Holes and Snags? Fish upstream, downstream,...

[Perch Jerker]

current side, shore side, deepest part of the hole, or right in the root ball? I've caught most of my flatheads in shallow water 2' or less or right near the river bank next to a deep hole, but they've all been 5-10lbs (except one 20lb fish).

I'm heading out tonight (Carver) for flatheads and know of a few spots but want to explore some new ones too. I know rocks are good to target, but what part of the hole do I drop my bait.

Scenario #1-
Deep hole in the middle of a straight stretch of the river.

Scenario #2-
Deep hole to one side of the river on a straight stretch.

Scenario #3-
Deep hole on an outside river bend.

Scenario #4-
Snag in the middle of the river.

Scenario #5-
Snag near the river bank.

Scenario #6-
Stream entering river.

[Flashman]

Well when fishing snags/logjams, where I've caught my biggest fish, its been the upstream outside that has produced the fish. when fishing inlets put it right in the inlet our just a little down stream. Fished out of Shakopee, upstream a ways had an inlet running full of carp, just down stream 50 yards was a big ol' snag. put the baits right where the water coming from the feeder creek made it's bend and went down stream; we ended up pulling a couple flatties out of there the biggest being 37 inches.

Good luck tonight, even though I'm heading north to spend the weekend fishing, I'm jealous.

Ed

[korn_fish]

Scenario 1 - deep hole in middle of straight stretch.

I would focus on the front of the hole right on the break. But I would probably only spend time there if I marked fish that appeared to be cats on the bottom.

Scenario 2 - deep hole to side of river on straight stretch.

I would focus again on the front lip of the hole working the lip of the hole at the front and work my way along the side closest to shore.

Scenario 3 - Deep hole on outside bend

I would focus first on the side of the hole closest to shore and hitting the front/shore side and back/shore side of the hole for sure.

Scenario 4 - Snag in the middle of the river

Active fish will tend to be in the front side of the snag. Same goes with the first 3 scenarios dealing with holes.

scenario 5 - Snag near bank.

I would start on the front side of the snag, then make my way in close to drop a line right in the snag and if the snag permits, I would then hit the portion between the snag and shore.

Scenario 6 - Streams.

On rising streams I target the down river side of the confluence in the river. On stable stream and rising river, I fish the first couple of feet of the creek if its deep enough, otherwise hit any current break that might be provided by the creek. On a stable creek and falling river (what is going on right now) I focus on the up river side of the confluence in the river. However, this time of year, any part of the creek is probably going to provide cats for you as well as any fish that is feeding at night. Its amazing what you see in the creek if you keep the lights low. And like FLASHMAN indicated, I would change that if there is a big ol snag somewhere. See my disclaimer below
DISCLAIMER !!!! - haha I have to put this in here My description is only the basics of how I would fish each scenario. However, each scenario would be fished differently depending on river flowage levels (current speed and depth), type of bottom, width of river, previous holes/structure up and down river in proximity, how fast the break lines are for the holes. example, two different holes in the middle of straight stretches would be fished differently because of differnces in current and/or how fast the break is.

practice practice practice. I normally can mark fish in deep holes and target them. Active fish are most always at the front side of the holes.

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catchabiggun
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/flatheadpride/index.html

[This message has been edited by korn_fish (edited 05-23-2003).]

[Dennis Steele]

This is all good information but I think I can simplify all this information.
Look for an area where the current will bring food to them and they do not have to work hard to get it.
High water,low water,fast water,and slow water it all applies.Its not so much the fish you are hunting but the right current conditions for the fish to find food.

Right now the river is very high and dropping slowly.Your going to find your fish in slower current.I would target deep inside bends and slow eddies.Look for deep underwater points and rock humps along with snaggs on the channel edge.There will be a few outside bends that will be good but only if the current does not directly flow against the outside of the bend(slow water on an outside bend where the current washes slowly up a current break).
The creeks are a good chioce now as there is current in them but not ragging like the main river.Fish the holes in the creeks or along the deep channel edges.

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Minnesota River Guided Fishing
"fishhead"
[email protected]
www.mnriverguidedfishing.com