Keen for Clarrie
Despite constant showers, a stiff wind and an early start, Talya and Campbell showed up bright eyed and ready for adventure! The Sydney couple had chosen to spend Christmas/New Year in the Northern Rivers and were keen to learn as much about Bass fishing as they could.
We started the session with some fly casting lessons on the grass before heading in the boat. Out on the lake we explored techniques using soft plastics, skirted jigs and crank baits. As their new found skills increased it was only a matter of time before the first fish was boated. Campbells rod was the first to buckle over as a chunky Bass made a bid for it’s freedom.
It’s so great to see such appreciation and passion for life. Good times when you can catch fish like this your first time Bass fishing! Thanks for a great day on the water Talya and Campbell. Such a pleasure to guide enthusiastic folks like you two 😊
Nothing Like a Native Watercraft
Ray joined us today to test our Native Watercraft Kayaks. Ray is looking to upgrade his fishing yak and was keen to test out the performance of our Slayer 10 Propels. I have been using these kayaks on our charters for over 5 years now and I have found the Slayers to be the ideal vessels for fishing those hard to access remote areas.
The Slayer 10’s are light enough to easily unload from the car and carried to the eaters edge. Using the unique pedal/propeller system, they can be pedaled forwards or backwards quietly with the feet and the hands are left free to concentrate on the fishing. They travel fast, track straight and turn on a dime when you need them to.
The Propel drive system is made from marine grade aluminium and stainless steel and powered by an aluminium propeller. The kayaker is able to pedal either forwards or backwards in an instant without having to pull a string or even lift a finger. This ability to maneuver both forwards and backwards, hands free, cannot be underestimated when it comes to pulling fish like Bass away from structure.
Most kayaks have the angler sitting awkwardly at water level. The Native Watercraft Slayer 10 Propels have elevated seating, providing an arm chair ride to the days fishing. They are fully adjustable and offer an elevated prospective which helps gain insight into the water you are fishing.
Needless to say, Ray was suitably impressed with the versatility and comfort of the Native Watercraft kayaks. He even managed to catch a number of healthy Tweed River Bass in the process.
Book your charter with us on a Native Watercraft Kayak or our Quintrex Boat today on 0409 760 380
Book Your Fishing Trip Today
We are now taking bookings for November and the Christmas/New Year period. To book you freshwater fishing trip in Northern NSW call/msg Simon on 0409 760 380
September is Bass O’Clock
September is prime time to book your bass fishing trip in the Northern Rivers. As the water warms, so does the metabolism of our local native sportfish, the Australian Bass. Spawning time has ended and they are again ready to feed.
The Tweed River is looking particularly good. Last year the drought dictated low flows and the river was choked with weed. This year, good rainfall over winter has flushed away the weed and the water is clear and begging to be fished.
Clarrie Hall Dam is also looking good. The dam is 100% full and crystal clear. The average size of the larger Bass (42cm) is bigger than it has been in years, possibly ever! And as always, the condition of these fish is outstanding. Clarrie Hall Bass are fit, vibrant and full of lustre. I can’t recall ever seeing a Clarrie Bass with a parasite. And boy can they pull some string!!
If Bass on fly or lure are on your bucket list, September is the time to get it done. Message me or give me a call, dates are filling up fast 0409 760 380.
-Simon Fitzpatrick, Northern Rivers Sportfishing
New England Comes Alive
After drought, bush fires, fish kills and floods its great to see #newengland still producing quality fish! Today Harry guided Chrissy onto some crackers including this well conditioned 89cm cod. Surface lures throughout the day accounting for all the fish. Happy days 😃 #northernriverssportfishing #shimano #shimanoaustralia #shimanofishing #gloomis #fishshimano #powerpro #environet #stradic
Bass Tactics
Today’s mission was to guide Glenn and Helda onto their first Bass on fly. Heading out on the water the plan was to focus on all the usual areas one would expect to catch fish. Looking at the sounder, the fish were holding in around 5m of water. The boys diligently stripped their flies past the suspended arches, but the Bass were playing hard to get. We cycled through the fly box but the fish just appeared to be ignoring our offerings.
