I am going to be fishing a creek with strong tidal influence, meaning a higher salt concentration than what I am used to.  I fish the Potomac River a lot which is tidal but the salt concentration is not a factor.  The creek I am going to fish has LMBs, strippers, bowfin, herring, crappie, ring perch and catfish.  Does anyone have any suggestions if I need to make any adjustments to my tackle?  I was planning on bringing my ragetail products, some spinnerbaits, jigs and buzzbaits.  Does anyone know how the higher salt concentration affect the LMBs?

Rondef, I am not that familiar with your area but with S t r i p e r s in the area as well I would think that you might want lipless cranks in shad colors and possibly jiggin style spoons added to your list. Sounds like a fun trip.

Big O

Thanks for the fedback BIG O, I will add those to the tacklebox I am taking.  I will be fishing this creek from my canoe so I can only bring a small tacklebox.  I am thinking your Ragetail products will work really well down there if it fishes like the Potomac River in Northern Virginia.

The wife will be riding shotgun with me, she doesn't fish so she is planning on reading a book and bird watching, there are a lot of Bald Eagles in the area I will be fishing.

Getting a few pics of eagles would be cool.

With brackish water, I always look for moving water.  Areas where the tide drains from the backwaters or is dumping into them should get some attention from game fish.  I'd probably spend a lot of time with a T-rigged rage craw and a crankbait that ticks the bottom.  Never underestimate the power of the shaky head though

Thanks for the info Brian. I have shakeyheads in the tacklebox, I guess I forgot to mention that one. I also have the craws but have not tried t-rigged, I may have to give that a shot.

I will post pictures of the fish I catch and of any Bald Eagles I see while we are out on the water. This was a major victory for me to get the wife to come out in the canoe. Maybe next I can convince her to actually try fishing.

Fish it like any other body.

We have a lot of brackish water around here.  The freshwater species that inhabit it are consistent in their mannerings.  LM act like LM, etc.  It's when a saltwater species is in there, it's usually for a reason (mainly spawning) and the bite can be difficult if not down right frustrating.   This is not their "normal" water whereas the fresh species are there all the time.  

I am thinking of the Providence river in particular.  There is a waterfall at the dam coming in from Omega pond.  Many freshwater fish have gone over the dam but live right there, where the salt meets the fresh.  They are very catchable.  When the stripers get up in there,...it's another story.

HOWEVER

Those stripers can be caught further down river towards the bay where the salinity is stronger on their way out

Thanks LBH, I didn't think the salt concentration would matter but I wanted to touch base with others to make sure.  I am really looking forward to fishing this location and I am hoping to catch some nice size bass.  

Yea, I think it's more about how much time they have had to adjust.  If they are residents, they should behave like any other LM, GOOD LUCK!!

I grew up fishing a tidal brackish water creek. It was my experience through the years that the best fishing was low tide, with water coming back in. For some reason, the fish seemed to be more aggressive when the water was coming back in. Further, the water being low would concentrate the fish. Conversely, we never had much luck if the tide was high and going out.. Just never caught much that way but did notice more top water activity as the red fish were present at high tide. I remember catching a 5 lb. red fish off the bridge using a live shrimp, then catching a 4 lb. LM bass under that same bridge the next afternoon at low tide. Take that info for what it's worth. Hope it has been of some help.

i fish the mouth of the suwannee river.there are some creeks you have to go out into the ocean to access.we fish along side the trout and red fisherman.it doesnt seem to hinder them at all.the beginning of tide changes seems to be the best.i dont fish any different than if i was in a lake,only the current poses some challenges.

I fish a lot of brackish water.  In fact, I fish Chesapeake tributaries just like you.  

I have the best luck on outgoing tides fishing near structure, and WITH the tidal flow.  I always try to fish with the flow as much as I can whether the tide is coming in or out.  

The rivers and creeks I fish do sometimes get significant salt intrusion.  This is especially true in low-rain or drought months.  That effects bass recruitment, but it doesn't have whole lot of effect on existing older bass.  In fact, bass are easier to catch when the creeks are saltier since they congregate further back in the creeks where the water is fresher.  But you'd be suprised how much salt a LMB can tolerate.  I've caught LMB and speckled trout within 100 yards on the same river.   I've caught stripers on crankbaits thrown around cover for LMB.   I've seen people catch nice croaker in waters I'm htting for LMB.  

Also when I hit the creek, I taste the water (not drink).  You do this enough, and you'll learn where on the creeks it makes sense to start fishing.  LMB can tolerate some salt (more than you may think), but the fresher the better.  I usually start getting good results when there is only a slight taste of salt in the water.  Results get batter as I work back toward fresher water.  

BTW, make sure you clean your equipment.  Once I'm done using a lure, I keep it separate from my other lures until I return home.  I put them all in a big plastic collander and wash them with dishwashing liquid and an old, unused paintbrush.  Freshwater lures, especially the eyes, will rust quickly when used in brackish water.  And clean your rod and reel, too.  

Micro, thanks for the feedback. The tide will be high and on its way out when I get there so I think I am just going to fish about the last half to a mile of the creek. The back end off the creek has a large cove/bay with a small creek feeding it. The creek also has some good structure (downed trees) and grass. I will remember to keep things separate and to wash my gear (lures, rods & reels) off after I get back, I didn't even think of that until I read your post.

The tide will be high and on its way out when I get there so I think I am just going to fish about the last half to a mile of the creek. The back end off the creek has a large cove/bay with a small creek feeding it. The creek also has some good structure (downed trees) and grass.

Perfect. LMB will hold on the structure as baitfish move past with the tide.

Here's a nifty little brackish LMB from this last fall. The water was actually quite salty on this trip - saltier than I had seen it in years. I caught this one around a large submerged limb on a Rapala DT.  I caught a small schoolie striper on another craw colored crank in that same water just off the bank that's behind my wrist.  

I wish you good luck ron!!!!

Thanks for all of the advice guys, I really appreciate it.  I will be in the water bright and early tomorrow morning and hopefully I will catch a nice hawg.