Wild NTH NSW Bass

[vinny78]

This report is coming from the Mother-in-law's place as myself, Sarah and the kids are on holiday down here in Teven, northern NSW.
Anyone who knows this area would be aware of the many small streams and creeks that cut through this part of inland NTH NSW Coast, and Sarah's parents have one such creek running through their place out the back paddock. Sarah's mum was telling me how as a child she used to catch "Perch" out of these creeks with a 'Ned Kelly', so I was keen to get down there and catch what I knew would be Bass.
Since we'd flown down from Townsville with the kids- which meant bringing the pram, car seat etc etc, I hadn't bothered to bring along any fishing gear. My first challenge therefore, was to salvage a rod and reel from what the Father-in-law had lying around gathering dust in his shed. From the limited asortment of rods I chose a 3-5kg 6' spin rod that had as much meat in the butt as a surf rod. Beneath this I slung the only serviceable reel at my disposal- a nameless model Shimano reel which I doubt contains any metal components whatsoever because it casts like shit! It was haphazardly spooled with what I can only guess as 14-20lb YELLOW Fireline, and I pulled some mono of questionable integrity and unknown poundage from yet another 'plastic fantastic' reel (which was zip-tied to it's rod) for a leader.
With no lures suitable for Bass in sight, I scrounged around the bottom of the tackle box to thankfully find a jighead to match a couple of SP's I'd found earlier.
I was set for action so down to the creek I went, never doubting that the Bass were there, but I harboured small hope for the combo I was intending to catch them with. I looked loaded for Bear, not wild Bass. Sarah came with me as a guide.
It was mid afternoon when we reached the beaut little creek. Thick scrub grows on both banks so casting spots are limited. I planned to cast hard up against the opposite bank- well within the capability of any quality outfit- but an impossible feat for my Frankenstien combo! My first cast was appalling, falling well short of it's intended mark. On the second cast into a patch of shade !!WHAM!!, the SP was nailed on the drop! In shock I brought the fish to the bank, every second praying that the mono leader was upto the task. My first wild Bass! It was 34cmFL- I was stoked.
Fourth cast into the same patch of shade, a grating crank of the handle into the retrieve and I'm on again! I knew this was a better fish and an anxious second or two passed before I had the fish bankside. Only slightly better though at 37cmFL.
Throughout the rest of the arvo I must have caught about a dozen fish, none bigger than the first two though and in a very short stretch of the creek. There was thick weed growing in the water a meter or two out from the bank and I dropped maybe half a dozen fish in the weed during the fight.
Even Sarah got amongst it, catching her first wild Bass on lure.
So despite the Frankenstien combo leaving me wanting, it was a top afternoon. Here are the pics of the first two fish. We're here for a few more days yet so hopefully, if Frankenstien alows it, I'll post some more pics up of future sessions.

Cheers, Andrew.

[bru55el]

Hey Andrew, Great work mate.

The effort you went to just makes your first wild even sweeter.

Well done on making the best of what you had and succeding!!!

[Mark-P]

A tale well worth the read , thanks !

Mark

[Roo]

nice work Andrew, greedy little buggers aren't they!! the area your in is a pretty good bass fishery, lots of creeks to explore. well done on the Frankenstein gear!!
cheers Roo.

[bru55el]

I got relatives up in Alstonville. Think I might be taking a short drive down the hill next time I'm down that way!!!

[vinny78]

Thanks for the replies fellas.
Yeh, Roo, it sure is a healthy fishery down here. The creek I'm fishing is loaded with the little buggers.
I forgot to mention too that all the fish I caught were released for the future.

[bdowdy]

hi bud great report and some great fish , so when you heading back down that way make sure i get a call so i can come hey.....lol...lol..lol. thanks for showing mate cheers bdowdy..brett

[NAGG]

What a great read! ..... I love the Frankenstein reference

Nagg

[vinny78]

Went back again this afternoon and was outfished by the missus- what the!? Just little tackers though, no broken PB's today.

[bdowdy]

hi mate how many did you get this arvo, good on sarah you might have started something huge there now mate,cheers bdowdy...brett

[vinny78]

I dropped one in the weed and Sarah got a couple.

[vinny78]

Oh, and she's even got the "just one more cast" syndrome now!

[bdowdy]

ha ha thats awesome,great stuff mate talk soon bdowdy..brett

[Little grey men]

I really enjoyed reading that....wish I had a bass haven like that in my backyard.

[barra_mauler001]

Looks like a nice spot...
I love that surprise when out of nowhere something smashes your lure!
Great colour fish that first one too..
anyway thanks for sharing mate

barra