Bass Fishing Magazine in South Africa
February 2024
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
IW Wilkins, Loskop Dam, MP
Image: Donovan Gradidge
FEATURES
. So, you want a bass boat?
“Rewarding” or “Regretful” can be your experience when deciding to purchase a bass boat in South Africa. One needs to know the particulars of how to choose a boat and get the best deal.
. Finding and fishing deep water structures
Let’s look at other types of structures and how to decide what is the best way, and lure to use.
. Fishing tips for beginners
If you have just started or have been fishing for some time using the information I will share, will turn the words “I can’t catch bass” into “check the fish I caught!”
. Go “dirty” to catch bigger
Really heavy structure provides big bass with the protection from the sun they want, and most importantly the perfect place from which they can ambush their prey.
. The mental side of bass fishing
When it comes tournament fishing your top anglers are leaders and not followers. For them bassin’ is then a mental game.
. Die Heldesaal - Ray Scott (1933-2022)
Hy was ‘n man wat beslis nie klein gedroom het nie, die PT Barnum van die baarshengelbedryf, die man wat nie net lugkastele gebou het nie, maar hulle laat waar word het. Hy was Ray Scott!
. Fishing weed lines
Weed lines need to be separated into two distinct types because bass orientate differently to each during seasons and other conditions can also play a role.
. Mind shift
I decided to limit my lure selection to two lures and two colours. Yes, it was a high-risk decision but I had a plan!
. Basiese baarshengel vir beginners - Deel 1: Voorbereiding
Swartbaars kan gevang word met ‘n handjie vol gerei op feitlik enige plek in die land. Die uitdaging lê beslis by die voorstelling van die kunsaas, die tegniek wat toegepas word en hoe die gerei effektief gebruik word.
DESTINATION
- Die Fishing Box Bass-toere
- Die Bokkamp
TOURNAMENT NEWS
. MLF Namibia Tournament News
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
2024_03
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
“Blessings, Greytown, KZN”
Image: Jan van Zijl
FEATURES
. Basiese oewerhengel
Al die beste hengelgerei in die wêreld sal nie vir jou vis vang as as jy nie presies weet hoe om die basiese stappe toe te pas nie.
. Don’t be scared of the “dock”
We all know that bass are structure orientated animals and it is also one of the most important things to remember when fishing somewhere we have not fished before.
. Autumn bassin’ tactics
Fish start migrating from their deep water summer hideouts and start focusing on eating as much as possible. Here are some bassin’ tactics for autumn.
. Fish Care
Here are a few major do’s and don'ts with regards to caring for the fish for both boat and bank anglers.
. Wind currents and windbreaks
Bass fishing in windy conditions can sometimes get to a point where it’s actually just dam right miserable, but there are general advantages we as anglers gain when the wind starts to blow.
. Flooded grass
When autumn comes around each year bass anglers alike display a more evident sense of purpose because during the fall they know the big bass answer the call.
. Die Heldesaal - Tom Mann
Tom Mann word tot vandag in Amerika onthou vir sy besonderse vermoë om die natuur te lees en die gedrag van baars te kon ontleed.
. Late summer strategy
Here are some advice on how to make up for the tough times before winter sets in.
. The winning pattern
I firmly believe that confidence plays a crucial role in our success on the day. By this I refer to our mindset towards certain situations and techniques.
DESTINATION
- Dweba Lapa
MLF NEWS
. MLF Australia signs on as 17th country
. MLF Toyota extends sponsorship
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
April 2024
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
“Anglers Paradise, Joubertina, Eastern Cape”
Image: Kehan Labuschagne
FEATURES
. Early autumn tips
It’s this time of the year that bass are changing their ways and you as the angler will do the same.
. Fishing from a float tube
Float tubes offer anglers the ability to access hard-to-reach areas where bass may be lurking. Here are some advantages and tips for bass fishing from float tubes:
. How to outsmart autumn bass
If one can get to terms with the seasonal change now, you will certainly stay on the fish, with great success, right up and into winter.
. Fly tying for bass
Before you start tying your own flies for bass there are a few important things to remember…
. Tackling rip-rap sections from the bank
One area that I find to be very attractive to larger specimens of bass around this time of the year is no doubt the humble rip-rap sections.
. Bass angler etiquette
Each and every one of us who holds bass angling close to our hearts is an ambassador for the sport. So, what does bass angling etiquette actually entail?
