Unfamiliar Waters

[tlkilian]

Hey guys, new to the forum here. I just have a quick question. How do you go about fishing a new body of water you have never fished before? I'm talking a river, not very wide, maybe 30 feet across in widest area but generally narrow, very slow moving water that in my few of experiences of being on it has the clarity of a cup of coffee. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Scott F]

Are you wading, floating or bank fishing?

[Catt]

Inside bends, cuts, drains with noisy lures

[Scott F]

Inside bends, cuts, drains with noisy lures

 

 Inside turns on small rivers are usually shallow and slow tapering.  Can you give more details on fishing inside bends? And what is a drain?

[Bluebasser86]

I like to find something that is familiar on new bodies of water, similar water/cover/structure to what I fish on my usual bodies of water. If the water is stained it's going to tend to push the fish tighter to cover. I'd be looking for the outside bends, bridges, or laydowns where there's likely for cover to be present. Try covering water with a spinnerbait or crankbait and after you find fish slow down with a jig or texas rigged plastic. 

[Sam]

Please go to Introductions and introduce yourself.

 

Thanks for letting us know you are in Massachusetts.

 

Read what the guys have posted, especially Catt. However, with that said there are too many variables to consider to give you an answer.

 

May I suggest the following?

1.  Get a map of the waters you are fishing and study it.

2.  Go to Google Earth and view the waters, looking for points, coves, sand bars, creeks, etc.

3.  You mentioned a slow moving heavily stained river system. Is it tidal? If so, the tide chart for your state needs to be viewed and you need to learn how to fish a tidal river.

4.  Any local tackle shops servicing the river? If so, ask them for their suggestions from the guys who fish the river.

5.  Heavy stained water mean less visibility for the fish. Do what Catt writes: use a noisy lure to attract the bass.

6.  Use a "yellow" base lure so they can see it after they hear it. You can also try Firetiger crankbaits with rattles or black Norman.

7.  A lipless crankbait may also work. Try silver with black back.

8.  Go to Hank Parker's and Woo Daves' web pages and read their articles.

9.  Read all articles on the Forum. Check the list at the top of the page.

10. Subscribe to bass fishing magazines. Bass Times and Bass Angler Magazine are starters.

11. Join BASS or FLW and get their monthly magazines.

12. Subscribe to the BassResource videos on YouTube and watch every one of them, new and old.

13. Keep asking us for out input.

 

Everyone will have their suggestions. You can read each and consider following their advice. But you have to do your own homework.

 

Ike sells a DVD which explains how to approach a new body of water. May I suggest you purchase this DVD and learn what Ike has to say about fishing new waters.

 

All the best for success on this river system and let us know how you do.

[Catt]

"Inside turns on small rivers are usually shallow & slow tapering"

Uh, did you not just discribe a point?

Drain: a low area on the land scape where during rain the water collects & runs into the river.

[Bankbeater]

Google the river and see if anyone else has fished it, and what their result was.

[tlkilian]

If anyone is actually familiar with the river it's the Nashua River. It branches of the Merrimack and flows north. I'd be kayak fishing as its steep banks prevent wading plus it is surrounded by relatively dense forest on both sides of my stretch. It's hard to gauge other peoples fishing on the river as it is rather large and most people fish the ponds/lakes it flows into. They do stock those areas with trout. Would those trout venture through the river system or stay put? Thanks for your guys' input on my topic!

[Bluebasser86]

If anyone is actually familiar with the river it's the Nashua River. It branches of the Merrimack and flows north. I'd be kayak fishing as its steep banks prevent wading plus it is surrounded by relatively dense forest on both sides of my stretch. It's hard to gauge other peoples fishing on the river as it is rather large and most people fish the ponds/lakes it flows into. They do stock those areas with trout. Would those trout venture through the river system or stay put? Thanks for your guys' input on my topic!

You might post in the local fishing forum for your area and see if anyone fishes that river. Some guys post in the local forums and don't look elsewhere on the forum and may never see your post otherwise.