TheFoosh

Fished out at Windsor with my fishing club (WSBB) today and nabbed a few more Bass. It rained all morning but we soldiered on. I converted all my hits into fish (3 Bass in total) and even landed a monster Flathead on a beetle spin in the fresh water above Windsor. Couldn't believe it. Thought I had nailed a big Bass!!

Super stoked. 42cm fork length. This spot never gives up big numbers of Bass bit it makes up for it with big sizes. Going out again tomorrow somewhere else so hopefully can boat a few more!!

Hi Cooper, You won't find many people willing to give up their Bass or EP spots on a forum. Most of us have invested years in finding our spots and learning the patterns etc. The best advice I can give you is to read articles online and search YouTube and then hit the water and put in the time. I can tell you that all of the fresh water reaches of the Sydney rivers hold Bass in varying numbers and that the upper reaches (brackish) all hold EP's and Bass depending on the time of year. If you do some homework and then hit the water, you'll find some fish.

Done and done

Plenty of references online about how to distinguish the two, however, at a very high level the EP's are more commonly silver compared to the bronze colour of the bass and the EP's have a concave forehead whereas the bass have a concave forehead. They are closely related and are often found together in most rivers at certain times of the year. Right now though the bass have moved further up to the fresh water after spawning and will be at the further reaches of the brackish water and above.

Kelso Beach at Milperra.

That's an EP mate.

They are hyperactive little buggers. They love it worked fast with lots of fuss and splashing and then a small pause.

Headed down the coast to our holiday house and made use of the perfect weather to round up some whiting on the surface. Here is a real elbow slapper taken on a little Storm popper. They wouldn't take the lure in anything deeper than 2 feet of water.

28 wraps would be OK maybe for 8lb but the lighter you go the more wraps you will need. The knot size is so small on ultra-light line that 50 wraps will still look tiny. I use 40 wraps when chasing bass and that is joining 6lb Fireline to 12lb leader. Pulling a big fish out of timber I want the best knot strength for the size that I can get.

Nothing wrong with 2lb Fireline if it is used in the right hands. 4lb leader might be a bit of a stretch especially as you will encounter flathead and tailor while chasing bream. Use a FG knot with 50 wraps and you'll have no problem with leader to mainline knot. I use 40 wraps on 2kg Fireline Exceed to 6lb leader. Never gives up.

Plastics-wise don't discount 4" Berkley Bass Minnows. Smelt Scales colour works a treat.

I find a lot of people fish their plastics way too fast. Leave a longer time between hops and give the bream/fish time to pick them up off the bottom when they come to rest. With Zmans that tail will be wafting in the current while it is on the bottom so give them a chance to nail it otherwise you'll just be pulling it away from them just as they are about to commit. I always find using scent works well, especially S Factor.

Ozzybass is getting the right picture

A creek not attached to the Georges lol

Stop thinking River and start thinking Creek

Thank god. Sick of seeing idiots blatently ignoring posted signs and putting the safety of others at risk.

Can't say I'm a Seaguar fan, nor Vanish fan but each to their own. All lines will catch fish, most of the time it comes down to personal preference or comfort. If you are comfortable you'll catch 'em.

You'll smack plenty of big bream in clear water without having to go below 6lb leader. Just choose a good quality brand. Anything from Yamatoyo, Famell, Nitlon etc will be fine. I use the FC Rock and Nitlon leaders myself and they haven't let me down.

Sometimes they are right under your nose!

Learn to tie the FG knot. Super strong and passes through the guides without catching.

Are we allowed to report Jet Ski's hooning in 8 knot zones and ski boats doing the same thing?

Found a couple of big ones right in the heart of suburbia last weekend. Here is the biggest at 40cm fork length. Got another 38cm fork, got dusted by another on a sunken log and missed a good visual bite on another. Smack bang in the middle of the suburbs.

The go to lure of the Flattie Classic for trolling was always the Bomber Long A in Green/Yellow lol. How times have changed. Read some of David Greens old articles! lol

If you are getting snagged and losing lots of line you may well be fishing too heavy for the type of bottom that exists there. If you are fishing a rocky or off the rocks use a tiny ball sinker or unweighted bait in the wash to avoid snagging up. I use a Sahara 4000 with 10lb braid off the rocks and beach which casts a mile with both ultra light ball sinkers and also with a star sinker from the beach. Best of both worlds. Most of the time you will find if you do snag up you only lose the leader because the knot will give way before the main line does or you will bust off at the hook knot.