Fishing suggestion – fishing for bass and bream in clear water?
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I am going to be fishing in a national park area in a river with clear water containing bass and bream. I have read that clear water makes fishing more difficult. Does anyone have any suggestions on the type of bait/lures to use? Any technique suggestions would be helpful too.
Thank you
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First thing I would do is use Fluorocarbon line because it is less visible in water. You can go to Dick’s and they sell pony spools of Vicious in 4-8lb test 110 yards for like $5. I fish for bass here in western NC in the rivers and the water is gin clear. My go to bait is a small 2-3in soft plastic craw on a 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig head. Find current breaks where the water is slack usually near rocks, fallen trees or where the river turns. I throw my bait up stream past those current breaks and allow the current to help naturally bring the bait back past those breaks. Fish hang out in that slack water so they don’t have to fight the current. Also look for deep pools that are along the stream or river fish usually stack there.
nathan is right the fish are always facing up stream so bring the bait into their view from in front of them. I use light line 6 to 8 Trilene XT pound test and if the water is gin clear use lo vis clear, if the water is green I use lo vis green. Fish will hold nosed up to pilings of docks behind natural sand bars, on the back (down stream) side of corners and inlets on the upstream side. Where any eddy is created will hold river bass and bream as well. I love swim baits that look like baby bass in rivers and everyone knows I love throwing plastic lizards for bass right on downed trees and shaking it off to the downstream side into the water. One thing you must know is that river bass are spooked pretty easy alot like pond bass. So remain low profile and stealthy to each location to cast from. You can buy and use mealy worms cheaply enough and they will work fine for the smaller fishes.
around here (VA) in clear water you want to make sure you use a color that makes sense to you and the fish. match spinners and crankbait colors to the baitfish in the water. in clear water you want to stay out of the fishes sight as best as you can. if you can see him, he can see you
Thumbs up to Nate- good answer.
With the invention of Fluorocarbon line you can now use slightly heavier line in a super clear environment with good results. Fluorocarbon has the same “refractive index” as water thus making it virtually invisible underwater. Most Pro Bass fishermen use Fluro in their “bag of tricks” to catch spooky clear water bass…..
There are a wide variety of company’s that make Fluorocarbon. Here’s a link to a page full- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchResults?hvarSearchString=flurocarbon&searchOption=products&x=19&y=12&storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&CMID=TOP_SEARCH_GO
If you know how to tie a Surgeons Knot or a Blood Knot you can use a 1-3FT leader of Fluro tied to your existing Mono, (instead of spooling your whole reel with Fluro). This can save you money………
Understand that River/Stream fish are acclimated to seeing “fast moving” forage.
So, along with 3″ Jig & Craw-fish imitators try casting :
1. In-line Spinners- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_46137____SearchResults
2. 1/8-1/4 OZ regular Spinnerbait’s- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_58845____SearchResults
General Colors for In-line & regular Spinnerbait’s in clear water? Chartreuse/White, White, Purple.
3. 7″ Ribbontailed worms rigged “Texas Style”- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_38256____SearchResults
Colors for Worms? Black, Watermelon, Pumpkinseed, Motor-oil & Camo. All of these colors would be good general colors for clear water.
4. Rapala Original Floating Minnow- http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_2842____SearchResults
And like the other posts suggest- ALWAYS cast upstream and bring your lure back WITH the current. Stream & river fish generally face INTO the current waiting for forage to sweep past them.
Hope this extra info helps ya? Good luck on your trip.