GEAR UP FOR BASS

Australian bass are one of our country’s most popular and iconic sport fish. For this reason, there are an abundance of educational articles and videos focussed on this species. Surprisingly, very few of those resources detail the essential tackle beginners require to successfully target bass in our lakes and dams. This often leaves newcomers to impoundment bass fishing guessing what tackle they may need and might be successful, sometimes resulting in unnecessary purchases. This article looks to equip the novice bass fisho with the skills to purchase reliable lures and highlight the skills required to use them.

The following 10 lures should be in the tackle box of any beginner bass angler.

SPOONS

The reason so many anglers value this lure is simple; it’s extremely versatile.

Through the summer months, bass tend to become inactive and sluggish. In these conditions, one of the only ways to tempt them is to use a fast retrieval. This mocks a fleeing baitfish, which often triggers the feeding instinct of the fish. For future reference, this retrieve is known as a “burn”.

Using a “burning” retrieve, a spoon of at least 30 or 40 grams in weight is optimal. Some anglers will use