What would you guys throw here? Known species: sauger, muskellunge, all species of cats (?), freshwater drum/buffalo, longnose gar.
I’m equipped with a medium powered GX2 and a cheap Kastking lancelot filled with 20 lb braid and heavy mono leader. This is my first time trying major river fishing so i am nervous a bit.
Posted by JacquesNuclearRedux
4 Comments
Apart-Sky4636 on
Small live bluegill
steelrain97 on
First, drop the 20lb braid. You are going to snag a lot. That rod does not have the backbone to rip out of snags. You want to be able to break off and not have to cut the line every time. There is basically zero reason to ever run 20lb braud on a medium power spinning rod. The guys that run big braid and leave 30 yards of line in the water for everyone else to snag on really piss me off.
With that gear, you are going to be targeting bass (true and black bass), walleye/sauger, and drum. You may catch some other stuff. River fishing is not something where you target a specific species. You are going to be throwing jigs, small crankbaits, ned rigs, small swimbaits etc. All the fish on that list eat those.
Ball head jigs (1/8 to 3/8 oz) with trailers like grubs, paddletails, and craw imitations are a mainstay, as are shallow running squarebills, jerkbaits, and ned rigs. Underspins can be very productive too. Focus on walls, eddies, and current seams. Spinners can also catch a lot of fish. Anything with trebles will eventually snag on something so leave the Megabass stuff at home. Minnows under floats also work well at times.
Every bite is a mystery, but you will learn that you can guess the species by how it fights.
8-10 lb line and a 6-10lb leader are the way to go here. If you want to fish 20lb braid and a heavy mono leader, you need to get heavier gear.
A medium power GX2 does not have the power to be trying for catfish in current. You need a lot of weight in addition to the bait to get down and hold bottom in current. So the live bluegill and chicken livers are aweful advice.
DismalResearcher6546 on
Chicken livers
Much-Expression-9909 on
I’d want to take a crack at the Muskies. I just found out a lake near me has them so that’ll be my first trip this season.
4 Comments
Small live bluegill
First, drop the 20lb braid. You are going to snag a lot. That rod does not have the backbone to rip out of snags. You want to be able to break off and not have to cut the line every time. There is basically zero reason to ever run 20lb braud on a medium power spinning rod. The guys that run big braid and leave 30 yards of line in the water for everyone else to snag on really piss me off.
With that gear, you are going to be targeting bass (true and black bass), walleye/sauger, and drum. You may catch some other stuff. River fishing is not something where you target a specific species. You are going to be throwing jigs, small crankbaits, ned rigs, small swimbaits etc. All the fish on that list eat those.
Ball head jigs (1/8 to 3/8 oz) with trailers like grubs, paddletails, and craw imitations are a mainstay, as are shallow running squarebills, jerkbaits, and ned rigs. Underspins can be very productive too. Focus on walls, eddies, and current seams. Spinners can also catch a lot of fish. Anything with trebles will eventually snag on something so leave the Megabass stuff at home. Minnows under floats also work well at times.
Every bite is a mystery, but you will learn that you can guess the species by how it fights.
8-10 lb line and a 6-10lb leader are the way to go here. If you want to fish 20lb braid and a heavy mono leader, you need to get heavier gear.
A medium power GX2 does not have the power to be trying for catfish in current. You need a lot of weight in addition to the bait to get down and hold bottom in current. So the live bluegill and chicken livers are aweful advice.
Chicken livers
I’d want to take a crack at the Muskies. I just found out a lake near me has them so that’ll be my first trip this season.