River guys - how do you approach each hole you come across when fish are in summer pattern?

[MassBass]

Ok, well I won't go to the tackle box every spot, if it is obvious that good spots seem empty, then I will try something else and then maybe if that is successful backtrack to those 'empty' spots. The river I live near now, the challenge is the big bite. So I may be getting bites on something, but have to decide if I want to try something else to draw a bigger bite or continue what I am doing (where there is still some potential for a big bite).

[Turtle Angler]

I don’t have a ton of river experience, but recently I’ve been fishing rivers that aren’t terribly wide, so the water is still nearly completely shaded by trees until about 10:00 AM.

 

I bank fish, so each hole I come up to I do the following: topwater (usually a 75- or 90-size plopper), then a Yamatanuki (for the middle of the water column), then a 3/8 oz finesse/football jig for bouncing on the bottom. The finesse jig seems to get just as many bites as the Ned, hangs up less, and catches bigger fish. This strategy has worked really well for me this summer up here in the north.

[Ohioguy25]

2 hours ago, Turtle Angler said:

I don’t have a ton of river experience, but recently I’ve been fishing rivers that aren’t terribly wide, so the water is still nearly completely shaded by trees until about 10:00 AM.

 

I bank fish, so each hole I come up to I do the following: topwater (usually a 75- or 90-size plopper), then a Yamatanuki (for the middle of the water column), then a 1/2 oz finesse/football jig for bouncing on the bottom. The finesse jig seems to get just as many bites as the Ned, hangs up less, and catches bigger fish. This strategy has worked really well for me this summer up here in the north.

Which finesse jig do you use?

[drakesndrum]

2 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Which finesse jig do you use?

North Branch Tackle makes some nice ones with football heads that help with hangups in rocks.

[Turtle Angler]

11 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Which finesse jig do you use?

Dirty Jigs Finesse Jig with a Netbait Paca Chunk is my go-to

[CDMTJager]

On 8/9/2023 at 3:56 PM, bowhunter63 said:

Lately a Spinnerbait if nothing a Wacky Worm or a t rigged Rage Bug. Lightest weight possible. Seem this year everything is eating the bug 

Thanks for the tip

I have quite a few 3" Rage bugs.

Has one color out performed others?

[bowhunter63]

16 hours ago, CDMTJager said:

Thanks for the tip

I have quite a few 3" Rage bugs.

Has one color out performed others?

Green Pumpkin