River Bass Fishing
By Jerry CurtisToo often here in the Upper Midwest, people dismiss rivers for bass fishing. Oh sure, there's the occasional smallmouth article with some fly-rod wielding yuppie targeting those trendy "bronzebacks," on a scenic bluff country stream. But seasoned bass anglers know that our rivers contain, pound for pound, some of the strongest largemouth bass in the country.
Believe it or not, rivers give Midwestern anglers a taste of saltwater fishing right here in the heartland. Stay with me now, because it makes sense. Ever fished saltwater? All those tidal forces and currents running every which way (not to mention lots of toothy predators chasing each other around) create remarkably strong, resilient fish. They're unrelenting swimmers with unbelievable endurance.
River fish, like their saltwater comrades, are survivors. Burning those extra calories fighting current means river species forage more often and more aggressively than their slow water counterparts. Bass can be tougher to pattern in rivers because of this constant foraging, but if you adjust your tactics accordingly, you'll find 'em. For starters, spend more time with active presentations like crankbaits, and place less emphasis on finesse lures like plastics.
This year looks absolutely prime for river fishing bass in the Upper Midwest. A long, gradual snow melt meant most rivers stayed below flood stages. Unlike a year with flood conditions, which scatters fish, river largemouths are more predictable and easier to locate in low water years. Because the water warms faster in rivers than in lakes, river bass spawn up to a month earlier than their lake cousins. When the temperature hits 57 degrees in a river bass start spawning. In most of our rivers, they'll wrap it up by late April or early May.
You'll often find smallmouth and largemouth bass in the same rivers. Follow the same rule you would on a lake: Smallies suspend more around gravel and rock while largemouth inhabit the softer bottom areas.
Work vegetation, and shallow, slackwater areas. We're talking one to five feet of water with a smidge of forage-carrying current. Toss a buzzbait or spinnerbait in there and work it back slowly and erratically.
In late June on big rivers, focus on wingdams, particularly spots where you can find a break. Occasionally a barge or tow boat will bump the rocks underneath and create an opening. Largemouth hunker down in these breaks (commiserating with those pesky walleyes), and as the current washes minnows through, the bass gobble them up. Stay right above the breaks and drop a tube jig. It's fun fishing, almost like drift fishing for steelhead on our northern Great Lakes tributaries. The tough part is keeping your boat over the right spot. Spend some time studying your electronics and learning a specific wing dam top to bottom.
You can also try casting spinnerbaits to shore and working them back over the wingdam. Remember, this is stained water, so flash is important. Use a No. 5 or 7 willow leaf or larger on your spinnerbait in gold or copper.
If you're a late riser, you'll love river largemouth fishing. The bite seems to peak mid to late morning, so I rarely hit the water before 8:30 or 9 a.m. The turbid, stained water of our rivers seems to mean these fish hunt best in strong daylight when they can see forage. I love river fishing. Again, just like saltwater, you never know what you're going to catch in a river thumping catfish, American eel, even sturgeon in some places. And if it's bass you're seeking, you can't beat an angry, hungry largemouth who's been fighting current all day.
I'm telling ya, they got attitude!
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