Have you generally found larger river/creek smallies holding close to the bank or more often further off the bank in deeper water?

[Ohioguy25]

I have really begun to learn more as far as finding and presenting to larger fish. I used to just beat the bank as I floated by, but since committing myself to finesse my eyes have been opened to an entirely new world previously unseen in trying to locate fish.  

 

The other day I reached a turning point. I saw this stuff, standard highly fishy above water cover anyone would cast to. But when my swim bait didn’t get bit I anchored and started searching the bottom with the Ned and boom! Pulled 4-5 fish all over 16” out, one after another. They were literally stacked in there. 

 

The interesting part to me was that not only was this an area far from any current, I didn’t get bit right on the bank as I usually do.  It was about 6-10 feet off the bank in about 5-8 feet of water.  Is this indicative of a pattern I should start following or an anomaly? It would make sense especially with this heat wave that in the absence of shade they would go for deeper, cooler pockets.  What has your experience been?

 

[Chris Catignani]

Not really sure what river your fishing...but I have caught bass in the middle of the river(s) small, med, and big. The attractions was: current, structure and bait.

So...its a hunt. Today I caught fish deep and on the bank.

[Sphynx]

I bank fish almost daily in the Columbia River (natural border between Oregon and Washington) in the summer/fall, and I catch hundreds (thousands? I will try to keep better records this year) of fish well within easy casting distance of the bank, rocky stretches with access to current, and deep water have been very, very productive for me.

[throttleplate]

3 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I have really begun to learn more as far as finding and presenting to larger fish. I used to just beat the bank as I floated by, but since committing myself to finesse my eyes have been opened to an entirely new world previously unseen in trying to locate fish.  

 

The other day I reached a turning point. I saw this stuff, standard highly fishy above water cover anyone would cast to. But when my swim bait didn’t get bit I anchored and started searching the bottom with the Ned and boom! Pulled 4-5 fish all over 16” out, one after another. They were literally stacked in there. 

 

The interesting part to me was that not only was this an area far from any current, I didn’t get bit right on the bank as I usually do.  It was about 6-10 feet off the bank in about 5-8 feet of water.  Is this indicative of a pattern I should start following or an anomaly? It would make sense especially with this heat wave that in the absence of shade they would go for deeper, cooler pockets.  What has your experience been?

 

the fish you caught has 4 toes??

[MassBass]

Where the water meets the land is always a special spot. Moreso if you have a deep pool, tributary, or other feature right there. 6-10' off the bank? I would consider that still the bank. 

[bowhunter63]

Right now where the Crawdads are 

[flyfisher]

Current in rivers is not always visible and it is everywhere in some way shape or form.  Moving baits will catch more active fish but slower bottom of the water column baits will too as you found out.  I don't see a difference between the bank or the middle of the river as it really relates to the structure present.  The only exception to this is in periods of high water it seems that bank structure and current breaks are more apt to hold fish for me.  

 

Best thing to do is put this experience in your memory bank and be sure to fish those areas.  The fish see mto move from day to day around here and some days they want that pillow water above a current break, other times it is the seam other times it is the tail end of the pool and other times it is in the slower deeper water you experienced.   I have found that many times if you can catch them in similar spots in a couple locations that pattern will hold for at least a little while.  

 

[Ohioguy25]

On 6/27/2022 at 7:32 PM, bowhunter63 said:

Right now where the Crawdads are 

Where the crawdads sing?

On 6/27/2022 at 6:19 PM, MassBass said:

Where the water meets the land is always a special spot. Moreso if you have a deep pool, tributary, or other feature right there. 6-10' off the bank? I would consider that still the bank. 

Wonder why this is? Does that much food fall in?

[TnRiver46]

21 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Where the crawdads sing?

Wonder why this is? Does that much food fall in?

Shade, undercut hiding spot, bluegill 

[VolFan]

It’s also where minnows and young insect phases are. Food can be found in everything from the river bottom up through overhanging trees- it’s up to you to interpret what is the food source at that time, at that location that bass may be feeding on. You don’t always have to ‘match the hatch’ but you won’t catch 100% of the fish that aren’t there,

[MassBass]

On 7/3/2022 at 9:41 AM, Ohioguy25 said:

 

Wonder why this is? Does that much food fall in?

The terrestrial ecosystem overlaps and clashes with the aquatic system there, at the bank. It was mentioned that some aquatic prey species have part of their life cycle on land, and vice versa. Also some aquatic species need to emerge out of the water to molt. In some cases yes, a lot of food can fall in, and if you are there at the right time it can be a fire bite.

[PaulVE64]

Once saw caterpillars emerging from a nest in a tree branch that overhung the water.

Pan fish were gorging on the larva as it fell in the water. At times it looked like a feeding frenzy with the water churning away.

[Spankey]

I don't think there is a given to your question. The river I mostly fish is not real deep in the full scheme of rivers across the the country but does have drop offs. These drop offs can be gradual or quick off of the bank or creek mouths. Holes around bridge pilings, or just natural deeper holes associated with the river. Smallies seem to set in them at any given time. These bigger smallies will move toward their desired food source.

 

But I do think there is something to smaller smallies relating to the bank or just off of it.

 

I like having DT's and Shad Raps to get to these depths.

[krustysurfer]

My experience is they like current and set up where the food comes to them and where they dont have to continuously swim for it , they seem like opportunistic ambush predators.

[TnRiver46]

Both