Bass Fishing Freshman

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Nate Salie

New member
hey guys, first timer here. a few of us are trying our luck at bass fishing for the first time up at the clanwilliam dam. i was told that its very similar to dropshotting. i've got a daiwa exceller 2500 spooled with 2-pound casting braid and a berkley lightning strike 6 footer.

please can someone advise on what assortment of lures i should get and perhaps even suggest the hot spots at the dam.

thanks a mil to those who reply.
 
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bandit365

New member
Clanwilliam is full of angry small mouth bass, you going to be in for fun and games.

 

and bassing is a little like dropshotting. as for the lures ect am not sure have not fisshed the dam but sure there are some guys tht can help. good luck am sure with a liitle help from the CT guys you going to have loads of fun

 

ask GT40 he is a CT  man :wfish
 
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Nate Salie

New member
shot bandit. i've heard that nothing beats a decent size bass on light tackle. really looking forward to it.

anyone with lure and hotspot tips?
 
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HennieS

Senior Member
Hi Nate

Let me share with you what I know about Clan, I dont fish the place on a regular basis but I did stay in CPT for 7 years before moving to Gauteng and during that time I did spend a lot of time on Clan.

I am not sure what the dam level is like but I am going to assume in the region of 50 - 60%. Firstly you will more than likely be faced with extremly clean water which bassically means two things, you have to fish light (Not more than 10 pound line) and you have to make long casts! Red seem to be a very good color on clan, jerk baits in natural colors with red hooks I prefer Rapala Suspending Husky Jerk. Everybody change their trebles with red treble hooks to give a bit more color. Also topwater baits, Zara Puppy, Poppers and Skeeter Pop.From a plastics point of view, Super Flukes,Baby Flukes,Fat Albert Grubs,Senko and 4" Ring worms seem to be most popular.

Flukes & Super Flukes - Watermelon, Watermelon Red & Green Pumpkin

Fat Albert Grubs - Watermelon, Green pumpkin

Senko - White, Watermelon red, Watermelon

Ring Worm - Balck with chartruese tail

You fish the above plastics on a mojo rig or a carolina rig, Carolina more than 10 feet of water mojo less than 10 feet of water.

From a spot point of view you will probably do best by sticking to points and bay's if you dont know the dam well. Straight accros from the launch there is a bay and the point on the right hand side have a huge amount of rocks comming out far, be carefull if the dam is high you might not be able to see them and can damage a boat badly. This point delivers consistantly.

A little further up on the right you will see a big bay with a sharp point comming out again, worth fishing this entire bay.

Further down you will find a big bay on you left again fish the points and half the bay, this is a spawning bank.

Then I will definetly give the river inlet a go, if the fish is there you will catch a lot and big fish, best would be to fish the visible structure at the river inlet and also small points and rocky banks.

Good luck and keep us posted!
 
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Nate Salie

New member
hey hennie, shot! you just sorted out my shopping list. sounds like i'll need a boat. was hoping to leave it at home and do some bank fishing as i've only got a bowrider - may be too noisy and difficult to move around for bass fishing.

regarding the tackle...i'm using a berkley lighting shock 6 foot with a daiwa exceller 3000 reeled with green 20 pound 0.18mm casting braid. you reckon i should change the line?

sound like i'll have to do some research on the different rigs used for bass.

thanks again. i'll defintely let you know how it goes.
 
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HennieS

Senior Member
I dont think you have to change the braid, just use a leader. Also use your boat the only time you will have a problem is with the wind! Something I forgot to mention is jigheads, you can fish all the plastics I mentioned on a jighead except for Super Fluke might be a bit big. Jighead fishing is actually the prefered method of plastic fishing, the guy's again color the heads red, seen a lot of red cutex on bass boats in the cape.
 
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Visverskrik

New member
Hennie's info is spot on, the inlet will not be that good with the current low water level though. Pearly white colour baits also works great. Good luck, awesome place to fish.
 
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Nate Salie

New member
hennie, about the jigheads. i believe you get them in different shapes and sizes. please advise on the range of jighead and normal hook sizes. tx.
 
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HennieS

Senior Member
I would go for 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jigheads, would use the 1/8 in shallower water and the 1/4 in deeper water. Don't forget to color the heads. You do need to fish deeper water every now and again where you might need a 1/2 ounce. If you have a fishfinder on your boat don be scared to scout for fish and if you find them chances is 90% it will be bass. When I fished this dam I used my electronics extensively! 
 
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Nate Salie

New member
sorry for the 20 questions...what about the hook sizes on the jigheads? and will i need normal hooks? if so, what sizes?
 
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HennieS

Senior Member
Nate

I believe hook size is a personal choice, would suggest you look at the plastics first and then decide what hook size will work for you. When fishing jigheads I prefer to look a the thickness of the hook rather than the size I prefer a thin VERY sharp hook.
 
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Nate Salie

New member
i've heard that bass strike very similar to a medium steenbras. so looking forward to it. i'll be happy to catch just one runner.
 
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