[When we at QFM published Noel Frost’s May report, ‘Top spots for Samsonvale’, we left out the explanatory numbered points that refer to locations on the map. The following is the correct version of Noel’s article, along with some news on the latest catches at Samsonvale.]

MAY marked the start of the new boating access season at Lake Samsonvale, with new permits operating from May 4. At this time of year the bass fishing on the lake really starts to fire up, so this month we’ll look at some of the more consistent fishing spots around that part of the lake open to permit holders. Hopefully this will help some of the ‘new chums’ get into the fish sooner.

Fish stocks are on the increase in the lake, thanks to the efforts of the Pine Rivers Fish Management Association, so permit holders should be in for another cracker winter season. The following are some of the spots that are worth exploring [see map].

1. As you come out of the launch area into the main channel, the points on either side are worth a look. On the left hand side there is a deeper drop-off which consistently holds fish, so don’t rush past this on your way to ‘greener pastures’.

2. This area features the confluence of two creeks beds, resulting in some deeper holes and good structure. There is an SEQWater marker buoy in the middle of this bay, and this provides a good reference point. Following the old river bed from 1 to 2 will also produce fish.

3. A rocky bank on this side of the lake provides natural cover, so a quiet troll down this bank will often result in a hook-up or two.

4. Another SEQWater buoy is a good marker for this very productive area. Later in winter, this bay seems to hold good fish, and you could do a lot worse than just concentrating on this area

5. Between points 4 and 5, the riverbed makes some sharp turns which provide excellent structure for holding fish. This then leads to a steep ‘wall’ where the river runs close to the bank, with quite a steep drop-off. This has been a very productive area for bass in the past, but does tend to get overfished.

6. This large area is by far and away the best fishing spot in the whole boating access area. A group of submerged tree stumps, usually marked with a float, provide good cover for bass – although these tend to be smaller than the ‘horses’ which roam the open areas of the bay. Anchoring up on the structure and baitfishing with live shrimp will produce quantities of bass, while trolling around the bay will almost guarantee some 50cm-plus monsters.

Note that this area represents the downstream limit of the permit area, so take care not to stray outside the limit defined by the shore-based markers.

7. Working back upstream from the launch area, look for rocky shorelines which are likely to hold fish. The upstream sections are generally much shallower, but they still hold some interesting features.

8. This bay leads to an old bridge which is submerged at higher water levels. A deep hole under the bridge often produces, but low water levels of recent years have driven the fish into other areas.

9. In this section, the lake starts to narrow to the original river course. This tends to concentrate the fish, and can be quite productive at times.

10. From this point on you’ll be fishing in the river itself, and this is a good place to try early in the season. The beautiful scenery and tranquillity of this area make it well worth the trip, with fish a bonus. Lots of weeds and grassy banks are a feature of this end of the lake, so don’t be afraid to try different approaches such as soft plastics, spinnerbaits and so forth.

A sounder is important for locating much of the lake’s structure, and criss-crossing the river bed to locate fish schools is a good tactic. Using down rigs in some of the deeper areas is worth a try, too.

The new boating access permit season has kicked off well, with a lot on interest in the boating access scheme. The bass have arrived on cue, with some nice catches already boated. Large bass are regular fare, with one angler trolling up eight fish over 50cm from the same school. Interestingly, the early season bass are holding over the shallow weed banks, often in less than 3m of water. If catches from previous years are any indication, we expect the bass to move to deeper water over coming months.

There are still permits available for the scheme. Applications can be found at leading tackle stores, or contacting the Pine Rivers Fish Management Association at PO Box 131, Lawnton, QLD 4501, call 0417 742023,or email --e-mail address hidden-- .

Good luck to all permit holders, old and new, for the 2004/05 season.