplek vir gesinne.

Vir meer inligting of om self u plek te bespreek skakel Bass Lake Lodge by 012-735 1650 of stuur ‘n e-pos aan info@basslakelodge.co.za

VRAAG: Naby watter berg is Bass Lake Lodge Karavaanpark geleë? Stuur u naam, van, ‘n kontaknommer en u antwoord per e-pos na competitions@sabass.com om ons te bereik voor 30 Oktober 2017.

RULES:

Regretfully no pets are allowed. The winner must make the booking directly with the sponsor. The prize may not be exchanged for money To enter simply e-mail the word “DESTINATION” and your answer followed by your name and telephone number to: competitions@sabass.com to reach us before 30 October 2017. The first correct entry drawn on the closing date will be the winner By entering this competition you agree to all rules and accept that the decision of the publisher is final and that no correspondence thereto will be entertained This competition is open to all readers of SA BASS except employees of SA BASS, BB Print and Bass Lake Lodge and their immediate families.

SA BASS 47 October 2017

>> SA BASS ANGLING INTERNATIONAL

Bass Pro Shops Donates Boats Houston, Texas - In the wake of one of the most catastrophic natural events to hit North America in living memory, mega-retailer Bass Pro Shops is lending a hand by donating more than 80 boats to rescue missions for Hurricane Harvey. According to a company release, the boats will come from the Springfield-based dealer’s Tracker Boats brand. Recent reports from Houston media claim that more than 3,000 people have been recruited to help save the victims of record breaking floods. “Bass Pro Shops is coordinating with local,

state and federal agencies – including police, fire and rescue teams on the ground – to support ongoing rescue and relief efforts related to Hurricane Harvey,” stated the release. “The outdoor company is providing more than 80 Tracker boats to government agencies and rescue organizations in Houston and other impacted communities in Texas.” Bass Pro Shops move echoes that of outdoors enthusiasts across the country, some of whom - like Louisiana’s Cajun Navy - have taken it upon themselves to lend assistance and save lives in the wake of the storm.

Legend Boats Sold Springfield, MO - Legend Boats is set to join Ranger, Triton, Nitro and Tracker under the White River Marine Group label. The announcement has been confirmed by both parties, on the heels of a letter to dealers from Legend Boats President Randy Qualls late last week. “From humble beginnings in a small Texas facility back in 2002, Legend has matured into one of the world’s premium fibreglass bass boat brands,” Qualls writes. “As we look to the future, our focus has always been considering how to best serve our customer base and maintain our high standard of quality. This led us to consider an exciting opportunity to establish the next chapter for Legend Marine. I’m thrilled to share Legend is joining the White River Marine Group family, one of the premier manufacturers and marketers of boats in the world. Under the leadership of founder Johnny Morris, the company emphasizes performance, innovation, and world-class service with an unparalleled range of industry-leading brands. White River has a strong history in the boating business with a deep understanding of how to help develop and support independent retailers in growing strong profitable brands within our highly competitive industry. Johnny and his team are committed to maintaining the values and standards that define our brand and products. I’m confident that joining White River will greatly benefit Legend thanks to well-established industry expertise and highly sophisticated marketing strategy and support. Attached is a letter from Johnny and Les Crawford, President of White River Marine Group, outlining what this exciting new chapter looks like and how it will impact you. I 48 SA BASS October 2017

am excited and proud to watch this future unfold – thank you for helping us accomplish this milestone. Sincerely, Randy Qualls Founder and President, Legend Marine Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris and White River Marine Group President Les Crawford also released a statement welcoming Legend Boats into their fold. With the addition of Legend, White River Marine strengthens their hold on the bass boat market, while adding another prominent sport fishing brand alongside other fishing and recreational brands like Mako, Regency, Sun Tracker and Tahoe. White River officials say Legend will continue operations at its Midway, Arkansas factory. “We believe this state-of-theart facility and extremely skilled workforce will increase our overall capacity and potentially be a significant long-term benefit to all White River Marine Group dealers.” White River plans to honour all existing warranties. The industry rocked in 2014 when White River purchased Fishing Holdings, LLC, a group that included Ranger, Triton and Stratos, and again in 2015 when upperlevel management of those companies stepped down. However, despite profits now heading into the pocketbooks of the Bass Pro Shops founder, Morris’ pattern of operation has not been one of shuttering brands. If that pattern holds, Legend is likely to continue operations for the foreseeable future, though according to insiders, integration of technologies from across the White River line - and vice versa - are likely. Financial terms of the deal have not been released.

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