the crab Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Im getting ready to fish our final regular season tournament to hopefully qualify for an invitational tourney later in the year. We're fishing a medium sized river (Kanawha river in WV). The water is probably going to be up, fast moving, and muddy. Most tourneys are won with smallies on this river. How would you fellas approach it. I'll get to practice on Saturday and the event is Sunday. Thanks in advance. Quote
Super User fishfordollars Posted June 5, 2009 Super User Posted June 5, 2009 Im getting ready to fish our final regular season tournament to hopefully qualify for an invitational tourney later in the year. We're fishing a medium sized river (Kanawha river in WV). The water is probably going to be up, fast moving, and muddy. Most tourneys are won with smallies on this river. How would you fellas approach it. I'll get to practice on Saturday and the event is Sunday. Thanks in advance. Hunt the clearest water you can find. Quote
Super User Tin Posted June 5, 2009 Super User Posted June 5, 2009 Just did a little research and saw that in the 5 tourney results found it only takes about a 1.6-1.7 average to win. It appears as though there are a lot of 1-2 fish bags, and in all 5 the big fish was under 3.5 pounds. Sounds like a tough fishery. I would go on the hunt for clearer water as Fishfordollars said and try rockpiles just under the surface that create eddies and fish them with a shallow diving crank or white/silver tube on a 1/4 oz head. I would also focus on any form of cover/structure that allows the fish to be stationary just out of the current and the current right in front of its' nose that would send food past it. Such as a group of pillings, jetties, ect. Also, don't over look the power of bridge pillings and the drop-shot rig. If there is too much current for it try a dropping and ripping Silver Buddy. 8-) I would bring a shallow diving crank, a deeper diver (preferably a Wiggle Wart). A 1/2 to 3/4 oz spinnerbait with a big colorado blade, 3.5-4" white/silver tube, drop-shot stuff, and a black blue spider jig. Create a milk run containing a dozen or so spots and fish them fast. If they are there, they will eat it, if not, move to another. Atleast, thats what the Connecticut River has taught me... :-/ Quote
Muad Dib Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 id look for the slowest moving water possible and try some bright spinnerbaits maybe a single spinner. i def like the bridge idea with a drop shot but since there has been lots of tournies there already they may be gun shy so possible some downsizing of line and lures as well. some water temps may help but it looks like a 5 fish limit is gonna put you high on the board. id also have to go with a carolina rigged brush hawg. witht he current the tails would be going nuts. well good luck and i def would like to hear what you used as well as how you did! Represent bass resource baby t Quote
Super User 5bass Posted June 5, 2009 Super User Posted June 5, 2009 [movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit. Quote
bass wrangler569 Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 That's how the Susky has been lately, high, muddy water. If I were you I would take Tin's advice and create a milk run, fishing spots quickly and moving on. and like fishfordollars said, find the clearest water you can. If the river has any creeks flowing into it, I would also try running up those, you can usually find clearer water on the creeks than on the main river, at least that's how it is on the susky. I would be throwing spinnerbaits mostly, chartreuse/white, or a translucent color depending on the water clarity. Throw tubes in the slack water. I don't know how that river is but if it has a lot of islands, find some with grass at the back and fish that. The grass keeps the water clearer and there's usually some slack water there as well. Best of luck! Quote
I Love BassResource Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Good luck, I typically hate the Kanawha. The ELK is currently pure mud, so I'd obviously head north, maybe even lock up. Quote
the crab Posted June 6, 2009 Author Posted June 6, 2009 If it were a little less swift I would definitely lock up, but the spot I would like to fish will practically be rapids. I still may lock up and fish the lower to middle section on the chelyan pool. As rough as the kanawha has been lately it probably wont matter so much where I go, I might just need to maximize my time. Quote
bigtimfish Posted June 8, 2009 Posted June 8, 2009 chart/white spinnerbaits with big thumpin colorado blades. I guess shakey heads and try to find clear pockets or eddies I don't know, I fish for largemouth in lakes man, I'm guessin here. : Quote
Mottfia Posted June 9, 2009 Posted June 9, 2009 If its a river then I have just one things to say... NEWLY FALLEN TREES! Ok to add a little more than that. typically up and running what will drop trees into the water. The tree drop insects and all kinds of things for the baitfish to feed on. It also causes a current break. Those are two things that fish love in river systems. remember that the greener the tree the better! Mottfia Quote
