SPRINGTIME heralds an end to the closed season on Australian Bass with many anglers dusting off their tackle to chase these iconic native freshwater species. Bass are an exceptionally resilient fish that eat a variety of foods and as a result can be found from the upper brackish reaches of rivers and estuaries through to freshwater rivers and impoundments.
Their opportunistic appetites see them ambushing prey across the entire water column ranging from the dark depths of a manmade lake through to weed and tree lined shallows. Their aggression, diverse habitat and broad diet gives rise to a range of fishing styles and rigging options for anglers to choose based on prevailing conditions.
TACKLE OPTIONS
The style of outfit used will typically depend on the location you are fishing. Bass love to aggregate around structure and if accuracy in casting to structure is important then baitcasting tackle comes to the fore. If conditions are windy, distance is paramount or if using light lures then spin tackle is preferred.
Most of my bass fishing is done with a single handed spin or bait cast outfit loaded with 8lb braid and 10lb leader. I might dial the leader up a notch if fishing in heavily timbered or snaggy territory however that is my go-to option in the first instance.
Reels sizes and naming conventions vary between manufacturers however indicative reels are at the smaller end of the manufacturer’s spectrum so typically a 2000-2500 sized spin reel or a smaller bait cast reel with a lightened spool. I like rods with a medium to fast action suited to the line class.
My heavier outfits are still spooled with 8lb braid but fished on slightly heavier rods at higher drag settings with heavier leaders.
ABOVE: Spinnerbaits are alos effective for bass in spring. IMAGE: Scott Thomas
LURE OPTIONS
My favourite way to chase bass is on hard bodied surface lures in the late afternoon and into the night. If the conditions are still with little wind about, I start by fishing a small stick bait or surface walker for a subtle top water presentation. I then alternate every few casts opting for a shallow running minnow to determine what mood the fish are in.
As the sun dips below the horizon noisy fizzers and walkers come to the fore. I love fishing surface lures over partially submerged weed beds or along timbered banks – the sound of an angry bass exploding on the surface makes for some heart stopping action! During the middle of the day with the sun blazing overhead, I’ll switch to a vibe or soft plastic, casting adjacent to any deep structure where the bass might be lurking.
IMAGE ABOVE: Jamie Crawford
LIKELY LOCATIONS
Shallow weed banks are a classic low light feeding ground as the bass emerge from their hideouts and roam the shallows to feed. Slow rolling minnow lures and paddle tail soft plastics can be dynamite along edges at first light or late in the afternoon.
Bass will come into relatively shallow water but are generally quite wary, so these spots are not ideal during the middle of the day unless the water is discoloured or you are fishing a windward shoreline with waves lapping the bank. Sunken timber forests typify impoundment bass fishing and can be a great location to find a few natives lurking in the shadows. Spinner baits are an obvious choice due to their snag resistance.
I like to cast the spinner bait adjacent to a stump, allowing it to flutter down before commencing a slow retrieve to bounce the lure over any snags and hopefully into sight of a territorial and hungry bass Slowly retrieving or jigging vibes around the trees can be dynamite and it pays to carry a lure retriever as those little trebles can easily snag if they hit soft waterlogged timber. Schooling fish can also aggregate in the depths, especially on bright, warm spring days.
Bass mark well on a fish finder so make note of the depth at which bait, and schools of fish are aggregating as the temperature, oxygen and nutrient levels will be keeping them there for a reason. Heavily weighted soft plastics, vibes, metal blades, ice jigs and micro jigs on the market today are worthwhile lure candidates for deep schools of bass. Drop the lure into the school and vary your retrieve to determine what will trigger a feeding or reaction bite!
