Anybody Got Any Tips On Fishing A Big River

[ctf58]

Tried posting this up in the Northeast forum and only got one response. I was hoping some of the Mississippi river and Missouri river guys might have some advise. There has got to be some river rats on here somewhere.

 

 

Anybody got any tips on fishing a big river like the lower Ohio River area for Bass? Looking to take a wounded warrior fishing next month for a VFW event and I have never done any river fishing for bass.. I told him not to expect much but I would like to put him on some fish.

I've been looking at maps and there are several long islands that are shallow on the back sides. We are going to be fishing around Owensboro KY. I only see one creek that looks to be wide enough to maybe get a boat up into it a little.

 

I'm just clueless where/how to start. I'm doing this for a friend to help out with the wounded warrior program.

 

Thanks

Clint

[gulfcaptain]

Go fishing.  Sounds like you have a few weekend fishing trips to take and see what you find.  

[ctf58]

Negative, 2 young kids and a job on call 24/7. I'm luck to fish 5 times a year from my boat.

[ctf58]

[gulfcaptain]

IF it was me, I'd get a navigational chart and pick an area that looks the best.  Navigational charts will give you bottom composition as well as where wreaks, pipelines, submerged objects, etc and look into an area of the river.  This way I had an idea of what I'm fishing before I get there and can eliminate as much water as I can and see what cover, creeks, and drainage areas are available.   Then narrow it down with access to deepwater with a possible drainage creek or backwater area close by.  Then I would Google Earth it to see what it looks like from above. Just a suggestion and hit up local tackle stores and see what kind of report you can get.  I'm sure they would be more then willing to help considering the reason you are asking is for a great cause.  

[ctf58]

Thanks Captain,

 

I have been looking at Google Earth for the past week. Around here there are no old school "Tackle Shops". Just big box stores and gas stations that sell nightcrawlers and chicken livers for the catfisherman. I've been asking around. The last bass tournament results I can find for the river had a total weight of a 5 fish limit weighing 5.4 pounds. Out of a 25 boat tournament only 3 boat came in with 5 fish and 10 came in with 0 fish. That is with a 12" size limit. I hope we catch something and we have good weather. I'll keep beating the bushes sorta speak for info and maybe a fish.

 

Thanks again an wishing you good fishing.

Clint

[Chris S]

you can always look for current breaks and or swings and through out cut bait for catfish, something will eat live or cut bait!

[martintheduck]

Just to quickly drop in my 2 cents ---- as someone who often river fishes....

 

 

Look for river lakes (little lake-type pockets off the main river). Fish those lakes like anything else for the most part. Often times in those type of settings I've found bass relate most to the "banks" within those "lakes." Try to find ones with some depth to em' and some clear water. If they are big enough and have decent depth, bass won't really migrate in and out too often (I've come to believe). They will be full of resident fish, if you will.

 

If you can't get on something that way, a great pattern can be current breaks. Find places where a bass could have cover from the current. River bass are creatures of comfort, so they will find places to rest out of the current. If you have decent electronics, try to find some humps in about 10'-15' water and fish them with football jigs, cranks, and t-rig worms. Keep an eye on your electronics for any little nooks and crannies where a bass might find cover from the current.

 

 

That's the best I can give you at the moment since I'm feeling lazy. 

 

One more thing --- My best producing crankbait color in cruddy/muddy water is chartreuse w/ blue back. All black jigs work well too. Be sure to put rattles on jigs.

[Bluebasser86]

Just to quickly drop in my 2 cents ---- as someone who often river fishes....

 

 

Look for river lakes (little lake-type pockets off the main river). Fish those lakes like anything else for the most part. Often times in those type of settings I've found bass relate most to the "banks" within those "lakes." Try to find ones with some depth to em' and some clear water. If they are big enough and have decent depth, bass won't really migrate in and out too often (I've come to believe). They will be full of resident fish, if you will.

 

If you can't get on something that way, a great pattern can be current breaks. Find places where a bass could have cover from the current. River bass are creatures of comfort, so they will find places to rest out of the current. If you have decent electronics, try to find some humps in about 10'-15' water and fish them with football jigs, cranks, and t-rig worms. Keep an eye on your electronics for any little nooks and crannies where a bass might find cover from the current.

 

 

That's the best I can give you at the moment since I'm feeling lazy. 

 

One more thing --- My best producing crankbait color in cruddy/muddy water is chartreuse w/ blue back. All black jigs work well too. Be sure to put rattles on jigs.

X2, never fished a big river for bass but this would be really similar to my game plan if I was going to try.