Another "How to fish this place" topic -

[Newt]

This is another of those "How would you fish this place" but a bit more gentle place than the lily pad mass if you saw that one. I'll be including quite a few photos so will need to break the opening post into two parts to keep from running over the site limit for photos in a single post.

 

This is mostly a for-fun topic although I certainly will welcome ideas but I also thought it might be fun to think about how to fish what would be a fairly exotic swim for most UK anglers.

 

The swim is a smallish one on the Choctawhatchee river near where we are staying. Sandy bottom, fed by quite a few underground springs and a couple of rivers upstream that run into this one. It is about 50 miles from here to the Gulf of Mexico but about 85 river miles since it twists around quite a bit. This time of year the water is very low, exposing sandbars and leaving only a narrow channel in places. The bottom is sand, the water is very clear, and the current is running at about 4 miles per hour.

 

and I know this area holds carp, channel catfish, long nose gar (like a UK garfish but larger and fresh water), bluegills, largemouth bass, and possibly some mullet since they often move upriver when the water is low and clear as it is now.

 

My question is how & where to best target the river commons that are here. All ideas are welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

continued in next post

[Newt]

 

 

 

 

[Emma two]

I would spin/lure fish it (but then I apply this method to over 90% of my angling anywhere). The water clarity lends itself to the method, and once could negotiate those 'tough' banks with mobile gear, a good vest carrying al the tackle and either shorts and suitale shoes or chest waders (I would carry a wading staff too, could be dodgy deep bits. Polaroids essential to get the best from it.

 

Of the species, I know that the Bass and the Gars would take artificials, and apparently channel cats like bladed (Mepp) type spinners.

 

At night perhaps live and /or deadbaits or worms for the Cats and larger Bass? still lightwaight so far as tackle to carry goes.

[Newt]

Its warm enough to be comfortable. Jan & I go to that area to swim most days - but avoiding the areas with bad current. It is literally a killer if you get caught in some of the underwater tangles. However, unless you are fond of snakes, walking the woods to get to the bank can be a bit too exciting unless you are wearing snakeproof boots to the knee or short boots and snakeproof gaiters above those.

[medwaygreen]

Hi Newt,

 

You do find some interesting spots to fish.

 

You may also find some Sunfish and Spotted Bass as well as the occasional Sturgeon at the right time of season. I do not know enough about lure fishing to offer any advice, but I would target the area where the creek enters the Rivers there may be some predators lying in wait for easy pickings.

[Dales]

If I could concentrate on the Commons and not get obsessed with all the predators which I would then I would try to find one of the deep gullies and put down a large bed of maize and halibut pellet, fish meal pellet, chicken feed, old bread, ground bait if I had any or what ever pellet or particles were available and mix the lot with some fish oils, tins of mashed sardine, tuna any kind of fishy stink that I could get.

 

Then I would fish 2 rods over the bed of bait, one on a feeder large cage or method ball with maize for the Carp and from time to time might change over to a ball of bread paste. I would not be able to resist putting out a dead bait or chunk of fish for the preds on the other rod but would not be to surprised if this produced a Carp on a chunk of fish.

[Dales]

All well and good Dales but we are talking of a different fishing culture with Newt...pellets are fired from a pistol, and a larged caged feeder is something he might find in a zoo

 

Stick to the poppers Newt

 

I know that but the question was how would you fish it? and that's the way I answered it. I certainly don't think I could teach Newt anything about tackling this sort of water.

 

Plus from Newt's opening post, it looked like he was after the Commons, Poppers are you sure

[far bank stalker]

personally i would either fish to an undercut bank or an underwater feature. all the stuff i learnt about course fishing seems to work across the board and fish holding spots invariably hold fish regardless. i don't think game fish are aware of their status and so don't seem to mind hanging out in the same spots as course fish.....erm maybe though they just like slumming it every now and then

[Worms]

Well, I'd tackle this in a number of ways, lures and live/deadbaits for the predators and worm, bread, maggots etc. as a ledgered/feeder bait. Then, I'd pull out my trusty trotting rod and 'pin and trot an avon down with a variety of baits whilst loose feeding. I'd also try rolling luncheon meat/cheese and freelining floating crust especially to the far margins if possible. As evening came on I'd whip out the fly rod and try everything I have in my boxes!

 

 

Apart from that I've no idea

[lozza]

i could see myself trotting that strech of river or casting a small bomb with worm or prawn to likly spots. two baits that should catch just about anything.