How to Fish Rivers & Spring-Fed Waters

Get outdoors and do some fishing on spring-fed rivers.

How to Fish Rivers & Spring-Fed Waters

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

Learn how to fish rivers and spring-fed waters using the appropriate tackle and river fishing rigs.

by Joseph Michael Neel

It’s great to get outdoors and do some fishing on spring-fed rivers. Here in Missouri, we have places like the Current River, Eleven Point River, and Spring River, which goes down into Arkansas. Some spring-fed rivers are good for catching a variety of fish, although some general guidelines can help you catch the fish you’d like to target.

I like to fish the Current River, as it’s not just a tourist attraction in the summertime, but it has a variety of fish to catch. Whatever spring-fed river you choose to fish, you can first try using different sizes of crawfish. (Editor’s Note: Check your local laws, as this is illegal in many states.) Cast as close as you can up against the banks.

Spring-Fed River Fishing Rigs

Try fishing at different depths and retrieving your bait at various speeds as you float down the river. Some areas will be better than others. Notice if the fish like things such as plant overhangs along the shoreline near rocks, lily pads, root wads, etc. Crawfish and minnows are irresistible to most fish, yet keeping the bait on your line can be a hassle. If you like to target smallmouth, largemouth, or rock bass (“goggle eyes”), you may want to try brightly colored spinnerbaits. An excellent general rule is to use bright colors in clear water, such as spring-fed rivers. Transparent, sparkly colors do well.

tackle-bait-spring-fed-river-how-to-fish-rivers

In many places, you’ll generally catch more fish in the summertime. I like to go upstream as far as possible and float down with bright, transparent jigs with a spinner. Red hooks seem to add that much “panache” to your presentation, as it may appear to the fish as something that’s injured and, therefore, an easy dinner!

You can cast and retrieve quickly in these rivers. Sometimes, the fish will even set the hooks themselves, especially smallmouth bass and rock bass, as they are aggressive in the summertime.

You may want to experiment with different lures; some experienced fishermen like to use bright lures in clear water and darker lures in darker water as a general rule for bass. You may also want to try tossing out a white or chartreuse minnow lure in the whirlpools and “freeline” without any weight. Some people do this to go after largemouth bass.

You can even try casting a live worm up against the shore. Cover as much territory as possible if you’re on foot, and you may run into schools or spawning beds.

If you place a worm on a smaller hook, you can creep up to root wads and throw the worm inside them. Some people use egg sinkers to avoid getting snags. Just jiggle your rod a little bit, and the sinker often knocks it loose.

Catching Fish in Rivers

You can catch a wide variety of fish like this; remember that the smaller the mouth, the smaller the hook. You can catch fish such as suckers, buffalo, and carp as well, or you can anchor and fish on the bottom. If you use flat sinkers, your presentation will stay put. If you need clarification on what size hooks to use, it’s generally better to use ones that are too small rather than too big.

There are rivers where you can target trout, as well. They’ll eat the occasional crawfish placed in front of their face if hungry. It’s common for there to be separate regulations on trout, so check your local laws before heading out.

river-fishing-rigs

If you’d like to target catfish, try going early, as the April showers flood the rivers with different kinds of food and begin to warm the water near tributaries, tending to “wake them up” a little.

When catfishing from the shore, find a fairly deep area fed by creeks. Once you’ve found a place you’d like to try, cast upstream from where they may congregate. They’ll be able to “smell” your presentation better. You can use crawfish, bait shrimp, chicken liver, minnows, or “stink bait.”  Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be better able to tell when you’re getting bites, when it’s the current, or when bait fish are making your rod twitch. This is a fun, effective way to catch catfish.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned fisherman, no matter what kind of fish you’re looking to catch fishing from the bank, floating downstream, or trolling around root wads, a trial-and-error approach is always the best way to catch a mess of them.

It’s great to spend time in nature, and you can always set your pole down to enjoy the beautiful scenery!


Joseph Michael Neel is a passionate writer and outdoorsman. As it’s been said, “No man enters the same river twice. For it is not the same man and it is not the same river.” Feel free to follow Joseph Michael Neel on Facebook or LinkedIn.


Originally published in the May/June 2024 issue of Countryside and Small Stock Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.

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