SA BASS - Sep'18 by SABASS

September 2018

Issue 209

Staging bass in early spring RSA: R39.34 (VAT incl.) Other Countries: R34.21 (Tax excl.)

Landing

ass

The right way to

Wake

www.sabass.com

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Contents

SA BASS Magazine

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

Office hours:

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

Contact numbers:

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

Postal Address:

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

Publisher:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Editor:

John Badenhorst - john@sabass.com

Field Editors:

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

International Columnists:

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

Advertising Manager:

Wilma Lindeque - wilma@sabass.com

Subscriptions:

Hannes Lindeque - hannes@sabass.com

Facebook Administrator:

Chris Greenland

Digital subscriptions:

www.magzter.com

Layout and Design:

Storm Deezigns - dee@stormdeezigns.co.za

Distributed by RNA:

Jannie Junius (011) 248 3536

REGULARS & FORUMS 06

SA BASS is designed as a specialist bass fishing publication and has catered for a well-defined niche market since April 2001. It enjoys the support and endorsement of non-government organisations, but is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Our mission is to promote bass angling as a socially acceptable and popular outdoor recreational activity, and in addition, to encourage acceptable angling ethics. As such, SA BASS provides pertinent information on a wide range of subjects. These include providing a platform for informed debate on issues affecting the sport of bass angling, providing information on bass angling strategies and techniques, bass angling waters and opportunities, and also creating awareness of new products. Within this editorial mix, due consideration is given to developing the sport among all the 02 SA BASS September 2018

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

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.

BASICS “Staging bass in early spring” Catching bass is what makes us get up on bitterly cold and frosty morning to head out into the unknown in search of those green fish we love so much – John Badenhorst

TEGNIEKE E “TUBES” Hulle is vreemd... Ja, jy het reg gelees es ... “Tubes” of in goeie Afrikaans, buisplastiek-ase, iss vir v sommige van ons baarshengelaars seker so volksvreemd soos skaapkop vir die Yanks – Philip Kemp

About SA BASS magazine:

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

“Landing big bass” As we are coming into that time of year, (spawning season) where the female bass are big and heavy, let’s consider ways to put these big fish into the boat, weigh, photograph and release them. – Gordon Brown

12 14

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.

TACTICS

SA BASS “The shallows are alive!” In last month’s issue I purposefully omitted this article. However, it’s time once again and the habits of bass coming towards spring and their pre-spawn and bedding activities are in full swing. – Roger Donaldson

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

CLASSROOM “What the season brings (Part 1)” Being forever aware is one of the bass angler’s most valuable traits. Conditions are forever changing and as these happen so all fish react. At one moment the weather is calm with not a breath of wind in sight and the next there is a bank of dark clouds approaching and the wind and temperatures develop and change – Roger Donaldson

“Mteri – For everyone” The Zimbabwe management team went out on a limb and decided to host the 2018 test at Mteri with the idea that the test was about the fishing, not about a guaranteed win. – Clint Skinner

KLASKAMER “Dis heerlike lente” “Dis heerlike lente, die winter is verby...” Die ou Afrikaanse liedjie draai die tyd van die jaar voortdurend in my kop. – Philip Kemp

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

BASICS “Diversity, a key to success” There are many aspects to bass fishing from cranking, spinning, jigging and everything in-between. between. There are thosee that would pick up a crank and workk a bank or area in i two dozen castss and move on.

TOURNAMENT NEWS

MY CAST

SA BASS SPY

READERS-go-BASSING

“Secrets of South Africa’s Pros Scouting (Part-2)” I thought it was most appropriate to let you in on some crucial tactics which seasoned anglers use which give them that profound edge on the next angler. Scouting – The Bass Spy

Angling International

Nice to Have

INDUSTRY NEWS 11

>> LOWRANCE - Power-Pole

22 26 27

>> iCast 2018 Winners >> Garmin® Panoptix LiveScope wins Best of Show at ICAST 2018 >> André van Rooyen Taxidermy

>> New Mercury Outboards

SA BASS “Rock a bye bass” Dawn has just cracked letting in the first warming rays of sunlight through to shimmer on the water’s surface. Some say it’s not quite spring yet but you and your buddy couldn’t be fazed, who needs an excuse to go bass fishing? – Jay Röhm-Williams

TOURNAMENT REPORT “BB Group FLW Bass Festival 2018” Die eerste FLW Kampioenskap vir 2018 het in samewerking met BB Groep op Tzaneendam afgeskop – Hannes Lindeque

42 44

FLW “THE RIGHT WAY TO WAKE” In the right situations, a stick baitstyle wake bait is capable of winning tournaments – Curtis Niedermier

FLW “WRAP IT UP” The lowdown on how bass boats get their flashy vinyl coverings. – Joe Balog

ON THE COVER “Loskop trophy” Image: André van Rooyen

SA BASS 03 September 2018

As I write this, I have to give some thought to the fact that the current Powerball Jackpot is sitting at a staggering R140million. Most certainly not small change and I’m sure most of us could do with a chunky slice of that pie. The chances of winning something like that, according to the folks that work with statistics are around one in 37 million. I suppose it’s very much like fishing, you can’t catch a fish without a bait in the water and yes, I even stood for almost an hour in line to buy a R39 quick pick. If you had to win that kind of money, what would you do? If you’re like me and many of our angling brothers and sisters, a six month long, worldwide fishing holiday is surely on the agenda. The season is upon us again and as the August winds have swept across the land, we hold our breath for the big one; we cast our lines in anticipation of a new PB. It’s not as easy as some would have us believe and fishing…especially bass fishing this time of the year, takes careful planning for all the elements to conspire together and make a memory to last forever. Recently, on a pre-fish, a friend of mine managed to catch some truly good fish in a spot, two days later, he couldn’t even manage a nibble. Seasons change and fish are getting ready for the days ahead. Being able to read the water, understand the behaviour of our green fishy friends and being able to adapt our style of hunting them, is a sure key to success. It’s with sadness that we observe the state of our local water ways and a recent highlight on Carte Blanche showed just how utterly careless some municipalities are in managing pollution. At Hartebeestpoort Dam, we still have a massive problem with hyacinth and I find it strange that now, during the colder months, when the plant lies dormant on the surface, that no one is making a real effort to simply scoop up the offending mass and get rid of it. It could be because of a shortage of funding or simply that in order to remove the problem, someone, and somewhere has to make money. Once the first rains of spring arrive and those plants wake up from their winter slumber, it’s going to be an even bigger problem than last year. Unfortunately; it’s not just places like Harties that face this, but even my backyard pond fondly known as Murray Park. As we head slowly into the second half of the year, there are still some big tournaments coming up to keep us entertained. SA Bass Magazine has two of these coming up in the FLW series at Bivane and Boskop, and then there is still the Albert Falls Classic taking place too. Coming up over the next few months we also have the SABAA nationals and Junior Internationals. Following ICAST 2018 where great new products were introduced, we have the local Fishing Trade and Tackle show which unfortunately is not a public event. Importers will once again display the latest and greatest in fishing toys. However, 04 SA BASS September 2018

we at SA Bass Magazine will bring you news of what’s to expect for the upcoming season. If you can brave the wind and get out on the water, do so... the pre-spawn is upon us and there are some good fish to be caught, just remember to handle fish with care and safely release them as gently and as speedily as possible. If for some reason, I happen to have bought the winning ticket for that big chunk of change, don’t worry, I will send regular postcards. In the meantime, get out on the water, put your skill and luck to the test and send us pictures of that new PB. John Badenhorst / Editor

2018

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>> SA BASS TACTICS

Landing ass

As we are coming into that time of year, (spawning season) where the female bass are big and heavy, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consider ways to put these big fish into the boat, weigh, photograph and release them. This also applies to any big fish anytime in the year. >> Gordon Brown*

The author with a trophy size fish caught during a Cast-for-Cash event

lot of good competitive and professional anglers have developed techniques and strategies on landing big bass. Successfully landing a big, hard fighting bass begins with consideration made before the lure even hits the water. All of the considerations below and more can determine whether you land or loose a big fish.

Here are some consideratons: - It can start to some degree before you even make a cast

Is your line strength matching the structure you are fishing?

Hook size in proportion to the bait. Too often the hook is too small. One does not get a good hook set and another big fish is lost.

Hook thickness also to be matched to line size. Using a light wire hook on heavy line will straighten or open up on a solid strike.

When using hard baits with treble hooks, make sure they are of good quality. You may even want to up size the hooks for a better hook set when targeting bigger fish.

Boat position. If you are fishing a brush pile or heavy structure, position the boat, so that when you cast and hook a fish, you can pull the fish out of the structure. Rather than pulling the fish in and over the structure.

Using the right lure or technique for the area or structure you are fishing e.g. one would normally use a Texas rig with a pegged sinker in a brush pile, than a light drop-shot rig.

Another big mistake anglers make is not using the right rod. Matching the rod stiffness (action) to the line strength. Most worm fishing needs a medium / heavy to heavy action rod. If the rod is too soft, one wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a good hook set and another big fish is lost.

06 SA BASS September 2018

I am always thinking about what I am going to do if I get a bite, in a particular situation. Am I going to set the hook to the left or to the right? Is there an open gap in the vegetation or grass, and how can I get the fish moving in that direction? One always has to consider the type of cover. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fishing heavy cover, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s likely the fish will hang you up in the cover, and you have to be prepared to hit the trolling motor on high and quickly go get him out. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more of an open water situation, I know that after I set the hook, I can take my time and play the fish back to the boat. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move on to after setting the hook. Now what? If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible, check how well the fish is hooked. This will determine how to fight the fish. If the fish is lightly hooked with only one treble hook on the one side of his mouth, by giving him a bit of slack line and moving your rod in the opposite direction, sometimes moves the lure across his mouth and getting another treble hooked into his mouth. This will give you a much better chance of landing the fish. The most dangerous moment during the battle between bass and angler is when the fish decides to jump. A list of bad things can and do happen when a bass is airbourne. How do we avoid this occurrence? One reason they tend to jump is when one exerts a lot of pressure on them, and the only way a fish can ease that pressure is to come up. So by going easy on the fish, it will tend to turn back down and start thumping. As long as the fish can take a little line once in a while, the fish will keep its head down. One common tactic used to discourage hooked bass from jumping is to

thrust the tip of the rod beneath the surface of the water. Always watch your line, it will often be able to tell whether the fish is going to jump or not. When playing a big fish close to the boat, I try to do a combination of the following:t ,FFQ NZ SPE UJQ BCPWF UIF XBUFS É¨JT HJWFT NF more visual on my line and what direction the fish is swimming. t "MXBZT MFBWF BU MFBTU POF SPE MFOHUI PG MJOF CFUXFFO UIF tip of the rod and the fish. t 4MBDLFO PĂŞ ZPVS ESBH TMJHIUMZ JO DBTF ZPVS ĂŤTI NBLFT B sudden retreat. I have witnessed so many big fish lost like this, with the drag too tight. I sometimes do the unthinkable! I disengage the thumb bar on my reel (free spool). I am now in total control of any sudden move the fish might make, by using the pressure of my thumb on the spool. Always ready to engage my reel to continue to play and land my fish. t %FQFOEJOH IPX UIF ĂŤTI JT IPPLFE BOE TBZ UIF ĂŤTI is swimming in a clock wise direction. If the hook is properly lodged, keep the fish moving in the same direction. Horsing a big fish and changing direction can easily dislodge or tear the hook free and another sad story unfolds. Bad luck? No, inexperience! t *G B ĂŤTI KVNQT DMPTF UP UIF CPBU LFFQ JUT IFBE VQ VOUJM it is in the net.

SA BASS 07 September 2018

t iÉ¨F OFU w 5P VTF B OFU PS OPU )PX NBOZ UJNFT JO practice does one lip land your fish? Big or small, and never lose a fish? In a competition one feels one must of iDPVSTF VTF B OFUw BOE IPX PGUFO EP UIJOHT HP IPSSJCMZ wrong? I have seen major competitions lost this way. The biggest problem is that the landing net was too small in the first place, or your partner is too anguish to get that big fish in the boat and pushes the net into the fish. The hooks either get caught in the net or the fish is spooked and the hook comes loose. There is no right or wrong way when deciding to use a net. One must make the call in that situation. When using a landing net, always bring the fish over the net. I like to keep the net tight (less chance for a hook to get caught in it) and once the fish is over the net, let go so that the fish can slip down into the bottom of the net. Some anglers like to scoop up the fish from behind. I prefer head first. When lip landing a big fish, people are in too much of a hurry to get the fish into the boat. A while ago I had to lip land a 5kg plus fish for my Zimbabwe partner when fishing an International in Zimbabwe. Even though we were opposition, I had to make sure I did not mess up. I had to be patient and display steel nerves of a bomb squad technician. My partner eased the fish to the boat as I had one hand in the water to grab the bass. I put my thumb as deep as I could in his mouth and secured my fingers firmly under his jaw. Once securely gripped, I used my other hand to help slowly lift the bass into the boat. For my partner, all this seemed to take forever, and this beauty was safely boated. Remember, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try and lift a big fish until you have a good grip on his jaw. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try and lift a big fish until you have a good grip on his jaw

08 SA BASS September 2018

Another technique used, is by placing your hand under the belly of the fish. If not using a landing net and the fish has a face full of trebles, this is a good way. This seems to relax the fish allowing the angler to lift it into the boat. When fighting any fish around the boat, make sure you dip your rod deep enough down manoeuvring around the trolling or outboard motor and also when a fish decides to swim under the boat. All the above and more can determine whether you land or loose a big fish. I know of many anglers that can relate to what I am sharing and are still drying tears from their eyes. Trusting UIBU ZPV XJMM QVU UIBU i#JH 'JTIw PG B MJGFUJNF JO UIF CPBU and be able to treasure that moment for eternity. *Gordon Brown is a multiple Protea bass angler and a regular SA Bass contributor. Hennie NaudĂŠ landed this trophy size fish at Mteri

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READERS

GO BASSING

To feature in “Readers go Bassing” send your story and pictures to editor@sabass.com All photos published in “Readers-go-Bassing” are for the exclusive use of SA BASS Magazine. Any photos previously published by other magazines will not be considered.

