Summer Bassing at last!

[Jim_Tait]

Had generated a hit list of must do summer bassing spots back in late winter while dreaming of warmer weather and procrastinating from report writing by doing virtual low altitude fly overs of the local River basin on Google Earth.  Problem was once summer got here we've been under water or getting washed away for a lot of it and the creeks have been high and dirty and the bass shut down.

However, last week was high pressure weather systems, clear blue skies (except up north of course), hot days - lower clear base flows in the creek and cicada choruses - ticked all my boxes, time was ripe to look at the ol hit list!  Saturday was spent with family at the beach - gaining credit for a father and son escape Sunday to a part of the upper Richmond River basin I always wanted to explore.

Truth be known, the prospect of coming across an Eastern Cod for my son Jules was part of the motivation for going there - but as it turns out we found none - but we did find bass, landed ten in all from mid 30's to 42 cm, canoing about 4.5km betyween 2:45 - 7.00pm. My soneJules got the biggest (typical) - almost all were caught on spinerbaits except one caught on a trout spinner Jules was using (sucessfully) to lure freshwater herring (there is another report in our recent herring exploits!)

We had a great day joking, singing, Laughing, talking BS, catching fish and pulling up for bankside picnic breaks when we felt like it. Was very impressed with this new bit of water - now want to keep on exploring the system further downstream!- Regards Jim

[Jim_Tait]

Few more pics

[takrat]

Nice going Jim, nothing like being out in that country with your young 'n. MOst of us have been similarly displeased with the weather. looks like the pick of the crop is well upstream.
Cheers.
JD

[Dick Pasfield]

Good stuff Jim, a day on the water with your son is gold.  


btw you're looking pretty domesticated there, or is the hair just tucked up underneath the hat

[A Marshall]

Nice way to spend a Sunday arvo Jim
Daniel usually outfishes me too, but I reckon it's the good guiding.

Cheers Andrew

[Jim_Tait]

Dick,

thats what hats (& hair ties) are for ,  BTW you can talk Pasfield I see you hair has hit you collar again  , off to the barber for you if your not going to scare your rural NRM clients !

Andrew, agreed ! I always claim the good guiding as well, but I'm getting stumped when the young fella goes off and scores big fish by himself

JD, have noted a couple of times when I've charged downstream to larger stream reaches to find the bigger bass - that they're not always as big as the ones I'm finding in the skinny water at the top of the catchment at least during the height of summer - must behave a bit like Jungle Perch - always found the big hen fish Jps at the top of the catchment too!