Miss in March

[MuskieFever]

I'm looking to do some river bass fishing in march on the miss. I have absolutely no experience bass fishing the miss. What pools should I target? What do I need to know about bass relating to current? What do I need to know about river fishing?

[bassfshin24]

With this winter it might be April before we can get the river. If going for largemouth find backwaters with some depth to it. Those backwaters will warm up pretty quick. Use square bill cranks, spinnerbaits, chatter baits, and lipless cranks.

If targeting smallies find riprap banks and find the current seams. Slack water of the main channel should hold fish. Both Pool 2 and 4 are great fisheries! I'm super pumped to hit the river this spring.

[Superduty]

River is gonna be a mess when this snow melts. I can see the possibility of cancelled tournaments if things melt fast and at the wrong time. Be safe if you are a first timer. You might get out on pool 2 before the melt. Fish will be on main channel current breaks.

[Markula]

What do I need to know about river fishing?

March is too early.

[RumRiverRat]

March is too early.

In a normal year yes, this year definitely unless it dramatically warms up.

In 2012 the bass fishing was very good from Saint Patricks day weekend through the first part of May on Pool 4 and 5.

2012 was a once in a lifetime early spring never to be duplicated.

[MuskieFever]

When you say too early, do you say because of fish location or ice? Because pool 4 is usually open most of the winter by the dam.

[RumRiverRat]

Both, backwaters are iced up and water is cold.

The first couple really warm, greater than 80 degree days with a strong south wind pushing the warm air are the days to be be in the backwaters of pool 2,4 and 5.

Day after Saint Patricks day 2012 Superduty and I absolutely whacked the green bass in a backwater creek channel on Pool 4.

Water temp was 60 to 65 and water was muddy, most fish came out of water less than 18 inches deep.

I whacked the green bass last year on may 14th and 15th in the Pool 2 backwaters those days were in the mid 90s after the crazy cold weather the 7 to 10 days prior.

[Markula]

When you say too early, do you say because of fish location or ice? Because pool 4 is usually open most of the winter by the dam.

Water temp is very important, and river fish will move a lot to find warmer water. I wouldn't get excited until the water gets 50 degrees or more. You may catch a couple at 45-48 degrees, but it will mostly suck. Mid 50's they start snapping.

And, the water is almost never too shallow for river fish in the spring. I fish 4, 5, and 5a a lot, and you'll be suprised by the odd places you'll run into a big school of smallies.