River Bassing help???

Labman · 06-07-07, 10:31 PM

I was wondering if you guys and gals can give me some help. Im going to start fishing a wednesday evening bass tourney on a river system. Its in Illinois Where the Illinois river starts. It is acually the Kankakee and Desplaines rivers. They merge to form the illini. There is a good population of smallies and largmouths. I have looked at the satelite view and see alot of backwaters, islands and bridges. What presentations would you start with and what is your setup? Let me me hear it...

I have been checking this site out for a while and see alot of hardcore finatics here. So come on and impress me!!

Thanks for all your help.

Labman

P.S. Anyone from around there?

revise: I meant kankakee not kaskaskia

brushhog · 06-08-07, 09:22 AM

Welcome aboard -great signature by the way -Check this thread in the new to fishing section- it's a good place to start. Good luck!

http://www.bassfishin.com/bassfishin...ad.php?t=12244

NJBassDevil · 06-08-07, 11:16 AM

Soft JerkBait works really good for smallies in the river where I am from. I fish the Delaware River and have caught some nice bass (from the banks) using a soft jerkbait. Other lures are Zara Spooks in low light condition and in slack water. Not to much success in current with the spook. White tubes. Supposedly the white is supposed to pi$$ them off. IDK why but they love this bait. Spinnerbait are another good choice for laydowns and trees. Hope this helps.

JB · 06-08-07, 11:18 AM

lab,
downsize the lures you use on the river, look for edy's (calm water) that is right next to a current, for instance a log has one side that is getting hit with the current, fish the other side...I'd also just target any creeks that feed the river system...You may want to stick with black plastics if the water clarity is murky, or a junebug...
River morning fishing usually means a smaller size buzz bait or popR.
Small jigs work too...under or around any bridge or ramp is good, many tournament release fish are near ramps...stick to smaller crankbaits or single colorado spinnerbaits.
River fishing can be tough, but the fish pull really hard when caught. good luck

BassAddict · 06-08-07, 01:20 PM

Most of the tournaments I fish are on a river system (James/Chicahomany/Potomac). I have my best luck like JB said with smaller baits. I use 4" worms, 3/16 oz. Baby Boo jigs, and small cranks and spinnerbaits. You can still catch bigger fish with these smaller baits in the river. Wing dams, pillings, trees, are all things to look for (current breaks). A lot of times fish will be shallower in rivers in the summer time then they will be in lakes. You can still catch bass in 6" of water in a river. It's better though if you have deeper water close by. Black/blue, junebug, blue fleck, and green pumpkin are my favorite colors. If the river your fishing had pads or grass... then flip it. You may have to fish long stretches of it to get bit but a lot of times you'll find better fish in there. One other thing to consider is the tide. I catch most of my fish the last couple hours of out going through the first couple hours of in coming water. I'm on my best stuff with this tide and I usually run with the tide to fish as many spots as I can with that tide.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

Eric

Labman · 06-08-07, 02:04 PM

Sweet. Thanks for the replys. I have most of what you talk about in my boat already. So I wont have to spend a bunch of money. When you say small spinners, are you refering to maybe 3/16-1/4 oz? Lake bassing, I always use 1/2 or 5/8 oz. even 3/4 when fishing deep. So Im thinking I should target smallmouths? Do you agree? I know they are the best fighters but will my chances at heavier fish be large or smallmouths in a river? Thanks Again. Im building confidence as the plot thickens!!!!Labman

3dkicker · 06-08-07, 03:46 PM

Do you have any more information on the river? Like the current flow? and how much cover? Is it Rocky? Wood? Pads? Grass? What's the water color? What type of bottom? Sand, mud, pebble, rocks? How deep is the river? The bends and feeder creeks?

I looked up the river and was wondering where you'll be launching from? The state park, Kankakee, Joliet, or Morris? Looks like there is plenty of man made structure, islands, and feeder creeks. Do you have access to the ponds or lakes? How long of a run is it from one town or city to the others?

