where to start looking on new rivers.

[PaddlingPirate]

For some people new rivers or large bodies of water are very intimidating. The big question I hear is where do I start. Structure is everyones first answer of course. Some rivers like the Etowah River in my little slice of heaven can be fished almost like a trout stream. Seams, foam lines, fast runs, ect. are very productive. I recomend to all my friends to think outside the box in these cases. what works for me may not for them. Any good Ideas/Tips so I can better explain to my partners in crime or just an inquiring mind on how to best attack a new location?

[singingdog]

I relate everything to current, which is a two-edged sword for river bass: it brings food (energy positive), but is energy negative when they have to fight it. A big river fish gets that way by figuring out how to use the current to bring it food, without having to fight it all the time. So, I think of spots that allow the fish to take advantage of the "conveyor belt", without having to fight it too much: eddy lines, seams, pillows....

One spot that many folks overlook is the upstream face of a rocks and boulders. There is a pillow there that is virtually dead in terms of current, but offers first pickings of anything washing around the rock. Often the big ones will stake out that prime real estate, with the smaller ones in the eddy behind the rock.

[mcca78]

Great informative post singindog, your so dead on with the second part of your post, that is a area that can really produce some quality fish. Always try to see if someone is home at the front door as well as the back of the house

[andystaxidermy]

when i first approach a river i will usually tie on a topwater, crankbait, and a t-rig crawfish imitation. I will then fish the outside bends of the river and fish in any pockets eddys, or wood structure that caused a current break. The best possible presentation is to throw up current and let the current take your bait down just as would be the case naturally. The key is to make sure the bait is following the seems so that it doest take the fish much energy and they have time to react to it.

[BMP]

Find the lazy boy near the grocery store. Big fish like easy pickings. Every body of water is different, so I'd try to talk to some locals about patterns, not specific locations, but every big fish will be in a place near a food source, deeper water for protection at some point, and structure to get out of current when needed.

What provides those places varies. Some flows it's outside bends, others are blow downs.

But I try to find the roughest bottom contours I can in small areas where fish can change depth quickly with little effort. Those areas are where big fish hang because they instinctively want to expend the least amount of energy for the most calories.

[HookUp]

Find the lazy boy near the grocery store

Hey, that's my line.



Everything said is true - at certain times of the year.

Fish will be in different places spring, summer, fall & winter.