NE of the most exhilarating ways of
targeting any fish is via topwater.
The heart-in-mouth moment as your
lure sits motionless as wavelets ripple
outwards is about as exciting as fishing can get.
A strike is imminent – you just don’t know
when or where. This style of fishing provides a
sensory overload – you see, hear and feel the
fish. When it all comes together, it can leave
you breathless and shaking.
As summer kicks into full swing, the
insects are back on the wing (particularly
cicadas) and that perennial topwater target,
the Australian bass, is hunting. Now is the
best time to have a crack at some of thebest fishing on offer: topwater bassin’!
Aussie bass occur pretty much right up and
down the southern half of the east coast. Well
known as being one of the more aggressive
native species anglers can target, bass will have
a go at anything that can fit in their mouth.
Their massive swept tail can charge them at
blinding speeds towards lures. When a bass
strikes, you’re pretty much guaranteed to know
all about it. This is why fishermen can talk for
hours on end about their encounters with these
feisty sportfish.
These days the quickest way to confirm if
bass occur in your neck of the woods involves a
search on Google. Basically any freshwater
system stretching from the Mary River in
South East Queensland right down to
Gippsland Lakes in Victoria will hold pockets
of these iconic natives. A good tip is to never
discount a spot; I’ve found fish surviving in
creeks that you would be amazed to hold bass
populations. If that little stream or creek that
you drive over looks “fishy”, chances are it
probably is!
I personally love targeting surface bass in
smaller creeks and backwaters. You can
definitely catch them in stocked
impoundments on the surface, but the smaller
“sweetwater” locations provide real excitement
in regards to close quarters combat. Brutal
surface smashes and locked up drags are highly
addictive, let me tell you!
As with most fish, structure is vital in
locating bass. Always throw lures as close as
possible to fallen timber, submerged bouldersToo much top water action on bass is never enough!
KRIS SWERES is a bass addict and passes
on some handy tips he’s learnt from his time
targeting these great little natives
Topwater Bass
IMAGE: SHANE CHALKER.O
NATIVE SPORTFISH
78 | fishingworld.com.au | March 2015