Clarrie and the 2 Garry’s
The 2 Gary’s tangling with some of Clarrie Hall’s finest offerings in the rain today. Nice one gents, well played 👌🎣
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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
Tweed River Kayak Bass Fishing Charter
Glen and Flo joined us today for a sweet morning session on the Tweed River in the kayaks. The boys caught fish on shallow divers and spinnerbaits, with most of the fish coming in the early morning. well done guys, a great trip!
Our Native Watercraft kayaks are the perfect vessels for targeting Bass amongst the snag piles in the skinny water. When casting at structure, kayak position is very important. The Propel Drive pedal system gives the angler the ability to fine tune their position on the water, thus enabling the angler to work the snag over from the desired angles. Hooking up in ‘tiger country’ can result in a big fish escaping back to its home. But with the Native Kayaks, instant back pedaling means the angler has better control over the fish.
Made in the USA the Slayer 10 Propel Native Watercraft are our kayak of choice in tight access waterways. Book a trip to try one today 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
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.
Bass Summer Session December 7
Had a cracker of a session out on the water today with Micheal. It was a slow start at first and the first few hours went by with only a few bumps. But someone must have flicked a switch because by at about 10am the fish turned on! Over the next few hours we landed 10 fish between us all but 2 in the mid 40’s. It was certainly a session to remember. Thanks Michael.
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
Kayak Fishing Charter, January 2, 2018
Despite our early start, our surface lures were not enticing enough to elicit a strike this morning. However we did notice that there were plenty of fish sounding up in certain areas of the dam. It was just a matter of cycling through a variety of baits and presentations to see what would work. Today the bass responded to both hard bodies and soft plastics. Tony did a fantastic job and managed to net 6 nice bass all between 38-42cm. Great stuff!
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!
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.
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
Clarrie Hall Charter Feb 11, 2017
What do you do when it’s too hot to go fishing?……”MAN UP GIRLY BOY” and go fishing anyway!! With temperatures forecast to reach the high 30’s/ low 40’s it was always going to be hot. So with plenty of sun protection and plenty of fluids Ned and I hit the dam nice and early. To make things more challenging, there was not a breath of wind until about 1pm so it was a little sticky to say the least.
With the surface temperature so warm we chose to give surface fishing a miss and immediately tied on the Jackalls. Although diving minnows appeared to be the lure of the day for Ned, my lures attracted no fish. Ned’s little Jackall swam and swam all over the dam and by the end of the day he had racked up a total of 10 fish! I, on the other hand couldn’t raise a fin. I flogged the water with the same Jackall lures but in every other colour variation than Neds lure. It seems he had the ‘go to lure’ for the day and it was the only one in the tackle box. This for me confirms the importance of colour. On this day it was clearly the difference between an abundance of fish or none.
Over the years I have noticed this particular colour consistently catches more fish. It has always been my favorite colour for cod and bass fishing, but today really highlighted just how dominant it can be! I am almost at the point where I could throw out all the lures in the tackle box and replace them with ……….. ones. Anyway it was a huge pleasure to show Ned around our beautiful dam and put him onto some nice bass. Especially on his birthday. …..Happy birthday Ned!!
Simon Fitzpatrick
Clarrie Hall Charter, January 3rd, 2017
After a long drought the heavens finally opened up last night. Parts of the Tweed Valley received 150mm of much needed rain. When Dave and I launched the Slayer kayaks on the dam this morning it was still drizzling. The overcast conditions remained with us all day which was a blessing compared to spending a day in the punishing sun. The low light conditions also provided an opportunity to fish closer to the surface.
Dave busily prospected using a variety of lures throughout the day. We fished the edges, we fished the surface and we fished out in the open. Fish could be seen on the sounder at all these locations around the dam. When the wind picked up a little we found a large school of bass on the sounder, suspended in the current created by the wind. We busily cycled through all that we had in out tackle box. We danced, slow rolled and trolled our offerings through the school, but the schooled up fish were simply not interested.
Using a variety of techniques and lures we caught a number of solid bass in various locations around the dam. The fishing was by no means easy, but with a little persistence, patience and know how, Clarrie once again offered up her gems 🙂
Simon Fitzpatrick
Clarrie Hall & Tweed River Charter, 1st January 2017
What better way to start the new year than a day fishing for our native Australian bass. Matthew, a bream tournament angler was eager to sample the bass fishing in the Northern Rivers. We were lucky to have some low light overcast conditions in the morning at Clarrie Hall Dam which often results in some surface luring action. At this time of year under such conditions popping sounds can be heard as the bass suck in frogs, bait fish and insects from the surface among the lilies. However today the bass were holding down deeper. Plenty of fish could be seen on the sounder out in the open water at varying depths. There was no shortage of fish to target with the finesse hard bodies that Matthew bought with him.