BassAddict · 06-08-07, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labman

Sweet. Thanks for the replys. I have most of what you talk about in my boat already. So I wont have to spend a bunch of money. When you say small spinners, are you refering to maybe 3/16-1/4 oz? Lake bassing, I always use 1/2 or 5/8 oz. even 3/4 when fishing deep. So Im thinking I should target smallmouths? Do you agree? I know they are the best fighters but will my chances at heavier fish be large or smallmouths in a river? Thanks Again. Im building confidence as the plot thickens!!!!Labman

As far as spinnerbaits ... I'll use as small as 1/8 oz- 3/8 oz. We have smallmouth in the upper portion of the James River but I mostly fish for the largemouths. Where most of the smallmouth action is, is above the fall line and you can't run through the rocks to get there but if you could I would definately fish more for them. As far as weight ... if there are big smallies in your river then go for them but if the largemouths are huge then you have to think about them too. Your going to have to figure that one out by just fishing. With the smaller profile baits you stand a good chance of catching both.

Eric

1FASTLASER · 06-16-07, 08:23 AM

WEEDS man find the WEEDS. I fish several rivers down here in arkieslaw and weeds are the answer. A big plus is the addition of horizontal cover. There is an abundance of vertical cover. Find the weeds and wood cover where it will remain good water depth no matter what stage the river is at. For instance a bluff bank. When you have deep water plus the weeds and wood cover you have found some bass that will MOST likley be there all the time. Shallow bass will move with the water.

JB · 06-16-07, 08:25 AM

Also keep in mind to downsize lures, like using a 4 inch redshad powerworm or smaller craw....I'd work that spinnerbait alot too over fallen timbers.

lizardsrule · 06-16-07, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1FASTLASER

WEEDS man find the WEEDS.

In the biggest river around Indiana, and Ohio, Kentucky, there are few weeds to find in the muddy Ohio river. I would love to have had more, but alas no such luck. The fish really were on the 1000's of laydowns as much as anyplace.

Pick up some Baby Paca Craws, and throw them arouind laydowns, they always work well in rivers. Also the downsizing usually was the ticket 4" worms were sweet.

Lizards

Mac1 · 06-18-07, 09:14 AM

quarter ounce tandem willowleaf blades in silver, spinnerbait body either white or chartreuse. Take off the skirt and replace with a 3 or 4 inch smoke grub with silver metallic flake.

Wishing2BFishing · 06-18-07, 01:36 PM

Twin Tail Hula Grubs!!! For stained/muddy water, use smoke or junebug. If the water is clear, green pumpkin. Texas rig em' on a Katsu Pro Jobee Hook if you can find them. The river fish seem to love this presentation.

06-07-07, 10:31 PM	#1
Labman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: central Illinois Posts: 7	River Bassing help??? I was wondering if you guys and gals can give me some help. Im going to start fishing a wednesday evening bass tourney on a river system. Its in Illinois Where the Illinois river starts. It is acually the Kankakee and Desplaines rivers. They merge to form the illini. There is a good population of smallies and largmouths. I have looked at the satelite view and see alot of backwaters, islands and bridges. What presentations would you start with and what is your setup? Let me me hear it... I have been checking this site out for a while and see alot of hardcore finatics here. So come on and impress me!! Thanks for all your help. Labman P.S. Anyone from around there? revise: I meant kankakee not kaskaskia __________________ It's not pink, it's bubblegum!!!:mad: Last edited by Labman; 06-07-07 at 10:43 PM.

06-08-07, 09:22 AM	#2
brushhog BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Whitesboro, NY Posts: 1,222	Welcome aboard -great signature by the way -Check this thread in the new to fishing section- it's a good place to start. Good luck! http://www.bassfishin.com/bassfishin...ad.php?t=12244 __________________ 3/4 of the Earth's surface is water and 1/4 is land. Clearly god wants me to fish, not mow the lawn.