Pitchinkid Posted June 9, 2009 Posted June 9, 2009 Well seeing how the Kanawha is my home water and i have a tournament this weekend as well, im not going to tell you anything. ;D Given the rain that we got today and the rain we are supposed to get the rest of the week, the Kanawha should be unfishable. Dangerous to navigate to say the least. If God smiles on us and gives us good weather for the week the rive should be DYNOMITE. Fluke bite should be redunkulous and dont count out cranks for your kicker fish. Personally if you want to find me, your gonna have a long boat ride up river Montgomery pool has the bigger fish. Might only get 5 bites, but should be a good 5 bites. I dont think i know you and i hope your not in my club so ill go ahead and tell you good luck and if this is someone in my club, i hope you forget to put your plug in. ;D Nevermind i see where you said it was your last club tourney. Not in my tourney then, so good luck Quote
Mr Jenkins Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 LOL IF THE KANAWHA IS YOUR HOME you sure stay on vacation, if you want big fish go toward winfield you should find greenfish there if you want to catch 50 dinks go towards montgomery pool. May try the first mile of the Poca river too Quote
Super User 5bass Posted June 10, 2009 Super User Posted June 10, 2009 If this is a daytime tournament, I'd fish the stained water first without a doubt. You'll be able to fish it fast with a spinnerbait or crankbait and probably do it shallower than if you're in the clear water. Of course, if the stain doesnt work out, then I'd go to cleaner water. But I'd probably lay money on the stained water bite. Quote
Pitchinkid Posted June 10, 2009 Posted June 10, 2009 LOL IF THE KANAWHA IS YOUR HOME you sure stay on vacation, if you want big fish go toward winfield you should find greenfish there if you want to catch 50 dinks go towards montgomery pool. May try the first mile of the Poca river too lol i hope everybody thinks like you. True, winfield does have the largemouth, but im not making that run in a tin boat. A bunch of dinks? Cheylan pool maybe. Or maybe thats all you catch LOL Quote
Mr Jenkins Posted June 11, 2009 Posted June 11, 2009 yea i guess i do catch dinks up there , from marmet to montgomery theres nothing but community holes, i mean you will occasionally catch a descent spot or smallie in either of the pools but just never pans out for me, maybe i should pay you to give me lessons. :-/ You sound pretty pro i could probably learn alot off you Quote
the crab Posted June 11, 2009 Author Posted June 11, 2009 Well seeing how the Kanawha is my home water and i have a tournament this weekend as well, im not going to tell you anything. ;D Given the rain that we got today and the rain we are supposed to get the rest of the week, the Kanawha should be unfishable. Dangerous to navigate to say the least. If God smiles on us and gives us good weather for the week the rive should be DYNOMITE. Fluke bite should be redunkulous and dont count out cranks for your kicker fish. Personally if you want to find me, your gonna have a long boat ride up river Montgomery pool has the bigger fish. Might only get 5 bites, but should be a good 5 bites. I dont think i know you and i hope your not in my club so ill go ahead and tell you good luck and if this is someone in my club, i hope you forget to put your plug in. ;D Nevermind i see where you said it was your last club tourney. Not in my tourney then, so good luck Nope, I'm not in your club. I ended up finishing 5th with 7.61lbs. Thanks to everybody who responded. Quote
skeetermike Posted June 13, 2009 Posted June 13, 2009 Something else to keep in mind everyone else will probably be looking for slack water. Any structure that breaks up the current, downside of trees, rock ect. Also try the upside of those structures some but don't count on that upside depending on how swift that water is! Anything that slows the water. Ditches are good also, check out the pts on each end of the ditches. All the baits they said are good. I probably wouldn't throw a light color anything though! Maybe bright, not light. I like the tube idea, but take like a green pumpkin or blk/red flake. You should be able to work it fairly fast a couple of pulls and move on. If they are there they should hit. I do like the bright colors for spinnerbaits with gold blades for dark water. The wiggle wart in bright and dark colors is good around rock piles if you can bump that structure. Hard to go wrong with the jig. Keep in mind where u have success during ur pre-fishing and think of spots like that to return too. Brushhogs are my fav. so keep them in mind. Remember smell, noise and flash are on ur side with that stained water! Good luck. 8-) Quote
Pitchinkid Posted June 14, 2009 Posted June 14, 2009 lol im suprise you didnt learn anything from the RD spanking that was put on you. Quote
Mr Jenkins Posted June 26, 2009 Posted June 26, 2009 Yes Scut you guys did spank ME at RD , 2 sticks are greater than 1. East Lynn told a different tell though didnt it tehe!!! MASTER BLASTER RUNS BORDERTOWN !!!!!!!!! Quote
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