River Fishing

River fishing can arguably be called one of the most enjoyable forms of fishing. Many rivers and streams are surrounded by meadows and forests. Hence, even when a fisherman is not focused on capturing the slippery denizens, the scenery alone can bring him joy. Further, in smaller rivers a fisherman is much closer to the fish. Often, he is able to watch his lure as he brings it across the stream and see the fish as they are drawn out from their cover. A brilliant flash notifies the fisherman that his cast and lure have done the trick. Add to all of this the tranquil sound of running water, and you have an environment that few would ever want to leave.

Some rivers are vary large, and fishing them is similar to fishing lakes, with the exception of the current. However, fishing in smaller rivers, creeks, and streams, requires a different skill set. River and creek fishing demands that a fisherman know his quarry, have the right gear, and be a proficient and accurate caster. Unlike the ocean or even lakes, small rivers and streams have a high percentage of items to snag on. Submerged logs, downed trees, tall grass, heavy brush , overhead tree branches, aquatic plants, and even large rocks lining the stream bed, can present ample opportunity to get hung-up on. As a general rule on rivers, bad casting costs time and money. There are many beneficial river fishing tips, but here is one for small rivers, and streams. To permit the greatest casting freedom in these situations, a shorter fishing rod usually works best. Fishing rods between 5 feet and 6 ½ feet work very well. (In larger rivers with an open setting, bigger poles can be used.) Another challenge when fishing rivers, especially when they are smaller, is the fishing holes are not very big. A fisherman has to approach the holes quietly, and accurately cast his lure to the best location. If the hole is very small, he may only get one shot to hook the nice fish residing there. Water temperatures in rivers and creeks tend to be on the frigid side. Therefore, various forms of insulated and un-insulated wadding gear is available to cope with the cold water.

Very large rivers often contain the same species as lakes. However smaller rivers do not usually hold as many species. In smaller rivers and streams there are several main species of fish that fishermen angle for: trout, steelhead, salmon, bass, walleye, and muskellunge. All of these fish are fun to catch, but if you are catching them in a river it adds a whole new element of challenges. River fishing is an exciting and enriching skill for any fisherman to add to his resume.