This month’s

WINNER

DANKIE Dankie vir die voorreg om op julle Augustus-uitgawe se voorblad te kon wees – Anton Vogt

Mail il & Win Wi E-mail your picture and details of your catch to editor@sabass.com and stand a chance to win a hamper (valued at R600) sponsored by Culprit South Africa. Please send us good crisp pictures of good quality. Pictures send electronically must be of at least 250KB. (We prefer pictures of 1MB). Potential cover pictures must be portrait and at least 3MB. All photos published in Readers-Go-Bassing are for the exclusive use of SA BASS magazine. Any photos previously published, or published by other magazines will not be considered.

10 SA BASS September 2018

NANDONI Baie dankie vir ‘n goeie tydskrif. Ek en my kleinseun het by Nandoni gaan visvang waar ek hierdie swartbaar van 3.1kg met ‘n Watermelon Fluke gevang het. Die vis is weer veilig terug geplaas vir iemand anders om haar te stoei – Wessel Pieters

KLEIN Lyk my ek vang deesdae net klein vissies. Het julle enige raad hoe om koue fronte te hanteer, of sukkel almal soos ek? Hierdie kleintjie is met ‘n Texas-strop en Minnow gevang net na 13:00 die middag. Dankie vir ‘n wonderlike tydskrif wat altyd lekker om te lees en nuwe wenke gee. – Nico Venter (Ons almal het goeie en slegte dae en is die rede waarom ons altyd terugkom om weer te probeer - Red.)

>> SA BASS INDUSTRY NEWS

Power-Pole provides for a premium and hightech shallow-water anchor system

LOWRANCE South Africa would like to announce that they are now importing a whole new brand: Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors. What are Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors?

Power-Pole provides for a premium and high-tech shallowwater anchor system.

ass fishing is all about capitalizing on opportunities and making the most of your time on the water. With the unmatched versatility of Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor, you have a product that deploys silently, holds strong and gives you the best shot at putting more fish in the boat – all at the touch of a button. PowerPole Shallow Water Anchor puts control in the palm of your hand. The traditional method of slipping an anchor over the side works, but that technique is noisy, time-consuming and not exact. It can also damage sensitive underwater habitats. And using the “anchor feature” on trolling motors causes constant turbulence in the water and is noisy too! The Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor will allow you to quickly - and quietly - keep boats stationary in order to cast to wary fish. The Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor can be mounted on boats measuring up to 28 foot and weighing up to two tons.

The Power-Pole system uses a hinged lightweight metal arm that extends down and away from a boat’s transom. A hydraulic pump drives the integrated fiberglass spike into the bottom to hold the boat in place. The spike can hold place in any kind of bottom, and it is also gentle on the environment. Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors are controlled wirelessly with the use of a remote, and they also link via Bluetooth to your Lowrance unit. They will only work with either HDS or Elite Ti units (NOT HOOK) - all PowerPole functions can be accessed directly from your Lowrance screen. There is also the option to purchase an additional wireless footpad switch kit. For more information contact Lowrance SA on 031-368-6649

QR Code power pole – Scan this QR-code and see how it deploys SA BASS 11 September 2018

>> SA BASS BASICS

Staging bass in early spring

Using crab imitation baits and small jigs or soft plastics

atching bass is what makes us get up on bitterly cold and frosty morning to head out into the unknown in search of those green fish we love so much. Catching bass, to some might be easy but spend some time with someone that you regard as a good angler and soon you will come to realize that it’s not simply about catching fish, it’s about hours spent in practice, research and months and even years of honing those skills. It takes practice and patience to understand bass and their behaviour in relation to changing seasons, temperature, barometric pressure, water clarity and volume. There is most definitely also an element of luck involved but as legendary golfer Gary Player once said...”the more I practice, the luckier I get”. The more time you spend on the water or walking the bank, the better you’ll become at bass fishing and finding someone that’s already spent the time and effort to figure some things out AND who is willing to share their knowledge is worth its weight in gold. In winter, the baitfish slow down due to colder temperatures and so will the fish that hunt them. In some cases it’s best to mimic a baitfish in distress caused by a sudden drop in pressure or temperature and here, suspending twitch minnows worked super slowly can produce good quality fish. Bass become lethargic during cold snaps and will in most cases not even bother to chase a prey that seems like it might get away from it. Chasing a baitfish depletes energy reserves and in the 12 SA BASS September 2018

colder months, it’s all about preserving that energy. When retrieving a suspending bait, slow down to what you would perceive as slow and then slow it down even more. With soft plastics, a host of anglers have great success simply letting the bait fall to the bottom and then leaving it there “dead stick” for up to a minute and then giving it a slight twitch. Using weightless baits also produce good results as the bait falls through the body of water way slower than you’d normally fish it even with a small sliding weight. Fishing a drop-shot works like magic and here, the idea is to have your weight sitting on the bottom while your bait is suspended a few inches above. Lifting the rod tip just enough to move the bait without lifting the sinker off the bottom and then letting it drop again in order for the bait to fall a few inches is what usually triggers a strike. With jigs or the Ned rigs, the idea is to gently lift the bait off the bottom by no more than two inches at a time and even tiny little tap-tap movements right on the bottom and pauses in-between will drive bass crazy. For football jigs, drop-shot and the mentioned Ned rig, it is advisable to have a short spinning rod with a rather flexible tip which will allow you to move the bait enticingly without lifting it too high and out of the strike zone. Moving into spring or as us anglers know this time of year as the pre-

>> John Badenhorst*

spawn, bass will stage and by this, I want you to imagine the shore line... the shallows start to warm up and on good days, male fish will move up into the shallow to hunt and to start checking out possible spots for some nookie later in the season. These fish will not hang out permanently in the shallows as the temperature still drops during the night and would rather prefer to be in a more comfortable zone where wind and ambient temperature does not make a big difference. Most of these fish will be found in and around the 10 to 14ft range and will move shallower during the warmer hours of the day. When a sudden cold snap hits, these fish will hold tight up against structure like a brush pile, rock pile, sunken jetty or such, it affords them protection from the elements and will attract baitfish for exactly the same reason and this is where our friend the bass will ambush his dinner. As waters warm up even more, scores of randy males will move into shallows to eat and sort out their bedroom arrangements for the party to come. Females will also move around feeding and checking out possible suitors for the next generation. On a recent trip to Witbank Dam, we were confronted with average water temperatures of around 12ºC and having heard that some anglers had in fact been struggling to get fish only a few days before, we didn’t get our hopes up too much. The morning started average and we managed to get a few solid fish as the day grew warmer. We mostly fished what we would term as a staging area in around 9 to 12ft of water. Usual

haunts during winter like the hump in goose bay didn’t produce a single bite, even on the ever popular drop-shot method. After scouting around for a while, we managed to find an area comfortably situated between two weedbeds with a nice little rocky ledge about 4m towards the deeper water. On the first cast I went on with a fish of around 1.2kg and from that point on, the bite was constant. Some bites were ever so gentle that the slightest tension on the line would cause the fish to drop the bait but some of the other bites almost ripped the rod out of my hands. We ended up with a total of forty fish for our efforts for the day and although we didn’t get the bigger fish, we did manage a five fish bag weight of around 5.6kg. The previous week, we fished Bronkhorstspruit Dam and where we had found fish of around 1.5 to 2.6kg barely four days earlier, we couldn’t pay for a bite and after many frustrating hours of casting as if we were fishing in the desert, we decided to work the areas right up against the reeds and very quickly

figured a pattern as we managed to get some solid fish but nothing over 1kg. On both these outings, it shows how fish tend to move around as the days grow warmer and where you thought the fish might be holding has been vacated. Crabs form a massive part of the bass diet at this time as the crab shell has a chemical called cithin which helps males with sperm production and helps females produce the protective layer around their eggs. Using crab imitation baits and small jigs or soft plastics in light browns, Junebug and amber works best as these are “crabby” colours and fish will be locked into this. Over the last decade, many anglers have experienced how intensely those little green fish can be locked onto a certain pattern or colour and will flatly ignore any other offering. Well, soon our pre-spawn season will be upon us and I’m sure that you’re looking forward to it as much as I am. Until then, remember, it is still

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The YUM Dinger deserves the reputation as a versatile lure that catches bass whether they’re feeding or not. In fact, no other lure style gets inactive fish to strike like the YUM Dinger. The Dinger can be Texas, Carolina and wacky rigged, weighted or weightless, and catches fish when other lures fail.

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6.5”

The YUM Ribbontail worm is a curlytail with a difference. The curl is longer than most, providing more swimming action than other similar worms, and the solid body takes the abuse of multiple bass without tearing. JUNEBUG

*John Badenhorst is the editor of SA BASS magazine and a keen ultra finesse angler.

NEW COLORS

Dinger™ PRODUCT NUMBER

winter so slow it down and then even more... and be patient because the next bite you have might just be a sought after PB or trophy.

10” | 7.5”

CAMO

10”

GRAPE RED FLAKE

10”

When you absolutely have to get a bite, use the YUM Finesse Worm. The Finesse Worm can be used on a shakey head, Carolina rig, drop-shot or the newly-popular Neko rig to catch highly-pressured fish. It works equally well in clear or stained water. The slender body and bulb tail respond with exaggerated action to the slightest movement of the rod tip.

Tip Toad™

NEW

PRODUCT NUMBER

LENGTH

QTY. PER PACK

AVAILABLE COLORS

YTT

4.5”

The Tip Toad was built to take over the buzz frog game by combining multiple features. The realistic design of the Tip Toad allows it plane quickly. The precisely-placed tails and feet provide maximum water displacement which creates a unique sound equivalent to fleeing prey. Rigging the Tip Toad is as easy thanks to the hook bend placement notches that perfectly fit a 4/0 or 5/0 frog hook.

W/MELON SEED GREEN PUMPKIN

W/MELON SEED

10” | 7.5”

GREEN PUMPKIN FLAKE

10” | 7.5”

JUNEBUG W/MELON RED

BLACK BLUE SHADOW

BLACK GHILLIE SUIT

BLACK

10”

BOURBON BERRY

TOP VIEW

BOTTOM VIEW

www.yumbait.co.za SA BASS 13 September 2018

>> SA BAARS TEGNIEKE

“Tubes” Hulle is vreemd...

>> Philip Kemp*

Ja, jy het reg gelees ... “Tubes” of in goeie Afrikaans, buisplastiek-ase, is vir sommige van ons baarshengelaars seker so volksvreemd soos skaapkop vir die Yanks. Ek moet bieg, toe die redakteur my vra of ek my kennis oor die vreemde ase met lesers kan deel, het dit tot my besef gekom dat ek jare laas die vreemde ase uit my viskas gehaal het. Hoe kan ons ‘n aas, wat in die regte omstandighede so skitterend werk, sommer net so vergeet, of was dit net ek?

n die vroeë 70’s is daar in Californië ‘n aas ontwerp wat kwansuis die ideale aas blyk te wees om in die broeiseisoen te hengel. Bobby Garlin, die brein agter buisplastiek-ase, het hulle sommer uit die hand verkoop aan al wat ‘n baarshengelaar was wat op daardie stadium gedink het dat dít die ware jakob vir die broeiseisoen te gewees het. As jy hulle sou koop, het jy twaalf buisplastiekase in verskillende kleure gekry, saam met drie loodkoppe, wat jy dan binne die aas sou plaas om te hengel. Die groot nadeel van die hengelmetode was egter dat die hengelaar in areas moes hengel waar daar min onderwater-skuiling soos watergras en bome was. Die rede hiervoor was dat die hoek ontbloot was en aan alles sou vashaak. As jy egter in die regte omstandighede die buis-aas sou hengel, was dit sekerlik die beste aas vir lentehengel en natuurlik die broeiseisoen. Die geheim daardie jare was om die aas op ‘n slap lyn te hengel. Deur die aas so te hengel, sou dit in ‘n sirkelbeweging val tot in die nes. Baars wat broei kan die beweging nie weerstaan nie, en het die aas met oorgawe aangeval. Omrede die hengelaar met ‘n oop hoek sou hengel, was die suksespersentasie net soveel hoër. Oor die algemeen kan buis-ase op baie verskillende maniere gehengel word en was dit ook algemeen gebruik in klipperige areas waar dit net soos ‘n loodkop gehengel kon word. Dit het die buis-ase veral gewild gemaak onder kleinbek-baarshengelaars omrede hierdie baarsspesies veral in klipperige areas voorkom. Die ase kan op verskeie maniere gehengel word waaronder die Texas, Carolina, drop-shot en gewigloos, om maar net ‘n paar van die algemene maniere te noem om die buis-ase mee te hengel. Deur ‘n stukkie polistireen in die buis-aas in te druk, kan die aas selfs as ‘n drywende aas op die oppervlak gehengel word. Die kreatiwiteit van die hengelaar met die spesifieke ase is legio

14 SA BASS September 2018

en hengelaars hoef net hulle verbeelding te gebruik om die ase suksesvol te maak en verskillende tegnieke te probeer. Ek het selfs al ‘n klein gloeistokkie in die buis gedruk en sodoende ‘n hele paar baars in die nag gevang. Ongelukkig was die baars nie van die grootste nie, maar dit het vir heelwat pret gesorg.

