River

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Went river fishing for the first time this weekend. The river is in NC and was about 18-20 feet in the center and the edges were 3-7 feet. River was about 50 yards across. Temps in the low 70's in the water. The Cape Fear spans about 200 miles. Looked almost identical to the lakes and ponds I fish as far as the "sides" of the river were concerned.

However, the usual lake and pond lures and presentations didn't seem to work? Why is this? I threw poppers in areas that looked 100% legit for a strike. Nothing. Saw fish on the electronics about 15 feet in the middle. Threw some cranks. Nothing. Seems almost like a whole new breed of fishing pattern and style. They had some LMB, gar, catfish, hybrid stripers, and warmouth. Got skunked after several hours. What is the deal?

Thanks!

[buzzed bait]

may want to downsize your lures for the river.  the usual meal that fish will find will be a bit smaller in the river.  how fast was the water moving?  on a day with a lot of current, fishing can be tough, too little current can be tough.  was the water level low, high or more of a normal level? also, what was the water clarity like?  

there's quite a few factors in figuring out the river.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Very slow current

Water level was +1.5

Stained to kinda muddy (rained two days prior)

I was using some 4 inch minnows and cranks about 2-3 inches long. Like business card size.

[buzzed bait]

little to no current and muddy water make for some tough river fishing in my experiences.  best conditions for me are some moderate current with fairly clear water.  then i target anything that is slowing the water down and fish the backside of that (log, rock, bridge piling, etc.).  although it's not the typical lake lure, i do really well with rooster tail type baits (black/yellow with gold blade is killer where i fish)  the best part is you'll catch all sorts of fish on those lures so it really makes for a fun day on the river.  small senkos/trick worms and finesse jigs are my other "go-to baits in the river.

also, when/where you find other water sources dumping into the river, slow down and fish those spots really well.  i can almost always count on a fish around a spot where another water source comes in.

[everythingthatswims]

flip/pitch black/blue jigs on cover

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

That sounds good! My friend was catching fish on a Vibrex #3 in line rooster tail looking lure. Also there are plenty of places that dump water in at different sources. I will slow it down there and go to smaller lures. Thanks!

I will also try the jigs too. ;-)

[flyfisher]

Current may be different underneath the surface than what you can see on the surface.  I like higher stained/muddy conditions.  You have to look for current breaks and many times the bass will relate heavily to cover and be tight on that cover.  I have fished in those conditions and a bait presented 1 foot off a blowdown doesn't get a bite but one that is 2" does.  Try noisier big bladed spinnerbaits too.  In conditions where the bass can't see the bait you need to let them know it is there.

 

Also if any of the banks are undercut they can be gold mines.....

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

What is a current break?

What is a blowdown?

[Catch and Grease]

1000 things that should have worked, welcome to bass fishing...

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

1000 things that should have worked, welcome to bass fishing...

Wasn't just out for bass. 4 years of bass fishing I wanted to catch new species. Gotta learn what else and how will bite on a river.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Apparently harder than I thiught. :-/

[flyfisher]

A current break is anything that provides the fish a spot to sit where it doesn't have to fight the current and can see prey floating by.  In higher conditions those are more important and can be find tight to the bank many times.  By blowdown i mean a blown over tree.

 

Bass that live in current are fighting that all the time so if you can figure out where they are relating to that current it can make or break your day....