Rivers Vs. Lakes.

[HoosierHawgs]

Both. They both have their challenges. I have found river fish seem to be a bit tougher once hooked compaired to their lake counterparts.

Creek fish I wade for always seem a little scrappier whether they are Large or Small jaws.

[Starchalopakis]

I am having a hard time fishing a local river, it is fed by snow melt from the Sierras. The river is not very wide gets to be maybe 50 yards in the widest areas that I am fishing, I am marking a lot of fish in a certain area by a rock face, the fish are holding fairly deep between 10-20ft ( the deepest section I have found in the river is about 28ft). I have thrown jigs, deep divers, drop shot, ned rig with no luck yet. I am headed back tomorrow and I think I am going to hit that same area where I have been marking them and throw some spinnerbaits. Any other suggestions?

[Sandhillcrab]

I am having a hard time fishing a local river, it is fed by snow melt from the Sierras. The river is not very wide gets to be maybe 50 yards in the widest areas that I am fishing, I am marking a lot of fish in a certain area by a rock face, the fish are holding fairly deep between 10-20ft ( the deepest section I have found in the river is about 28ft). I have thrown jigs, deep divers, drop shot, ned rig with no luck yet. I am headed back tomorrow and I think I am going to hit that same area where I have been marking them and throw some spinnerbaits. Any other suggestions?

Try some crank baits. What's the water temp? Spinners should work. I'm really saprised nothing on drop shots. Try some lipless crank baits and try some slow moveing soft plastics with a pattle tail. Anything with a good thump. Or some inline spinners. Real slowly.

[WRB]

I am having a hard time fishing a local river, it is fed by snow melt from the Sierras. The river is not very wide gets to be maybe 50 yards in the widest areas that I am fishing, I am marking a lot of fish in a certain area by a rock face, the fish are holding fairly deep between 10-20ft ( the deepest section I have found in the river is about 28ft). I have thrown jigs, deep divers, drop shot, ned rig with no luck yet. I am headed back tomorrow and I think I am going to hit that same area where I have been marking them and throw some spinnerbaits. Any other suggestions?

What river are you fishing?

Tom

[Starchalopakis]

Try some crank baits. What's the water temp? Spinners should work. I'm really saprised nothing on drop shots. Try some lipless crank baits and try some slow moveing soft plastics with a pattle tail. Anything with a good thump. Or some inline spinners. Real slowly.

Thanks for the input man! The water temp the last couple of times I have been were between 46-48 degrees. Yeah I figured the drop shot would of been the winner as well, but to be honest I am pretty new to drop shotting so it very much could of been user error!

 

What river are you fishing?

Tom

 

I am fishing the Kern River Tom, I know it is not an ideal bass fishery but I have had some good luck catching large mouth from the shore during the summer months. Now that I am using a boat I am striking out! I'm sure the the change in weather has had a lot to do with it.

[Sandhillcrab]

For drop shot what bait were you using?

[Starchalopakis]

For drop shot what bait were you using?

 I was using a shakey shad made by Gambler. I believe a pack of them came in the MTB pro November box.

[Sandhillcrab]

Hmm.. Wow..

[Sandhillcrab]

Hmm.. That's a good bait..

[WRB]

Thanks for the input man! The water temp the last couple of times I have been were between 46-48 degrees. Yeah I figured the drop shot would of been the winner as well, but to be honest I am pretty new to drop shotting so it very much could of been user error!

I am fishing the Kern River Tom, I know it is not an ideal bass fishery but I have had some good luck catching large mouth from the shore during the summer months. Now that I am using a boat I am striking out! I'm sure the the change in weather has had a lot to do with it.

Lower Kern below lake Isabella. The water flow is very slow this year due to the drought condition. However the dam has been condemned so water is flowing, the lake is going down, down....Isabella still has some giant bass, don't over look it!

Small finesse 1/4 oz jigs would be my suggestion; brown/purple with brown UJ #101 frog for the river and 1/2 oz brown/purple UJ #11 brown frog trailer for the lake.

Tom

[Starchalopakis]

Lower Kern below lake Isabella. The water flow is very slow this year due to the drought condition. However the dam has been condemned so water is flowing, the lake is going down, down....Isabella still has some giant bass, don't over look it!