Die sleeptegniek Die tegniek is seker die mees algemeenste, en is vroeër jare algemeen gebruik om buisplastiek-ase mee te hengel. Deur die aas op die bodem te sleep, het baie vis vir kleinbekbaarshengelaars opgelewer. Om die aas net oor die bodem te trek, is eintlik ‘n baie eenvoudige tegniek, maar tog is dit vir baarshengelaars moeilik om hulself te oorreed om die tegniek te gebruik. Wat ek gewoonlik sal doen, is om die aas teen die wind te gooi en dan net die aas te laat sink. Sonder om die aas in te katrol, sal ek die boot net laat dryf oor die area waar daar potensiële vis sal wees en die buisplastiek-aas net laat saamsleep. Om te voorkom dat die aas vashaak, sal ek ‘n koeëlsinker gebruik en die hoek se punt liggies in die aas terugsteek (skin hook) om sodoende nie vas te haak nie.

Die Texas-strop Die tegniek sal ek in swaar dekking en struktuur gebruik. Die “tube” of buisplastiek-aas val maklik deur die digte dekking en is verantwoordelik vir die grootste aantal van my vis. Die grootte van die aas is veral geskik vir vuiler water waar die vis se sig drasties ingeperk is. In hierdie gevalle sal ek ook groot glasratels in die buis druk om die vis te help om die aas op te spoor deur middel van die klank in die water. ‘n Ander uitweg is ‘n kraletjie tussen die hoek en die koeëlsinker. Vir hierdie metode sal ek ten minste 20 pond lyn met ‘n nomer 4/0 hoek gebruik.

Ek verkies om ‘n tungsten sinker vir my Texas-strop te geb bruik. Die tegniek werk gebruik. vera al goed as die baars styf veral teen n die struktuur lê . Sodra die dek kking net te dig is, verkies ek om ‘n dekking rub bberstopper op die lyn voor die koeëlsinker rubberstopper te p plaas, sodat die sinker nie op die lyn kan gly nie. Dit verhoed dat die aas vashaak in die digte dekking . Ek kan op die manier die aas onderarmwerp en dit laat val in die kleinste denkbare openinge.

Die Mojo-strop In medium dekking wat nie te dig is nie, verkies ek om die Mojo-strop vir my buis-ase te gebruik. Ek verkies om die Mojosinker om en by ses tot nege duim vanaf die aas op te sit. Deur rubberstoppers te gebruik, kan die afstand van die sinker verstel word. Ek verkies om in kouer water die sinker verder weg van die aas te hengel. Dit veroorsaak

stadiger deur die water val en baars, wat dat die aas stad stadiger stadig ger is om te byt as gevolg van die kouer water, oorreed oorr reed om die aas te vat. In warmer water sal ek die spoe spoed van die aas versnel deur my sinker nader aan die aas te skuif. Ek het gevind dat ek n met die strop net die aas kan laat stil lê. Baars m sal die aas a soms net soos ‘n loodkop optel en dit sagg saggies probeer verwyder van die nes. Die hengelaar moet dus ‘n ultra sensitiewe stok hengel vir die aanwending gebruik en sy lyn ook fyn dophou. Ek verkies om flourocarbon lyn te d ggebruik, omrede die lyn nie baie rek het nie en ek ligste byt dadelik kan voel. e die li

Loodkoppe Loodk Die mees algemene metode is sekerlik om di die buisplastiek-aas met ‘n loodkop te hengel Sommige loodkoppe is ontwerp om hengel. binne in die buis in te druk met die hoek oop. Hierdie metode word algemeen in oop areas met min dekking en struktuur gehengel. Ek geniet dit om hierdie metode te gebruik wanneer ek sighengel en die aas in die baars se nes gooi. Omrede die hoek oop is, sal ek die aas net verby die nes gooi en dit dan soos ‘n jig hop op die bodem tot binne in die nes. Ek sal ook die aas gooi en op ‘n slap lyn laat sak tot binne in die nes. ‘n Buisplastiek-aas val in ‘n sirkelbeweging tot op die bodem. Baars is die val-aksie nie gewoond nie en sal gewoonlik baie aggressief reageer.

All our products are designed and manufactured by our team locally in South Africa. We test and design our jigs based on PXOWLSOH ȴVKLQJ FRQGLWLRQV DQG H[SHULHQFHV :H FKRRVH RQO\ quality resources to construct and manufacture our products, ensuring you that our products meet the standard of both angler and bass.

Black Blue

Black Red Fleck

Autumn Craw

Green Pumpkin Red

Junebug

Green Pumpkin

Springbok

Green Pumpkin Black Blue

Peanut Butter Jelly

Winter Green

Black and Red

Watermelon Red

View all our products at www.hillbillypoisen.co.za Email: hillbillypoisen@gmail.com Available at leading tackle shops Tel: +27 60 470 5125

SA BASS 15 September 2018

Hoe die hoek in die aas moet sit

Die swemtegniek Die swemtegniek werk uitstekend as jy die aas, net soos ‘n plastiese swemvissie (fluke), oor onderwater dekking in die vlakker water, soos watergras, boomstompe, ensovoorts swem. Dit werk ook goed in oopwater waar daar skole klein vissies soos kurpers, karpies en so meer voorkom. Die profiel van ‘n buisplastiek-aas lyk net soos die van ‘n vissie en die tentakels van die aas doen net genoeg om enige baars tot die aanval te laat oorgaan. Wat hierdie tegniek so veelsydig maak is dat jy die aas in twee voet of twintig voet water kan laat swem deur net ‘n paar verstellings te maak. Deur dunner lyn te gebruik, klein verstellings aan die loodkoppie te maak, verskillende gewigte te gebruik, jou katrolspoed te varieer en selfs die stok hoër of laer te hou, kan die aas op verskillende dieptes gehengel word. Die swem-aksie van die buisplastiek-asie kan in moeilike omstandighede, dis wanneer ‘n gewone swem-aksie nie werk nie, nog meer verander word deur die stok eers na links en dan na regs te hou óf die stok te laat sak en dan weer op te tel, sodat

die aas nie in ‘n reguit lyn swem nie. Ek verkies 1/16, 1/8 en 3/16 ons loodkoppe met groot hoeke wat ek ontbloot hengel wanneer ek die swemmetode gebruik.

Carolina-strop Hierdie is een van my gunsteling tegnieke wanneer ek weet die wyfies lê op oorgangspunte naby die neste in dieper water. Deur die aas oor die bodem te sleep, sal die aas ook net soos by die sleeptegniek, saggies opgetel word. Een van my hengelvriende verkies om ‘n stukkie polistireen in die buis te plaas sodat die aas effens bokant die bodem dryf. Hierdie is ‘n baie suksesvolle metode veral in die broeiseisoen. Ek wil graag ons lesers uitnooi om die “tubes”, of in goeie Afrikaans, buisplastiek-ase, weer uit te haal. Jy sal aangenaam verras wees oor die uitwerking van die aas in waters waar baars baie lanklaas die aas gesien het. *Philip Kemp is ‘n gesoute swartbaarhengelaar en ‘n gereelde bydraer.

Pieter Bezuidenhout pieterbez@mweb.co.za

Trade enquiries only

3 3/4” The Thing

3.25” Crazy Craw

4” Flutter Craw

New

4.5” Flapping Hog

4.5” Winged Hog

3” Fluttercraw Chunk

3.5” Mad Craw

7.5” Lizard

5” Wiggle Grub

4” Mud Bugs

3.57” Punch Craw

4.5” Gorilla Tube

4” Zipper Tube

6.5” The Beast

1” & 2” Grubs

16 SA BASS September 2018

Craws & Grubs

Creatures & Tube

CAST FOR CASH BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT TRIAL

New Season Starts

September 2018 No club fees, 2 persons per team, fishing from boats only, 5 fish per team, no size limit For dates, venues and rules visit www.flwsouthafrica.com

FLW SA Championship: 29, 30, 31 August 2019

>> SA BASS

Can you spot the bass cruising the clear shallow waters searching for bedding areas?

The shallows are alive! I

n last month’s issue I purposefully omitted this article. However, it’s time once again and the habits of bass coming towards spring and their pre-spawn and bedding activities are in full swing. What a marvel to be able to witness what bass do around this exciting time and to have the opportunity to lay your eyes on some of the larger bass which enter the shallow waters now. Just this weekend I convinced my better half to take a walk around a local farm dam to check what activity may have already started and sure enough it had. Shallow farm dams can feel the early effects of stable warm weather and bass will start to venture into the shallows to search for bedding zones. So I challenge you to put your fishing rod down for a few minutes (or don’t), pick up your polarised sunglasses and peak cap and take a stroll around your local dam. With the sun next to or behind you you’ll find it easier to peer deeper into the water and spot any activity round the shallows. Bass have an easily identifiable shape so it’s not difficult to tell it apart from other fish. They are more slender in shape compared with that of other species you may encounter, which mostly may include carp and kurper. Also, bass have a familiar black fringe to their tail fin which is probably their most visible trait. 18 SA BASS September 2018

>> Roger Donaldson*

Interestingly, bass are very aware of their surroundings and the truth is if you have spotted them there is a good chance that they have spotted you too. So some pretty serious steps need to be taken if you want to sneak up on them, for example: watch that your shadow is not sweeping over the water, walk light footed if you’re on the bank, or set your trolling motor to a lower speed to reduce vibration and the speed at which you are scouting the area, use vegetation and structure to obscure you from sight where possible, bright clothing is a clear give away. However, if the fish do spot you and you’re trying to catch one don’t worry too much. Come back in ten minutes with a little more delicacy and try again – they should be refreshed! One of the earliest days I remember scouring the shallows looking for early season bass was on Hartebeestpoort Dam. I slowly made my way into a small bay on the north side of the dam with the trolling motor on low. Hartebeestpoort Dam actually boasts exceptionally clear water at this time of year as the algae has not had an opportunity to bloom fully yet. As I made entry to the bay I could just make out the very large, flat boulders approaching beneath the water – what a perfect destination! I had already backed off the trolling motor to allow the boat to glide deftly into the shallows, but

“pick up your polarised sunglasses and peak cap and take a stroll around your local dam” I was not adroit enough. The very large bass (in the region of 4kg) was already circling its bedding area and coming in from the left, it’s slab-like, football shape so distinct and indicative of the chuncky “Hartees” bass. Wow, what an impressive fish. I really wanted to catch it to marvel at its full size and impressive body structure. I backed away some twenty metres and gave the fish some space for a minute or two before entering the bay again and with a weightless rigged 4” Senko in hand. I’m sure the visibility beneath the water at the time may have been 10 to 15m at least. With my quivering hands and gently shuddering trolling motor I edged my way back in. She was staring and pointing directly at me when I caught sight of her, as if to say, “You’ve missed the boat here, back-off”. Bass choose the most perfect sites during the pre-spawn season. This mostly consists of a gravel substrate where available. You will often be surprised to find that these areas are in the most obvious places and also the reason why bass anglers overlook them so quickly. The most fascinating example of this was my experience at Nandoni Dam. The dam has a wonderful variety of structure and some excellent secluded areas to fish. Some of the structures include flooded trees (both very large and small), rocky banks, gravel and hard sand banks, river channels, lily pads, underwater sand bars, brush piles, flooded dilapidated building structures, bridges, creek channels and submerged tree stumps. The variety of choice can be a little overwhelming and at some stage you will just want to head toward a very plane looking bank very little to no structure at all. Well on this occasion that is precisely where the largest of the fish had chosen to be at the time we were visiting. The most intriguing sight however was what we viewed on our side imaging sonar. The beds / nests were clearly identifiable in the substrate, perfect round patches spread out for more than a hundred metres along the bank and no structure in sight. You may be asking yourself what to look for on your next fishing outing, but the truth about this time of year is quite different to the rest of the months. Bass are not looking for food are will not be relating as readily to your normal fishing strategy. You’ll need to slow down and hone into their current activities and adjust your tactics accordingly. *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 19 September 2018

>> SA BASS ANGLING INTERNATIONAL >> Anthony Hawkswell*

BRP Marine Group Buys Alumacraft

BRP (which owns Evinrude, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Rotax engines and the manufacturers of other products) announced that it was creating a new Marine Group and its first order of business was to buy Alumacraft. This company is one of the largest makers of aluminium fishing boats and is located in St. Peter, MN. Alumacraft was founded in 1946 and currently has about 275 dealers worldwide. Those who know the folks at BRP, know that they make no small plans. With their state-of-the-art manufacturing know-how, aluminium expertise and innovation track record, the addition of Alumacraft will enable them to, over time, continue to transform the customer experience, drive opportunities for their dealers and provide overall efficiencies to the new BRP Marine Group.

