Bass

Bass fishing in summer

bass

The warm weather is upon us and for a lot of anglers this signals the heating up of the Australian bass bite, along with quality by-catch species including golden perch and saratoga. For many, the holiday period also creates the opportunity to explore new waterways, the chance to target bass for the first time or perhaps land a new personal …

Read More »

Hot bass action at Somerset

somerset

As readers of my column would know, I am more often than not a saltwater angler. However, at the start of the new year I felt the need for a new challenge, as well as a change of location from my usual estuary, bay, beach and flats fishing exploits. Recently, I reflected on a great bait-fishing session for bass I’d …

Read More »

Targeting floodwater bass

FEBRUARY to April in southeast Queensland and on the north coast of NSW is a time of green earth and higher water levels in the freshwater rivers and impoundments. This is a recipe that our most beloved Australian bass battlers absolutely revel in, and not far behind are the dedicated bunch of anglers who wait for the right time to …

Read More »

South Burnett summer patterns

THIS time of year is certainly popular for getting out on the water. The weather is hot and the water is the place to be. Whether you’re a fisherman, into your skiing, kayaking or camping, Lake Boondooma and Bjelke-Petersen Dam are two places that will be busy until it starts to cool down again. The fishing over summer is usually …

Read More »

Consistency in South Burnett dams

SINCE the lifting of restrictions, the standout dam has been Lake Boondooma. I have the luxury of guiding on most dams in southeast Queensland, and Lake Boondooma has been turning up good numbers of Australian bass and consistent catches of yellowbelly. We are into early summer and water temperature is above 20C, so we have seen a thermocline develop in …

Read More »

Bass and saratoga shine at Somerset

SUMMER is just around the corner, so we should start seeing super hot surface action at the back of Somerset Dam, with regular catches of saratoga and bass. We have been spending a fair amount of time in the timber regions of the dam throwing punch rigs and skirted jigs – these have been exciting catches as the strikes are …

Read More »

Know how to cross a bar before heading offshore

cross a bar fish offshore

WE have certainly seen mixed weather across the state, from a prolonged drought to torrential downpours and catastrophic hailstorms. For anyone with a boat, offshore is all about the pelagics and getting stuck into some big mackerel and tuna. In big easterly swells, the Noosa River Bar holds waves up to 2m. Before these arrive, be sure you know how …

Read More »

Glenlyon Dam on the rise

glenlyon dam level rise

AS pen goes to paper, I look up and see the glint of water through the trees at the Glenlyon Dam kiosk. The level in Glenlyon is just on 14 percent capacity, and we’re hopeful of steady rainfall increasing this between now and May. Though for now, with a little care we can access as far as the cod run. …

Read More »

Bass fishing for the first time in years

bass fishing mary river

AFTER some thought, I had two opportunities to fish over a long weekend: early Saturday morning while on the way to see my family and again on Monday morning for a sneaky bay session. Because different family members live all the way along between Gympie and Tin Can Bay, I had plenty of options as to where I could wet …

Read More »

Awesome Lake Wyaralong bass fishing

lake wyaralong bass

LAKE Wyaralong was on the ‘must-fish’ bucket list for some time, and being only a quick 40-minute drive from home, I wondered why we hadn’t bothered fishing the lake beforehand. With stories of Rob’s uncle Mick having very productive sessions on live shrimp filtering through to us, we thought bugger it, this will be an awesome place to take the …

Read More »