I have used up all the spots i usually fish on the Rap and have been skunked the past 3 times ive been out.  Can anybody help me out with some spots around the Fredericksburg area?

What time of day have you been fishing?

Also, what baits have you been using and where?

All times. Mornings, afternoon, and early evening.

I've been throwing it all, buzzbaits and spinners in AM, once the sun gets up and hits the water I've been using various soft plastics, mepps and roostertail.. Etc. I know it may be just because its hotter than hell, but I'd still like to expand my spots.

I've been mainly fishing primarily up and down the river on fall hill ave.

grass, depth changes, shade, boulders, current breaks, etc?

Try a walk-the-dog bait in the morning. Then try drifting flukes or senkos with the current around breaks or rocks or into depth changes. If that doesn't work, try a 1/8oz or 1/4oz football headed shaky head jig with a finesse worm (I like berkley and zoom's versions). Any color will work with these baits as long as it is brown or green. Target shade if nothing else works. Smallmouth down there act strange sometimes. One summer I caught all of my best smallmouth just off the bank in fairly shallow water relating to shade and wood. The last time I was down near there I saw three or four BIG smallies just cruising the shallows in the middle of a bright 90+ degree day...Logic would tell you to fish the deepest areas but fish don't always think logically.

Thanks man. Same spots? And how can I tell a depth change, I'm shorebound. Have some waders, but sometime the current is too strong. You ever fish the rap? Let's slam some smallies, bro.

I was assuming that you were wading but if not, then you can find depth changes by throwing a bottom contact bait. You can tell how deep the water is by how long it takes to sink or if you start getting more or less slack as you drag it from one area to another.

I've fished the Rapp but not where you were. If you wade, you will catch more fish.

I'll send you a PM in the near future about a wading trip. The places I wade are generally pretty far for me and include a lot more prep and cleanup than the average local pond/lake trip so I really have to be in the mood for it.

chatham bridge on the northend, (a creek channel runs there) or just about any other place that offers constant current, look for a backswirl, ambush spots are big, but chatham bridge for sure.

i love the rapp,  good fishing, get yourself some gulp goby's or smelts and dropshot them, if nothing else you'll catch cats,  bass love em too. especially smallies.  how often do you fish the river???  

at least twice a week. in the mornings before work, from like 6-8 am. then maybe another time or two if my wife wants to go.

chatam bridge is the bridge name, PM me with directions if you dont mind. thanks man.

i just looked  up the bridge on mapquest. i know exactly where that is, but do you know where i can park?

it requires some walking if you dont have a boat.  if you do you can just park at the city docks, but if not you'll need to cross the bridge and park in the business center there and walk to the bridge, there's a path there right next to it leading down to the river, should still be there anyway, just follow it down to the water and catch big fish all day.  if that fails then stay on the dock side and walk east on those paths there.  any spot that has a tributary running into it will provide you with great fishing... get yourself some gulp goby's or smelts and tear them up.  chigger craws are excellent too.  

Thanks dude. And I don't have a boat, and walking is fine. I usually have my dog with me, and she's an f-ing ball of energy. She's like a 3 year old child on crank.walk= good. Thanks again, dude.

anytime my man hope you have a successful outing, i'd like to hear you pulled out a 4 pounder or so that would be great..  let me know how it goes