Honeymoon over for Bass Pro Shops Pyramid Sales at Bass Pro Shops Pyramid attraction in Memphis, USA tailed off in its third year of trading. Sales figures released by the company to City of Memphis officials, which owns the building, reveal that its takings were down 4% on the previous year from $46.7 million to $45.6 million. The Springfield, Missouri-based business is privately held and does not reveal sales from individual stores, but the company reports to the city and its income is used to calculate its annual rent. The latest figures confirm what retail experts predicted last year – that the Pyramid’s sales had levelled off at a sustainable rate following an expected drop-off as the store moved out of the typical honeymoon period for a new retail store. The second year total was down 15.5% from $56.3 million in its first year of trading. 20 SA BASS September 2018

ICAST On The Water enhances growing reputation

ICAST On the Water is fast establishing itself as the pre-curser to the world’s largest fishing tackle trade show. And it enhanced its reputation today with companies taking its products, which included watercraft and a drone, to the venue and presenting them in their natural working environments. Growing Scandinavian brand Westin is making inroads into the US market and made its debut at ICAST On the Water. The company’s Thomas Petersen Eldor said that he was happy with its appearance on the waterside, with visitors to its booth savouring its array of innovative baits, including Freddy the Frog. Visitors to this year’s ICAST On the Water also got their first sight of a new range of bass rods from fledgling Florida company, Ark Rods. The manufacturer, which entered the market in January 2017, introduced the Randall Tharp Signature Series, a collaboration between elite series angler Tharp and Ark Rods owner, Louie Zhang. “The series was very well received when we first launched it at the Bassmaster Classic in March and the response here has also been great,” Zhang told Angling International. “Demand has been high and the challenge is keeping it in stock.” The company first appeared in the market with it Invoker rods. “Our aim is to supply quality rods at prices everyone can afford,” added Zhang.

ICAST record attendance Figures released by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) has revealed that more than 15,000 visitors – a show record – attended ICAST in Orlando, Florida. “This was a fantastic week for the sport fishing industry,” said Glenn Hughes, President of the ASA, which owns the event. “More exhibitors enjoyed the largest number of attendees in our trade show’s history. Going hand-in-hand with increased participation was the tremendous coverage across all social media channels of the products only found at ICAST. This is great exposure for our exhibitors and for anglers eagerly looking for new products to enhance their fishing experience. “Ultimately, this event is all about showcasing the gear, apparel and accessories that help to make a day on the water both exciting and rewarding.” Bill Shedd, President of the American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO), and a long-time member of the ASA, described the show as the best ever. “I have been coming for 44 years and I can honestly say it is the best ever. I saw all the people I wanted to see and the energy overall was excellent.” ICAST, along with the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show (IFTD) and the Marine Accessories Pavilion, took up 220,000 net square feet of its new location in the North/ South Building. It hosted 626 exhibitors and, of the more than 15,000 people registered for the show, 1,154 were from 71 countries. “ICAST is a great show and this was the best one yet,” said Kirk Immens, President of Sportco Marketing, Inc., and the ASA’s Board of Directors Chairman. “We

had an inspirational and moving kick-off to the show with our State of the Industry Breakfast keynote speaker, Commander Kirk Lipoid. He was the Commander of the USS Cole when it was targeted by al Qaeda and lives were lost. His message about leadership really resonated with the more than 600 people in attendance.” Also speaking at the Industry Breakfast was Immens, Hughes and Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) President and CEO, Frank Peterson. Immens continued, “For me, one of the highlights of the week was our Friday Angler Development Day. ASA worked with FLW and B.A.S.S. to invite local high school fishing clubs to see the show. These young people are our future and it’s important for them to see the industry in action. I don’t know if it was me or them who was more excited for them to be here.” t ICAST 2019 will be held in the North/South Building at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, from July 9 to 12.

PRADCO-Fishing unveils Thill float manufacturing facility To celebrate the forthcoming opening of its Thill floats manufacturing facility at its headquarters in Fort Smith, Arkansas, US lure giant, PRADCO-Fishing commissioned a local artist to decorate the outside of the building. The fish-themed painting was completed prior to the grand opening of the building on Thursday, August 16. A new break /meeting room has also been opened and has already hosted meetings with employees from all shifts. PRADCO expects to begin manufacturing Thill floats in around two weeks at the 12,300 sqft facility. Every aspect of balsa float making will be executed there, from sawing the raw balsa wood right through to packaging. *Anthony Hawkswell is the editor of Angling International since 2013

SA BASS 21 September 2018

>> SA BASS INDUSTRY NEWS

iCast winners Making up a special section of the 650,000 gross square foot show floor, the ICAST New Product Showcase provides special visibility for the industry’s latest innovations in gear, apparel and accessories. This year, the New Product Showcase, sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer had more than 1,000 tackle products and accessories were entered by more than 240 companies into 24 “Best of Show” categories in the New Product Showcase, all vying for the overall ICAST 2016 “Best of Show” award. Buyers and media representatives judged the products based on their level of innovation, execution, workmanship and practicality.

Westin Freddy the Frog

Everybody loves a frog, especially mean predator fish looking for a tasty meal. Luckily, the Danish guys from Westin know a thing or two about these amphibious antagonists and they would like to introduce the world to Freddy the Frog. It can be fished easily with an action that requires almost no effort. With just one hook attached, you can fish Freddy, with its introverted easy action legs, across weedbeds or let him sink to the very depths where predator fish often like to hang out. Bounce him along the bottom and who knows what monsters you will stir from their slumbers!

St. Croix Rods Legend Glass

22 SA BASS September 2018

Best of Show; some winners: Best Freshwater Hard Lure

Westin Freddy the Frog

Best Freshwater Rod

St. Croix Rods Legend Glass

Best Freshwater Reel

Shimano Curado DC

Best Fishing Line

Power Pro SuperSlick V2 Braid

Best New Freshwater Soft Lure

LIVETARGET Hollow Body Crawfish

Best Terminal Tackle

Rapala VMC Neko Skirt

Best Boating Accessory

Minn Kota Ultrex

Best Marine Electronics

Garmin Panoptix LiveScope

Best Eyewear

Costa Sunglasses Baffin

St. Croix Rods Legend Glass is the new go-to rod for those who throw light crankbaits on light line, especially thin profile baits that tend to tumble when cast on rods that are too stiff. The 7’2” medium power, moderate action spinning model (LGS72MM) puts the power to launch small and midsized baits in your grasp. The newest Legend Glass model is the perfect partner for windy days or situations that call for lighter baits delivered with both distance and accuracy. An open water specialist, the LGS72MM is designed to handle small-to-medium crankbaits, including square bills and similarly sized bladed jigs, and excels with midrange, standard lip crankbaits that dive to depths of 16ft. “When you grip a Legend Glass rod, you immediately note its weight uncharacteristically light for a glass rod,” says St. Croix Rod’s Promotions Manager Rich Belanger. “When you cast and retrieve a crankbait through cover, and set hooks into a big bass, what really strikes you are the rod’s balance, backbone, and that familiar St. Croix feel factor.” Legend Glass rods feature a 15-year

transferable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service.

Shimano Curado DC

Redefining performance, the Shimano Curado 150 DC casting reel blends all of the winning attributes of the Shimano Curado 200K with Shimano’s Digitally Controlled (DC) braking system, resulting in one of the most dependable and technologically advanced reels on the market. Offering easy, trouble-free, long distance casting throughout a range of conditions and baits, the Shimano Curado 150 DC casting reel features an externally adjustable braking system that is measured and controlled by a microcomputer every 1/1000 of a second, so it applies the optimal amount of braking pressure, virtually eliminating backlashes and maximizing casting distance.

Power Pro SuperSlick V2 Braid

effective both on the bottom and in heavy cover, the Hollow Body Craw sets a new standard in crawfish imitations. Available in eight colours.

Rapala VMC Neko Skirt

Step on the Ultrex™ foot pedal and feel what Power Steering does to a trolling motor. Then tap the SpotLock button to stay on a fishing spot automatically. Only Ultrex combines the most responsive, intuitive steering ever with GPS-powered automatic boat control. The only thing Minn Kota didn’t do to it, is compromise.

Costa Sunglasses Baffin

PowerPro Super Slick 8 is Smooth as Silk - 8 yarn Spectra fibber construction braided under high tension to create a live surface that feels smooth as silk. Cast like a Bullet - Reduced line friction on the spool and through the rod guides allows Super-Slick to cast like a bullet. Silent as Assassin - Smooth surface design reduces friction and line noise, allowing you to fish with stealth and silence. Super-Slick is 8 yarn Spectra fibber construction for anglers who demand high performance PowerPro ”EBT” (Enhanced Body Technology) process creates a stronger, thinner, smoother and quieter line. Available in eight sizes (10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 65, 80lb) and four colours (Hi-Vis Yellow, Marine Blue, Timber Brown and Aqua Green.

Livetarget Hollow Body Craw

The latest addition to VMC’s indemand Neko™ Rig line-up, the Neko Skirt will make anglers’ Neko Rig presentation even more effective. The VMC Neko Skirt is easy to use. Simply insert it into the end of a favourite soft bait (anglers may choose the thicker end when fishing an asymmetric worm). It can enhance the action of a Neko Rig, wacky worm and shaky-head worm, just to name a few. “When you shake and pause a Neko Rig, wacky worm or shaky-head worm, the VMC Neko Skirt puffs out and expands, just like a jig skirt,” says Mike “Ike” Iaconelli. Bites come often while pausing between shakes as the skirt billows. Neko Skirts are available in eight bass-attracting color patterns: Black Blue, Chartreuse Illusion, Peanut Butter Jelly, Pumpkinseed Orange, Shad, Baby Bass, Sprayed Grass and Watermelon Red. They come two per pack with four weight sizes: 1/32-ounce, 1/16-ounce, 3/32-ounce and 1/8-ounce.

Minn Kota Ultrex

Made entirely from 100% recycled fishing nets, the Costa Del Mar Baffin sunglasses offer an innovative solution to help reduce plastic pollution, while still setting the bar in terms of performance and style. Moulded using a recycled nylon material, the Costa Del Mar Baffin sunglasses are sculpted with sharp, masculine angles, and covered with a tumbled finish and textured detailing on the outer temples. For enhanced comfort and grip, the Costa Del Mar Baffin sunglasses are accented with PLUSfoam recyclable nose and temple pads that provide a cushioned point of contact, eliminating facial fatigue. Powered by Costa’s advanced 580G lens technology, the Costa Del Mar Baffin sunglasses feature a multilayer design that enhances clarity, resists scratching, and is 20% thinner than the average polarized sunglasses. Finished with Costa Del Mar Logo’s set in recycled aluminium, the Costa Del Mar Baffin sunglasses provide an environmentally friendly means of enhancing style, and fighting the harmful effects of sunrays.

As the craw moves in reverse, the head, pincers, antennae, and silicone skirt that mimics a crawfish’s walking legs and feeding appendages flare up just like a fleeing or defensive crustacean. Visually, the bait is a spot-on imitation of the real thing, and its integrated jighead produces the tapping, clicking, and clacking that attracts bass from afar. Incredibly SA BASS 23 September 2018

Exclusive Distributor of Mercury and MerCruiser

>> SA BASS INDUSTRY NEWS

Panoptix LiveScope wins Best of Show at ICAST 2018

armin International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. announced it earned the coveted “Best of Show” award for its new Panoptix LiveScope™ at the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), presented by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and held in Orlando. Prior to being selected as the Best of Show, Panoptix LiveScope was first voted by media and buyers in attendance as the “Best Electronics” in the ICAST New Product Showcase where 974 products were entered by 331 companies, all vying for the ICAST 2018 Best of Show award. “To not only win the ICAST Best Electronics award, but the Best of Show award, too – it’s an honour we’re incredibly proud of,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global

26 SA BASS September 2018

consumer sales. “Panoptix LiveScope delivers the best of both scanning and live sonar technologies and there’s nothing out there even close to it. These awards solidify our commitment to giving anglers and mariners the most innovative technology on the water, and they further strengthen our desire to be the top marine electronics brand in the world.” Panoptix LiveScope is a live scanning sonar that gives anglers higher resolution and easier-to-interpret images of structure, bait and fish swimming below and around the boat than ever before. Garmin’s revolutionary Panoptix™ all-seeing sonar technology was the first to deliver live sonar images in real-time – forwards, backwards, sideways and below the boat – even while stationary. Now, thanks to the active scanning capabilities of Panoptix LiveScope, anglers can see images and movement so clear and precise that it’s even possible to distinguish between species of fish. “Panoptix changed the electronics game a couple of years ago,” said Jason Christie, Garmin pro. “Now, LiveScope is even taking it to the next level. The cool thing about it is the simplicity of it. What you see is what is there. The only picture that could be better is if you dive into the water with goggles, and I’m not sure that’s really even better.” Another Garmin pro, Fred Roumbanis, agrees. “Never before have you been able to tell what species of fish you are looking at like this,” he said. “You can see the movement, you can see the profile. I was snapping a jig on the bottom and I saw a walleye and I could see the fins of the walleye! There’s no way I could have seen that before.” Like other Garmin Panoptix transducers, LiveScope features two modes in one transducer – LiveScope Down and LiveScope Forward – and can be installed on a trolling motor or the transom (recommended only for LiveScope Forward). Depending on the angler’s fishing preferences and techniques, LiveScope can easily be adjusted to change views. Simply point the LiveScope transducer down to see directly below the boat, or forward to see around the boat. Either view provides incredibly sharp, real-time scanning sonar images up to 200 feet down or away from the boat, even when the boat is stationary. For more information visit www.garmin.com/panoptix Scan this QR-code and see clear sonar images of structure, bait and fish swimming all around the boat, even when the boat is stationary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-TtJcEQmB0

