How do you avoid spooking river smallies when floating ultra clear water?

[Ohioguy25]

Haven’t had a drop of rain in weeks, my river is extremely low, slow and gin clear.  The fall bite is on, but I noticed when I floated Sunday I could see clear to the bottom, and saw a number of bass swimming. Which can only mean they saw me. 
 

I did ok, but for how hot the bite is and how aggressively they were feeding I should’ve done better. I can only imagine I missed a good number of fish who spooked when they saw me.  I was long casting downstream, throwing paddle tails, spinnerbaits and whopper plopper in monkey butt (translucent) but I’m not sure this was enough. Additionally, I have heard upstream retrieval is unnatural as baitfish do not swim up current. What is your secret for these conditions?

[Spankey]

Lack of rain has had my river pretty cleared up but I don’t think to the degree of yours. We have been getting mucho rain the last handful of day so that is gonna come to an end.  
 

Longer cast, no banging around of stuff on the boat, softer cast if possible, no bright clothing (never do that anyway) keep it dull, try to fish the shade, fish more natural patterns of baits, be the first guy out on the water. 

[roadwarrior]

13 minutes ago, Spankey said:

no bright clothing 

 

I rarely see a pro without bright clothing and bling. I don't think it matters at all.

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

 

I rarely see a pro without bright clothing and bling. I don't think it matters at all.

You might be right but I’m not a pro and I’m too old to change my thinking on it now. I’ll stick to my combinations of grays, blues and whites and go at it.

 

Maybe I should try a nice bright Yellow jersey like Skeet Reese. He certainly does ok in it. 

[gim]

Trout fisherman take an ultra stealthy approach to target their quarry.

 

[Ohioguy25]

17 hours ago, Spankey said:

Lack of rain has had my river pretty cleared up but I don’t think to the degree of yours. We have been getting mucho rain the last handful of day so that is gonna come to an end.  
 

Longer cast, no banging around of stuff on the boat, softer cast if possible, no bright clothing (never do that anyway) keep it dull, try to fish the shade, fish more natural patterns of baits, be the first guy out on the water. 

Sounds miserable, we need some rain.

[PaulVE64]

I would try the flyrod

[flyfisher]

when floating a river you will alwasys float over fish, it is part of the game.  What you need t odo is figure out why they were where they were when you floated over them and look for those places further away.  

Around here the rivers are always clear and low in summer and it is about location more than anything.   Once you figure out that location preference start looking for similar spots.

[JWall14]

LONG cast. Like cant see the fish casts. Every friend I’ve gone with gets too close and casts right on their head. You must lead them to catch them.

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/6/2022 at 6:00 PM, JWall14 said:

LONG cast. Like cant see the fish casts. Every friend I’ve gone with gets too close and casts right on their head. You must lead them to catch them.

And you don’t think there’s anything to retrieving upstream being “unnatural” as people say?

[newriverfisherman1953]

50 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

And you don’t think there’s anything to retrieving upstream being “unnatural” as people say?

No!  I fish a river 90% of the time. I cast in all directions. Can’t say one direction is better than the other. If they are there and hungry, they will eat it no matter what direction it’s coming from. 

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

And you don’t think there’s anything to retrieving upstream being “unnatural” as people say?

I see shad swim upstream all the time 

[PaulVE64]

Hand tied bass streamers with a 1/16 oz to 3/16 oz bullet weight. 

Thrown on a spinning rod and 10# braid w/ 6# mono leader.

I tie with wool and deer hair heads. Lots of hackle, flash and maribou.

Upstream and downstream.

 

[JWall14]

18 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

And you don’t think there’s anything to retrieving upstream being “unnatural” as people say?

Honestly not really. I think the biggest thing I have found is that since they face upstream, they are more likely to see you upstream of them. A swimbait can be killer retrieved upstream due to the ability to work it real slowly with the current “working” it for you. I have smashed some fish doing that.

[Ohioguy25]

27 minutes ago, JWall14 said:

Honestly not really. I think the biggest thing I have found is that since they face upstream, they are more likely to see you upstream of them. A swimbait can be killer retrieved upstream due to the ability to work it real slowly with the current “working” it for you. I have smashed some fish doing that.

Yeah, honestly my PB came on an upstream retrieval of a whopper plopper. Granted those are almost purely reaction strikes, clearly if a 20” fish isn’t deterred or “spooked” by this then there are no hard and fast rules.

[Ohioguy25]

6 hours ago, JWall14 said:

Honestly not really. I think the biggest thing I have found is that since they face upstream, they are more likely to see you upstream of them. A swimbait can be killer retrieved upstream due to the ability to work it real slowly with the current “working” it for you. I have smashed some fish doing that.

Do you think flurocarbon is necessary in ultra clear river water like this?

[Scott F]

52 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Do you think flurocarbon is necessary in ultra clear river water like this?

Absolutely not. Bass have proven time and time again, they are not line shy. 

If I see bass while floating over them, I go downstream a short distance, pull off to the side, and wait a few minutes. then work my way back and cast the areas where I saw them. 

[JWall14]

On 10/12/2022 at 3:03 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

Do you think flurocarbon is necessary in ultra clear river water like this?

I always use a floro leader for bottom baits. I have had to use straight braid and still got bites though so it may depend on your fish.

[Blue Raider Bob]

On 10/11/2022 at 3:04 PM, newriverfisherman1953 said:

No!  I fish a river 90% of the time. I cast in all directions. Can’t say one direction is better than the other. If they are there and hungry, they will eat it no matter what direction it’s coming from. 

I'm with you there. I fish rivers and I catch in all directions. Sometimes if I get bored, I will even troll upriver against the current and catch fish. 

[Scott F]

Choose low light periods like early morning or late afternoon and like has already been said, long casts. 

[Ohioguy25]

23 hours ago, Scott F said:

Choose low light periods like early morning or late afternoon and like has already been said, long casts. 

Downstream?

[roadwarrior]

I always cast upstream or across the river, never down stream. Fish generally face

into the current looking for baitfish coming by.

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/15/2022 at 10:22 AM, roadwarrior said:

I always cast upstream or across the river, never down stream. Fish generally face

into the current looking for baitfish coming by.

You don’t think they see you float/wade past them?

[roadwarrior]

Maybe, but they don't care.

[PaulVE64]

If I'm looking for a reaction bite (speed cranking) I throw upstream because fleeing baitfish never swim upstream to escape predators.

If I'm fishing slow it doesnt matter as far as I can tell.