. Die Heldesaal - Darrel J. Lowrance
Die volgende keer wat enige hengelaar sy Lowrance-visvinder aanskakel, kan hulle gerus vir Darrel Lowrance, die vader van moderne hengeltegnologie, onthou.
DESTINATION
- Ghost Mountain Inn & Safaris
- Sundowner Flyfishing Adventures - Oxbow Country Estate
- Bass Lodge - Klerksdorp
INDUSTRY NEWS
- Suzuki Marine Launches the New Matt Black Series
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
May 2024
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
“Urban bass fishing - South Florida, USA”
Image: Fishingboy
FEATURES
. Crash course in bass fishing - An Overview
I can only wonder how many people are there who would like to have a crash course in bass fishing. This series of short crash course articles is aimed at helping those new to the sport.
. Autumn bassin’ made easy
This is an extremely productive and tactically simple time of the year to get results on your local body of water.
. Prowling for bass in backyard canals
Just like my past experience fishing for exotic species in South Florida, the bass fishing in small body of water in the suburbs blew me away for good reasons.
. Tournament etiquette
Integrating fair play and the correct protocol into your strategy will make you a more respected and accomplished angler.
. Bass behaviour myths
You have to go and experience bass fishing for yourself and find out that maybe not everything we are led to believe is actually the way it is.
. Master that cast
The usefulness of having mastered a few different casting techniques is often underrated by recreational bass anglers.
. Diet comparisons
Keep a bass’ natural feeding cycles in mind when out fishing, choose the right lure that meets all the requirements of a big bass diet, sand wait for that explosive hit.
. Die Heldesaal - Cotton Cordell (1928-2015)
As gevolg van Carl Richey Cordell se ligte wit hare het hy die bynaam “Cotton” gekry. Later het hy een van die wêreld se grootste kunsaas-vervaardigers geword.
. Herfs - Wanneer die eetklok lui!
Herfs is sekerlik een van my gunsteling tye om baars te teiken want die winter is oppad en die baars moet genoeg vetreserwes stoor om hulle deur die koue winter te kry.
DESTINATION
- Bobbejaankloof Bass en Karp Lodge
INDUSTRY NEWS
- Justin Hamner wins the 2024 Bassmaster Classic Championship
- University of Montevallo Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament
- TBC Leg #8 – Boskop Dam
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. NEW – Crash course in bass fishing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
. Towing tip & Find a Word
June 2024
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
“5.8kg, Cale Lombard, Midmar Dam, KZN”
Image: Nic Lombard
FEATURES
. Crash course in bass fishing
Before we actually dive into the art of bass fishing there are several myths surrounding bass fishing that handicap most people from becoming successful bass anglers. Here are a few:
. Tackling Columbia River Floods
I had been counting down the days to my smallmouth bass fishing trip on the Columbia River with David Swendseid, but before that could even happen, our plans got severely derailed.
. No electronics, no problem
If you love bass fishing and are a passionate, dedicated bass angler then that’s all that counts. How you locate and catch them is entirely up to you and your personal choices.
. Gaining perspective on pressured waters
Patience, subtle tweaks to presentations, accurate casting and first-time contact should all be priorities when we take on the challenge of fishing pressured waters.
. KZN – A great catch when it comes to fishing tourism
When winter cold starts to bite in South Africa, the fish continue to bite KwaZulu-Natal’s warm waters. With its mild weather, the province has world-class fishing all year round with the greatest diversity of fishing opportunities in the country.
. Die Heldesaal - Fred Arbogast
Fred Aborgast se legende leef egter voort in sy aas wat vandag nog vervaardig en wêreldwyd suksesvol deur hengelaars gebruik word. Die maatskappy is vanjaar 94 jaar oud en is nogsteeds in bedryf.
. SA Baars se Mannenaweek 2024
Lanklaas het ek die dae so afgetel soos voor die afgelope mannenaweek. Elke jaar nooi SA Baars tydskrif ‘n paar manne, met dieselfde passie vir baarshengel, op ‘n mannenaweek. Ek vertel julle meer.
. Local Glide
Gly-ase is beslis ‘n aas wat in Amerika bekendheid verwerf het met die groot baars wat hengelaars daarmee kan vang.
DESTINATION
- KZN – A great catch when it comes to fishing tourism
- Ruby River Resort
INDUSTRY NEWS
- KastKing Presents Commemorative Gold-Plated iReel-2 to Skeet Reese
TOURNAMENT NEWS
- TBC Championship 2024
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. NEW – Crash course in bass fishing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
. Towing tip & Find a Word