André van Rooyen Taxidermy A

fter completing his schooling, André entered into an apprenticeship, as did many of the lads of that age, to learn a trade and secure his future. In spite of being involved in a large corporation and working in the big city the love of the veld and the call of the beautiful bird-life was stronger than ever. André continued with his pursuit and was now becoming internationally known for his high quality of work. Over a period of time he worked with two very well-known South African taxidermists where he picked the finer tricks of the trade. But André was not going anywhere. The demand of that time was for big animals and large trophies and sadly the birds were being neglected. However, André’s persistence paid off and his excellent work over the past twelve years has created a market of its own. With world acclaim and a number of awards from the taxidermist Association of South Africa under his belt, André’s has created its own unique demand. The name André van Rooyen has become synonymous with a particular quality and style. He specialises in hunting trophies, pedestal mounts, half mounts, full mounts, small mammals, birds, fresh and salt water fish, novelties and more. So when you look into the eyes of your prize possession you are looking into the eyes of quality. For more information call André van Rooyen Taxidermy on 011-763-5792 or visit his website www.avrtaxidermy.co.za

BEFORE

AFTER

SA BASS 27 September 2018

>> SA BASS INDUSTRY NEWS

New Mercury Outboards

ercury Marine, the world leader in marine propulsion and technology, is pleased to introduce multiple new 4.6l V8 outboard engine models – the 250 and 300hp Verado®, 200, 225, 250 and 300hp Pro XS® – plus the Pro XS® 175hp 3.4l V6. These next-generation outboard engines are part of the largest single new-product development program Mercury has undertaken in its nearly 80-year-history, which has prompted a major investment in expanding its manufacturing footprint. The four-stroke V6 was step one of our 2018 introductions and we are thrilled to officially announce step two,” said John Pfeifer, Mercury Marine president. “These new V8 engines, like the V6, will set a new benchmark in the marine industry in the eyes of the consumer.” Mercury’s new V6 and V8 outboard engines are highly configurable to meet the needs of a wide variety of boating segments, from Verado’s refined performance, to the fourstroke’s fuel efficiency, to the competitive edge that Pro XS provides serious sport boaters. Along with the 3.4l V6 family recently introduced, the new V8 engines fill out Mercury’s industry leading portfolio in the 175 to 300hp range.

28 SA BASS September 2018

“These engines are naturally aspirated, durable, powerful and provide options for the consumer that they’ve never had before,” said Pfeifer. “This new line-up aligns with what consumers are asking for and we are delighted to deliver it to them.”

New 250 and 300hp Verado The new 250 and 300hp V8 Verado outboard engines raise the bar for the marine industry – again. Continuing Verado’s legacy as the most refined outboard engine on the water, the new high-displacement, quad-cam design of the new V8 power head generates plenty of torque, especially at mid-range. Across the rpm-range the V8 platform provides exhilarating performance. Sea trials have shown the 300hp Verado is quicker and faster than the closest competitor, while still providing better fuel economy. The V8 Verado’s are compatible with, and feature Mercury-engineered digital controls and electro-hydraulic power steering for smooth operation. Equipped with Adaptive Speed Control, they deliver increased throttle response and a “sportier” feel.

The Verado driving experience is further enhanced by class-leading NVH reduction for an ultra-quiet ride. The new V8 models’ next-generation Advanced Mid-Section (AMS) incorporates perimeter mounts that deliver the lowest vibration in the industry, while sound barriers make it the quietest outboard in its segment. Exclusive Advanced Sound Control technology allows users to toggle between ultra-quiet operation and a “throatier”-sounding sport mode. The new 250 and 300hp V8 Verado will be available with digital (DTS) controls and power steering, Mercury Joystick Piloting for Outboards for maximum manoeuvrability and control, and can be further customized with the addition of an accent panel, as detailed below.

Colour Options Mercury’s Cold Fusion white cowl colour options plus the popular Phantom Black, combined with five factory accent colour panels and “paint-ready” panels, let owners mix and match or paint their own panels to further personalize their engine.

deliver everything to be competitive on the water, including ample torque from their high-displacement power heads and superior acceleration due to their quad-cam design and Transient Spark technology. The 250hp V8 Pro XS bested the leading competitor in both acceleration and top end in sea trials – and delivered up to sixteen percent better fuel economy at cruise. All V6 and V8 Pro XS engines feature Adaptive Speed Control, which maintains the driver’s desired rpm regardless of load or condition. The Pro XS performance-tuned exhaust tone is engineered to deliver a sound quality that is guaranteed to turn heads, yet is quieter than the competition at cruise and top speed. Mercury 300hp V8 Pro XS

Mercury 300hp V8 Verado

New 175 to 300hp Pro XS The new 175 V6 and 200, 225, 250 and for the first time ever, 300hp V8 Pro XS outboard engines are quite simply the next generation of sport boating performance. Featuring Mercury’s new compact cowl, these engines

The ProXS models will be available to the South African market in the coming months. For further information please contact Craig Gutteridge at Rutherford Marine on 011-878-2600 or visit the Mercury website www.mercurymarine.com SA BASS 29 September 2018

>> SA BASS CLASSROOM

What the season brings (Part 1)

Being forever aware is one of the bass angler’s most valuable traits. Conditions are forever changing and as these happen so all fish react.

Search baits including both jerkbaits and crankbaits, large and small are excellent lures for finding activity in the early season

>> Roger Donaldson*

t one moment the weather is calm with not a breath of wind in sight and the next there is a bank of dark clouds approaching and the wind and temperatures develop and change. Being cognisant of these will help you develop your proficiency as an angler and especially around the spring months. Unlike all other seasons of the year the spring time presents some exciting, yet very testing opportunity for the bass fisherman. At every other time of the year you would be most likely to find bass locating to structures where they can hunt down or ambush their prey. You’re fishing for these spectacular opportunistic 30 SA BASS September 2018

predators which are utterly focused on food. If you present a lure which remotely resembles the food they are currently feeding on then the chances of successfully landing the bass are very good. However, this is not so much the case in the early season. Bass become quite territorial about the areas they have chosen now. They are not feeding, but rather protecting areas from potential predatory fish, protecting nesting sites and protecting their chosen partners, as well as keeping their bedding areas clear of matter and destructive objects. Humans may use all kinds of tools to help them with these tasks. However, the only

possible way bass can do this is with their mouths. At this time bass will be very selective about how they react to your lure and as we touched on earlier, it will not be for reasons of feeding or hunger, but rather as a protection, or shielding mechanism. Detecting and reacting to a bite will be that much more challenging for the angler. Instead of engulfing the lure bass will be more inclined to “mouth” the bait, move it away only slightly, and then expel it quite quickly, almost instantaneously. Because of this you’ll need to prepare adequately in terms of your bait and tackle and also your “timing”.

Bait selection This could possibly be your best chance to get some impressive strikes on a jerkbait, not only because big fish abound, but also because the lure imparts such an erratic imposing action. I remember a day on Rust der Winter dam when I had forgotten to loosen my reel drag. I was aggressively retrieving/jerking my lure back to the boat when the rod loaded and the fish pulled violently downward as it dived deeply, shaking its head while my rod stretched perfectly straight and the tension directed solely on my drag the hooks on the lure. Within second of the fight the fish tore free. Clearly a sizable one is all I could say saddened to not be so promptly rejected of the opportunity to marvel over my adversary. Nevertheless, the jerkbait is a clear winner when it comes to scratching through areas looking for activity. They cover water quickly, except you really need to be willing to put in some effort with your retrieve and into keeping the lure away from getting snagged. At R150 to R250 a piece this could become expensive. Crankbaits will work in pretty much the same way as you retrieve them across expanses of water looking to nail down areas of confidence. I thoroughly enjoy “feeling” my way beneath the surface with these lures, retrieving and waiting expectedly for a fish to engulf the lure. Early season bass, and certainly in between the phases of full moon will hang “loosely” around areas while they hone in to a chosen spot to spawn and make final their destiny. Please consider though that not all the bass will spawn at the same time. Those that match the most appropriate area and conditions will attempt to spawn and those that don’t will hold back until they have managed to select the time suited to them. This may be on the next full moon if the weather conditions promote it. Otherwise the bass may choose to move away and migrate to source alternative areas within

the fishery, where temperatures, water conditions, substrate, current, human interference, and a host of other potential factors may influence their choice more positively. This may very well be two, or even three months down the line. So don’t think that because you missed one bedding opportunity that you need to wait another year. The season brings an extended period of opportunity to target bass and anglers will need to stay in tune with all the conditions affecting the fish at this sensitive time in order to capatilise on opportunities to find them. In the next part of the series we will look at alternative bait options to target bass as the season progresses. *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 BASICS

DIVERSITY,

A deep diving crankbait

There are many aspects to bass fishing from cranking, spinning, jigging and everything in-between Spinnerbaits are great for power fishing

here are those that would pick up a crank and work a bank or area in two dozen casts and move on. Then there are those that would patiently work the same area for longer, using finesse techniques and many times, the latter would produce the results. There is merit in different methods of fishing and each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Power fishing lets the angler work a designated area for a shorter amount of time before moving on. The upside of this is that especially during a tournament, less time is wasted on unproductive water. The downside to this is that while power fishing does produce results, it might miss one or two good fish holding in an area but these might not be interested in a fast moving bait. Finesse angling also has an up and downside, more time is spent fishing an area which in fact could be devoid of fish or might hold a few smaller fish. These will help you get a limit but will probably not help you win a tournament. The upside is that it might just be the technique that lands that big fat bass that’s been hugging the bottom feeling the pressure of changing weather conditions or boat traffic. The finesse bait and its method of being fished also seems more likely to be a quick and easy target for bass that might just be a tad lethargic and who don’t want to spend energy chasing something that might get away in the end. Big bass will eat big baits and small bass will also eat, or in some instances try and eat, a big bait. In the same instance, they will eat a tasty morsel just as quickly as a small bass would. There are way more smaller bass in our waters that the lunkers we dream about and these youngsters compete with their bigger cousins for the same food, although some of these smaller fish might themselves end up on the menu. In years gone by, Rhenosterkop Dam was one of my 32 SA BASS September 2018

favour rite spots to fish and we m ade countless trips to this favourite made dh d off truly l bi h coming i out at venue. I’ I’ve seen and heard big fi fish the place but had never caught anything over 2.5kg. One Saturday afternoon, we were doing a spot of bank bashing to the right of the slipway and throwing a small four inch fluke, had a hit and set the hook. After a brief fight, I started pulling the fish closer through a gap in some weedbeds when a shadow appeared behind it and proceeded to engulf the entire fish that I was fighting. The rod bent double and all hell broke loose and about a minute later, it was over. The fish I was originally fighting came free and I proceeded to reel it in. When lifting it out of the water, we noticed that many of its scales were missing and it seemed too far gone for revival. We weighed the fish and it tipped the scale at 1.08kg. Imagine the size of the bass that would swallow something that big in one gulp! Two weeks later, while fishing a local pond in Benoni, I used a small grub of around two inches and felt a slight tap on the line, waited for the rod to load up and struck. For a brief moment, nothing happened and I thought it might have been a crab that now had my grub stuck in some underwater obstruction. Suddenly the line arched towards the surface and out jumped a solid fish. Careful fighting and some heart stopping moments went by and a few minutes later the fish was safely in the net. Only then did I realize how big it was. We hastily weighed it and it pulled 3.66kg. On a two inch grub!

Many anglers will be happy to catch one single solid fish on an outing and have the philosophy of go big or go home. Personally, I prefer catching a number of smaller fish and if a donkey happens to be part of my bag, then it’s happy days. Catching more fish is after all more fun and the aspect of relaxing and having fun is what brought many anglers to this sport we all love so much. I’m a finesse angler by heart and spend many happy hours out on the water catching many fish from small dinks to what for some fellow anglers would be a new PB. Each method of fishing had its merit and as anglers, it’s key to try and be as versatile as possible to enhance our chances of catching fish. Maybe finesse fishing or power fishing is not your style and maybe you’re a drop-shot angler, but opening up to new methods of fishing will and can put you on the money when other anglers are struggling. Be versatile, diverse and experiment. Some of the greatest techniques in fishing have been brought to the attention of anglers, just like you and me, by other anglers simply thinking “out of the box”. By playing around with ideas, you might not only latch onto a fish of your dreams but, you might be recognised as the angler that introduced the world to a new killer method of bass fishing.

