- In the hot summer months, the best way to fish for bass in a river is to join them in the water. Slow moving rivers that are shallow allow an individual wearing a pair of old sneakers and shorts to wade right in. By going into the water, the angler has access to nearly every part of a river that he can safely walk to, allowing him to cast into the many places that bass will frequent. Purchasing a small inflatable boat or raft that can be tied to the angler's waist as he walks up the river by a long piece of rope lets him carry with him all his tackle as well as extra rods and reels; there is no need to go to shore to place the equipment down and the hands will always be free to fish with. After advancing as far up the river as he desires, the bass fisherman can ride the boat back down on the current, stopping at the places that provided action on the way upstream for another shot at the fish there.
- Bass hang in structure in rivers that gets them a break from the current. These include bridges, logs, fallen trees and large boulders. The angler should put herself in the place of the bass when considering a portion of a river, in the water that would give the most relief from fighting against the current. Rapids and fast moving water are not where bass will spend lots of time, but anywhere where fast moving water flows into slower water, there will be fish. Bass will also be found where shallow water flows into deeper water, especially in the hotter months because the deeper water provides some respite from the sun. Likewise, where there is the shade from overhanging trees along the deeper sides of a river, there is likely to be bass in the summer, because they will want to stay out of the direct sunlight when the temperatures soar. Submerged logs are favorite hiding places for larger bass, which are looking to ambush unsuspecting prey. Bass will feed in a river while they are facing upstream, letting the water bring food to them.
- An excellent bait for bass in a river is a night crawler. On hot days, it is imperative to keep worms cool, which can be accomplished by bringing along a chest of ice that the container or bait can be placed in. If the river is slow moving, a good rig for both smallmouth and largemouth bass is a number four snelled hook with one of two medium to large split shots attached, about two feet from the hook. The hook can be tied directly to the fishing line. The night crawler can be hooked through and then cast out into promising spots but always downstream. Casting upstream will result in snags as the bait and the split shots are carried along the bottom by the current where rocks and debris hang them up. Reel the worm in if there is no strike within a couple of minutes and cast it back out.
