How to Catch Bass in Rivers

Largemouth Bass

While many bass fishermen target their favorite fish in lakes and reservoirs, you can also catch largemouth and smallmouth bass in rivers. Smallmouths are particularly well-adapted to moving-water environments, and you can catch them on a variety of baits and lures throughout the year. Late spring, early summer and fall offer prime fishing for bass in rivers, and you may end up with a few trout, walleye or other river fish as a bonus.

Things You'll Need

• Fishing rod and reel
• Various lures

Instructions

1. Study a detailed river map before you go fishing. The best maps show depth and river features. Look for places where shallow, fast-moving water flows into deep, still water. River bends are often some of the deepest parts of a river, and can hold both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Places where feeder creeks enter a river are attractive to bass. Identify backwater areas, which attract largemouth bass in rivers. Fishing maps and fishing books that include maps are available at many tackle shops and sporting goods stores.

2. Cast to specific pieces of cover. Bass in rivers often use any structure that provides a current break as an ambush point. Cast upstream of boulders, bridge abutments, logs and other cover and retrieve or let your bait drift past it.

3. Use creature baits in spring and summer. Rivers are filled with aquatic insects, crustaceans and invertebrates that bass feed on. Soft plastic worms, crayfish, salamanders, and creature baits with various flaps and appendages can be very tempting to bass in these environments. Rig soft plastic baits on a worm hook with a bullet sinker that slides up and down the line.

4. Switch to minnow-imitating baits in fall. After the summer crayfish hatches are over, bass in many rivers key in on minnows. Cast topwater minnow baits, soft plastic jerkbaits, spinners and crankbaits across deep pools and retrieve with a twitching action.

References

• Bassdozer: River Fishing For Bass
• Hidden Fishing Tips: River Bass Fishing Tips
• Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide: River Bass
• Ask About Bass Fishing: River Bass Fishing
• Ohio DNR: Go Fish Smallmouth Bass