Finesse angling requires patience

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DIGITALLY 14

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

CLASSROOM

TACTICS “Big Spoons for Big Bass”

Many years ago one of my friends introduced me to an awesome topwater bait – Bennie Wiese p

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01 38 56 50

UNIVERSITY

BASICS

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

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

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

40 41

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

>> Bassin’ in Europe

>> Aloe Rock - Waterberg

“Sight Fishing” monster of only just over a kilo! – Shandon Hawman

“Morning, Noon and Night” it may seem intimidating. You may be

– Mark Bilbreyy

STRATEGIES

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

CLASSROOM

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

ADVERTORIAL “Lure Strategies – How to get the most from Sensation Lures” To me bass angling has always been about the excitement of having so many choices of lures and colours to outwit a little green

choosing to sling some form of plastic worm for bass. bass

start with this new and wonderful hobby. – Hannes Lindeque (Jnr)

34 36

SABAA NEWS

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

BESTEMMING READERS’ COMPETITION 01

ADVERTORIAL everyday angler. Today’s angler deserves quality, durability and reliability in their gear and Vicious delivers all of that with attitude.

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MONTHLY GIVE AWAYS

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

ITAGS Takes you directly to the SA BASS website.

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

ON THE COVER “Willie Swart” Image: Hannes Lindeque

SA BASS 03 November 2014

CLASSROOM

TACTICS “Big Spoons for Big Bass”

CLASSROOM Many years ago one of my friends introduced me to an awesome topwater bait – Bennie Wiese

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 01 38 56 50 63

MY CAST Cast-for-Cash - Tournament Results GEAR UP READERS-go-BASSING LIFESTYLE – Boating & Birding – “Glossy Ibis” Glossy IIbis s

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

“Sight Fishing” monster of only just over a kilo! – Shandon Hawman

BASICS “Morning, Noon and Night” it may seem intimida

. You may be

INTERNATIONAL

STRATEGIES

BASICS

Seisoen” Vir ‘

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

>> Bassin’ in Europe

>> Aloe Rock - Waterberg

BESTEMMING

seisoene in – Philip

ADVE

READERS’ COMPETITION 01

>> Subscribe and win with COBB

>> SA Bass Readers Competition – Raylite Ultimate AGM Battery

Win with GRIP Hooks

icious F ay angler. Today’s angler deserves ality, durability and reliability in their ar and Vicious delivers all of that with

MONTHLY GIVE AWAYS

URNAMENT NEWS from Sensation Lures” To me bass angling has always been about the excitement of having so many choices of lures and colours to outwit a little green

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

ITAGS Takes you directly to the SA BASS website.

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

ON THE COVER “Willie Swart” Image: Hannes Lindeque

SA BASS 03 November 2014

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SA BASS 33 September 2018

>> SA BASS

Rock a bye bass Being in touch with the natural world is crucial – Sir David Attenborough

The author delighted as always

>> Jay Röhm-Williams

awn has just cracked letting in the first warming rays of sunlight through to shimmer on the water’s surface. Some say it’s not quite spring yet but you and your buddy couldn’t be fazed, who needs an excuse to go bass fishing? Conditions are begging you to throw out one of your dusty top water lures that might have failed to see action over the last few cold months. You do it anyway, why not after all and out you cast. As the fish gods smile at your selection of choice they decide to reward your courage and bam! The waters explode, fish

34 SA BASS September 2018

on. After an exhilarating short but epic battle, you lip-land your mighty bass and boy she’s a biggy. Before your pulse has even settled you’re already thinking; I need a photograph of this when low and behold there stands your mate ready with the camera out saying smile! We have all been there and we have all done it. Whether it was during a recreational session with a friend, a family outing, competitively or those solo missions, everyone loves having their photo taken with themselves holding their catch, myself included.

Now, it’s a subject that has actually been spoken about for longer than I expected. Article upon article backed up by blog after blog over the years. Some anglers have heard it all before while others swear they had never even gave it a thought. I am speaking about the great myth or debate that could date back to an age before my time, a topic that I am sure by now has been discussed world-wide. Are bass physically affected when held by their jaws for photographs? If you thought explaining how to use a cellphone to granddad or oupa was tough in the beginning, try

Gently does it

telling someone about the concept of how catching a bass then running around with the fish flapping on the ground or wildly in your hand while trying to pose for a photograph was perhaps not the best way to go about it. The traditional â&#x20AC;&#x153;grip the bass in the middle of its lower jaw and let it hang vertically technique (in short lipland)â&#x20AC;? is something that has been passed on from one angler to another through the ages. Up until only maybe a few years ago there was no real scientific evidence been done on the possible health consequences that I could locate while scanning through the pages of the webs history. Truth be told, if nobody had proposed this question to me, I too would still in all probability practice handling bass the same way I had seen others do it in books, on the television and the via internet without a second thought. Whether this is still a dispute that most folks would not touch with a ten foot fishing pole, I always prefer to consider all possibilities and do my own homework rather than copy the guy next to me. This particular topic was only brought to my own attention when I came across an interesting article posted on a South African fishing forum sometime last year. I read in detail about how it explained the physical implications we could possibly have on the bass itself as a functioning fish when it is held in various ways while been weighed or photographed before released again. In all honesty and facts aside, it just made common sense once the penny dropped. If I could avoid permanent or even the slightest amount of damage to any bass that had just given me the

thrilling pleasure of a hook-up then that is the least that I could do in return for the fish. When I mentioned this new information I had learnt to a few friends, their response was similar to that of my own. Personally I like to inspire people in general and when it comes to bass fishing, I am exactly the same. Whether you are a veteran, all season professional anglers having heard the news many times over or if you are just starting out in your epic journey of recreational bass fishing, here are some encouraging reminders one can choose to be conscious of when posing with your catch for a photograph. Besides not affecting the protective slime layer that covers the bass or keeping the fish out of the water for an extended period of time, it is the common holding of a fish for a photograph where unaware errors could occur. According to an article written by Walker Smith in November 2017, a leading American fisheries biologist and two veterinarians set out to conduct an experiment to determine the truth behind this matter through using x-rays to produce radiographs which they examined. Basically, there are four common positions in which we hold bass for viewing or photographs namely horizontally, with a second hand supporting the fish. Vertically, with minimal pressure on the jaw. Vertically, from a grip-hanging scale and lastly vertically but with the weight of the fish forcibly applying downward pressure on the lower jaw. We must keep in mind that the heavier the bass, the more pressure there will be on his bottom jaw while we are holding him. Naturally, SA BASS 35 September 2018

Martyn Oosterhuizen cradling a Zim lunker

at no stage in a bass’s life, other than perhaps in the case of a fish eagle scooping the fish up by its lip and flying off, will a big bass be dangling from its lower jaw out of the water for fun. The results that were concluded after close examination were that at no stage was there any sign of any broken jaw bones due to the fact that not all the weighted pressure was been absorbed by one bone but rather all the lower jaw bones, joints and other soft tissue areas. Right, so no broken bones, great news but wait, is that it? What about soft tissue injuries? Again something I completely would never have considered unless I was informed about it. Well, if you thought we were all out of the woods,

36 SA BASS September 2018

think again. To not over complicate things with fancy scientific phrases and words, I will attempt to put it simply. Soft tissue injuries occur in the area where certain joints and bone junctions meet, mainly through over extension in the lower jaw where the two dentary bones come together. This is where the actual joint in a bass’s mouth is the most susceptible if a soft tissue injury were to occur. The main reason for concern here is this mostly controls the opening and closing of the fish’s mouth. To wrap things up; due to the apparent lack of research in this field alone we do not truly know how a soft tissue injury affects a bass once released or how quick the fish can recover, if

at all from such an injury. To be put into human perspective it could be seen as the equivalent to a sprain or the dislocation of a limb which in some cases takes quite a while to heal completely. Overall, there were a few definite discoveries of highlighted importance worth mentioning. Evidence shows us that by applying too much pressure from our grip on the lower jaw we can cause soft tissue injuries and even worse damage if the fish is held at an angle which extends greater than ten percent from either a vertical or horizontal position. Out of all the positions we could hold a bass; this is would be the one to avoid. A main focus point to remember is ‘the bigger’ the fish the more care is needed to ensure no over exaggerated, careless poses for photographs are displayed by the angler. Instead, if you are now enlightened to the possibility of maybe running a risk of injuring your new, personal best of a lunker by hauling him up high for all to see by his bottom lip, rather hold the beauty or the beast with a second hand softly supporting the weight. It is also completely fine to firmly hold our small and average sized bass by their lip vertically without squeezing for a quick photo before releasing gently, mouth closed with no hassles. At the end of the day I like to think, if we aim at encouraging each other to strive to be better, conscious bass anglers, then surely only positive ripples will be left on the waters for us now, our environment and the future generations of both bass and anglers to come.

>> SA BASS TOURNAMENT REPORT

BB Group FLW Bass Festival 2018 >> Hannes Lindeque

ie eerste FLW Kampioenskap vir 2018 het in samewerking met BB Groep op Tzaneendam afgeskop. Daar was werklik fees gevier en die geleentheid het die hele gesin betrek. Daar was verskeie stalletjies wat onder andere snuisterye en kos verkoop het; ook was daar dertien spanne wat aan ‘n potjiekoskompetisie deelgeneem het. Daar was ook verskeie vermaaklikheidsaktiwiteite vir oud en jonk soos die bekende Afrikaanse sanger, Neil Somers, wat opgetree het. Alles was ter ondersteuning van die plaaslike Round

Table se voedingskema en bejaardesorg in die Tzaneen-area. FLW Suid-Afrika was betrokke met die tweedagswartbaarhengeltoernooi. Hengel was vanaf bote en die tweeman spanne was beperk tot drie visse per dag met geen lengtebeperking. Die prysgeld tot en met die sewende plek, en ook vir die swaartse vis, was gewaarborg deur BB Groep, Theo Janse van Rensburg en Filterman Polokwane. ‘n Volle R58,000 is uitbetaal. Op albei dae is daar tagtig visse gevang, maar dag twee was die totale gewig 7kg ligter as op dag een.

Die wenstrategieë vir dag twee was as volg: SPAN

BESTE TYD DIEPTE TEIKENAREA

KUNSAAS

KLEUR

Beli VC

09:00 - 10:00

2-3ft

Bronzeback

Heeldag

SA BASS Limpopo

Brush op punte

Jnr Fluke

Green Pumpkin

25ft

Drop-offs

Stretch-40

Watermelon Red

Middag

12-19ft

Brushline

S+J

11:00 - 12:00

8ft

Channel

Jnr Fluke

Swart

Mojo

Selati

07:00 - 08:00

1-2ft

Brush

VC Moffat

Waza Special

Weightless

Do-Mi-Num

07:00 - 08:00

8ft

Drop-offs

Jerkbaits

Wit

6" Dead Ringer Watermelon Candy

STROP

Texas Texas

Uitslae dag-1: In totaal: 80 visse, 53.170kg 1e plek

Wayne & Reed Eastman

3.500kg

Prysgeld R10,000

2e plek

Ulrich Coetzer

3.475kg

Prysgeld R6,000

3e plek

Steven Hall & Johan Vermaak

3.000kg

Prysgeld R4,000

4e plek

Pieter van Niekerk & Wynand Herbst

2.990kg

Prysgeld R3,000

5e plek

Wynand Scholtz & Stef Lordan

2.785kg

Prysgeld R2,000

6e plek

Alisdair Pio & Vanmelle Nel

2.665kg

Prysgeld R1,500

7e plek

Alex Kuisis & Stefan Badenhorst

2.385kg

Prysgeld R500

1.840kg

Prysgeld R1,000

Grootste vis Gerrit du Toit

Uitslae dag-2: In totaal: 80 visse, 46.220kg 1e plek

Wayne & Reed Eastman

4.445kg

Prysgeld R10,000

2e plek

Werner van Rensburg & Dave Matthuysen 3.005kg

Prysgeld R6,000

3e plek

Wessel du Toit & Kobus Snyman

2.815kg

Prysgeld R4,000

4e plek

Steven Hall & Johan Vermaak

2.675kg

Prysgeld R3,000

5e plek

Louis Joubert & Wayne Kurten

2.280kg

Prysgeld R2,000

6e plek

Attie Barnard & Zack Verster

2.235kg

Prysgeld R1,500

7e plek

Jaune & Leon Bouwer

2.000kg

Prysgeld R500

2.240kg

Prysgeld R1,000

Grootste vis Wessel du Toit

Die volledige uitslae is beskikbaar op ons webwerf www.flwsouthafrica.com

‘n Hartlike dank word uitgespreek aan die volgende instansies en persone wat die fees moontlik gemaak het: BB Groep en personeel, FLW South Africa, SA BASS magazine, Filterman Polokwane, Boulevard Cycles, Hotel@ Tzaneen, Garmin South Africa, Arma Irius, Yamaha South Africa, Theo Janse van Rensburg en Wessel du Toit. SA BASS 37 September 2018

>> SA BASS TOURNAMENT NEWS

Mteri – For everyone 2018 Presidents Test Lake Mteri, Zimbabwe vs. South Africa vs. Namibia

Charl Engelbrecht netting for his partner Stephan Britz

Dilesh and Mark; Zimbabwe’s top boat fishing the trees

>> Clint Skinner

he Zimbabwe management team went out on a limb and decided to host the 2018 test at Mteri with the idea that the test was about the fishing, not about a guaranteed win. As it turned out South Africa were the side that found the bigger fish, thus ensuring they retained the trophy they had won at Inanda in 2017. The average bass over the scales over the three days was 1.91kg which is a hefty 4lbs 3oz and might give some indication as to why Mteri is still regarded as the top venue in Zimbabwe. Namibia Bass Angling Association sent a three boat team to compete and they were a welcome addition to the tournament. Hopefully from 2019 they are able to send a full twelve man team to partake. They undertook a massive three day journey to arrive at the venue, sore and tired they may have been but ready to compete they were and those buggered bodies soon forgot the pain when, within minutes of the start on the first practise day, good fish were already coming to the boat or being shaken off so as not to hurt them before the tournament really got underway.

