Bass Fishing Magazine in South Africa
July 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
“Free State Fishing Conditions”
Image: Muhammed Kajee
FEATURES
. Crash course in bass fishing
Choosing the right bass fishing rod is crucial for success on the water. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a bass fishing rod.
. Smallmouth bass fishing in cold and muddy water
Seasonal migration patterns are driven by factors such as baitfish or forage movements, water temperature and various other factors.
. Electronics for South African Bass Fishing - Part 1
There is one golden rule that applies to any entry-level to lower mid-range fishifinder unit, regardless of how good they are...
. Where do bass go in the wintertime?
Winter is a weird and funny time of the year for me personally when it comes to tracking down bass that seemed so easy to find in the warmer months.
. The initial drop - A fall rate discussion
Bass anglers have more than a few options from which they can gauge underwater results to formulate a plan of attack, no matter the venue or conditions but still the actual mind of a bass remains an incomplete, unsolvable mystery.
. 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!
. Die A tot Z van karphengel: Winterhengel in die Vaaldam
Ons eerste oewerhengelartikel in hierdie reeks skop af met ‘n dag wat ek nie sommer sal vergeet nie.
. Quick winter bites
Just because your favourite spot was unproductive in the morning doesn’t mean it’ll be the same in the afternoon. Here are some fishing tips…
DESTINATION
- Ohana Fishermen Cabins
READERS COMPETITION
- Win a FishTec HD Fishing Chart valued at up to R4,000.oo!
INDUSTRY NEWS
- “Game Changer” Plug-and-play trolling motor rigging system
TOURNAMENT NEWS
- Cast-for-Cash Championship 2024
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. 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
January 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
5kg, Shaun Becker, Bloemfontein, OFS
Image: Shaun Becker
FEATURES
. Big bass basics
It’s every bass angler's dream to get into a large lunker-sized fish that can hardly get its head out of the water because of its size and gives your rod a good dose of the bends.
. Deep water structures - Part 1
Very few structures are more important to bass than drop-offs or ledges while depths are relative.
. 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!”
. Summer power Power fishing variations
Everyone loves power fishing in the summer and it’s easy to understand why. But what happens when all that action suddenly stops? Is that the end of our power fishing session?
. Catching that first bass Taking someone new bass fishing
It doesn’t matter what your commitment levels are towards bass angling but at the end of the day the one thing we all have in common is we love catching bass.
.Hengeltegnieke vir die somer
Om in die somer baars te hengel is beslis nie grappies nie en dit is belangrik om deeglik bewus te wees van die gevare wat baarshengel in die somer kan inhou.
. Die heldesaal - Forrest L. Wood
Die man met die groot hart wat nie net sy hart oopgemaak het vir baarshengelaars nie, maar ook vir die gemeenskappe rondom hom. Ek vertel julle meer van die hengellegende, Forrest L. Wood.
. Bassin’ in the shallows
Targeting bass in the shallows can produce some of the most exciting fishing any angler can hope for. Strikes tend to be ferocious and adding to the excitement is the fact that very often the angler can see the bass zooming in on the bait. It’s heart-stopping stuff.
. Driving with a loaded trailer - Part 3
Knowing how to tow a boat confidently and safely is a vital skill for any driver.
DESTINATION
- Green Thumb - ‘n Plaaslewe op sy beste
TOURNAMENT NEWS
. 2023 MLF Toyota Series Championship
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
December 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
3.210kg, Brandon Bennett, Boskop Dam, NW
Image: Darryn Peplar
FEATURES
. Choose only 5 baits
Which baits will you prefer if you only may choose 5 baits? Here is my selection if I need to choose my top 5 favourite baits and explain why?
. Eyes on the prize
When out on the water, how much do we really take note of? What are we actually looking at, where is the concentration being channelled?
. Early summer bass fishing
We can still catch fish in the shallows but hear me out.
. My "go-to" bait
In the USA jigs are called the “million dollar bait” for only one reason, they have made many professional anglers millionaires.
. Summer is here
The long days of summer are finally here! You have been dreaming about these hot days all winter but to be a successful bass angler at the high of summer is not as easy as you have hoped.
. Bass and birds - A bass insight into who eats who
The relationship between bass and birds is not really something most of us give much thought to. As bass anglers when we are in the zone and on the water, the last thing we think of doing is staring up into the sky and at the trees around us.
. Summer worming - Getting the most out of worms this summer
Through all types of weather scenarios and at nearly any venue, if you fishing with some profile of plastic worm you stand a good chance of catching a bass. Worms are easy to use or manipulate which makes them favourites for beginners and professionals alike.
