Fishing Frenzy

Huge warm water rivers offer a wider choice of fishing opportunities than any other freshwater environment. A fisherman can find schools of white bass in the morning, ferocious northern pike at mid-day, feeding largemouth bass at dusk and fish for flathead catfish at night. Most river fish live along current margins or breaks where fast and slow water mix. They rest in calm water then dart into fast water to grab food that floats by. Because river fish don't have as much time to inspect a bait or lure, they're usually simpler to catch than fish in lakes. But like any other type of fishing the challenge is locating areas that hold fish. In big rivers, wide bends, points, fallen trees, bridge abutments, huge rocks and islands all provide structure that create pockets of calm water that frequently hold game fish. With a bit of practice anglers can start to learn to identify these spots. Big rivers can support so many species of fish because their habitat is so diverse. A large river can be seen as have 5 distinct types of habitat, 4 of which provide excellent holding areas for different types of fish.

1) Main Channel

The main channel is characterized by swift current and a bottom of fine sand or silt with little foliage or other cover for fish. This is the area to avoid when fishing although it holds the largest volume of water. Main channels seldom support significant numbers of game fish. The water movement is too swift for most fish and the main channel lacks food and cover.

2) Channel Borders

Channel borders separate the main channel from shore. They may contain man-made current deflectors or wingdams made of rocks that force the water flow midstream and away from the shore. The channel border regularly attracts walleye, white bass, smallmouth bass and catfish. Wingdams, downed trees, riprap, bends and points are the prime areas that provide structure for fish along channel borders. This an area that can be easily fished from the shore if you don't own a boat.

3) Side Channels

Often called cuts, side channels connect the primary channel with backwater lakes and sloughs. Their sand and silt bottoms are usually choked with timber and other fish holding structure. Water movement is slow to moderate. Side Channels are ideal for catfish, crappies, bluegills and bass which will hide among the limbs

4) Backwater Sloughs

At ordinary water levels, backwater sloughs have virtually zero water movement. They have muck bottoms, dense growth of foliage and shallow water. Backwater sloughs hold pike, largemouth, bluegills and crappies. During times of high water the water movement speeds up and the sloughs will attract almost all of the species that are on the river and are among the best areas to catch fish. The shallow water enables fishing with waders, if you don't own to a boat.

5) Backwater Lakes

Backwater lakes are much deeper that sloughs and vegetation is largely restricted to their shorelines. Like sloughs, they have muck bottoms and little current. Backwater lakes appeal to many species but are best suited for crappies, black bass and northern pike. Like sloughs, they hold more fish when the water level is higher