I haven’t done a fishing report in awhile so here it goes. I made a few mile run up the river from my launch location. I went to an area I do not fish often. It’s a shalllow area with tons of rocks and current. There are weed beds under the water which was my main target. 
 

I started by throwing a prop style top water. I was working it over the weeds and down the current seams. Nothing was going. I switched to a 1-3ft diving crank. I caught one almost instantly. Nothing huge but, a fun size fish. A few casts later I hooked into the biggest one of the day. When I set the hook I swore I was snagged for the first few reels. This fish pulled my drag up stream about 10ft in the current. This fish also clued me into the distinct pattern I was on. 
 

All the fish were on the front side of any kind of point, weedbed or obstruction. They were not on the seams or the slack water behind it. I lost 6 fish yesterday even though I caught many. Not by being unlucky either. It was by being unprepared and not loosening my drag up to account for the current. Which after cursing myself for it and figuring it out to late I did make the chance. 
 

I had a great fun day.  Caught many fish and loved figuring out the pattern. Here are the two best from the day. I also rarely weigh or measure fish unless it’s a tournament. I just enjoy fishing. For me it’s not about having a PB or catching the biggest or best. I just enjoying fishing.  

Nice report and nice smallies. Current fishing isn’t easy. Well done man. 

3 hours ago, Susky River Rat said:

This fish pulled my drag up stream about 10ft in the current.

 

Those river brownies are super strong.  I don't get the chance to target them much anymore here.  I used to regularly when we didn't have annual droughts though and I distinctly remember exactly what you're describing.

@Jar11591 thank you sir! I’ve been fortunate to have some good trips lately. 
 

@gimThey are always a blast. That is why I enjoy fishing for them. 

Great report! It is always more special when you have to figure something out to dial them in. 

@pdxfisher I agree!

Your top bass is dark and deep...just the way I like 'em.

@Swamp Girl that one was hiding around weeds. That’s a very technical area to fish. Lots of current submerged weeds and needing to pin point casts to time the drift. I think youd really would have enjoyed that style of fishing that day. 

40 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

I think youd really would have enjoyed that style of fishing that day. 

 

I would have loved it. You have likely gleaned that I'm a pinpoint caster, hitting pockets within weeds.

@Swamp Girl it wasn’t just the pin point of the cast. It was speeding up and slowing down the retrieve so my bait would hit that sweet spot. Using the current to get it to be where I wanted it to present it right. 

5 hours ago, Susky River Rat said:

It was speeding up and slowing down the retrieve so my bait would hit that sweet spot. Using the current to get it to be where I wanted it to present it right. 

 

Your level of difficulty surpassed mine because I don't contend with current. 

@Swamp Girl I have no doubt you have the skill to be able to do it. If I can anyone can. I find it difficult for me. Others maybe it is really easy. 

18 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

I find it difficult for me. Others maybe it is really easy. 

 

Current plus weeds plus specific depth zones would be difficult for all of us. I lived on a smallmouth river once and fished it every morning. I never mastered it. Every morning, it was a different river depending upon flow. And I DIDN'T have weeds. 

@Swamp Girl I was purposely fishing these weeds. Usually I am a rock guy. It does change the bite is always changing on flow.

Just now, Susky River Rat said:

It does change the bite is always changing on flow.

 

Oh, I know. I now longer fish current, but when I did, those bass moved even more than my bog bass do...and my bog bass move pert near every dang day. 

@Swamp Girl the bite can change hourly on the river for sure. It can also be super predictable. 

On 6/9/2025 at 5:04 AM, Susky River Rat said:

I haven’t done a fishing report in awhile so here it goes. I made a few mile run up the river from my launch location. I went to an area I do not fish often. It’s a shalllow area with tons of rocks and current. There are weed beds under the water which was my main target. 
 

I started by throwing a prop style top water. I was working it over the weeds and down the current seams. Nothing was going. I switched to a 1-3ft diving crank. I caught one almost instantly. Nothing huge but, a fun size fish. A few casts later I hooked into the biggest one of the day. When I set the hook I swore I was snagged for the first few reels. This fish pulled my drag up stream about 10ft in the current. This fish also clued me into the distinct pattern I was on. 
 

All the fish were on the front side of any kind of point, weedbed or obstruction. They were not on the seams or the slack water behind it. I lost 6 fish yesterday even though I caught many. Not by being unlucky either. It was by being unprepared and not loosening my drag up to account for the current. Which after cursing myself for it and figuring it out to late I did make the chance. 
 

I had a great fun day.  Caught many fish and loved figuring out the pattern. Here are the two best from the day. I also rarely weigh or measure fish unless it’s a tournament. I just enjoy fishing. For me it’s not about having a PB or catching the biggest or best. I just enjoying fishing.  

 

Nice report and, hmmm, very interesting.  I have been able to get on the Upper Potomac in my kayak only a few times this month due to seemingly endless high water events.  On those trips, I too caught nearly all on a shallow crank in front of current breaks, points and submerged weed beds.  Notwithstanding the challenges to ‘park’ or anchor in what passed for eddies or slower water and cast over or ‘around’ the structure or cover, it was productive and tons of fun.  And while it has produced in the past, it does not seem to be a frequent pattern, at least at the depth and flow I typically fish.  Whether or not it’s justified, I do find it very interesting that this pattern produced on the different rivers, 80 miles apart, within the same time period.  

Great report! Love how precise you had to be!

9 hours ago, OldManLure said:

while it has produced in the past, it does not seem to be a frequent pattern, at least at the depth and flow I typically fish.  Whether or not it’s justified, I do find it very interesting that this pattern produced on the different rivers, 80 miles apart, within the same time period.  

It is 100% not a normal pattern. It does happen and it’s something to look for. I do find it’s usually late spring early summer it happens. I think it’s more of an active feeding frenzy when they are there not a “home”