- 1). Look for areas of the river with medium- or slow-moving current. Bass are not comfortable in areas where the water flows fast.
- 2). Locate holes in the main river. If most of the river bottom is 10 feet deep, for example, a hole that is 15 feet deep is a good spot to find bass. When the sun is shining during the day, the bass move into the hole and hold there. Under low-light conditions, bass move to the edges of the holes and feed. It is worth checking both the upstream and downstream sides of the holes.
- 3). Look for shoreline cover. On the banks of many rivers are fully or partially submerged trees and brush. These types of cover provide bass with shelter, as well as ambush points. Undercut banks where the river channel swings are another type of shoreline cover, as is rip-rap. When the sun is shining, bass tend to hold tight to the cover. They venture away from the cover under low-light conditions.
- 4). Find creeks and sloughs that are connected to the main river channel. These are especially productive in the spring, when bass move into them to spawn. If the water in these areas is deep enough -- 5 to 7 feet or more -- they can hold bass throughout the year. Check for deep spots in the creeks and sloughs. Otherwise, shoreline cover, which consists primarily of brush and trees that are fully or partially submerged, is the best bet.
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