Headed To The River Need Advice

[blackmax135]

Alright guys I'm headed to the savannah river in the morning. Water temp upper 40s from what I've heard, slightly muddy, pretty heavy current water, not tidal water. Weather will be in the 60's tomorrow.  There are lakes on this river (that's what we call them if that's not the proper word). Reason for this post is I'm still missing links on knowing what to do when I hit the water and knowing were to attack. I don't have money for any good electronics but I do have a simple depth finder. im learning more things from the wonderful people on this site and the more I learn I will be better. So I am wanting to know what a seasoned angler would do to attack this body of water and what he or she looks for to find the fish and the lure and presentation that he or she would possibly use. There are a lot of trees down in this river and not much rock.  Any advice is awesome

[Ozark_Basser]

Sounds a lot like the Arkansas River. Those lakes you are referring to are called pools. Usually named or numbered. Pool 1, Little Rock Pool etc. On a map they might actually be named as a lake. The Little Rock pool in Arkansas is called David D Terry Lake, but locally are usually referred to as pools.

If you're going out on a warming trend, I'd just tackle shallow water cover the whole day. Shallow wood and grass I'd throw Indiana blade spinnerbaits and pitch jigs to the thicker cover. I would make sure I was fishing extremely tight to cover. This is probably the most important factor if you ask me. If your spinnerbait isn't really crashing into cover or your not casting it pretty much on the bank, you'll pay for it. Also if you have a lot of wing dams on your river, I'd be hitting those up with squarebills thoroughly. Cover both sides of the wingdam and see where you get bites then pattern that throughout the river.

[papajoe222]

The heavy current is going to both help and hinder you. It helps in positioning the fish (more in a second), but it hinders you because that warm day isn't going to have much of an affect on the water temp.  If you'll be doing your fishing in the main river, I'd be targeting deep pools and the eddy areas behind the downed trees.  Really, any current break that results in slack current, those are just the most common. I can't help with the 'lakes' or pools as the rivers I fish don't have them. 

As for lures, I'd choose ones that the current will take into those slack water areas. A spinnerbait or crank may get some aggressive fish right at the current edge, but if they're tucked back, or down in the slack water areas, a jig just heavy enough that you can work it into those areas with the current would be my pick.  Once you get into slack water, vary your retrieve the same as you would in a lake, until you get results and stick with it until it no longer produces. Don't be afraid to dead stick, it takes a lot of patience, but sometimes it's a killer technique.

[everythingthatswims]

Black and Blue Jig 

[BigKev77]

Some pretty serious "lakes" on this river. Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond. Yeah i'd call them lakes, lol. I am guessing you mean the lower river south of Augusta?

 

I posted in the other big river thread but you could also look at the back water which is what I guess you are talking about when you say lakes. We call the lakes here too. Might look there for some early spawners and those thinking about it. Muddy water and current both lead me to fish shallow so you don't need a pricey finder there. Hit a lot of spots and keep moving. The other guys gave good info too. A lipless crank is a good bait too, cast and pump and reel it back to the boat. They like that little fall when you dip your rod tip and good sound for that muddy water. That lower Savanna River reminds me of our lower White river.

 

If you are talking about one of those big reservoirs I would be lost with you.

[blackmax135]

Some pretty serious "lakes" on this river. Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond. Yeah i'd call them lakes, lol. I am guessing you mean the lower river south of Augusta?

 

I posted in the other big river thread but you could also look at the back water which is what I guess you are talking about when you say lakes. We call the lakes here too. Might look there for some early spawners and those thinking about it. Muddy water and current both lead me to fish shallow so you don't need a pricey finder there. Hit a lot of spots and keep moving. The other guys gave good info too. A lipless crank is a good bait too, cast and pump and reel it back to the boat. They like that little fall when you dip your rod tip and good sound for that muddy water. That lower Savanna River reminds me of our lower White river.

 

If you are talking about one of those big reservoirs I would be lost with you.

Yea I'm talking about lower than Clarks hill.  Its nothing but little natural lakes and straight river from there.  I was reading about a tournament they had at the landing I always put in at on the savannah river and this guy didn't win but he got the biggest bass with 14 pounds.  I couldn't believe that.  Most of the river is bluff walls also

[BigKev77]

Let us know how it went and how they were biting.

[blackmax135]

Let us know how it went and how they were biting.

Ok I went to the river.  I was already late and one of my trolling batteries went out on me in the first 30 min.  I did have one hit and miss on bass. But I was so aggravated I put up my bass rigs and tied to a tree and catfished the rest of the day.  Caught a good mess of catfish, and good eating size.  By what I observed the fish were on a slow bite right now but they seem to be thinking about feeding. Thanks for the help guys

[BigKev77]

When life gives you lemons, turn it into a mess of catfish. That sounds good to me.

[blackmax135]

When life gives you lemons, turn it into a mess of catfish. That sounds good to me.

Amen!!

[papajoe222]

When life gives you lemons, turn it into a mess of catfish. That sounds good to me.

Much better advice than fishing for bluegill