How would you fish this river section?

[Trevordog]

So I consider myself and ok angler. Certainly can't hold a candle to some of you on this site, but I sure do learn a lot from you all!! This is hands down the best fishing site on the web!!

I had been doing pretty good with the smallies on the south branch lately and had an hour or so to kill and live very close to the Big D, so decided to give it a shot from shoreline. Nothing happening! Tried Senko's, Berkley hollow bellies, tubes, and the usual stuff that had been working on the SB. Now this section of the D (Milford/Rieglesville area) is obviously a lot bigger and faster then the SB, so I was wondering how you guys would fish it. May be tough to tell, but river is flowing from right to left. I know there are some days that no matter what you throw at them, you just can't get a bite. Thanks!!!

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[Mikey topaz]

Start at the top of the hole and work the seams of that fast water fish the inside seam cloest to you then work the actual current then fish the outter seam, fish will usually hold on those seams and anywhere u see the water slow down and make little eddy of slower water. Fan casting the entire stretch will also help u locate where they are holding

[Andrushkin33]

Depends on your style.

Since my is laid back and enjoy my bottle type, I would simply set up 3 bottom rigs and see what's happening with 3 different baits.

From the look of it would go with chicken liver for cats and stripes, nightcrawler for the walley and live bait for anything else.

Andre

[jimmythegreek]

fish it just like mikey said and use something with some flash or vibration, like a spoon or rattletrap/binsky, they work great in rivers beleive it or not. Also live bait like a shiner w a splitshot and let it drift down those breaks and ripples like you were fishing fatheads for trout

[Jigman13]

Live crays... With weight if needed. Same pattern outlined by mikey. Throw flash too like jimmy said.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Fish are feeding heavy for the long winter ahead. I spend lots of time in those areas. Rip a Bomber plug right through the seams and pockets. Smallies are still there fattening up. Shad fry are starting to lay low this time of year so you can't go wrong with live Shiners. Baby eels are all over the river so there safe bet as well. Night crawlers, Power worms in purple, black, motor oil and tequila sunrise will catch fish in that river this time of year. If you don't have those colors in your bag, your nuts. Good luck out there dude!!!

[Jhunter1]

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

Fish are feeding heavy for the long winter ahead. I spend lots of time in those areas. Rip a Bomber plug right through the seams and pockets. Smallies are still there fattening up. Shad fry are starting to lay low this time of year so you can't go wrong with live Shiners. Baby eels are all over the river so there safe bet as well. Night crawlers, Power worms in purple, black, motor oil and tequila sunrise will catch fish in that river this time of year. If you don't have those colors in your bag, your nuts. Good luck out there dude!!!

In the evening after work go down there and try some topwater. If you see a few baitfish surfacing go right to them and cast on the middle. This time of year top water baits like poppers can out fish all other lures when the bite is right.

[Billfish715]

While the Big "D" is running low, the pools below any of the rapids hold most of the fish. If it's smallmouths that you're after, and you don't mind getting pinched every once in awhile, use hellgramites. They are the most natural bait target in the river. Fish them like you would fish any bait in moving water. Cast across and let the bait sink and drift into the holding areas. Keep enough weight on your line to keep it near the bottom and hold on.

When the river is down, you can wade out from the shoreline to get to most of the runs. Just be careful......obviously! Any of the methods mentioned before will work if you are on a limited time schedule or want to cover more water. As for the "mites" you can actually catch your own by using a piece of screening attached to two dowels. Broom sticks are good. If you have a partner to hold the screen, set it up downstream from your position and shuffle your feet to loosen the rocks upstream so the nymphs and "mites" wash down into the screen. Set it up in shallow water up to your knees. Be careful picking up the hellgramites since they do have pinchers that will grab you. Put them in a wading bucket with some wet vegetation and a little water. They will last a long time. Hook them once through the head or tail and drop them in.

I'm not sure who carries live hellgramites but maybe someone on this board may know if anyone does. There's always nightcrawlers!

[XXlyakattacker]

First off I hate pictures on photo bucket. It takes me forever to get back to the message board. I fish that section of the river often. Top water is awesome at times. I like to work rubber worms in the slower sections and 1/4 Oz Joe's flies in the fast water is killer on smallies and even cats. Many days of 30-50 smallies in the fast water. Even caught them next to guys swimming in the river on laborday.. I've been finding more larger fish deep and getting them on swim baits jogged slowly on a rugby jig. If only I could anchor my kayak in the rapids.

[Trevordog]

Thank you to everyone that posted replies. I really appreciate it. Great advice and will be going out to same area on Monday and give it a try.