Like other native fish, Bass can be active and hungry one day and shut down the next. After weeks of northerly winds, a cool change had arrived the night before and the wind was now blowing from the south. Recognizing that the changed conditions may be dictating the mood of the fish, we changed our tactics. The boys picked up the spin gear and threw skirted jigs out among the fish. We could see the Bass following the jigs on the sounder, but again they wouldn’t commit to the bite.
Again, switching tactics we tried crank baits. Sometimes a more aggressive bait is needed to trigger a response. But that response never came. After exhausting a number of other lures in the tackle box we finally succumbed to trolling. Whilst not the preferred method, trolling is one of the most productive methods. It wasn’t long before Glenn hooked up his first bass on the troll. He finished the day with 3 more.
Bass fishing is a challenging sport. Catching Bass consistently on any given day is like cracking a code. You will need to draw upon all your past experience, ingenuity, tenacity and plenty of luck. But the rewards are certainly worth it.
Time to OzFish
OzFish Tweed River Chapter members Tom, Jake and Simon spent some quality time on the water today chasing bass. The fish are growing noticeably bigger and fatter in the dam which is a great sign there is ample resources for the fish. We encountered two 45cm bass today which were as big as any I have seen in these waters. Happy days.
Bass Season is Open!
This kid can fish! Flying up from Tasmania especially for this trip, Lucas an his Mum were on a mission to add a new species to his bucket list. Luckily Lucas is just as skillful with a fly rod in his hand as he is with a spin rod. The mission was accomplished when Lucas boated his first Australian Bass on a diving minnow. True to his form he followed up with another 2. His efforts are a credit to his passion for fishing and his mothers dedication to her boy. Congratulations to you both!
Winter Bass
Winter time often means picture postcard days at Clarrie Hall Dam. Today bright blue skies held the mountains and the lush green lilies that fringe the lake margins. The cooler water temperature at this time of year requires slower bait presentations to spark the interest of the bass. Adding plenty of scent to the lure and slowing down the retrieve is the key. Even ‘dead sticking soft plastic can work wonders, with very small movements triggering the ever watchful bass into striking. Right from the start Marie mastered this technique and connected with a number of fish throughout the day. Marie’s first bass ever was a very fat & healthy 40cm specimen. Well done and thanks for a great day!
Kayaking with Keanu
If only more kids were like Keanu who takes every opportunity to wet a line. In this modern era of ‘i-gizmos’ and ‘x-amathingies’ its great to meet young folk that would much prefer to go fishing than stagnate in front of a screen. Keanu, an NDIS participant, insisted on a fly casting lesson too. His dedication to master all aspects of this sport is inspirational! More tackle boxes and less x-boxes people!
Starlo Goes Northern Rivers Sportfishing
Perhaps it was Rex Hunts Fishing World where Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling first made his TV appearance and became a well known fishing identity. Since then he has written countless articles, blogs and books and appeared on any number of fishing and outdoor adventure shows, both in Australia and overseas. For more than 30 years now Starlo has been one of Australia’s most respected recreational anglers. So when he first contacted me to go fishing I was more than a little excited.
The plan was to film 3 fishing stories for 3 episodes of the Offroad Adventure Show. As a fishing guide I often feel the pressure to deliver to my clients, but this time the pressure was really on! However I had a few things on my side. First I knew that the scenery of the Northern Rivers would no doubt provide enough natural beauty for the cameras. Second, I knew that if anyone was going to catch a fish it would be Starlo. Boy was I right.
On the first day of filming Starlo, his lovely wife Jo, Shaun the producer and myself headed straight for Clarrie Hall Dam. As always Clarrie strutted her stuff for the cameras and put on a stunning display of misty mountains, blue skies and lush green lily pads. Jo Starling is an accomplished angler in her own right too and turns out she is an avid fly fisher woman. We hit it off immediately. The idea was to get Jo her first Australian bass on fly. It wasn’t long before Jo’s rod buckled over as she skillfully arm wrestled a solid bass away from the weed. Moments later she was holding up her first bass on fly for the camera.
Meanwhile Starlo worked the lakes margins from the Slayer 10 Propel kayak. Steve is no stranger to the Native Watercraft as he owns a few of these boats too. He commented how this type of kayak is ideal for Clarrie Hall because once hooked up he could just start pedaling in reverse and pull the bass away from the weed. When the first bass for the day snatched his offering, Starlo demonstrated just that. He too was amazed at the pulling power of these Clarrie bass. The day was off to a great start.
