Black Bass Fishing Is Hard!

When it all comes together, the results can be spectacular!

In preperation for the the 2025 Lake Murray season kicking off one of the most challenging things to remember when fishing for black bass isn't about tackle or techniques, it's about setting expectations.

Your once in a lifetime trip is closing in, you've spent years dreaming about it, months prepping tackle and probably weeks watching YouTube videos of people slamming monster bass hand over fist on topwater lures all set to an epic soundtrack....

Soon that's going to be you right!?

Well you're travelling to a developing country, so you might want to arrive early because Air Niugini aint exactly Emirates!

Oh geez it's hot, really hot and we're going how far into the jungle?! Do they have air-con?

How can it be so hot while at the same time have torrential rain? Oh and the rain makes the river muddy, great! So where are the fish now?! Let's head to a different river and try that, how far away is it? Ohhh.....

Ahh nice cool breeze while cruising past villages, wildlife, and waving to the locals in their dugout canoes, now this is liven'! Let's crack a beer!

Finally some clear water and there's fish on the sounder, jackpot! But while enjoying the boat ride and a beverage you forgot your suncream and you're now roasted, ouuuuchhhh.....

Chuck a line in and start to troll..... SNAGGED!

Then another, then another..

There goes your favourite lure and you're the only one in the boat that hasn't landed a fish! The clock is ticking, it's day two and you're already tired, cranky, sunburnt and oops! SNAGGED AGAIN!

Black bass fishing is hard enough, so don't be hard on yourself!

We recommend setting yourself the goal of landing your first-ever black bass. That's it.

Everything after that is a bonus, and there will be no shortage of those!

These photos are from an extremely tough 10 days of fishing in a flooded, early season Lake Murray.

It was tough, really tough, and hot, and hard, and wet...

But looking at the photos, does it look like we enjoyed ourselves?!

Hell yeah!

Our advice, aim for that black bass tick on your bucket list, then fill your bucket with everything that goes along with it!

Good luck to all our Lake Murray anglers for 2025, we can't wait to see plenty of overflowing buckets and of course, plenty of BIG BASS!