Kurper Connection

[Chrisenthran]

Howzit guys,

I've read several times in these forums how kurper, in their myriad forms, are the main forage for bass in many of our dams. I've found that between imitating kurper, juvenile bass and crabs I'm pretty much set most of the time. The only exception would be Florida Lake i guess, that place is full to the brim of those perch.

What i cant seem to find is really in-depth information on kurper(all info is generally related to catching them). I tried searching, but couldn't find any real information about when and where they spawn, their habits when young through to adult sizes and such. I know kurper like vegetation and warm water, but that's about as far as my experience with them goes.

Any info from the seasoned veterans would be helpful.

PS.  It's such a petty that all the old photos in posts are unavailable.

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Okay i managed to find some interesting stuff posted several years ago, http://www.bassfishing.co.za/thread-7709...ght=kurper

Great info. Please feel free to add any of your own experiences or information.

[Gary Myburgh]

Kurper bread in the spring. The males make nests similar to bass, but in muddy areas. The Kurper fry start out very small and are protected by the males. There are actually quite a few species. The most common is probably the canary kurper, which looks a bit like a bass ito colouring. Other species include the vlei, red breast and blue kurpers . All of them seem to prefer sheltered bays with muddy bottoms , especially if there is also some vegetation. You will sometimes also find them along rip rap (dam walls, etc). Most of them can be successfully imitated with a natural shad or female bluegill coloured crank, although hot colours do vary a bit from dam to dam and also according to water clarity.
Note that bass also eat other species including carp, mudfish and assorted small baitfish species. Most of these can also successfully be imitated with a natural silvery or goldish crank/minnow - ideally with a dark back - i.e. there should be some contrast.
In some waters a perch colour works well. This is partly because of the presence of Perch and partly because a barb which has strong perch type colouration occurs in some lowveld water systems.
I hope this helps.