By 10:30am the sun had climbed above the mountains and burnt off the mist. The bite had slowed and so we headed for the river. I took us to a part of the river where I had caught bass the day before. Starlo and I fished the run out tide from the Slayer kayaks. But do you think I could land a fish? But that was no problem, because Starlo caught enough for both of us. By 2pm Steve had tallied 2 fat bass, 3 flathead and a bream. All of us had smiles from ear to ear. It was only mid afternoon on the first day and we already had our 3 stories!
Day 2 we returned to Clarrie for more action. Starlo hooked up to 2 cracking pocket rockets but they jumped off at the side of the boat. After getting her first taste of bass on fly the day before, Jo decided she wanted more……so more it was. Jo did a fantastic job teasing out the bass from edges of the lilies with her bass vampire fly. She experienced several hits and by mornings end she had scored another 2 or 3 beautiful Northern Rivers bass.
Over the brief 2 day period the Starlings visited Murwillumbah, mother nature really turned it on for us. The bird life and the fish, the water dragons and goannas all came out to greet us. And at the end of the day we drank cold beer and sat watching lightening crack over cane fields and we laughed and said that this is Australia.
– Simon Fitzpatrick , Northern Rivers Sportfishing
Bass Fishin Mission
Visiting ‘ofishionardos’ from the UK worked hard for their fish but the rewards were all the more sweet!
#tweedriverfishing, #goldcoastfishing, #shimanofish, #catana, #nexave, #squidgies, #powerpro
Trees for Fish Day
Mother nature always gives freely and asks for nothing in return so it is always great to give something back. Yesterday I helped plant 400 trees on the banks of the Tweed River. Some native fish rely on river bank vegetation to provide up to 40% of their diet! Insects, frogs, lizards, birds and other fish are all attracted to this type of habitat so it is important we replant areas that have been cleared. OzFish Tweed River Chapter is dedicated to doing just that and also aims to undertake all types of projects that improve fish habitat in the Tweed Valley.
Of course I never miss an opportunity to wet a line so it was great to get out on the water afterwards and hook up a few bass. The river looks good but could certainly do with a flush of rain to wash away the weed that is floating throughout the water column. Nevertheless we had a great day! Looking forward to the coming warm weather, the insect life and the surface bites it will bring 😉
OzFish Tweed River Chapter is looking for volunteers. If you are interested in helping restore fish habitat we would love to hear from you! Email ozfishtweedriver@gmail.com
Lake Fishing Charter 1st Feb, 2018
The “pressure is on” when one fishing guide hires another fishing guide to go fishing. Especially when the customer is an expert guide such as Rohan Soulsby from Top End Barra Fishing. Rohan operates his charters from Darwin targeting iconic species such as the mighty Barramundi, GT’s, Queenfish and Golden Snapper. So it was fantastic to see Rohan’s enthusiasm and appreciation for our southern native species. Out on the water this morning Rohan connected with plenty of bass, three of which were around the 40cm mark. I felt the pressure easing with each fish that hit the net. Clarrie Hall had done me proud again.
Thanks for a great trip Rohan. I look forward to visiting up your way for a fishing trip soon……no pressure mate 😉
Bass Fishing Trip January 27, 2018
The bass fishing was consistent today with plenty of fish moving around and feeding on the surface. Popping sounds could be heard throughout the morning as the bass inhaled small bait-fish at the surface under the lily pads. Robs small diving minnow lure was certainly the flavor of the morning, drawing at least a dozen strikes from some aggressive fish. Rob managed to stay connected to at least half of them, finishing the morning with a very respectable tally. Thanks Rob for a great bass fishing session!
Bass Fishing Charter, December 22, 2017
An early start saw Conrad and I loading up the kayaks with tackle and disappear onto the lake covered in mist. As usual the bass were feeding early under the cover of the low light conditions. It wasn’t long before Conrad opened his account when a small bass snaffled his shallow running minnow. His very next cast connected with a much bigger specimen. It never ceases to amaze me how hard these fish fight for their size, and the protest this fish put up was no exception to the rule. Once netted the bass measured 42cm to the fork, which is about as big as they grow in this waterway.
