Confused - New to River Fishing for Bass

[mlock]

I've been on the water about 6 times in the past month, which is the first month I've had my boat. So I am certainly new to fishing the river in general. Im finding that it is a much different ball game than lake fishing. In the past I have always had luck, fishing sense, skill, etc, .... in other words I've never had much trouble catching bass, plenty of them and size. But Im am certainly at the point to where I say I am totally confused. I've been trying everything. Jigs, worms, spinnerbaits, cranks, jerks, flukes, craws, plastics galore....different colors in all, different depths, varying retrieves. Nothing. Well literally a 4-5 bass...one keeper. I've fished deep, shallow, structure, isolated structure, points, you name it. Im technical as it is but you gotta find what they want. The only two things I've caught anything on was 5inch zoom watermelon ringer, with shaky head and a black and blue 3/8 oz jig.
I get on here and read the reports and folks are saying stuff like, "Well not a great day, I only caught 6", or "Water temp was about 51 and caught 11 bass; not too bad but will get better when the water warms up". The whole time Im thinking this is crazy, I would love to catch 6 bass right now. I read the reports and think, good grief I dont know anything about river fishing. I have only fished chickamauga....HBSP and Grasshopper. The only thing know to do from here is just keep at it and keep trying and varying. I have learned alot from all you guys and am certainly appreciative of the site and any info you feel like sharing. Yes feel free to think "Poor Guy" or whatever because its like Im new at fishing altogether almost. But either way, Im getting the line wet and that aint bad either way. Thanks guys. Hey feel free to say hi on the water if you see me. I'll be in a white Nitro 640 lx - '98 model. I will try to have some pics up before long but the site wont accept any of my pics from the computer. Hope to see you on the water.
Matt

 

[tyler ware]

Matt, I feel your pain brother. Been three time over three days and only got my line wrapped around a catfish with a spinner bait. Not even a foul hook, just line around the dorsal fin which can off at the boat, so I did not even get the fish in the boat. Just started last year and I don't have a clue as to what I am doing. I think I do until I get to the water and then brainless. The pictures have to be resized to less than 100 mb i think. Thanks for the report and I hope we can both get on a few very soon.

 

[dragfish]

Good luck Matt.Just remember, Chickamauga and all the other "lakes" are just fields the river took over. Levels will change and currents. Be flexible and remember what patterns worked under what conditions- water temp, clarity,level and time of year. Some guys keep a log book. Good fishin'!

 

[fischnrod]

Don't feel bad i've been doing it for years and i am in the same boat as you.

 

[mlock]

Hey thanks a bunch Tyler. Thats awesome about the Dorsal fin, crazy how that can happen. But I think part of it is just reading the reports, you have to realize most of them are from folks who had a good day on the water. Not everybody is hangin 'em. Maybe it'll come around or at least figure something out. Im no pro or anything but if someones catching plenty you kinda wonder after awhile if you are doing something really wrong. I dont think that completely the case, just takes time figure it out. Again thanks for the post. I hope to spot the monarch one day.

 

[yellburt]

<font face="courier new,courier" size="3">THROW WHAT YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN .AN IF THEY DONT HIT THAT ,TRY THE SAME THING BUT A DIFFERENT PRO-FILE,MEANING ,ALITTLE SMALLER,OR A LITTLE LARGER.SOMETIMES THEY JUST WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.GIVE IT A TRY.YOU KNOW THATS WHY THEY CALL IT FISHING,AN NOT CATCHING.BUT IT SURE IS FUNemoUSA </font>

 

[Bprice]

I would suggest fishing only in the current. Find a nice upstream point of an island and let the current carry you into the island. Try flipping 1/8 oz shakey heads w/ 4 inch finesse worms into the bank and let it drift out with you. This will locate fish and allow you to fish different techniques that you might be more comfortable with! If you are ever in the Huntsville, AL area I'll show you some tips on the river here.

 

[Bprice]

Also hopefully folks like Mr Wiskers, Flip1Up, Dropshot, Spoon, and Beetlespin will weigh in, they seem to be excellent river fishermen.

 

[jasper]

Thanks for the thread Mlock. While I am no pro and dropshot will be the first to tell you that emoLaugh . What I look for on the river depends on what I am going after. Sm fishing the river is a great place to find them. Sometimes harder to locate though. I first try to find moving water with wood nearby. I know this could be anywhere on the river but you just have to pick them apart to find the productive spots. Spots are everywhere from slack to moving water as long as there are baitfish around you will find a spot, You may catch five smallmouth and then start hammering spots in the same area its just the nature of the beast with these fish. But as far as large mouth go I am always looking for the slack water. this could be as great an area as a bend with the slack water just around the point of the bend or it could be just a slack area caused by some riprap being tossed in the water to cause a very small area of slack water. I have always had luck with the green fish around the barges while they are docked, careful though you may get your line slimed by some huge catfish. Well there is my thoughts on river fishing , hope you have luck and stick with it.

