Werribee river 12/12/2020

[happyfriggincamper]

Wasn't as on fire as sebb and only got 3. Big part of that was after sebb figuring out how they are being taken, trying to work through my tackle box until I found something similar to the sx40. Had a small random Berkeley flicker shad that was at least suspending and all catches came on that.

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The bottom fish was the biggest at 31.5cm - I'm not 100% sure but think it's a bass (if anyone can confirm)?

The bottom one is a Bass, I have been using Berkeley BB walking stick and basicly anything that suspends, you can get them off the surface during the day also, after about 7pm I change to deeper divers like Daiwa Double clutch, great session you had there

Thanks mate - what are the key identifiers for you on that fish? The "forehead" shape difference was too subtle for me on that fish to call it so I thought bass because I tend to *think* (from pics I've seen) they have more color in the eye vs EPs and the scale color/pattern is a bit more worn looking and not as consistent/sleek as the EPs (could be wrong on one or both of those as identification points).

[Seniorfisho]

Wasn't as on fire as sebb and only got 3. Big part of that was after sebb figuring out how they are being taken, trying to work through my tackle box until I found something similar to the sx40. Had a small random Berkeley flicker shad that was at least suspending and all catches came on that.

PXL_20201212_090626145_compress18.jpg

PXL_20201212_091952001_compress95.jpg

PXL_20201212_093211268_compress78.jpg

The bottom fish was the biggest at 31.5cm - I'm not 100% sure but think it's a bass (if anyone can confirm)?

The bottom one is a Bass, I have been using Berkeley BB walking stick and basicly anything that suspends, you can get them off the surface during the day also, after about 7pm I change to deeper divers like Daiwa Double clutch, great session you had there

Thanks mate - what are the key identifiers for you on that fish? The "forehead" shape difference was too subtle for me on that fish to call it so I thought bass because I tend to *think* (from pics I've seen) they have more color in the eye vs EPs and the scale color/pattern is a bit more worn looking and not as consistent/sleek as the EPs (could be wrong on one or both of those as identification points).

The things you mentioned are the identifying features, the red/orange color in the eye is the giveaway, there are Bass over 40cm there, you can see the difference more when they are bigger

[kingfisher]

Well done Sebb

[barra mick]

Thats fantastic fishing.

No better way to fish

[Davco19]

That's a great session Sebb.
Been fishing the river for a couple of months now all land based (soon to change. Pick up the kayak on friday) and the most I've had is 3 in a session (twice) with a best of 32cm. All on soft plastics except one on a cicada. Still searching for that elusive first Bass. Have found it worthwhile to explore the weed beds as well as the snags.
One thing though. My weedless jig heads work great in the weed but seem to hook every sunken branch and log even with the point tucked into the plastic.

[Seniorfisho]

That's a great session Sebb.
Been fishing the river for a couple of months now all land based (soon to change. Pick up the kayak on friday) and the most I've had is 3 in a session (twice) with a best of 32cm. All on soft plastics except one on a cicada. Still searching for that elusive first Bass. Have found it worthwhile to explore the weed beds as well as the snags.
One thing though. My weedless jig heads work great in the weed but seem to hook every sunken branch and log even with the point tucked into the plastic.

Weedless is exactly that, they are great for dragging through weeds but they sure do snag up to wood

[Sebb]

That's a great session Sebb.
Been fishing the river for a couple of months now all land based (soon to change. Pick up the kayak on friday) and the most I've had is 3 in a session (twice) with a best of 32cm. All on soft plastics except one on a cicada. Still searching for that elusive first Bass. Have found it worthwhile to explore the weed beds as well as the snags.
One thing though. My weedless jig heads work great in the weed but seem to hook every sunken branch and log even with the point tucked into the plastic.

There's plenty of that in the river. That could be the reason why they grow well in that river. A successful stocking program by the fisheries I'd say.

I fished there landbased last year and caught a few with similar way (cast as close possible to a structure and retrieve).

[Texas]

Great session Seb
After reading up on bass, the bigger models should be closer to the river mouth, as they don't grow large in the fresh.
What do you think ????
Cheers Gra

[Sebb]

Great session Seb
After reading up on bass, the bigger models should be closer to the river mouth, as they don't grow large in the fresh.
What do you think ????
Cheers Gra

I think it depends on the time of year. They move upstream downstream depends on water salinity, maybe clarity, and definitely breed/not breed. Where they live definitely impacting their growth rate etc.

Someone at a tackle shop told me once, during spawning season, EP move upstream and bass move downstream, so in one stretch we might come across both. Possible but unlikely as the fisheries been trying to keep bass east of Wilson Prom and EP west of Wilson Prom. Not 100% sure but sounds logical to me.

Until recently they announced of EP fingerlings stocked in Gippsland.

[Seniorfisho]

Great session Seb
After reading up on bass, the bigger models should be closer to the river mouth, as they don't grow large in the fresh.
What do you think ????
Cheers Gra

They were accidently stocked above the weir, some 40,000 of them. Some might have made their way to the salt but the majority are in the fresh both above and below the weir. There are some in there already in the low to mid 40's so the Bass are growing amazingly fast in the river