Does anyone else feel like they catch more quantity in current but more quality off of rock banks in slower moving water?

[TnRiver46]

I fish everything, never skip anything if I can help it. some days they are here, some days they are there 

[MGF]

6 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I fish everything, never skip anything if I can help it. some days they are here, some days they are there 

I agree but there's just too much river between boat ramps for me to fish it all. I have to skip something so I make my best guess as to which are the higher/lower percentage areas.

[Bdnoble84]

My best spot is actually just above a large riffle. Its kind of baffling. I have spent counless hours picking apart the riffle and eddies from it but it just never seems to be as productive as above the riffle. There is good rocky structure above as well as below. The depest spot on either side is 4-5 ft.

[Ohioguy25]

21 hours ago, Bdnoble84 said:

My best spot is actually just above a large riffle. Its kind of baffling. I have spent counless hours picking apart the riffle and eddies from it but it just never seems to be as productive as above the riffle. There is good rocky structure above as well as below. The depest spot on either side is 4-5 ft.

Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. Whenever I run into something like this I assume there is something under the surface of the water we can’t see that makes the spot preferable.

[Bdnoble84]

20 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. Whenever I run into something like this I assume there is something under the surface of the water we can’t see that makes the spot preferable.

Ive waded both ends, i havent really picked up much in the way of structure. It could be that there are green sunfish living above the rifgle along the bank. Frogs and crayfish are throughout.

[OldManLure]

On 6/17/2021 at 7:21 PM, Bdnoble84 said:

My best spot is actually just above a large riffle. Its kind of baffling. I have spent counless hours picking apart the riffle and eddies from it but it just never seems to be as productive as above the riffle. There is good rocky structure above as well as below. The depest spot on either side is 4-5 ft.

Even when the river level allow spots like you describe to be fished, I think they are often overlooked or ignored.   It is my belief that the active feeders exploit these areas while those hanging out in/near riffles are more opportunistic.  When river levels allow it I’ll anchor my yak where it’s safe above the riffle, and cast in a 180* arc to cover the area.  When I have caught one, I have almost always caught two or more.  In fact, just yesterday on the Shenandoah I caught far more above the riffles than my buddy caught in and around them.  He thinks I’m just lucky.

[cyclops2]

Fish above EXCESSIVLY oxygenated  rapids water. Also get to see every speck of food FIRST in calm water.

[Bdnoble84]

My biggest smallies typically come from a combination of the two. Current seams are certainly a factor, but i think even more so is ambush points as current seams are one of them. I catch alot of bass (and pike) running my lure parallel to the bank. I beleive these fish are using the bank as a trap point. Typically there is cover in the form of rocks, a quick drop or some sort of grass or wood close to the bank for them to lurk around and wait.

[OldManLure]

Big fish have big energy demands.  They can conserve it by parking in areas that have almost no current or in an eddy.  I’ve been fortunate to catch quite a few 20”+, and they have all been where the current seems to disappear.  Most often, this has been near the bank with structure nearby, and I agree that they seem to use the bank to trap their prey.  On a few occasions I have managed to catch a few in the middle of the river, but these have been in pretty large eddies.

[Bdnoble84]

1 hour ago, OldManLure said:

Big fish have big energy demands.  They can conserve it by parking in areas that have almost no current or in an eddy.  I’ve been fortunate to catch quite a few 20”+, and they have all been where the current seems to disappear.  Most often, this has been near the bank with structure nearby, and I agree that they seem to use the bank to trap their prey.  On a few occasions I have managed to catch a few in the middle of the river, but these have been in pretty large eddies.

Agree, the one exception was when i was about 20, early april, a riffle that is known as the cattle crossing. I would throw out a bait into the riffle and let it tumble down with the current. I caught two pushing 4 lbs and another around 3. I started with a tiny crappie tube with a small spinner then switched to a strike king red eye chart bladed spinnerbait. It was probably the most day of fishing i have ever had. I havent been able to recreate that scenario since, but that spot has taught me alot about current and fishing the seam since. I had a day where i spent a couple hours casting across current before i got in the water and positioned myself so i was working my bait directly on the seam, caught three over two pounds, landed one northern and got bit off by another.

[Chris Catignani]

I have to think the opposite...I have had better quality fish in the current especially below a tailrace...and more so downstream especially behind some kind of structure. The quantity numbers seem to come off a bank...though I will catch quality off those banks too.

One thing to consider is that river fish are at times in transition...you will find them were they weren't before.

On 6/17/2021 at 8:21 AM, TnRiver46 said:

I fish everything, never skip anything if I can help it. some days they are here, some days they are there 

...like he said. ?

[Spankey]

On 6/17/2021 at 3:56 PM, MGF said:

I agree but there's just too much river between boat ramps for me to fish it all. I have to skip something so I make my best guess as to which are the higher/lower percentage areas.

I dissect the river every time out. Not that every time out for me is a new section but something that is revisited. Or pick up next time where I just finished up on. 
 

Not all river systems are created equal. Not all the picture perfect spots are the prime spots. My river is starting to make a bit of a come back. Glad as heck about it. Feel more at home on the river vs. the lake. My nicer river Smallies generally have come off the lazier parts of the river.