New To Chasing Bass

[robthefisherman]

Ok in the wake of reading all the bass fishing exploits on here lately, I've decided to pull the old canoe out of retirement and have a crack myself.

I'll be using the same gear as I do for plastics ie sqidgy rod and sedona 1500 but what lures should I be taking? to give me the best shot and cracking my first bass.

[mottyman]

Dam Strait Stewy - you beat me to the punch on this post...

On the suface, the Kokoda Bats are killing it for me at present. Cast over the top of the weed and jiggled on a very slow retrieve the Bass just eat them up, they have a fairly loud rattle as well but not as loud as a Bugga Chug, again made by Kokoda. They range in price from about $4.50 to $6 so excellent value.

They cast like bullets as the little wings hug the body and come out when retrieved - excellent!!

Black is the colour of choice. Every bass I've caught on the surface has been caught on a black lure.

I find the Taylor mades have a fabulous action but are harder to cast with their large bib that sits across the front of the lure.

Fish your surface lures late afternoon into the night, or... early morning before light and a few hours after sun-up.

Under tree branches in close to the bank is the go. The bass sit there waiting for food to fall from above.

Then... hang on!!

Like all forms of fishing, there are about a million lures to choose from. The Bats have worked great for me as have little fat shallow divers in green with black stripes. Whatever surface lure you choose, make sure it's BLACK!!!!

Hope that helps.

[robthefisherman]

Thanks guy's

I'll be off to the tackleshop this to get a couple of rod holders for the canoe and to stock up on black lures

[kenmare]

Hi Rob,

Good advice from Stewy about lures.

But keep in mind four things.

1. Hot humid days and a rising barometer are usually requirements for a successful bass outing. And it's now starting to be a little late in the season for the headwaters: many of the larger fish will soon start to move down to the brackish reaches of the estuaries as winter approaches. I prefer bassing in October, November myself, as the bass move upstream and are hungry after spawning -- but any morning or evening on a hot, steamy day will find them in an agro mood. Watch out however, for sudden drops in barometric pressure, such as just before a southerly front moves through, as the fishing will tend to shutdown. But the fish are likely to bite their heads off as the weather settles, once the front has passed.

2. If you can find them in the right mood (see 1) then almost any small to medium size floating wobbling lure with a strong action will do the job, even the imported cheapies. Far more important than the brand of lure IMHO is an ability to cast right into the thick cover, the fish-holding zone. If you're not getting hung-up on logs, overhanging tree branches etc occasionally, then you're not casting in close enough. Your number of hits will increase the more you are able to cast into where the fish are holding. Bass prefer dark, shady spots with plenty of overhang (trees, cliffs etc), so seek out cover that has plenty of shade -- it'll be far more productive than an equally good area area brightly lit by sunlight.

3. Let the lure sit in the fish holding zone and bob about, sending out little waves, before commencing a slow retrieve (that is, you can use your floating wobbler as a popper until you start your retrieve). In fact, I often leave the lure in the cover for up to minute, giving it little twitches, before commencing a retrieve. The longer your lure remains in the fish holding zone, the greater your chances of a strike.

4. Be prepared to work good cover well before moving on. You'll be surprised how often, even using the the technique outlined (in 2 and 3), you'll decide there can't be any fish as you've peppered a snag with casts, only to have your lure smashed by an aggressive bass, sometimes almost at the end of the retrieve. Bass often seem to need a little teasing and niggling before deciding to attack a lure. But attack they do -- which is why they're such a sought after sportfish.

Hope some of this helps you hook and land a few.

Regards,

Bob

Edited March 28, 2006 by kenmare

[mottyman]

Absolutely Bob - your very well written post matches my (limited) Bass fishing experiences so far.

Firing that lure into the shady areas with over hanging tree branches rings true with me, as does letting the lure sit.

I found working the lure gently so it disturbs the water surface sending out little rings and making little splashes is the way to go and the Bass can't resist.

Keeping it in close to the bank in those areas for as long as possible is the go. The anticipation knowing that big "wwwhhhhack" could come at any time passes the hours very quickly.

Maybe that's why I keep heading back up the river in search of them.

Cheers,

David.

[robthefisherman]

sounds like i've been missing out not chasing these fish before now

[Flattieman]

sounds like i've been missing out not chasing these fish before now

Yeah - you could say that. They're great!!! Remember- persistence pays, but I doubt you'd need this advice given what everyone else has said so far - great tips, guys!

Flattieman.

[slayer666]

they are an awsom fish to catch i remember nailing my first one at nepean river it was over 30cm

Cheers Joe

[The Iceman]

I dont seem to be able to go past a bettsspin 2gm jighead and a 2in atomic grub in crawdad It has caught me heaps of bass around this area

[crazy4bass]

my biggest one to date so far is 50cm and mate you have been missing out the fun in these awsom freah water fighters

Cheers Darin