Fishing from the Bank?

[BuddinBasser]

All the lakes are still frozen, but the river is open. There are rainbow and smallmouth. I'm a newbie so don't know what sort of presentation to use in moving current, ie; cast upstream and let it drift down, cast downstream and retrieve? You get the idea. I'm figuring on using some Rapala type lure and/or soft plastics.

Thanx!  

[jrhennecke]

The fish will be facing the current so cast accordingly.  Look for breaks and eddies in the current.

[farmpond1]

It's doubtful you'll have much luck if you drift a rapala downstream.  I'd recommend you cast at about a 45 degree angle upstream(depending upon the current speed, etc) and retrieve in an erratic stop and go fashion (the fish will dictate the retrieve type).  Reading the water in a river is important.  Focus on seams (places where the water changes such as eddies), weedlines, deeper pools, and in front of and behind larger boulders.  If you don't get a bite from a likey looking spot, shift positions and cast to it from a different angle.  Don't be afraid to experiement.

Good luck and let me know how you do!

[HesterIsGod]

I would look for slower moving water too.

[Tokyo Tony]

The most productive areas in the river I fished all winter are deep slower-moving pools below (anywhere from right below to 200 yds+ below) faster, shallower rapids.  The fish's metabolism is lower than usual in the cold water so they don't want to expend too much energy, but they still want to be somewhere where food is brought to them buffet-style.

You can start with a jerkbait, cast anywhere from directly upstream to directly across the current, and twitch it all the way in.  As was said, keep varying your retrieve until you get a strike, then you'll know the basic retrieve style to use.  Then you can hone it further.  You can also cast directly across stream and let the current take your bait so that it's swept across the river until it's directly downstream from you.  If you're lucky, it will sweep right in front of a trout/smallie's face and he'll take it.

If jerkbaits aren't producing, the fish may be deeper, so you can try a grub or a 2" or 3" minnow-type bait (I love Berkley power minnows) on a 1/16 to 1/4 oz jighead and bump it along the rocks on the bottom, casting in the same way you were casting the jerkbait.

This was my basic MO all winter and it worked great.

Good luck!