River Bassin

[gritsnham]

Going to hit pool two later this week/weekend and was looking for some general tips to get me started. What locations should I be targeting smallies and largemouth with the water still in the 30's?

May have a open seat one day this weekend so if anyone wanted to come out and show me a few tricks the boats ready to go!

[Fairchild_82]

I haven't fished there yet. I'm planning on going out there this early season. How're the water levels and stuff? and I usually use my older, less expensive baits fishing the rivers. A lot of snags. I think i would go out and try jerk baitin' for starting. covering more ground. keep an idea of when they're hitting on the slash. *hit all structure* Good luck

[river rat316]

I would wait until the water temps at least hit in the 40's, otherwise if you absolutely have to scratch the itch, deep side of wingdams with little to no current with as light of a hair jig as you can get away with would be where I start, And by little to no current I mean if I can't get an 1/8oz or smaller hair jig down to 15-20' of water because of current then there is to much current there to hold any good fish. Smallies are incredibly fickle in cold water and you will more than likely be banging your head against the wall all day rather than catching, just my 2 cents for what its worth.

[bassfshin24]

I would agree with River Rat. I have the itch to hit the river bad but with water temps that cold I think I'll wait until things warm up past 40°.

[EBass]

I may get reamed for saying this, but try for walleye/sauger until the backwaters open. It's just not the right time yet. Having said that, down on P4 I've caught a few smallies and crappies going for the elusive walter. Jig and minnow.

[Cecil]

How dare anyone on this site tell you not to go fishing when you get a chance! You two take that back!!!

[gritsnham]

Thanks for sticking up for me Cecil what poor attitudes and even getting told to chase walleyes...pffffffff!

But seriously thansk for the suggestions guys at least now if I catch anything I will be super happy...gonna try to shake the cob webs off the boat and she is all ready to go so I cant just let her sit in the driveway any longer...

Those pesky river bass gotta winter somewhere and eat sometime so I will try some deeper wingdam spots and see what happens. Ill shake a drop shot in a smallies face all day if I gotta...

Also never had the new boat on the river last year so just seeing what side imaging shows me will keep me plenty entertained...that and it will be 55 on saturday I hear!

Worse comes to worse ill try some of them wingdam frogs:)

[bassfshin24]

Ok now I'm just jealous! I might have to sneak out next week or something

[KBush]

Did you get out??? Water levels?

[delmuts]

"Also never had the new boat on the river last year so just seeing what side imaging shows me will keep me plenty entertained...that and it will be 55 on saturday I hear!"

Just a word of caution. When starting with a new side scan unit......You may find yourself driving around and just watching the screen It's easy to get fixtated with everything you see.

[gritsnham]

HAHA thansk for the tip delmuts...it is like watching tv and trying to drive a boat but I managed not to hit anything and with the bird map adjusted navigations was fairly easy.

Water still seemed a little low to me but Im a river newbie...was not to much debries minus the ice chunks and some logs.

Water temp was 37-38 and fishing did not turn up any results but spent a lot of time exploring some it should only get better as that water finally warms and we get some rain.

[tolle141]

Once you get a nice sunny 65 degree day bust out the tubes and drag em on the edges of any holes.