Lure Fishing On Rivers

I love fishing in rivers as opposed to lake fishing. To me there is just something so pleasing to spend a day on the river bank in amongst the lovely natural views, sounds and smells of the river, fishing. I also feel that a river is likely to have more individual places, nooks and crannies that you can explore and test with your lures to snag that one big largemouth bass.

Places to target when lure fishing on rivers:

1) Cover:

Cover is anything that is not part of the river contours. Things like submerged tree trunks or stumps, large rocks, boat docks, overhanging trees, weeds and reeds are all likely sources of cover for the predatory bass. As a predator, the bass uses cover for different purposes. Bass (both largemouth and smallmouth) love using cover as ambush points. These places of cover give the bass plenty of protection from other predators as well as good vantage points for food. A large rock in the middle of the current provides the fish with a calm spot behind the rock (on the downstream side) as the rock forces the current to flow around it. This calm area enables the bass to lurk without working too hard to swim against the current and to pick and choose food that flows past.

2) Current:

Look for the main flow of the river. This is where the current is flowing the fastest and will mean that the fish will expend much of its energy to swim in this current. Just off of the main current you can usually find calm spots that are ideal holding areas for bass. Also small bends in the river will change the direction of the current flow and create calm areas. Largemouth Bass will usually use the calmest spot (less energy) and face upstream to be able to see food that is brought down to it.

3) Overhanging Trees:

Overhanging trees provide shady areas along the banks of the river, and sometimes hold bass that take refuge in these areas. Trees sometimes provide fish with titbits that might fall out of the branches (bugs, larvae, sometimes even baby birds) and so sometimes are very productive areas to fish.

4) Bridges:

If there are any bridges that cross the river at any point these might provide awesome places to fish for trophy bass. As mentioned before, bass love the shade provided by bridges and use these as prime holding areas. Bridge supports (in the water) disturb the water's flow and provide calmer spots.

5) Rapids | Small Waterfalls | Weirs:

Look for pools above or below rapids, weirs or small waterfalls where the water collects or pours into, creating deeper pools in the river. Again, these pools require the fish to expend less energy than they would in the fast moving current and give them opportunities to catch and eat food that comes to them.

Test your new bass fishing gear in all sorts of different situations.  As a bass fishing beginner, you’ll want to focus your efforts on these types of areas on the river.  Hopefully some of these fishing tips will help to get you well on your way to landing fish after fish.