Fishing Large Rivers

Fishing Large Rivers

by Bob Long

Big warm water rivers provide a broader selection of angling opportunities than any other freshwater body of water. An angler can find schools of sand bass in the morning, fierce northern pike at midday, hard fighting largemouth bass at sunset and fish for flathead catfish after dark. Most river fish stay along current edges or breaks where slow and fast water mix. They rest in still water then flash into fast water to snatch food that comes by. Because river fish do not have as much time to check a bait or lure, they are typically easier to hook than fish in lakes. But like every other kind of fishing the difficult part is finding areas that hold fish. In large rivers, wide turns, points, fallen timber, bridge abutments, giant rocks and islands all produce structure that create areas of still water that commonly contain game fish. With a little experience anglers can begin to learn to locate these areas. Major rivers can contain so many species of fish because their environment is so versatile. A big river can be viewed as have 5 different sorts of habitat, 4 of which contain fantastic holding areas for different species of fish.

1) Main Channel

The main channel is distinguished by rapid moving water and a bottom of fine sand or silt with very little vegetation or other structure for fish. This is the location to avoid when fishing even though it holds the biggest volume of water. Main channels rarely support large numbers of game fish. The current is too fast for most fish and the channel lacks food and cover.

2) Channel Borders

Channel borders separate the main channel from shore. They may contain man-made current deflectors or wingdams made of rocks that force the water flow midstream and away from the shore. The channel border regularly attracts walleye, white bass, smallmouth bass and catfish. Wingdams, downed trees, riprap, bends and points are the prime areas that provide structure for fish along channel borders. This an area that can be easily fished from the shore if you don't own a boat.

3) Side Channels

Often called cuts, side channels connect the main channel with backwater lakes and sloughs. Their silt bottoms are commonly covered with timber and other fish holding structure. Current is slow to moderate. Cuts are excellent for catfish, crappies, bluegills and largemouth that will hide among the limbs

4) Backwater Sloughs

At standard water levels, backwater sloughs have little or even no current. They have muck bottoms, dense growth of vegetation and shallow water. Backwater sloughs hold pike, largemouth bass, bluegills and crappies. During high water the prevailing current picks up and the sloughs will attract the majority of the species that are on the river and are among the best areas to fish. The shallow water enables <a href="http://www.redingtonwaders.com/chest_waders.html">fishing</a> with waders, if you dont have access to a boat.

5) Backwater Lakes

Backwater lakes are much deeper that sloughs and vegetation is largely restricted to their shorelines. Like sloughs, they have muck bottoms and little current. Backwater lakes appeal to many species but are best suited for crappies, black bass and northern pike. Like sloughs, they hold more fish when the water level is higher



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