locating lm.bass in rivers

[lure junkie]

this season I've paired up with a new partner that predominately fishes rivers, specifically the Illinois river at the Morris pool. The bulk of my fishing knowledge stems from natural clear weedy lakes. We fished on Sunday 4 hrs. managing 1 keeper. A local tournament produced a winning weight of 19-3. on the same day same pool. Ironically using the same bait (rat l trap) that we used . there is a obvious,glaring  disability  regarding location selection. Had we been in that tournament it would have been more of a donation than a competition.The advice I seek pertains to river dissection, water temps @ or around the 50 degree mark. Are any sloughs ,and or harbors  away from the main river channel absolute paramount  for congregations of fish,or would current breaks on the main river channel be a better overall selection with respect to seasonal movements/

[backwater4]

From what I've experienced, largemouth tend to be in creeks, oxbows or way up the rivers out of the main currents. Marinas, backwaters and coves also. I think current breaks could hold fish at certain times of the year, but for me those current fish were mainly smallmouth. I know up north here in the tidal creeks the largemouth and smallmouth both winter in the deep holes of the creeks off the main river.

[BigEbass]

Down south we catch either spots or schoal bass in the current-y parts of our rivers - LM's as far as I know are not huge fans of current - I would seek out more slack water with some good structure/cover where those largies will be ambusing the bait - Along small tributaries that are pretty slack, there are usually downed trees - if you find these trees that are pretty big they may go from shallow at the base down to deep - these are freakin magnets, especially if they lay on on nice outside bend - anyway, thats my limited river experience for whatever its worth - I am nothin special in rivers - mainly fish lakes and ponds myself - good luck.  Tell us what happens.

[Paul Roberts]

I would expect they'd be away from current -that would be primary. Telemetry in some tidal waters have shown bass winter in sloughs away from the main river -sometimes very shallow. Seems avoiding current is primary.

So...tell us...what kind of habitat were those fish during your T found in?

[roadwarrior]

Tributary arms, secondary points and vegetation

are all likely areas. Any cover or structure out side

the main channel are other options.

8-)

[lure junkie]

Thanx again for the responses. From what I learned after doing some research, those fish were caught from a warm water discharge pumping out 70 degree water in a otherwise 50 degree environment. Also a six fish limit, but still very good for the area. I picked up the in-fisherman book on lm bass because of it's chapter on bass in rivers only to find it echoes  the theory of aversion to current, and finding suitable backwater areas as mentioned here first. Nevertheless still a excellent read. We're heading out this Saturday to put  the info into practice hopefully with better results.

[Paul Roberts]

Thanx again for the responses. From what I learned after doing some research, those fish were caught from a warm water discharge pumping out 70 degree water in a otherwise 50 degree environment. Also a six fish limit, but still very good for the area. I picked up the in-fisherman book on lm bass because of it's chapter on bass in rivers only to find it echoes the theory of aversion to current, and finding suitable backwater areas as mentioned here first. Nevertheless still a excellent read. We're heading out this Saturday to put the info into practice hopefully with better results.

Good luck with it. Let us know what you find.

[lure junkie]

Well we fished Saturday in a local tournament utilizing the advice and suggestions as given here. After a solid 3 hrs. of fishing the results were not good,one undersized fish. Having said that, a desperation move to the main river was made to where a small feeder creek intersected. This area suprisingly produced 3 keeper smallies with largest going a eye popping  5-3, basically a trophy for the area, with a total weight of 10.55, it was good enough for 1st as well as big bass honors. a tournament a week ago was won with 19-3 taking 1st. place honors. Go figure?

[BigEbass]

SSAAWWEEEEETTTTTT!!!!

Nice one man!!! See how much all out largemouth tips helped you hahaha 

[Paul Roberts]

Congrats! Glad there were smallies there. 5-3 is one heck of a smallie!