Conrad managed to land another bass for the morning before the sun burnt through the mist and penetrated the cool clear water. With no cloud and no wind, conditions were hot and the water was glassy calm. Ideal conditions would include cloud cover and some wind, which tends to bring the fish out from under the security of the lily pads and into the open where they feed in the current. Today, the still conditions provided some truly awe inspiring scenery, but the fish went off the bite. None the less, it was another great morning out on Clarrie Hall.
Clarrie is Looking Good!
The water at Clarrie Hall has now cleared and the dam is now looking fantastic. Much of the cabomba weed is gone which makes the fishing much easier. You can now work your lures right along the edges of the lilies without fear of having the lure covered in weed. The bass could be heard feeding on the surface which makes surface luring around the pads a great option. Today I caught bass hopping a mumbler across the bottom and also found bass by retrieving lipless crankbaits. It is great to see Clarrie firing once again!
Tweed River Fishing Charter, October 9, 2017
Andrew and I enjoyed a great days fishing the Tweed River for bass. Andrew had never caught a bass before and it wasn’t long before he nailed his first on a cicada surface lure. His second fell for the same trap soon after. As the sun rose we switched to deeper divers and the bass continued to bite. Another 4 or 5 fish were netted before the sun made an appearance from behind the clouds and the bite slowed down. Andrew still managed another couple of bass before we called it a day. Andrew finished the morning with about 8 nice bass and a smile from ear to ear. Thanks for a great day!
Tying The Donnie Brasco Fly
If you love fly fishing for Australian native fish and are looking for a good fly this spring, look no further than the Donnie Brasco Fly. This is a great all rounder fly for species such as golden perch that school up in our impoundments over springtime. Also with bass season now open, this fly is bound to tempt a bass or two.
This fly can be tied in a variety of sizes. A good starting point for bass and golden perch would be to tie on a 1/0 hook. Larger hooks up to 4/0 would be ideal for Murray cod when summer rolls around. Both the body and tail of the Donnie Brasco Fly consist of rabbit fur. This material is well known for its fish enticing action. When retrieving the fly with short sharp strips, rabbit fur tends to pulsate in the water, closely resembling the movement of a fishes fins.
Black and purple are proven colours when it comes to attracting Australian native fish. By tying on a purple tail and a black body you have a very versatile fly for both clear and turbid water. More often that not I tie in a weed guard too. By tying a double loop weed guard you can work the fly right in among the structure without snagging up too often. The weed guard shown in the video offers good snag resistance whilst collapsing easily when a fish bites.
Tight lines
Simon Fitzpatrick
August 14 Tweed River Charter
A few bass continue to show up through the month of August. Today Melle and Kim worked their lures diligently along the edges of the snags and were rewarded for their efforts. Another couple of weeks and this freshwater section of the Tweed River will be absolutely teaming with bass as they return from their spawning run. September is the best month for bass fishing by far!!! Now is the time to book your charter.
Clarrie Hall and Tweed River Update
It has now been 4 months since the floods in March and Clarrie Hall Dam is still undergoing some change. The water is still coffee coloured but this will likely have a positive effect on the lake. It could be said that impoundments are in a constant cycle consisting of boom and bust phases. Clarrie Hall is probably in the latter phase now. My theory is that the elevated water levels and turbidity during the floods has cut off the cabomba weeds light source. Subsequently there has been a major die back of this invasive weed. The die off of the weed probably led to more turbidity which in turn caused more weeds to die. A kind of positive feedback loop. Hence 4 months later the dam is still turbid.
The good news is that much of the cabomba weed is now dead. This has exposed the edge of the lily pads making lure fishing a much easier proposition. The die back of the cabomba has also made access easier in a number of places including the boat ramp area which was previously choked with weed. The lily pads have had a bit of a shake up too and now there are gaps between the pads where anglers can swim a bait.
The Tweed River has also undergone some change. There has been some extensive erosion on the river bank where riparian vegetation has been removed for farming…..no surprises there. (River bank planting in these areas is desperately needed to stop erosion and siltation of the river.) However I was very pleased to see numerous new snags in the river. Some of these snags are absolute rippers and will no doubt hold good numbers of bass. On a charter yesterday Dan had some success fishing these snags with a Donny Brasco fly. On a number of occasions the bass appeared to be only sideswiping the fly but Dan managed to connect with a couple of nice fish. When the bass return from their spawning run in September there should be plenty of action to look forward too around these new snags!
