Bassin' USA - Bass Fishing Forum Archives

I was wondering if anyone can give me some tips for catching big Bass on the Warrior river.I almost always catch fish but never any big ones.it seems that all I catch are yearlings.I mostly fish plastic worms because I've always caught fish with them.Should I try something else and if so what and where?I've just recently got my first boat after bank fishing all my life so I really don't know how to find the big fish.

Bama, is this a true river or a lake? I fish the Mississippi river a lot and it's a lot different than lakes. Let me know which it is.

Johnnie,this is an actual river and I fish mainly about 20 miles upriver from the first lock and dam.We have a lot of barge traffic if this matters.Thanks for any help.

Bama, in any riverine system, the larger bass will take over the prime habitat along any shoreline. Big bass prefer rock cover and if any wood structure is available onnthe rocks it could be a great place. Two reasons river bass love rocks, it breals up the current flow and there are always crawfish and little bait fish around the rocks trying to hide. During the heat of summer the majority of the quality bass will move from any shallow backwater areas to the river proper. Always fisdh into the current flow. Bass will always face up-stream and wait for prey to wash down to them. Most any bass bait can vbe effective. I really like shallow diving crankbaits that dive from one to five feet shad, greens, bluegill and baby bass patterns are good. Cast them right along the rocky shoreline and fish parallel to the bank. A jig and pig is another good bet. We have had great success fishing Baby Brush Hawg plastics this year in the blue sapphire color.
Look for rock points, wing dams, slack water below current breaks, places where barges tie up are often good as is any marina area. Don't forget structures next to or nearby boat launches, these areas usually hold fish because tourmanet anglers release fish there and the bass supply is continuously replinished. Buzz bait can also be effective. Bright colors and lots of flash. Fish any bait all the way back to the boat or shoreline, river bass love to follow baits and take them right at the boat. Good luck, Johnnie