How to properly fish a river with fast current and weeds?

[FishingIsHealing]

I fish the Rideau River in an area with a lot of current. The water is about 8 ft deep in the middle and about 1-4 ft along shore (the area I've been fishing). The river is pretty wide, about as wide as the bridges in Manotick that run over the Rideau or the Dam that spans across the Rideau at Watsons Mill and Long Island Locks, I'm just guessing it's about 80ft+ ft but it coudl be much more.

The problem is I am finding it very hard to fish because of the huge amount of weeds. They are not the typical weeds, they are these long strands, kind of like hair, but MUCH longer and in big huge clumps all over the riverbed. There are very few clear patches....And even if you can cast out to them, you just get stuck in weeds on the retrieve, or the current swings your lure way out of the area....

So whenever I cast out, my lure just gets caught in weeds.

The way i've managed to catch some nice smallmouth bass and jumbo perch is by wading down to the spot I like, stopping, waiting 30 seconds until the sediment has moved downstream and then dipping my jigs/tubes right in front of me with 8ft of myself in all directions.

The problem with this is that most of the large fish are in the weeds in a bit deeper water, and I can't access them.

So, are there any types of plastic lures or baits I can get which will go through weeds a bit easier than regular curly tailed jigs and jig head hooks?

I've pretty much ruled metal lures and spinnerbait type things out because the current doesn't suit them at all.

I've tried Senkos, Tubes, Worms, Gulp Minnows, Jigs, Spinnerbaits, Spoons, and much more, and they just get caught in the weeds every time, and you can never catch fish on them......

Am i stuck dunking my lure in the 8ft area around me?

Thanks in advance your help!

==Tom==

[rodbreaker]

Get a floating frog lure,they work great,skips along weeds very nice.

[Musky51]

Texas rigged baits will do the trick as will topwaters and spinnerbaits

[FishingIsHealing]

Get a floating frog lure,they work great,skips along weeds very nice.

I'm confused because there is a huge current. It's the calmer water in a very rapidy stretch of river.....the water moves very quickly.....

So how can i use a frog in these conditions? I've tried white mouse but it just waterskis on the top of the water..

And you can't throw it upstream because it will come downstream so fast no fish can hit it and it has no action because it just floats down the river super fast.

I haven't tried a frog though and It couldn't hurt to give it a try so thanks for the info, i'll buy one tomorrow if I can get out of the house.

And Muskie51, I've tried spinnerbaits they don't seem to work, they pick up too many weeds and don't go well in fast current.....

I guess I didnt' explain how fast the water was. It's very quick.....not rapids or white water because it's too deep and flat, but if there were rocks there it would be white water very easily.....it moves VERY swiftly, and my spinnerbaits don't seem to work.

Texas Rigging sounds good though.............

Does anyone have any luck wirth those Plastic Crayfish? Texas rigged?

I've tried senkos, weedless and they just waterski......but maybe a crayfish with some heavy weights on it will get it down there......

THANKS FOR THE TIPS EVERYONE!

I'll let you know how I made out........

==Tom==

[Tip-up]

''Does anyone have any luck wirth those Plastic Crayfish? Texas rigged? ''

Every outing ...creature bait, crayfish, worm whatever..

[FishingIsHealing]

I've only caught 1 fish on a Senko so I don't have much faith in them. I've tried 3 different types........

Only fish that ate it was a Muskie..

Must be doing something wrong?

[rodbreaker]

Get a floating frog lure,they work great,skips along weeds very nice.

I'm confused because there is a huge current. It's the calmer water in a very rapidy stretch of river.....the water moves very quickly.....

So how can i use a frog in these conditions? I've tried white mouse but it just waterskis on the top of the water..

And you can't throw it upstream because it will come downstream so fast no fish can hit it and it has no action because it just floats down the river super fast.

I haven't tried a frog though and It couldn't hurt to give it a try so thanks for the info, i'll buy one tomorrow if I can get out of the house.

And Muskie51, I've tried spinnerbaits they don't seem to work, they pick up too many weeds and don't go well in fast current.....

I guess I didnt' explain how fast the water was. It's very quick.....not rapids or white water because it's too deep and flat, but if there were rocks there it would be white water very easily.....it moves VERY swiftly, and my spinnerbaits don't seem to work.

Texas Rigging sounds good though.............

Does anyone have any luck wirth those Plastic Crayfish? Texas rigged?

I've tried senkos, weedless and they just waterski......but maybe a crayfish with some heavy weights on it will get it down there......

THANKS FOR THE TIPS EVERYONE!

I'll let you know how I made out........

==Tom==

Hmmmm...that strong a current?Even near the shore?Maybe a grub with a single hook jig?worth a try maybe.

[FishingIsHealing]

You can fish the shore, but only a 4ft section of it, and then it becomes too weedy and deep.

Problem is the only fish in those areas are the tiny ones because it's so shallow.

I will try the Frog though and Senkos again and everything that is recommend....

Frog could work, I do see fish feeding above water there and jumping etc....

[rodbreaker]

Try it who knows,thats the only place i use a frog..close to shore in nasty weeds.Baged some bass with it a few times.

[FishingIsHealing]

Yah you are right it is a good idea, the sound of it would probably entice the fish nearby to coem in close to shore and hit it......

It is pretty calm in the little 4ft strip of shore, it could very well work........

Thanks!

[Sportspal]

Maybe try drop shotting?
Put a heavier weight on the line, maybe 2-3 feet above the lure/plastic and cast away.
A bell weight shouldnt catch too much weeds, and even then, the lure will be floating, and moving with the current back and forth while the weight holds it on bottom.
Of course, if the water is as fast as you claim, then you'll need a substantial amount of weight....

[FishingIsHealing]

Thanks Sportspal and everyone these are all great ideas...........

I'lll look up how to do a dropshot rig........never heard of it to be honest....but i get the idea........

My fishing technique is pretty much limited to just tying things on with no fancy knots or technique.....i should probably read up on this stuff eh? I'm probably missing out on alot of fish.....

I find those big Matzuo jig heads, the huge walleye type ones, sink to the bottom just fine, so I probably need something a bit bigger than that to drop shot properly

[Chevy Champagne]

sportspall great idea im gonna try it

[bucketmouth]

Try pegging a plastic craw or senko on a 1/4oz Titleshot jig and toss it into openings in the weedbed. It's important to remember when fishing something weedless like this is that you can jiggle the lure when hung up and hop it in pretty much weed free with a little practice... try it sometime, just might work for ya.

D

[FishingIsHealing]

Thanks man!

I will try this too............Great ideas everyone, thanks so much you've given me some hope for catching some big fishies!

==Tom==