CATCH MORE FISH IN RIVERS 
By Bob Jensen

The Midwest is home to many, many rivers, both large and small. These rivers are home to a variety of fish, and much of the time, many of those fish are willing to bite. River fish are almost always fighting the current, which means they expend more energy than their cousins who live in lakes. That increase in expended energy requires river fish to eat more often, and fish that eat more often will frequently be easier to catch. Now is a great time to chase fish in rivers, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to be successful.

Current will almost always be a factor in locating river fish. The current will position the fish and will affect how they feed. Be aware that usually a fish that is willing to bite will be facing into the current. Fish instinctively know that any wounded minnow or bug will be moving downstream with the current, so larger fish will face upstream, making it easier for them to see their next meal as it moves downstream. Therefore, as much as possible, we want our lures to be moving downstream with the current.

Jigs are great river baits. In a river, everything eats a jig. You will catch a walleye on one cast, a smallmouth bass on the next cast, and a carp on the next cast. Because of a river fish’s aggressive behavior they aren’t too selective when it comes to eating. When they see something washing by, they need to eat it quickly or wait for something else to come along.

There are a bunch of areas that will attract fish in rivers. Rip-rap banks will almost always hold some fish. Sometimes it works well to just cast along the rip-rap. You will catch fish here and there all along the rip-rap.

At other times deeper holes will be a better bet. When you find the fish in these spots it can be very fast action. The fish will be grouped in these locations, and once you find them and determine what they want to eat, they just keep biting.

When river fish get hungry they will often move to riffles or areas of current. The current provides a steady stream of food and the fish know this. A fish that is near current is usually willing to eat.

One of my favorite jigs for catching river fish is a Thumper Jig with a Power Grub or Power Tube. The Thumper Jig has a small spinner which helps to attract fish especially when there is some color in the water. Pretty much any species of fish will eat the Thumper/Power combo.

Rivers can provide an angler with all types of fishing. They can also provide a great overall outdoor experience. If you’re wading or floating a small to mid-sized river, you might catch lots of fish and see all kinds of wildlife.

If you’re on one of the Midwest’s larger rivers, the variety of fish will be amazing and the wildlife viewing opportunities will be there also. That’s what rivers have to offer, and that’s why you should take advantage of one of the rivers close to wherever you live in the Midwest.