Aussie bass at Parramatta (new species unlock for myself)

[lhan]

Hi raiders,

I've been longing for a bass session for quite a while but always got distracted to endless eastuary fun explorations. This morning it's low tide so my usual spots could be pretty harsh to fish, I decided to hit Parramatta and try for a bass.

It's a lovely quiet morning and the water clarity is fabulous considering all the rain recently. I was accompanied by plenty of ducks and some water dragons lurking around casually. Firstly going for a topwater propeller (not sure it works honestly but it looks funny so I wanna try), I walked along the rocks and casted towards the middle, the bank, the logs and the lily pads but no interests. It's great that I can confidently cast into structures when using topwater lures without worrying it being snagged. However it comes to an end when the line caught by a branch - it's within reach distance but the line tangled so bad that I have to cut. Pefect time for a change then!

Changed to a jackall chubby MR I started to bounce it on the sand/mud bottom. The second cast I spotted a follow! It didn't commit tho but I was so excited to confirm they're actually here! I continue walking and casting into the middle and right after I felt my lure bouncing off the bottom, bang! Fish on! I set my baitcaster drag a bit loose so it took me a while to fight the fish till landing it - my first aussie bass! Such a beautiful little fish measured at just above 20cm.

Shortly after came another tiny little bass - they're indeed very aggressive and possibly prolific! This little thing is not much bigger than the lure but put up a respectful fight.

\

After that maybe the fish got spooked so it went quiet and also time for me to go back for work. A good successful session for a first timer I would say!

Tight lines,

Henry

[XD351]

Congratulations on your first bass ! Careful- the bass bug bites hard 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Awesome to see smaller bass in there coz it means they have made it back up from the brackish where they breed ! 
Iwould love to see that whole system from the ferry weir upstream cleaned out of the carp infestation and bass being stocked in there ! It could be a little fishing mecca right in the middle of sydney ! 

Edited November 6 by XD351

[Little_Flatty]

That’s fantastic Henry! Yeah I had the same thoughts re the little bass.

I have to admit I haven’t caught a bass since I was a teenager! Might need to tee up a session…

[mrsswordfisherman]

Well done Henry. 

I like the composition of your photos too. Thanks for sharing the report.

[ireallylovefishies22]

Nice job on your first bass. Is lake parramatta connected to the river?

[Little_Flatty]

25 minutes ago, ireallylovefishies22 said:

Nice job on your first bass. Is lake parramatta connected to the river?

Not directly. It goes into hunts ck which then joins to darling mills ck which in turn meets with toongabbie creek, then joins the Parra. The bass there have no way of making it to saltwater to breed.

[XD351]

Interesting little read ! 
http://www.basssydney.com/media/articles/ParramattaRiverFishwaysProject.pdf

so I gather that as the bass can’t return upstream to the dam as there is no fish way so any small bass are not juveniles but have stunted growth . 
 

After reading the article above where they state the fish ways are installed ( except at the dam wall ) but one or more are locked shut it makes me wonder how our fishing licence money can go to stocking an introduced species ( trout) but not a cent spent on helping our little Aussie battler - doesn’t make sense to me ! 

[lhan]

1 hour ago, XD351 said:

Interesting little read ! 
http://www.basssydney.com/media/articles/ParramattaRiverFishwaysProject.pdf

so I gather that as the bass can’t return upstream to the dam as there is no fish way so any small bass are not juveniles but have stunted growth . 
 

After reading the article above where they state the fish ways are installed ( except at the dam wall ) but one or more are locked shut it makes me wonder how our fishing licence money can go to stocking an introduced species ( trout) but not a cent spent on helping our little Aussie battler - doesn’t make sense to me ! 

DPI actually stock Aussie bass annually now. The proposed number at the lake for this year is 6000! Hope they all can grow up well there! https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/stocking/enhanced-fish-production/freshwater-fish-stocking-plan

Interestingly they even stock them in some parkland ponds (the one in Marsden park for example)

[ireallylovefishies22]

`

1 hour ago, Little_Flatty said:

Not directly. It goes into hunts ck which then joins to darling mills ck which in turn meets with toongabbie creek, then joins the Parra. The bass there have no way of making it to saltwater to breed.

Oh I get it now, it looks like the dam blocking the lake and preventing the bass going into hunt's creek.

[bessell1955]

Those Bass fight well above their weight.

[Pickles]

Welcome to the (bass) club @lhan, they’re a great fighting fish on light gear - love your overhead setup.

[big Neil]

Good report of your successful Bass fishing adventure. Good to see you have gone to the trouble of getting a left hand wind baitcast reel...so much easier to use if you cast right handed.

Keep up the good work, you're in for a busy Summer.

bn