Bass Fishing Magazine in South Africa
March 2023
SABASS Magazine is available at Spar, Pick ‘n Pay, C.N.A., Exclusive Books
SA BASS has been the leading bass magazine since 2001 for everyone who loves bass fishing.
ON THE COVER
“4.12kg Tzaneen Dam bass”
Image: Ruan de Jager
FEATURES
. Top water tactics and lure selection
The visual nature of presentation and strike has a certain additive property to it, and let’s face it, nothing beats the feeling as a bass explodes and destroys your lure. Fortunately, there is more to top-water fishing than just the visual appeal thereof.
. Where to find the baitfish
We need to find the baitfish to find good concentrations of quality bass. Here are some pointers on where one can expect to find some of the more common baitfish species in our water around this time of the year.
. Catch-and-release
Taking care of our bass is important to both the public image and the future of the sport. Unfortunately, there are too many anglers who wait too long before they bring fish to be weighed
Autumn bassin’
. Autumn brings shorter daylight hours, cooler nights, and most opportunely for us anglers the desire for a bass to begin actively feeding in order to increase its fat stores for winter.
. Big plastic baits
Fishing a big soft plastic can be very different from what you might be used to! The trick is to know when, where, and how to fish the monster softies to attract those really big bites!
. Farm dam basics
Just because these rural, country waters look rather simple to conquer does not mean the bass residing there are easy pickings. Farm dams can differ largely in size and shape but…
. Deep offshore cranking
Deepwater cranking has been one of my favourite ways of catching offshore bass for many years. This was initiated by watching videos lent by other bass fanatics.
. Simple autumn tactics
Bass anglers are constantly searching for new ways to do things and sometimes all we end up achieving is overcomplicating the situation. Let’s rather try keeping things simple.
. Lipless fishing
Just the idea of running a lure through underwater grass with two treble hooks dangling from its belly may appear to be an act of madness by most anglers. But in fact, you want your lipless crankbait to come in contact with the grass.
. Submerged weed lines
Hidden in the submerged weed lines you will find three things namely oxygen, shelter and bass.
DESTINATION
. Little Long Creek
. Hazelmere Dam
TOURNAMENT NEWS
. Cast-for-Cash Tournament Results
. MLF TBC Tournament Report
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Basics for beginners
. Op my houtbordjie
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
February 2023
SABASS Magazine is available at Spar, Pick ‘n Pay, C.N.A., Exclusive Books
SA BASS has been the leading bass magazine since 2001 for everyone who loves bass fishing.
On the cover
“Early bird”
Image: Roger Barrett
FEATURES
. Big bass baits
The reality of it is that most of the lures we throw are significantly smaller than most of the food that our target-size bass consume on a daily basis.
. Fishing with light line
Light tackle is not restricted to winter or clear water, or when times are tuff. Light line is truly versatile and can be used at any time, and can be very effective when mastered.
. Let’s go light
The water was cold, the fish sneaky and discerning, but the light 6’10” spinning rod shouted the bite to me loud and clear! The venue was Albert Falls River…
. About grubs
Some people try to overcomplicate it, and a whole lot must still learn how to fish grubs. Most fishermen experiment with grubs and fail because they fish them too fast.
. The one hour challenge
An hour to crack the code under any condition is a pressure deal, but even if you have the luxury of a day at an unseen venue, adopting some of these tactics will undoubtedly increase your chances of success
. Catch & release tips
Sometimes we get a little too caught up in the moment and a slight mishandling could be detrimental to the fish we care about so much.
. Disease and injury identification
As bass angling stewards we strive to learn as much as we can about our dedicated cause. Sometimes it includes finding or catching bass that are diseased or injured.
. Frog fishing in Japan
Japan is at the forefront of research and development regarding bass fishing gear, techniques, and technologies.
. Wanneer die grotes wegkom
Wat baie van ons skrywers egter nie met die lesers deel nie, is die kere wat die grotes weggekom het…
. Post spawn strategies
On a trip to Boshkop Dam we found the fish in a typical post spawn scenario. Although it was quite late in the season this part of the world seems a little cooler explaining the seemingly late post-spawn.
. Handling pressure
You just catch fish after fish and really feel confident in your abilities. Then when you go back there the next day and you cannot buy a bite.
. Fishing Shaky Heads
One of the most productive lures in a bass angler’s arsenal is Shaky Heads and very easy to use.
A little Shaky Head will often deliver bites in conditions when it seems nothing else works.
DESTINATION
. Thabo Se Dam
TOURNAMENT NEWS
. Cast-for-Cash Tournament Results
. MLF TBC Tournament Report
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Basics for beginners
. Op my houtbordjie
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
January 2023
SABASS Magazine is available at Spar, Pick ‘n Pay, C.N.A., Exclusive Books
SA BASS has been the leading bass magazine since 2001 for everyone who loves bass fishing.
On the cover
“Neil Engelbrecht - MLF Toyota Series International Co-angler Champion 2022”
Image: Hannes Lindeque
FEATURES
. Enjoy your summer bassin’
Summer fishing can be a real challenge but if you understand where to find them and how to catch them, you will be motivated to find bass and experience some of the best fishing of the year.
. Fishing trick worms
I don’t know where the name “trick worm” comes from, but one thing I do know and have experienced is that these worms disappear before your very eyes.
. Baars se IK onder die vergrootglas
Baars se gedrag is eintlik so eenvoudig, maar tog is ons as hengelaars geneig om dit so gekompliseerd te laat klink. Het baars dan ‘n hoër IK waarvan baie van ons hengelaars nie weet nie?
