South Korea Bass Report 16.04.12

[Member]

This report comes with a bit of a difference to most on the Sweetwater Fishing site. As you probably realise by now it's not a report from the Sweetwater of Oz, instead it's from the fresh but ‘not so sweet’ water of Korea. At the moment I’m 4 weeks into a 5 week stint working in the city of Gunsan, in the Jeollebuk-do province of South Korea, a bit over 3hrs South of Seoul.

If I can’t be home in Brisvegas catching fish then I’ll do my best to catch fish wherever I am, this time in Korea. In the 4 weeks I’ve been here so far I’ve had a few quick flicks in the lake beside my hotel but without luck! Today I really needed my fishy-fix!!
I’ve heard there’s a few largemouth bass stocked in the lakes around Gunsan, living alongside some of the other noxious pests like carp, which Koreans seem to think are a great fish to catch...and eat....
This afternoon after work I drove to a local lake about 15mins from where I’m staying to give it a shot. I reached to the likely spot just as a fiery orange sunset was disappearing over the local rice patties.
I loaded my backpack with a few lures and the camera just in case and went for a flick.

First cast of a small minnow got me a tap from a miniature fish that followed my lure right back to the rocks at my feet.
That gave me some incentive, as did another small fish that smashed something off the surface within casting distance of where I was standing.  My second cast landed just past that spot, gave a few twitches and I had my first hook up. The little fella put up a respectable fight for his size, but I managed to land him without too much drama to claim my first ever bass in Korea.     And a quick pic for the album.
I manage to land 6 fish all told with the last one coming just as it got dark. I didn’t have a measure but the biggest would have struggled to make the 30cm mark i reckon. Never the less it was still a fun session and there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be back for a flick either before work in the morning or tomorrow arvo.
Hope you enjoyed...

Cheers DARC

 
 

[Member]

Pretty cool mate.  Weather doesn't look very pleasant for you.  Hope you enjoy your stay over there.

[Member]

How good is that

thanks for sharing.

[Member]

JUst goes to show, you can't catch fish without a lure in the water. Well done mate, it'll keep the need contained 'till you get back here.
John

[Member]

Yeah the weather isn’t the best Dale. Coming out of winter at the moment so it’s on the improve, and the days of sleet, snow and freezing winds are hopefully gone!

I couldn’t contain the urge to get back for a fish the last couple of days after work so I went flicking the banks yesterday and got a mix of 9 small and average bass with the biggest probably just over 30cm.

The small bass were on the chew again today just as the sun was setting and I managed 4 little fellas. First cast at the next point came with a shock....I got smashed by something that made my drag scream more than any of the little bass I had been catching!! Turned out to be what I think was a type of giant herring. It put up a great fight and even jumped clear of the water once trying to spit the hooks.  It was also challenge at the bank to with no net or lip grips. Got the 2 pics I’ve attached and let her swim away, tired but healthy.
I still can’t stop smiling!! It was AWESOME!!

I’m not sure what type of fish it was exactly but I’ll ask the blokes at work tomorrow for the Korean name and I’ll measure the mark I put on my rod to see how long it was.

Cheers  DARC

[Member]

Wow, weird lookin' fish.  Cool capture mate.

[Member]

Cool fish it is a Cyprinid, Chanodichthys erythropterus the Predatory Carp.

[Member]

  Thanks for the help there Elops, thats what it is alright....a dirty stinkin carp!   

A local guy at work here tried to tell me it was a "beddy beddy beddy big bass"   As soon as he told me that I knew not to ask him for fish identification tips again!!