06-08-07, 11:16 AM	#3
NJBassDevil BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 899	Soft JerkBait works really good for smallies in the river where I am from. I fish the Delaware River and have caught some nice bass (from the banks) using a soft jerkbait. Other lures are Zara Spooks in low light condition and in slack water. Not to much success in current with the spook. White tubes. Supposedly the white is supposed to pi$$ them off. IDK why but they love this bait. Spinnerbait are another good choice for laydowns and trees. Hope this helps. __________________ Fish Hard

06-08-07, 02:04 PM	#6
Labman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: central Illinois Posts: 7	Sweet. Thanks for the replys. I have most of what you talk about in my boat already. So I wont have to spend a bunch of money. When you say small spinners, are you refering to maybe 3/16-1/4 oz? Lake bassing, I always use 1/2 or 5/8 oz. even 3/4 when fishing deep. So Im thinking I should target smallmouths? Do you agree? I know they are the best fighters but will my chances at heavier fish be large or smallmouths in a river? Thanks Again. Im building confidence as the plot thickens!!!!Labman __________________ It's not pink, it's bubblegum!!!:mad:

06-08-07, 03:46 PM	#7
3dkicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 4,483	Do you have any more information on the river? Like the current flow? and how much cover? Is it Rocky? Wood? Pads? Grass? What's the water color? What type of bottom? Sand, mud, pebble, rocks? How deep is the river? The bends and feeder creeks? I looked up the river and was wondering where you'll be launching from? The state park, Kankakee, Joliet, or Morris? Looks like there is plenty of man made structure, islands, and feeder creeks. Do you have access to the ponds or lakes? How long of a run is it from one town or city to the others? __________________ Smitty www.smittystubes.com

06-08-07, 11:18 AM	#4
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	lab, downsize the lures you use on the river, look for edy's (calm water) that is right next to a current, for instance a log has one side that is getting hit with the current, fish the other side...I'd also just target any creeks that feed the river system...You may want to stick with black plastics if the water clarity is murky, or a junebug... River morning fishing usually means a smaller size buzz bait or popR. Small jigs work too...under or around any bridge or ramp is good, many tournament release fish are near ramps...stick to smaller crankbaits or single colorado spinnerbaits. River fishing can be tough, but the fish pull really hard when caught. good luck

06-08-07, 01:20 PM	#5
BassAddict BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 805	Most of the tournaments I fish are on a river system (James/Chicahomany/Potomac). I have my best luck like JB said with smaller baits. I use 4" worms, 3/16 oz. Baby Boo jigs, and small cranks and spinnerbaits. You can still catch bigger fish with these smaller baits in the river. Wing dams, pillings, trees, are all things to look for (current breaks). A lot of times fish will be shallower in rivers in the summer time then they will be in lakes. You can still catch bass in 6" of water in a river. It's better though if you have deeper water close by. Black/blue, junebug, blue fleck, and green pumpkin are my favorite colors. If the river your fishing had pads or grass... then flip it. You may have to fish long stretches of it to get bit but a lot of times you'll find better fish in there. One other thing to consider is the tide. I catch most of my fish the last couple hours of out going through the first couple hours of in coming water. I'm on my best stuff with this tide and I usually run with the tide to fish as many spots as I can with that tide. Good luck and let us know how you do! Eric

06-16-07, 08:23 AM	#9
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	WEEDS man find the WEEDS. I fish several rivers down here in arkieslaw and weeds are the answer. A big plus is the addition of horizontal cover. There is an abundance of vertical cover. Find the weeds and wood cover where it will remain good water depth no matter what stage the river is at. For instance a bluff bank. When you have deep water plus the weeds and wood cover you have found some bass that will MOST likley be there all the time. Shallow bass will move with the water. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

06-16-07, 08:25 AM	#10
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	Also keep in mind to downsize lures, like using a 4 inch redshad powerworm or smaller craw....I'd work that spinnerbait alot too over fallen timbers.

06-18-07, 09:14 AM	#12
Mac1 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 183	quarter ounce tandem willowleaf blades in silver, spinnerbait body either white or chartreuse. Take off the skirt and replace with a 3 or 4 inch smoke grub with silver metallic flake.

06-18-07, 01:36 PM	#13
Wishing2BFishing BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Morgantown, Pa Posts: 1,254	Twin Tail Hula Grubs!!! For stained/muddy water, use smoke or junebug. If the water is clear, green pumpkin. Texas rig em' on a Katsu Pro Jobee Hook if you can find them. The river fish seem to love this presentation.

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