. A different kind of work
“How can running bass tournaments ever be related to work?” is a query that people like us get asked quite frequently.
. BFS Frogging
BFS, or Bait Finesse System angling, has become all the rage amongst a small yet growing group of anglers globally.
. The reaction bite
When those bites die off and things are looking bleak, turn your game up and get that reaction you’re looking for.
. Frog fishing in Japan
Japan is at the forefront of research and development regarding bass fishing gear, techniques, and technologies.
. When the going gets tough
Getting a bite can be frustrating during days when the bass are inactive but finesse techniques can come into play on about every dam and be fruitful.
. Midday summer bassing
When you find yourself out bassing in the sun and you’re feeling the full effects of summer just remember the bass are there and you can catch them.
. Boat positioning
Now that I know my boat will be in the right position, I can keep spending all my attention on refining baits and colours to trigger the right reaction from our green friends.
DESTINATION
. Bundu Bashing op ‘n drafstap
TOURNAMENT NEWS
.24 MLF RSA Bass Angling Tournament Dates for 2023
. Cast-for-Cash Tournament Results
MLF NEWS
. MLF Toyota Series Championship report
INDUSTRY NEWS
. Mercury’s First V10 outboards
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Basics for beginners
. Op my houtbordjie
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
December 2022
SABASS Magazine is available at Spar, Pick ‘n Pay, C.N.A., Exclusive Books
SA BASS has been the leading bass magazine since 2001 for everyone who loves bass fishing.
On the cover
“New 3.82kg PB at Theewaterskloof Dam”
Image: Muhammad Bulbulia, Cape Town
FEATURES
. Finesse fishing
This “finesse” approach to capturing bass is most effective when fish alter their behaviour in response to prevalent or changing conditions, which I will refer to as “influences” in this article.
. A summers take on poppers
When the summer roles in we know the bass action is going to be plentiful and immediately I’m reaching for some top water baits.
. For the beginners
The summer holidays are upon us and many new anglers will have fun in the shallows. Here are the basic guidelines for beginner anglers.
. Light intensity and bass
Light intensity not only affects bass and anglers alike in the summer but throughout the seasonal year. It can change or alter at any time during the day with major spin-off effects on your session.
. How to fish buzzbaits
Buzzbaits are large; they’re loud but also highly effective tools for finding and catching active bass during the warmer months.
. Keep your fish alive
Keeping your valuable catch alive, especially when the fish was tough, is the difference between winning and losing an important tournament.
. Night bassin’
Night fishing is not always possible, not always permitted, and is definitely not as safe and straightforward as daytime bassing. But, if the situation permits and the time is right, you need to put some of these theories to the test.
. Plastic lizards
Some people love them, while others just hate them. The reason for the latter could be that they are using lizards in the wrong areas, or not versatile enough as lizards can be fished in many different ways.
. Summer bassin’
Summer can mean great fishing, but remember to fish the condition, not the calendar. Here are some things to think about.
Take the kids fishing
What can be more rewarding than doing cast after cast, waiting for that one bite, knowing what the reward could be at the end of the line? So share this fishing experience with your children.
. The dangers of bass angling
You and I are not exactly going to quit hunting bass at the first sign of trouble but let’s face it, trouble is the last thing we want to have to deal with when we are hunting bass.
DESTINATION
. Bass Feather Country Lodge
TOURNAMENT NEWS
. Cast-for-Cash Tournament Results
MLF NEWS
. MLF Toyota Series Schedule for 2023
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Basics for beginners
. Op my houtbordjie
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
November 2022
SABASS Magazine is available at Spar, Pick ‘n Pay, C.N.A., Exclusive Books
SA BASS has been the leading bass magazine since 2001 for everyone who loves bass fishing.
On the cover
“New PB at Loskop”
Image: André Pretorius
FEATURES
. Bass and colour
Have you ever wondered why there are so many colour combinations on the shelves today, and whether it really matters what colour your lure is?
. Stained water tactics
When referring to stained/dirty/muddy water, it is worthwhile understanding exactly how or why a particular dam’s water has reached this state.
. Catch & Release
Practice catch-and-release and we all will have many more tight-lines in the future.
. Clear water tactics
When I employ clear water tactics, three key changes take place within my approach, namely lighter line, smaller baits and longer casts.
. Sight fishing for bass
Sight fishing can be the most exciting and frustrating fishing of all, but when stalking bass in the shallows it ignites an adrenalin rush like no other.
. Live-well basics
Here are some guidelines on how to look after your boat’s live-well to help keep fish alive with less stress until the final weigh-in.
. Structure versus cover
The term is often used for the same thing, but in actual fact, there is a big difference between structure and cover.
. Get to the point
When it comes to productive targeted areas, tackling points for some great bass catches comes to mind without hesitation.
. Kul jou hier en kul jou daar
Ek het so ‘n bietjie navorsing gaan doen en tot die slotsom gekom dat kullery baie meer algemeen onder hengelaars kan voorkom.
. Customize your reel
Many off-the-shelf reels have poor performance and by replacing stock parts can turn a good reel into a precision instrument for competition fishing.
. Solitary hot spots
The obvious and best spots at any venue will always be targeted first, even by yourself because let’s face it they often look too good to resist a cast or three.
. Boat positioning
The trend is to come off the plane at 120km/h and glide into the spot, plunk down the trolling motor, make a few casts and leave soon after!
DESTINATION
. Walden Guest farm and Bass venue
TOURNAMENT NEWS
. Cast-for-Cash Tournament Results
MLF NEWS
. Meet our MLF Toyota Series Anglers
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Basics for beginners
. Op my houtbordjie
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
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