River bassing

[sharky]

Hi guys

The farm where I'll be staying this weekend's dam is almost non-existant due to the heat we've been experiencing. I'll be going to a river at Mount Ceder, which is close by. Apparently there is a huge number of bass that's impacting on the local fish species, so they'll be to happy if I can take one or two home!

Now the obvious questions are: Is the bass behaviour of river bass and dam bass the same (their usual hideouts around structure, etc)? What type of lures do I use? I assume lure choice depend on the depth of the river? Should I choose different tactics for slow moving and fast moving water?

Any advice will help!
Thanks

[Guest]

well hope fully the river is not flowing.
Only small mounth bass like those waters.
If it is flowing, then look for more steady waters - not flowing!!
Fishing should be slow, very slow.
They will hide behind cover nose upsteam.
Same lures will work.

[VX70]

There is a lot of factors when it comes down to river bassing, the first thing is the water moving or is it like the vaal where is moves once in a blue moon? I know that current plays a big role in river bassing. If the river is like the vaal then you can fish the same type of pattern / structure when fishing a dam. You can use a spinnerbait to cover some water or to locate the active fish, once you get a few bites you can start switching to a worm and fish the area properly

VX

[bassmaster]

Sharky, most if not all the rivers in the Western cape have bass in them and more smallmouth than large. When you catch one of these babies you will know all about it! They are supreme fighting machines. I love the smallies!

They do prefer running water and you will find them in flowing water as well as in coves along the river. Try and also target over hanging trees.

The same lures will work although I must advise in getting some green pumpkin grubs. The small mouth love em! At sunrise and sunset try your skitterpop, it should work.

The fish are sometimes few and far between so be patient and fish methodicaly.

Hope you catch the big one

[VX70]

Try burning a spinnerbait across the top, Kevin Van Dam was doing it on his spinnerbait techniques DVD and he was killing the smallies like that!

VX

[sharky]

Thanks for the tips thus far guys.

When fishing the spinner, do I fish it without a sinker or with a texas rig? Will worms or lizards be effective? Will my 6kg line work (as BM said they put up a big fight), or should I go lighter, say, 4kg?

[VX70]

Buy the latest issue of the BASSAFRICA mag, it got a whole story about spinnerbaiting with Nico.

VX

[sharky]

Thanks, but I don't think I'm going to have enough time today to go look for the magazine. I'm leaving tomorrow morning early. I've printed a lot of articles from various sites and there should be some tips on using spinners.

I'll let you guys know on Tuesday how things went.

Tight lines to any of you that might also be visiting the waters this weekend.

Sharky

[sharky]

My first river fishing experience (Mount Cedar): I started fishing at 10:00, yeah a bit late, but the wife went along, so I couldn?t leave much earlier than I did. After just about 15 minutes a beautiful large-mouth bass (about the same size as my first one) got hold of my lure, but he jumped clean out of the water (that?s how I got a look at him) and caused the hook to unhook. At about 11:00 I caught a small large-mouth, and that was it for the day. I think they moved to a different part of the river to get out of the midday sun. My wife also made a few casts and she got such a fright when one bit, she never set the hook before chucking it at me. She had something on the lure again in the afternoon, but it couldn?t have been a bass as the back of the worm was off and the hook almost ripped out, it must have been something with teeth. I felt a few tugs on the line around 14:00 (they were probably moving to shallower water), but a few of the weekenders came to swim, so I didn?t get another opportunity before we left. Mount Cedar is a beautiful setting to fish, but there are only two places where you can really fish and it?s also designated swimming areas, so you have to get out when people want to swim. The river is very rocky and I lost quite a few lures that got stuck between the rocks. So, all in all, a disappointing day when it comes to fishing, but a nice outing. I posted three pictures of the river under local fishing waters, go check it out.

[VX70]

Sorry to hear about the trip, but just remember, a bad day's fishing is better than a good day at the office :lol:

[sharky]

Thanks VX70

I know what you mean. Two Saturdays ago was my first fishing trip, then again last Saturday I was at the river. Eventhough it's Friday today (the best day of the week), I feel down because I'm not going fishing the weekend! I've got the photos on my screensaver and I teleport to the waters a few times during the day, just remembering the sights, fresh air, and oh yes, bass!

I'm hoping to go fishing again next weekend, so I'll be wishing the time away next week. To say I'm hooked is an understatement!

Regards
Sharky