Final results: 225 fish weighed RSA

231.89 points

Zimbabwe

217.85 points

Namibia

91.72 points

Thanks to Zimbabwe captain, Grant Amm, manager Clint Skinner and the Zimbabwe team for a well run test. To Hippo Estates and Mteri Lodges go the thanks of three 38 SA BASS September 2018

teams that all travelled home heavier than they arrived. Great food, comfortable lodges and incredible service. To the teams of South Africa and Namibia, well fished and thank you for a great week where fishing truly was the winner.

So how does one prepare for a day’s fishing at a big fish venue? Ensure your equipment is in the best possible condition, serviced reels and line that is not only of the right strength but also free of nicks. Good strong freshly tied knots… none of this “it was fine 2 months ago when I last went fishing” take the time to cut and retie. I personally like using 15lb Tatsu but it is expensive and not everyone is able to justify this cost especially if you are not a tournament angler, so ask your local shop for a line that has the pulling power as well as the ability to withstand punishment of rocks and trees. Ensure your hooks are strong and sharp Ensure your rods are in good condition, reel seats are tight and rod guides are free of chips. We spend money to travel but then skimp on a R50 replacement eye that could cost you the big fish you are targeting. Sunglasses, wear the best polarized sun glasses that you can afford. They not only protect your eyes but if sight fishing is an option will be worth their weight in gold. Do some research and take along the baits that work but ensure you take baits you are confident throwing. No point in throwing a jig because the dam is a jig dam if you

Grant Amm (Zim-captain) and Bruce Cooke sharing a joke

have no confidence in it. It can happen that the jig may be kind to you but your confidence bait will likely still have done better. Ensure everything else you are using is in good condition, the boat, the net, the bass motor etc. So assuming the above is now done and you are ready to hit the water what now? Since we are at Mteri here is how I would go about a day on this dam. The dam wall is a long 2km of rip rap and has to be fished at some stage. Depending on the time of the year the bite here varies but good fish can be caught on twitch baits, surface baits and both hard and soft sub surface baits. Trees, there are trees throughout the dam, less on the dam wall side and these get thicker and thicker as one progresses towards the river. First lesson here, if you do not know the line to take keep the boat off the plane! These are hardwood Mopani trees and nothing would spoil your day more than taking the leg off your boat and believe me, its more likely than you think. Target the trees with your favoured soft plastic, jig or hard bait. Rock, the dam is littered with rock piles. While Google earth can help, finding those that are not on the Google map can be key so good side imaging equipment comes into its own. If you don’t own any then keep an eye out for rocks that do stick out the water and then check in the area around these. There are often more rocks you won’t be aware of and casting a Carolina rig can often help you find these. Deep diving crank baits and twitch baits also have their own place most of the year. Weed; depending on the water levels weed lines and submerged grass are key areas. Toss that spook or surface frog and get ready to hold on. Early August is a favourite time for me at Mteri. I would start the day on a point with some vegetation around and hopefully a few rocks and trees as well. A large surface bait of some sort would be my favoured lure and seldom does the early morning go past without at least one giant blowing up on the bait, having the skill to boat these hard fighting fish might be the issue but getting the bite is half

the fun. I will keep this bait on the deck all day and it will get thrown regardless of weather conditions for a few minutes every hour. My go-to soft plastic would be a seven inch Senko although a large fluke or a big tailed bait also have their space here and can be thrown at all the above mentioned structure be, it shallow or deep. Weightless or weighted, they all work at Mteri. So, likely at least three rods rigged with plastic. Hard baits, a medium to deep diving crank would always be tied on as well as a spinnerbait. Six rods on deck and a few under the deck ready to go. After the early morning start move through the trees from 2ft to the channel in 25ft or so and try find what the fish are doing. At times the surface is on fire and by 10:00 you have already worked through a few packets of frogs without even picking another rod up. In this very test one of the boats was having so much fun they found it hard to leave the jerk bait bite alone but the fish were all 3lbs and one does not win at Mteri with a 3lb average but in social fishing what more can one ask for? Right now as I write this it is late July, full moon beckons and love is in the water. The females are moving up and without a doubt someone is about to break their personal best on a Mteri giant. Expect every cast to be that fish because if you are not prepared you will lose out when she does bite, these fish are strong. A 4lb feels like an 8lb and a 6lb like a ten. Just remember once caught, treat her right. Release as quickly as you can. Sure, get a photo but allow those females the ability to spawn and keep Mteri producing the fish it is famous for! This dam is alive with life, various bream species with some very good specimens amongst them making up more bait fish than you have likely ever seen in a dam. Add that to the craw fish and you understand why the bass grow as they do. The border crossing is easy, the police polite and the fish waiting, what are you waiting for? Until next time – On Dad SA BASS 39 September 2018

>> SA BASS SPY

Secrets

of South Africa’s Pros Scouting

(Part-2)

I thought it was most appropriate to let you in on some crucial tactics which seasoned anglers use which give them that profound edge on the next angler. >> The Bass Spy

Mapping your fishery This will apply both to boat and bank anglers alike. Bass fishermen can make a tremendous amount of decision about where the bass will locate to just by looking at Google Earth, or a topo map (topographical map). Some of the following can be highlighted just from maps: - Tributaries, or rivers - Islands and humps - River channels, points and drop-off’s - Boat or yacht mooring areas, docks and jetties - Dam walls, steep and shallow embankments - Trees, vegetation and soil substrate - Deep water and shallow water areas - Old flooded structures, including cattle kraals, dam walls, air strips, trees and stumps, fences, excavated areas, rock piles, and erosion channels are some examples. Flooded areas on Nandoni Dam which can be earmarked when scouting and using Google Earth tools

n my competitive days I would remind my wife that the weekend ahead was my weekend for practising in preparation for an upcoming bass fishing event. No matter what the event; a monthly Cast-for-Cash event, or national annual open tournament the need to assess the fishing environment prior is critical. I could never really get my point across to my partner, but the reasons become very evident when you arrive at the water’s edge and consider all the possible environmental factors which impact your fishing. Scouting is an immense effort to understand the challenge ahead. This section is intense and will take me a few months to describe to you in detail exactly what I am looking for in my scouting efforts. I intend to do as thoroughly as possible for you and it should take the next few issues to get it all on the table, so let’s start at the beginning.

40 SA BASS September 2018

Rhenosterkop river channel is an exciting place to fish and provides quite a challenging amount of hidden structure

One of my favourite past times is spent on Google Earth rewinding and then forward winding the timeline to view the different maps as water levels change across the years. This can reveal some pretty exciting stuff, including many of the above mentioned. I have numerous dams which I would like to use as examples. Two of my favourite examples of the effectiveness of using Google to scout a fishery are Nandoni Dam and Rhenosterkop Dam. If you’re willing and able try opening Google Earth quickly, type in Nandoni Dam, Thohoyandou. Now zoom in to the south east embankment between the camp site and the wall area - a whole lot of water. Now click on historical imagery – it’s the little clock icon at the top of the screen with the green arrow. A scale will pop up. Now drag the scale back to the year 2003. Zoom in enough and you can highlight copious amounts of wonderful structures which are now flooded. If you’re smart you can overlay your saved place marks on to your GPS. Unfortunately this little strategy does not work with all dams as there simply isn’t sufficient mapping data available, but I would highly suggest you try it before visiting your next fishing venue. I spend hours looking into all that detail and have enjoyed many fishing days reaping the fruits! Of course, heading off to your favourite fishery around a drought would also be a very clever way to scout and I am sure my fellow Capetonian’s took full advantage of this recently. If you haven’t perhaps there’s still a little time though before the much needed rain has been. If my example was fun for you maybe try Rhenosterkop Dam and now. I don’t want to give everything away, but head off to the western end, where the river channel starts winding its way into the dam. Play around with the Google

Earth features to rewind and see what you can highlight from my list of structures and features to consider. Obtaining and sifting through topographical maps is a very old strategy which bass anglers used to understand their fishing grounds. You can still use the technique to highlight many of the features mentioned earlier, including where rivers enter the dam, channels, points, humps, dropoffs, steep and shallow banks, as well as deep or shallow water areas. Of course, after all the scouting I am sure you will want to know why we are looking for all of these features and they can help us find bass. That is the great adventure and we will learn all of this right here. *The Bass Spy has fished alongside and been exposed to the secrets and tactics of many competitive bass anglers on waters throughout the continent. This column is dedicated to all fanatical bass enthusiasts looking for the inside track and an edge on their favourite past time.

SA BASS 41 September 2018

TAKEOFF

TECHNIQUES

THE RIGHT WAY TO WAKE

IN THE RIGHT SITUATIONS, A STICK BAIT-STYLE WAKE BAIT IS CAPABLE OF WINNING TOURNAMENTS By Curtis Niedermier

tick bait or jerkbait-style wake baits such as the Bomber Long A are specialty topwater lures that, while slower to fish and less obnoxious than their walking stick bait counterparts, are capable of producing big weights and big money when fished in the proper situation. Generally, they’re clear-water killers in the prespawn season on mountain reservoirs, but they have other applications, too. The keys, according to FLW Tour pros Koby Kreiger and Anthony Gagliardi, are to identify the best conditions and learn to make the bait wake properly.

PH Custom Lures Wake Up

Rapala BX Waking Minnow

More Modern Options

The Bait Though it’s actually a jerkbait, the Bomber Long A (shown above) will swagger across the surface in a tight wobbling pattern when fished properly. It’s probably the most popular stick bait-style wake bait of all time. - The 15A model of the Long A is most popular. It’s a 4 1/2inch stick bait with a short diving lip and three treble hooks. - Most pros prefer early vintage models, which are identifiable by a screw-in rear hook hanger, though more recently manufactured Long As will also work. - Natural baitfish color patterns work well, as do bone, white or similar finishes. Usually, your favorite walking topwater pattern also applies to a wake bait. - Kreiger says you should remove the split ring from the nose and connect with a loop knot for the best action. 42 SA BASS September 2018

Because the Long A wasn’t designed to be a wake bait, it requires careful technique to get it to perform properly. Companies such as Buckeye Lures and Rapala created modern wake baits with a similar profile that are a little more forgiving. Buckeye’s version, called the Wake Up, is now made by PH Custom Lures. It’s a balsa bait with a circuit board lip and three treble hooks. The Rapala BX Waking Minnow has a balsa core wrapped in a copolymer shell. Koby Kreiger, one of the FLW Tour pros who’s had the most success with wake baits, says the tight-rolling action of the Long A makes it the supreme lure choice, but fellow Tour pro Anthony Gagliardi is more open-minded. He sees opportunities to use both the Long A and modern spinoffs – mostly the original Buckeye Wake Up. “I don’t know that those are absolutely the two best, but I don’t think it much matters, to be honest,” Gagliardi says. “But there is a difference in the Buckeye and the Long A. the biggest difference is the ‘cadence.’ “In this instance, the Buckeye has a faster cadence. It has the appearance of moving faster even though it’s moving the same speed,” Gagliardi says. He capitalizes on the difference by using the Long A in colder conditions and the Buckeye when fish are more aggressive, such as in a schooling scenario or during a warming trend in spring, when its wider wobble better suits the conditions.

Prespawn Patterning Kreiger primarily fishes a wake bait during the prespawn, and Gagliardi agrees that’s the best season. Relatively clear water is a must so bass can spot and home in on the bait, and the water temperature needs to be high enough that bass are willing to eat on the surface – usually the low 50s and up. In the prespawn, both Krieger and Gagliardi cast wake baits parallel to the bank and target bluff walls, chunk rock banks, banks leading in to spawning areas, secondary points and other spots where bass stage up before moving in to spawn. As prespawn transitions into spawn, a similar approach works in spawning areas. Bass that are staging or even starting to bed will often follow, swirl at or otherwise show themselves on a wake bait cruising slowly overhead. These fish can sometimes be caught with a follow-up lure or marked for later.

Wake it Right Slow and steady is the only way to fish a wake bait because if the lure is fished too fast it might dive or blow out. Rod control is also critical for achieving the right presentation.

Schooling Scenarios The wake bait is also a solid topwater bait in any season for casting at isolated targets: points, timber or schooling spots where bass suspend and chase baitfish near the surface. Gagliardi believes calm conditions are better if waking the bait in open water. “Any time you’re fishing out there and you see lots of bait in open water on the surface, and once you start noticing single baitfish on the surface making that ‘V’ across the water when it’s calm, that’s when it’s really good,” he says.

1. Make a long cast, and then hold the rod tip up at about 11:30 at the start of the retrieve.

2. As the bait gets closer, gradually lower the rod tip.

Gear Considerations Line: 10- to 14-pound-test monofilament Rod: Kreiger likes spinning tackle for casting in wind and back-reeling. Gagliardi uses a 7-foot, medium-power, fastaction baitcasting rod.

3. The goal is to keep the line off the water and the nose of the bait at the right level for it to wake. You’ll know if it’s too low or too high based on the action; adjust accordingly. ■

SA BASS 43 September 2018

TAKEOFF BOAT TECH

WRAP IT UP

THE LOWDOWN ON HOW BASS BOATS GET THEIR FLASHY VINYL COVERINGS

rapped boats are a big part of tournament fishing these days. The increased visibility as a sign board for sponsors, coupled with wrap designers popping up in every major metropolitan area, has led to a huge surge in wrapped rigs on the water today. Considering wrapping your boat? We’ll help you make an educated decision.