Small finesse 1/4 oz jigs would be my suggestion; brown/purple with brown UJ #101 frog for the river and 1/2 oz brown/purple UJ #11 brown frog trailer for the lake.

Tom

 

Yeah I am hitting the lower kern, Tom. I am scared to launch at Isabella because of the launch ramps, I have heard it is a real pain to launch right now and lots of people have been getting stuck.  I only have a four cylinder Ford Ranger so I haven't been willing to risk it!  But I have heard/seen pictures of some big bass getting caught there  in the past with lots of double digits.

 

Thanks on the adivce on the finesse jigs, I have a couple that I will definitely give a shot tomorrow morning. In your experience is there a more productive time for the river than others?

[SwimJiggin]

Rivers are my favorite. Around here in mid Michigan they don't get much pressure. You can fish all morning and maybe see one other bass boat. Plus the rivers have a good population of smallie. Lakes are sometimes tough for me to fish. But if have a bad outing on a lake I wanna go back to it soon for redemption. I have to agree that spring fishing on a lake is pretty fun. I love setting up on the first break and throwing a 1-knocker.

[WRB]

Yeah I am hitting the lower kern, Tom. I am scared to launch at Isabella because of the launch ramps, I have heard it is a real pain to launch right now and lots of people have been getting stuck. I only have a four cylinder Ford Ranger so I haven't been willing to risk it! But I have heard/seen pictures of some big bass getting caught there in the past with lots of double digits.

Thanks on the adivce on the finesse jigs, I have a couple that I will definitely give a shot tomorrow morning. In your experience is there a more productive time for the river than others?

Time of day or year?

Smallmouth tend to be on thier own time table, usually in the fall the afternoon bite is good.

Don't forget to try a smaller buzz bait, good lure to determine where the bass are located and follow up with the jig.

The ranger at Boulder Gutch ramp should be able to help you.

Tom

PS, I wrote a article for In-Fisherman; book #64 Dec/Jan 1986, pages 134-144, A Rare Chance for a World Record, lake Isabella CA.

[EvanT123]

Both. Literally 99% of my fishing is done on a river and I love fishing it. But I also love fishing a lake the other 1% of the time because it's something totally different than what I'm used to fishing.

I feel the same way. With the river 5 minutes away either on the bank or boat, it's hard for me to go somewhere else. I know tough problem lol.

[Starchalopakis]

Time of day or year?

Smallmouth tend to be on thier own time table, usually in the fall the afternoon bite is good.

Don't forget to try a smaller buzz bait, good lure to determine where the bass are located and follow up with the jig.

The ranger at Boulder Gutch ramp should be able to help you.

Tom

PS, I wrote a article for In-Fisherman; book #64 Dec/Jan 1986, pages 134-144, A Rare Chance for a World Record, lake Isabella CA.

Thanks so much for the info Tom, I was meant more about time of day so thanks for the tip on that!  Tomorrow I will be there (the river) in the morning from 630-11 so hopefully I can figure something out with all of your insight. Have you been to Isabella recently?

That is awesome, I am going to look for your article right now!

[Angry John]

Thanks for the input man! The water temp the last couple of times I have been were between 46-48 degrees. Yeah I figured the drop shot would of been the winner as well, but to be honest I am pretty new to drop shotting so it very much could of been user error!

I am fishing the Kern River Tom, I know it is not an ideal bass fishery but I have had some good luck catching large mouth from the shore during the summer months. Now that I am using a boat I am striking out! I'm sure the the change in weather has had a lot to do with it.

I grew up fishing that River. Most of it is very swift. You may do a lot better with small swimbaits. I would try a small 3-4 inch keitech easy shiner on a heavy head or the robot worms shiner on a drop shot.

[Starchalopakis]

I grew up fishing that River. Most of it is very swift. You may do a lot better with small swimbaits. I would try a small 3-4 inch keitech easy shiner on a heavy head or the robot worms shiner on a drop shot.

 

Awesome man, small world eh? Well thanks for tips,  I do have some Keitech in electric shad so I will give those a go as well!

[Angry John]

I like to start small and then upsize if I get interest. The shiners get bigger if you find they work for you. I have not used them there but I will or would try ayu first.