Lake and River Charter March 12, 2017
We arrived at the dam at 7am ready for action. As we were unpacking the gear the natural beauty of our surrounds demanded our attention. The mist slowly rising from the lake, revealing lotus flowers in the morning light. I heard someone comment “just being here was worth it already”. It is always such a pleasure to hear people appreciate the natural beauty of this wetland as much as I do. My job was already done and we hadn’t even wet a line yet.
The 5 of us diligently peppered the lake with our lures throughout the morning. We cycled through a number of different presentations, altering our retrieves and changing lures. But we had no bites at all. The water at Clarrie Hall is currently very turbid. I haven’t seen it this colour before and I am not sure what has caused the turbidity. With no significant recent rainfall, the discolouration it is likely due to an algal bloom. These events can strip the water of oxygen leaving the bass lethargic and unwilling to eat. High temperatures alone also decrease dissolved oxygen levels and may have resulted in a die off of some aquatic weed. This could further exasperate the issue. Either way the fish were certainly ‘off the chew’ so we decided to head for the river.
It was good to see the Tweed had recovered from its previous turbid and somewhat stagnant state. There had been just enough rain to flush the system and it looked great. Using spinnerbaits and hard bodies the boys worked all likely looking snags. By 5pm the boys had caught about 10 bass between them. They worked hard for their fish and deserved every one of them. Their enthusiasm, appreciation and help throughout the day was awesome. Days like this its a real privilege to be a guide. You guys are welcome back anytime!
Simon
Hinze Dam Feb 16, 2017
Tom showed up keen as mustard ready to fish Hinze Dam for the first time. The weather had cooled since the previous days, so conditions were very pleasant out on the water. First up we headed straight for a nice looking bay where we fished the surface for saratoga. Tom tied on a popper and it wasn’t long before he had his first inquiry. The toga snaffled the lure on the pause, jumped a few times and spat the hook. Saratoga have hard mouths and throw violent head shakes when they jump, so staying connected with a toga is a volatile thing. I have heard many say “expect to land about 1 in 5 toga hook ups.”
We continued to fish the area but with no luck we decided to tie on spinnerbaits and fish the structure. We fished the edges of the timber where plenty of fish were identified on the sounder. But with no wind the fish just didn’t appear to be feeding. I threw everything I had in the tackle box at them but the bass were very tight lipped. In the afternoon the wind picked up but it appeared to make little difference. The bass were there but just not interested
As the shadows grew longer towards the end of the day we came across a school of bass that were keen to play. Both Tom and I had several hits from the school and we landed a fish each. We certainly worked hard for those 2 fish and we were very happy to take a couple of photos and release them to fight another day. Hinze Dam is a beautiful place and a valuable fishery. I can’t wait to get back there soon.
Spinnerbait Me!
Spinnerbaits would have to be one of the most versatile lures for Australian native fish. Bass, cod, saratoga, yellow belly and sooty grunter all love ’em. They can be worked horizontally, vertically, deep, shallow and are quite snag resistant. When fishing heavy structure many other lures would see you snagged up again and again when trying to present the bait to the fish. Fish will often strike after the lure has hit some structure, so it is best to get the lure right into ‘tiger country.’ The spinnerbait design allows you to clank and clang the lure right in among the timber, with only the occasional snag-up. A tackle retriever such as a Tackle Back will help you ‘de-snag’ and about 9 times out of 10 you should get your lure back.
Today after a solid 2 hours fishing the surface I finally conceded that the surface temperature of 30 degrees was just too warm for the bass. Out deeper the bass could be seen on the sounder at around 7-8m holding tight to the sunken trees in the dam. There appeared to be a thermocline at around 6m and the bass were consistently sitting just below it. Using a 5/8 spinnebait I would cast and allow the bait to sink whilst counting to 12. This put the lure right in the strike zone. A steady roll back to the boat was enough to entice a number of bass. I landed 6 fish up to 40cm and had several other hits. I had a stinger hook on so it appeared that the fish were hitting the blades.
Happy days.
Simon Fitzpatrick