How They’re Made In essence, a bass boat graphics wrap is comprised of several large vinyl stickers that are made to fit a specific boat model. Here’s how the process works: 1. The process begins with the design of an appealing layout for your rig. Most wrap experts have artistic staff that can aid in this process, but they will require customers to provide vector or .eps files (files specific to certain software programs) containing sponsor logos. 2. Once logo files have been obtained and a design is finished, graphic and sign companies print the entire wrap on gigantic rolls of vinyl – most start out 150 feet long – and allow the inks to dry. During this period the vinyl “outgasses,” which is a type of curing process. Opinions on the overall best vinyl material vary. The most popular vinyl products are manufactured by 3M and Avery Dennison. 3M carries a higher price tag, and many wrap experts swear by its quality. However, not everyone agrees. If you’re considering a wrap, ask the installer about its materials, and seek referrals from other anglers. Eventually the wrap will be cut to template sizes for the installation on various parts of the boat. 3. Following the curing and drying process, a top coat of laminate is applied. Again, depending on the material being used, numerous types of “over-lam” are available, from metallic 44 SA BASS September 2018

By Joe Balog PHOTOS COURTESY OF RANGER BOATS

to high-gloss varieties, carbon-fiber (for a 3-D look), sparkles, brushed metals – the sky’s the limit. Many of these options also carry with them additional charges of up to 20 percent of the wrap cost. 4. When the wrap has been printed and laminated, then the installers (even some boat manufacturers) turn their attention to the boat. Most lift the boat on jacks for installation, and the entire rig is thoroughly cleaned using basic dish soap to remove any oils, followed by a solvent cleaner. 5. After the boat is prepped, the wrap is installed. Most wraps nowadays are applied dry and feature a “micro-bead” technology, which in essence are tiny fingers that stick to the boat until pressure (through a squeegee or other application tool) is placed over the vinyl to seal it down. This allows wrap designers to adjust the wrap to ensure proper fit. Most high-end graphics companies warn against the use of a wet application for boat wraps because if fluid gets beneath the wrap it can lead to expansion and tears. Another no-no: the use of metal squeegees or blades for application. They can damage the gel coat. 6. Once the vinyl wrap is in place exactly, edges and seams must be carefully adhered. Most quality wrap companies use a 3M edging tape on the boat’s bottom, as this is an area of particular concern. Liquid enamel was used in the past, but tape is the accepted modern method. Around the rub rail, wraps must be silicone-sealed, as well as around cleats, in the splashwell and anywhere there’s an edge. Doing so prevents water from entering under the wrap. 7. Finally, the entire wrap should be heated (often to temperatures exceeding 250 degrees) to remove any air bubbles and to compensate for weather changes.

VALUING BOAT WRAPS By Curtis Niedermier A boat (or truck) wrap serves multiple purposes, including protecting the finish from abrasion and sun fade, but more than anything it’s a very valuable tool for anglers to market their sponsors or personal brands. The American Trucking Association and 3M have researched the effectiveness of ads and marketing on wrapped vehicles and found that, depending on how many miles are driven, it’s possible to generate tens of thousands of impressions per day and more than 10 million impressions in a year. That’s a lot of eyes, and a lot of awareness, which reinforces the promotional potential of a professional bass angler who travels the tournament trail all season long.

What You Get In general, bass boat wraps can be counted on to be pretty rugged, considering the craft they cover often exceed 70 mph on the water. Certified installers know their trade, and the last thing they want is to perform repairs. In addition, most boat wraps do not come with a warranty, as finding the exact reason for failures is tough, so having it done right is important. Most often, damage is caused by a careless captain. In the event of any major tears, usually the entire wrap must be replaced. Bass boat wraps offer moderately good protection to a boat. They’re 4.5 mils thick (by comparison, gel coat is about 2), and easily safeguard against the bumps and bangs of tying up to a dock or glancing off other boats in a lock.

Care and Removal Once your rig is wrapped, it’s important to take care of the vinyl coating. Thanks to superior inks, today’s wraps don’t really fade, but they can get scratched. Many waxing compounds can help remove minor scratches and will add life to a wrap. General cleaning should be done with dish soap, after which a protectant and sealer should be used. A quality boat wrap should last about three years, and most graphics companies advise against pushing past that timeframe. If left on for longer periods, a boat wrap will likely crack from sun exposure, and has the potential to damage or stain the underlying gel coat. Removing a wrap is fairly simple and requires nothing more than basic tools, strong fingers and a heat gun. Most owners easily remove their wraps themselves if need be, but wrap companies will also perform the task for a nominal fee.

The Cost Perhaps the biggest question about boat wraps is the cost. Again, it depends. Some bass boat wrap companies offer pricing as low as $1,000. However, buyers should go in asking questions to make sure none of the important steps are being skipped. For the most extreme wraps with the best laminates and quality custom work, buyers may need to fork over in excess of $4,000. But, like just about everything else in bass fishing, nothing cool is cheap. ■

It takes a skilled hand and careful procedure to get the details of a wrap just right. SA BASS 45 September 2018

>> SA BAARS KLASKAMER

Dis heerlike lente

“Dis heerlike lente, die winter is verby...”

Skrywer met ‘n baars wat hy op ‘n tuisgemaakte “jig” gevang het

>> Philip Kemp*

ie ou Afrikaanse liedjie draai die tyd van die jaar voortdurend in my kop. Vir die van ons wat die hele winter gehengel het, is hierdie tyd van die jaar soos die goudpot aan die einde van ‘n reënboog. Selfs vir die van ons wat nie die winterbaars probeer vang het nie, is dit die tyd om nuwe lyn te spoel, katrolle te diens en hoeke weer skerp te kry. Soos die winter sy greep op ons begin verslap, breek die groot opgewondenheid onder baarshengelaars aan. Die henne begin gewig aansit en beweeg na die oorgangspunte waar hulle wag op die mees gerieflike tyd om deur die mannetjies na die neste gelei te word. Die gedagte dat die mannetjies ook nou die oewer patrolleer opsoek na ‘n geskikte area om hul neste te maak, maak selfs die mees gesoute hengelaars lam in die knieë. Gewoonlik is dit dan ook hierdie tyd van die jaar wat ons die groot henne en aggressiewe mannetjies aan die hoek kry.

46 SA BASS September 2018

Die begin van die lente is egter ook ‘n moeilike stadium van die jaar om te hengel, omrede die hengeltoestande binne ‘n paar uur drasties kan verander en ook die baars se gedrag daarvolgens kan beïnvloed. Die winter wil nie heeltemal sy greep verslap nie en gevolglik is daar steeds so nou en dan ‘n koue front wat ons van stryk af kan bring. Daarom is dit ook die tyd van die jaar belangrik om deeglik bewus te wees van die weerpatrone. Dit is egter belangrik om jouself nie te verlaat net op die weerpatrone nie... ‘n Swak dag langs die hengelwaters is nog steeds beter as ‘n goeie dag op kantoor, is dit nie? Ons kan hierdie tyd van die jaar meer fokus op watertemperatuur, omrede baars nou veral in baaie sal inbeweeg waar die wind die warmer oppervlakwater sal inwaai. Die verhitting van die vlakker water lok ook die mannetjies na die vlakwater waar hulle dan die vlakwater patrolleer op soek na die ideale areas om nes te skrop. Hulle sal veral kyk na areas waar die bodem uit harde substraat soos klip of gruis bestaan. Die rede hiervoor is dat die eiertjies makliker op die harde bodem vassit. Omrede die baars ook sonlig nodig het om die eiertjies te inkubeer, sal die neste nie maklik dieper as vier voet wees nie. Vroeë lentereëns kan ook die watervlakke van die dam skielik laat styg. Ek vind dat swaailemme in sulke situasies skitterend werk in die vlak water. Die baars beweeg ‘n nuwe fase in, en hulle energievlakke moet so vinnig moontlik aangevul word. Hulle sal vervolgens soveel moontlik begin vreet. Dit is ook belangrik om te bepaal wat op die baars se spyskaart is hierdie tyd van die jaar. Ek sal gewoonlik eers kunsaas gebruik waarmee ek die baars soek. Harde kunsvissies, wat tot op die regte diepte duik, werk baie goed, asook swaailemme. Hengel met katrolle met ‘n stadiger ratverhouding as jy kunsvissies hengel, maar ek het tog ook gevind dat dit nie altyd nodig is nie, omrede die hengelaar net sy “katrolspoed” kan aanpas. Sodra die hengelaar vasstel waar die vis hulle bevind, kan daar met stadiger plastiekase gehengel word. Dit is belangrik om veral die kleure en grootte van die aas na te boots. Krapvoorstellings soos Speed Craws en die Pacacraws werk veral goed hierdie tyd van die jaar. Loodkoppe (jigs) met frokkies in natuurlike bruin kleure, blou, swart en ‘n bietjie pers werk ook goed. In warmer water met baie wegkruipplek vir die vis, hengel ek my plastiese kunsaas vinniger op Texas-stroppe. In die dieper water waar die wyfies op oorgangspunte lê, teiken ek hulle met ‘n Carolina- of ‘n Mojo-strop. In areas wat meer

klipperig is, werk ‘n loodkop baie goed. Weereens doen die meer natuurlike kleure die ding. Ek hou ook daarvan om ‘n knoffelsousie op te spuit, om die baars wat bietjie versigtiger is, net vir ‘n oomblik langer te laat vashou aan die aas. Die hengelaar moet gevolglik die roetes wat die baars volg, van nabye diepwater na vlakwater soek. Die riwwe wat die dieper en vlakker water van mekaar skei, is perfekte oorgangspunte vir die wyfies. In veertig voet en dieper water sal die meeste plastiese ase op ‘n Carolinastrop baie goed werk. Hierdie areas sal gewoonlik baie naby aan die vlakker water wees waar die mannetjies hul neste gaan maak. In die vlakker water sal ek egter harde kunsvissies (jerkbaits) gebruik. Deur hulle van ver na die nes te gooi en net te laat lê, sal soms ‘n reaksie uitlok. As die baars nie reageer na ‘n halfminuut of so se gewag nie, sal ek die kunsvissie net twee of drie vinnige plukke gee en weer laat lê. Geen baars kan die skielike reaksie weerstaan nie. Ruk-en-pluk kunsvissies (jerkbaits) wat suspendeer is gewoonlik my gunsteling. Die henne sal egter ook van ‘n geskikte migrasieroete begin gebruik maak om kos te soek in die warmer vlak water. Hulle sal egter op oorgangspunte tussen die dieper water en die area waar die neste is, vertoef. Die henne sal proteïenryke kos eet om te help met die produksie van eiers. Hulle sal dus op een dag gedurig in en uit die vlakwater beweeg op soek na kos. My gunsteling kunsaas om die henne te teiken, is groot plastiese kunsvissies, Mr Jumbo grubs, Brush Hogs, krap en salamander voorstellings in natuurlike kleure. Jou hengelspoed moet aangepas word by die watertemperatuur. Hengel stadiger in koue water en vinniger in warmer water. Indien ‘n koue front egter inbeweeg sal die baars terugbeweeg na dieper water en is hulle ook moeiliker om te vang. Ek val dan terug op ‘n winterhengelpatroon wat veel stadiger is. In die geval sal ek ‘n meer finesse hengelmetode gebruik. Ek het gevind dat veral kleiner plastiese wurms goed werk en deur die stertjies in kleursel te dompel, help dit om ‘n reaksie by die baars uit te lok. Senko’s is ook ‘n baie goeie opsie as die hengel moeilik raak en die toestande verander. Ons moet egter onthou dat die voor-broeiseisoen nie altyd op een slag plaasvind nie, maar eerder strek oor een of selfs twee maande. Dit is ook die natuur se manier om die spesies te beskerm. Kleinbekbaars is ook geneig om vroeër te begin broei as grootbekbaars. Ek vind ook dat die groter wyfies eerste na die neste beweeg en gewoonlik eerste begin kuitskiet. Baars se voor-broeiseisoen begin gewoonlik ook vroeër as wat meeste hengelaars dink. In die noordelike dele van ons land (Limpopo) kan die proses reeds laat in Julie maand begin. In dele van ons land met kouer winters, sal die proses eers teen einde Augustus en selfs eers in September begin. In die Vrystaat begin die proses gewoonlik eers teen einde September. Hoe meer tyd die hengelaar by spesifieke damme spandeer, hoe makliker sal die hengelaar die patroon op daardie spesifieke dam agterkom. Ek hou daarvan om ‘n dagboek te hou van elke dam waarop ek hengel en so, na ‘n paar jaar, die patroon wat homself jaarliks herhaal op te

Die skrywer met ‘n mannetjie wat van ‘n nes af gevang is. Let op die stukkende stert waarmee hy die nes skoon gewaai het

tel. Geniet hierdie jaar se lente hengel en plaas asseblief die visse so spoedig moontlik terug, verkieslik by die nes, sodat die mannetjie steeds sy nes kan beskerm teen predatore. *Philip Kemp is ‘n gesoute swartbaarhengelaar en ‘n gereelde bydraer.

SA BASS 47 September 2018

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