 

[polo-dog]

I don't fish the river much but when I'm with guys that do it seems like there are a couple of things to look for that can help. Like jasper said, find the slack water. An eddie is a great place for predators to get out of the current and the active fish will be right next to the fast/slow water interface where they can use short bursts of energy to catch bait as it is swept past by the swift current. Anything that blocks the current will create an eddie whether it be brush in the water or a bridge piling. Also bends in the river will have an eddie on the inside/up current side of the bend. Also, ditches or creek channels that run into the main flow of the river will have some slack water at the up current edge of the ditch or creek channel. Rip rap will creat lots of small eddies behind rocks and it can be seen above the water so fishing rip rap with crankbaits or bottom bouncing baits will get you a bunch of fish. Like Bprice said, fishing islands can be productive because they produce eddies that will hold fish. Good luck and let us know how you do.

 

[mdjbro]

mloc, I also feel your pain. I have a new boat and just started fishing down there and accidently have connected on a few small ones but not any to brag about. I do know in the three whole times I have fished down there, it is always the best when the water is running. I didn't get a decent bite until today on a shaky head grub and I have fished all the way down to the bend. My son who is 14 loves to use live bait and he missed quite a few fish today and managed a couple largemouths on shiners, drifting. I might have to give up the rattle and shaky heads for a shiner if things don't pickup for me.

 

[mlock]

Thank You Guys! Thats excellent info! Exactly what I was hoping to get help with. I have to say, it certainly takes more knowledge, technique, and effort to fish river water than a flat bottom, 12 ft deep lake with grass and normal structure. The tips and advice you guys have give me some insight on the direction I need to take and plenty of things to look for. I am so used to fishing shallow around banks and regular lake structure. You have to really understand that the behavior and patterns of fish in the different environments. For instance, fishing around bends, eddies, and in the channels....finding slack water and fishing current. Thanks again. I'll def. let you know how it goes.
Matt

 

[Fishin Fool]

The river is a very different place to fish compared to the lake, and if you begin to fish it in the winter, versus the spring or summer you can really think you don't know anything about fishing. I've seen winter days that could be excellent, and then seen days a week later where you could not buy a bite. Current flow, water temps, winds, season, and weather all combine to affect you more on the river than on the lake in my opinion. The lake is certainly affected, just not to the same degree.

All the advice given is good. Polo's advice about the current and eddies is right on. The only thing I would mention is when fishing eddies, try and present the lure or bait the way it would naturally enter the eddie. Sometimes that means throwing into the fast water, and letting the lure drift into the eddie like a natural bait. Most of the time, that is when you will find fish. Also don't be afraid to slow way down. Depth is also key when fishing the river. Sometimes you'll find smallies in rocky water with depths of only 5 to 6 feet. Other times they'll be hugging 20 plus feet. Again it depends on the season and the water temps and flow. There are so many variables to fishing down there. My best advice is try to think like a fish would, imagine what they would like, what the ambush points would be and go from there.

 

[JDK]

Look for rockpiles and humps on your depthfinder.. Try to find areas where there is current breaks around structure and if no current running try to find whatever bit of moving water you can find.. Fishing the river like Riverpark i try to stay away from beating the banks and seem to get bigger fish on structure on channel edges and deepwater humps and rocks.. I still have many days where I only catch a few fish but have others where it is real good.. Been a while since I caught a good pig though..I really enjoy fishing the river a lot more just seems to suit my style of fishing.. If fishing Riverpark try throwing bright color crankbaits..I have a lot of success on these and make sure you are bouncing it off things you wanna feel the bottom or the structure you are throwing at..

 

[SPOON]

I am no expert and mostly fish the tail water, but I will share with you what little I know and have heard.

1) A lot of the time bass will go to the base of the dam, wing walls, barge tie offs, ect. when there is no current.

2) Keep things simple. when there is a lot of current ride down the river and look for any contours on the bottom that creates a shoal.(you can find these areas by looking for the ripples on the water.

3) Fish any thing that breaks the current. blow downs, humps, points, islands, etc. ( active fish seem to be on the up river side of any open water structure.)

4) When fishing in current the water is moving slower on the bottom because of friction, so keep your bait on the bottom. The guy that has caught the largest number of bass below G-ville has been using a 3/8 oz. jig head with a 4" pearl grub on a carolina rig with a 3/4 oz. sinker on an 18" leader.positioning his boat at the edge of the current, throwing up in the boils and letting it drag bottom out to the edge of the current.

5) Plan a trip below Wheeler dam in October.

 

[Bprice]

5) on Spoon's list is legit.