Hi again,

Yesterday I didn't have time to fish the lake I wanted to but I needed to be out on the water, any water. So I took the boat out to the local river. It's below tidewater so the water is brackish but where I fished, it was just below where the freshwater flows into the brackish water. I'm about 14 miles from the ocean so while it's still brackish water, just barely.

Anyway, I wasn't expecting to find any bass as I have been told that there are no bass in these waters. With one exception. One of the local Salmon guides has told me that he has caught several bass with his salmon gear and it frustrates him when that happens. He has to re rig his stuff. He looks at bass, at least in this river, as a hassle because he is guiding for salmon.

Well, it was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, very light breezes so I dropped the boat in and started fishing all the docks with a Senko. I only had a couple of hours so I was turning and burning and wouldn't ya know it? I caught a nice one from under an old dock that was falling apart. I had several bites there but missed them all except one. Extremely light bite but it was about a 2 pounder.

I've lived here for 20 years and I've NEVER, EVER seen or heard of anyone fishing for bass on this river so I've got a few questions.

The river is around 200 feet across, no more than 20 feet deep, water temps around 70, and it gets shallower the farther upriver I go towards the freshwater which is about a 1/2 mile upriver. The fish I caught was about 6 feet deep.

How would you suggest I fish this river??? There isn't any structure that I have found in the deeper (middle) of the river and not all that much along the shoreline except for the docks and quite a few pilings that were used when the logging mills were open many years ago.

What tackle would you suggest???

I'm assuming that the bass have been there for a LOOOOONG time so am I right to assume there should be some pigs in there????

How far downriver would the bass be since it would get saltier as you get closer to the bay...

There are a few creeks that flow into this river but just a few. Should I fish the mouth of those creeks??? In a boat, I can only get a short way up the creek.

I'm really hoping that this can be a real fun spot because it's so close and that the one fish I caught wasn't just a flook so any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Congrats on catching bass in the river with no bass  

I can't really help out with the other questions,  I'm fairly new to fishing.  I'm sure others will chime in soon.

Man, did you ask the questions.

Here is my two-cents and I am sure the guys will add there input, too.

How would you suggest I fish this river??? - Any wood or grass on shore; crankbaits, even deep divers to turn up the bottom; pumpkinseed with black flake 4-inch Senkos rigged both Texas and Wacky; try spinnerbaits; try Chatterbaits; and of course, if you can find any submerged grass throw your favorite tube.

There isn't any structure that I have found in the deeper (middle) of the river and not all that much along the shoreline except for the docks and quite a few pilings that were used when the logging mills were open many years ago. - Bass heaven!  Senkos, finesse worms and creature baits/lizards under docks and around pilings.  Skip them with a spinning rig under the docks if possible. Fish back corners of docks near the shore. Crankbaits under and around the docks and pilings along with a jig and pig just to see if they are interested.

I'm assuming that the bass have been there for a LOOOOONG time so am I right to assume there should be some pigs in there???? - Yes, and a lot of dinks, too

How far downriver would the bass be since it would get saltier as you get closer to the bay... - Bass live in brackish water so you can fish brackish water until it gets totally salt.  We catch bass alwong with blue crabs in Virginia waters.

There are a few creeks that flow into this river but just a few. Should I fish the mouth of those creeks??? - Yes. Definately.  Plastics; swimming worms; Senkos; crankbaits.  Any grass you can find will produce some hits.  You may want to go with a deep diving crankbait to stir up the bottom as stated above.

Check the tides and try to go as far into the creek as is safe and throw to the deepest bank with a tube or Senko or finesse worm or crankbait or spinnerbait or Chatterbait.  A nice Fat Albert or Ika may produce some hits, too.

In a boat, I can only get a short way up the creek. - Better than nothing so go for it.

If you can fish early AM or late PM try topwaters, like a pink or white trick worm; Chugbug; Roostertail; Mepps; Pop-R's; Spooks; frogs; and of course, the trusty Cavitron buzzbait.

And give the topwaters a try when you find any wood or grass.  

Just fish the waters depending on its clarity, temperature and depth, just like any other body of water and let us know how you do.

It seems you will have the privilige of finding the fish and what they want to eat.

You are one lucky guy.  

Hmm. Thanks for all the information Sam. But your answers bring up one more question. Would it be better to fish this river when the tide is coming in, going out or when it's slack tide????

Yes, I feel pretty lucky to be one of the first to try out these waters. I've fished this river for salmon and blueback (sea run cutthroat trout) but I didn't know and as far as I can tell, nobody else around here has figured out there really are bass in there.

I'm definately going to spending some time on this river trying to figure it out. As a little bonus, the blueback and also the salmon are just starting their run so a good time is in store I'm betting.

 Thanks again for everybody's imput.

Thanks for all the information Sam. But your answers bring up one more question. Would it be better to fish this river when the tide is coming in, going out or when it's slack tide????

Falling tide as the fish will come out of the creeks and other hiding places.

At least that is the way we like to fish in Virginia.  

Well, I've fished this river again and caught several nice bass. Not huge. Only about 2 pounders but I'm pretty happy about that. It's close, it's right in town, there is a store, a hardware store and a pub at the top of the public dock, it doesn't get very windy because it's in a valley so what else could a guy ask for??

I've found several promising places with lots of pilings. One with loads of pilings with low overhanging trees, about 5 feet deep at the pilings but about 10 feet from the pilings it suddenly drops almost straight off to about 15 feet. I hooked a couple of fish but didn't get them in the boat. They felt huge but no way to tell for sure. The fishfinder is going nuts along the dropoff so I'm hopeful it will be productive.

Anyway, I'm going to try it again this morning for a few hours.

Stay tuned. I might have found my honey hole. lol.

In any case, it's a pleasant and relaxing place to fish and it's so close I don't have to pay a lot for gas to fish it. And best of all, I'm the only guy fishing it for bass. No competition at all except for the salmon fisherman. I just tell everybody that asks, I'm fishing for blueback.

I'm very happy so far.