Matthew worked the edges of the weed with his lures and was stoked to land a couple of bass for the morning. With the sun inflicting its punishing rays upon us we opted for some lunch in the shade of the pines at Crams Farm. After lunch we fished the Tweed River. By this stage the temperature had reached mid to high 30’s and the water temperature in the river was like a warm bath. The water at the dam was crystal clear in contrast to the rivers murky soup. We worked our lures for hours on the river but didn’t get so much as a touch. The bass were obviously shut down in what must have been very challenging conditions for them.
The Tweed River has seen very little rain in 2016 and it is showing signs of stress. With little rain to flush the system nutrients can build up in a water body. This initially promotes vegetation and algae growth. But as water temperatures and turbidity increases this growth can die off. The microorganisms that assist in the decomposition process have a high oxygen demand. The decomposition process ultimately strips the water of oxygen. Turbidity reduces available light and therefore photosynthesis and productivity is further reduced. The hot spell we have been experiencing warms the water which in turn reduces the capacity of the water to carry dissolved oxygen. The combination of these processes often lowers pH levels too. Bass could be seen on the sounder but there was no way they were going to feed in the river.
The dam however looks great! The water was so clear that fishing with a light fluorocarbon leader of about 6lb is wise so as not to spook the fish. A stealthy approach is also necessary under these conditions to ensure the best results. Bass could often be seen as streaks on the sounder that would rise diagonally towards the kayak. When the bass spot a boat or kayak they rise to the vessel out of curiosity. Once they spot you however, they are unlikely to fall for your bait. They must have seen many anglers before and know to be cautious. So, long casts, light lines and a quiet approach should all be part of the plan at Clarrie Hall Dam.
Simon Fitzpatrick
Clarrie Hall Bass
Tweed River Fishing Charter October 8, 2016
The bass continued to bite well on the Tweed River today. Edward and Craig were more than happy to take advantage of the great weather and the hot bite. Using spinner-baits and diving minnows the boys racked up a respectable tally of bass between the two of them. Neither had caught bass before so it was a great introduction to our native fishery. Once again the Tweed river offered up its gems. Thanks for a great day gentlemen 🙂
Some of the fish had damage to their mouth parts which might be the result of injury caused from previous captures. If your intention is to catch and release, remember to flatten the barbs on your treble hooks. I like to snip one or two hooks off each of the treble hooks, just to reduce injuries to the fishes mouth parts and eyes. I don’t believe it significantly reduces your hook up rate.
Simon Fitzpatrick
Tweed River Fishing Charter October 4, 2016
Today was no ordinary fishing trip. Whilst paddling our way up the river we came across a calf in the water. It appeared the poor little fella couldn’t make its way up the steep river bank and we feared it would drown. So I jumped in the water to help it out. After lifting the calf out of the water and placing in on the river bank I realized it couldn’t stand. On further inspection I could see an umbilical cord still attached to its belly. I soon realized the mother cow must have recently birthed the calf in the river and it was yet to take its first steps. After a little encouragement the little calf stood on its back legs and eventually propped itself up on all fours. The calf was a little wobbly but immediately made its way over to me, presumably for a feed.
By shear stroke of luck Ray knew the property owner and he called the farmer and notified him of the calf’s dilemma. You’ll be happy to know that mother cow and calf have since been reunited and all is well. Now that’s a fishing trip with a difference! Oh and we caught some bass too 🙂
Thanks Ray.
Tweed River Charter September 27, 2016
An early start had us on the water by 6:30am. Pip and Thomas adapted quickly to their Slayer Propels and were soon stalking the bass among the snags. It wasn’t long before they both had a few takers. Fishing the snags in this river is always interesting because half the time the bass take the lure back into the snag before you even know you are “on”. Within a few hours we had tightened our drags to virtually ‘locked.’ Strong line and leader of about 10lb is necessary with this style of fishing and the locked drag seemed to do the trick. The boys managed about 20 bass between them today. An excellent tally for a mornings work.
Some of the fish had a ‘cloudy eye’, probably from encounters with treble hooks from a previous capture. Its a good idea to flatten the barbs with some pliers on all your lures especially when using 2 treble hooks. This greatly reduces the risk of injury, both to the fish and yourself. Staying connected to the fish need not be compromised as long as you keep a tight line.
Tweed River Charter September 13, 2016
Conditions were perfect out on the Tweed today; a slight breeze, some cloud cover and mild temperatures. Niya and Anthony were keen to enjoy the conditions. Anthony scored the first bass using a cast and retrieve technique. Niya was next on the score board with a feisty bass on the troll. The fish were certainly in the mood for food and all that was needed was good lure placement. Anthony ended the day with about 5 bass and Niya clocked up 2. An excellent effort considering neither had been bass fishing before. Well done!
First Day of Spring 2016
Lenore and Ben showed up this morning bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for action. We spent the best part of the morning at the dam. It was dead calm, not a breath of wind. The water was like glass and all around us the mountains were mirrored. After lunch we fished the Tweed River and managed a couple of feisty bass. Ben scored his first bass ever so it was smiles all round. Awesome day and great company. Thanks guys.