. Rede tot kommer?
Kom ons kyk na ‘n paar van die gevaarlike bakterie wat alledaags om ons is en wat potensiële gevaar vir ons almal se gesondheid kan inhou.
. Die Heldesaal - Jimmy Houston
Jimmy Houston is een van die legendes in die baarswêreld waarna soveel hengelaars opkyk. Ek vertel julle meer oor die flambojante Jimmy Houston.
. Fishing in the rain
If you spend all the money and time to go fishing and it starts to rain... and you are soaked, cold and the bites are few in between, it will become one of those trips you don’t want to remember.
. Driving with a loaded trailer - Part 2
Knowing how to tow a boat confidently and safely is a vital skill for any driver.
DESTINATION
- Tranquil Bass Track and Trout
TOURNAMENT NEWS
. MLF Toyota Series Schedule 2024
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. Find-a-word
. Towing tip of the month
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
November 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
4.540kg, Jevan Schapira, Loskop Dam, MP
Image: Hannes Lindeque
FEATURES
. Understanding how territorial bass really are
When it comes to the question of how territorial are bass really it was obvious to me that this was one of those subjects that needed further investigation.
. Bassin’ in early summer
With the spawning beds vacated, the bass are in search of food, and wherever the food is, you will find action. The pattern will be determined by what time they feed − early morning, late morning, etc.
. Be different
If we only use baits and techniques available to every angler through the obvious channels of supply, then surely we will only be as successful as every other angler will be.
. Basic boat positioning
If we were more premeditated and precise with our boat positioning we would most definitely put more fish in the boat right?
. Die Heldesaal - Bill Dance
Ons kuier in Die Heldesaal by Bill Dance. Hy is beslis een van die voorlopers in die baarswêreld, en is in Amerika amper meer bekend as die president van die land self.
. Driving with a loaded trailer - Part 1
Knowing how to tow a boat confidently and safely is a vital skill for any driver.
INDUSTRY NEWS
. Garmin completes acquisition of JL Audio
DESTINATION
- Prime View Adventure and Leisure
- Ghost Mountain Inn
TOURNAMENT NEWS
.22 - MLF RSA National Championship 2023 - Loskop Dam
.26 - Tournaments for the 2023/24 season
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. Find-a-word
. Towing tip of the month
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa
October 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
4.175kg, Jannie Erasmus, Roodekopjes Dam, NW
Image: Hannes Lindeque
FEATURES
. Spawn season
I have broken it down into four simple groups which I feel is important and that has helped me catch a few good-sized bass.
. Structure versus cover
What is the difference between structure and cover, and how do you fish it? This is a question that anglers keep on asking.
. Obsessive addiction
Obsession means many things to many people. For some, it is something as simple and for others it is significantly more intangible...
. How to… fish frogs
The variety of plastic frogs available today is really impressive and anglers can choose from many different styles, colours and sizes.
. Catching Loskop giants
Do not make the mistake of thinking this is easy fishing. It is anything but easy and will test anyone’s skills in terms of boat control, accurate casting, and lure control.
. Cover combinations - Learning how to pick the better combo
When it comes to tackling cover combinations while out hunting down bass, more often than not we as bass anglers tend to lose the plot at times.
. My favourite seasonal pattern
It is a pattern that I preferred above all others, especially now during pre-spawn.
. Understanding depth - The keys to avoid fishing empty water
How often have we as bass anglers wondered to ourselves while fishing “Are there actually any bass here?” The answer will always vary from angler to angler but the truth of the matter is it happens quite regularly.
. Driving with a loaded trailer - Part 1
Knowing how to tow a boat confidently and safely is a vital skill for any driver.
. About Shaky Heads
It’s not really known as a "big fish bait" but from time to time it will proudest kicker fish.
. Die Heldesaal – Lauri Rapala
Ek dink nie daar is ‘n baarshengelaar wat nie iewers in sy viskas ‘n Rapala of twee het nie. Ek vertel julle graag meer oor Lauri Rapala.
INDUSTRY NEWS
- Mercury Marine’s Avator electric outboard.
DESTINATION
- Tachiro Hunting and Fishing
TOURNAMENT NEWS
- Tachiro Hunting and Fishing
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
. My Cast
. Readers-go-Bassing
. Op my houtbordjie
. Basics for beginners
. Towing tip of the month
. International Angling News
. Gear Up
. Water levels in South Africa