Lead jig heads and twister tails are an all-around standby that will catch fish all spring, summer and fall. Matching the color of the tail to the water clarity and the jig head to the current will bring many bronzebacks to hand. I personally pour all my own jigs which is nice as it allows me to modify them to my fishing situations.
Wading is simple and gets back to the roots of fishing at its best.
Owning a boat is one of those items on most anglers’ lists to do. We all know what this can mean and how much time and effort is involved, not to mention money. Too often people think of a boat as a status symbol and a necessary tool to find and catch fish.
To me owning a boat is a wonderful thing, but it doesn’t mean that I need it to catch fish. I have found that some of my best fishing experiences have been in a pair of waders standing in the middle of a flowing river.
I have at least three great fishing rivers within a 30-minute drive from my door and they all hold many species of fish to test my abilities as an angler. To fish them effectively you don’t need much equipment, all it takes is a bit of internet research and looking at maps to find some fishing areas that will fill the need for a good battle or two.
Having a boat is great, but if you can avoid the maintenance, gas, break downs, etc. and still go out and catch quality fish then why not? I love my boat and will make sure I splash it in the water every opportunity that I get, but throwing the waders in the truck and grabbing a couple light spinning rods will certainly come in a close second to that.
Wading is simple and gets back to the roots of fishing at its best. Very little tackle is needed to fish a river and depending on your species of choice you may end up catching more than what you bargain for.
These fish have beautiful markings.
The smallmouth bass is the species of choice that is always on my radar. Depending on the time of year and the water conditions the presentations that are in my vest will vary. Probably the best that I like to use is a simple hook, split shot and a minnow. Otherwise a 1/8- or ¼-ounce jighead with a trailer is as simple as it gets.
Minnows would be my first choice only because it is amazing the number of species, size of fish, and quantity of fish you will catch during an outing. They do have their downfalls as you need to find a local bait shop that is open, transport the bait, and once you run out you need a back-up plan.
Rigging minnows: I like to go simple and use a size 6 or 8 Octopus style hook with a few split shot about 18” up on the line. The size and amount of split shot depend on the depths I am fishing and how fast the current is moving. Typically, a single 3/0 size shot is enough to do the job.
The minnows I prefer are typically extra-large fatheads. These are native to most of the areas I fish and are a very hearty minnow. They really keep on kicking when fished for a long time. Hooking them through the lower jaw and out one of the nostrils will keep them moving for quite a long time.
Lead jig heads and twister tails are an all-around standby that will catch fish all spring, summer and fall. Matching the color of the tail to the water clarity and the jig head to the current will bring many bronzebacks to hand. I personally pour all my own jigs which is nice as it allows me to modify them to my fishing situations.
Author with a river smallmouth that fell victim to a custom-made plastic on a jig.
For the river I prefer a 1/16 or 1/8 ounce with a light wire 2/0 or 3/0 hook. You can’t really find these in stores so that is why I like to make them up myself. It is also an advantage as the rivers are quite rocky and full of snags, so it is not an issue when I lose a dozen or so per trip.
As with the split shots and minnow approach, I match the size of the bait and weight of the jighead to the current and depth I am fishing. These jigs are not always fished on the bottom as some areas you will find that swimming the jig higher in the water column can be more productive.
Crankbaits and stickbaits are another offering that are in my little box of tricks. They have their time and place, but you need to choose wisely as they tend to get hung up a lot. However, in the fall you cannot beat small minnow baits for some hungry walleyes and smallmouth. One that has become my favorite is the Berkley Hit Stick jerkbait in the 2 or 3” length.
Traveling light is the way to go when on the river. A small assortment of jigs and tails can fit into a small pouch, and minnow baits or cranks fit nicely into a small Plano Stowaway box. I find that a simple backpack or even a fly fishing vest works well for wading and carrying all of my gear. I can even carry a small snack and a bottle of water if needed.
Author's friend Ken Sweda with a nice river-caught fish.
As far as rods and reels go it is whatever you feel most comfortable with. I personally prefer a spinning rod that is small and light. I use a 6’8” or 7’ ML rod with a fast action. This gives me the ability to toss small jigs and feel the jig as it works through the rocks. A good quality spinning reel with a spool full of good line will go a long way. Lately I have been using braided Vicious line as it allows me to have a good feel for the bottom and pops my baits off of potential snags.
Wading the rivers is certainly not any sort of fancy endeavor. You are not adorned with fancy shirts and riding in flashy boats. Many even prefer to skip the waders and just wear an old pair of tennis shoes. Not me, but to each their own.
Although smallmouth or walleye might be my species of choice I have tied into Musky, flathead and channel catfish, and many species of panfish. You just never know what that next thump on the end of your line might be.
The next time you are looking to scratch an itch of the fishing bug just pick up a map and take a drive. You are likely to run into a river somewhere and getting a line wet is just a matter of minutes away.
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