While Fishing A River, What Would Be The First Place You Would Attack?

[TheBassMan79]

Scenario,

Have to fish from shore or you can choose to wade in the river since its shallow enough. You do not have a boat.

River is about 2-4 feet in most areas.

In the middle of the river where you are fishing you have 3 sand bars that are surrounded by tall grass on the edges of them.

You have a small dam that drops off about a foot and goes over rocks of course.

This river has a very sandy bottom and lots of rocks.

What would you use for bait?

[dhami013]

Coffee tubes, football jigs, some shallow cranks bumping off rocks or ripping through the grass.

[WRB]

Sounds like your river is a stream or a head water area. Rivers or streams are all about current. Bass, like all fish, try to locate where the current brings prey to them and where they can face into the current with a minimum of swimming effort.

Current with seams and eddies are called current breaks created by faster moving water adjacent to slower moving water; lay downs, boulders, sand bars, shallow transitions to deeper water etc. Largemouth bass like shaded areas and slower moving current than smallmouths.

Tom

[TheBassMan79]

Sounds like your river is a stream or a head water area. Rivers or streams are all about current. Bass, like all fish, try to locate where the current brings prey to them and where they can face into the current with a minimum of swimming effort.

Current with seams and eddies are called current breaks created by faster moving water adjacent to slower moving water; lay downs, boulders, sand bars, shallow transitions to deeper water etc. Largemouth bass like shaded areas and slower moving current than smallmouths.

Tom

There is an eddie that is right by the boat launch. Its a 2 minute walk for me to get there. My uncle Steve always told me thats the place to focus and his words were exactly what you just replied with. Thank you for the info.

Also , should I focus on that spot the most?

[Sam]

First things to do on a river suggestion.

Early AM at first safe light: Buzzbaits, Chugbugs, RICO's, frogs and topwaters to the shore and back to the boat or parallel to the shore. Fish all grass lines and pads plus any wood you can find.

AM: Search baits such as crankbaits and spinnerbaits plus a Chatterbait now and then.

AM: If the bass do not hit above go with drop shots, wacky Senkos and shaky heads.

PM: By now you should have established a pattern for both where the bass are and what baits are working.

Late PM and sunset: Topwaters once again.

Wood is always your friend. Current breaks are your friend. Grass and pads are your friend. Mouths of creeks are your friend. Main river points and deep banks are your friend.

Outgoing tide is your best friend. Incoming tide can be your friend.

Just go out and see what works, remembering that what works today will probably not work tomorrow!!!!

[WRB]

Your location, not the exact name, what state would be a help, plus what type of bass; smallmouth or largemouth?

The water only being a few feet deep, the bass don't have a lot of choices where to locate.

Start at location that has cover and current breaks. In-line spinners like a Mepps is always a good choice and a jointed floating Rapala should get you started.

Tom

[dulouz]

Shallow/square bill cranks. Spinnerbaits.