River fishing question

Question for those (like me) who like to fish a little bit of everything on the river this time of the year

I might find myself starting out to fish walleyes, then I’ll spot some real good looking smallmouth spot and grab another pole. Before I know it my boat is covered with 6 rods, bass, walleye, ultralight, maybe a frog rod.

It’s all great fun, but sometimes it gets to be too much and I think I should just stick to one thing.

Do you set out with one species in mind, or do go with the flow and fish for multiple species based on what you see?

Always go with the flow. I usually start with walleyes but always prepared for smallies and crappies. If the smallies are cranking on the river I set a dedicated rod for them. Have something I can pickup and pitch if I see them chasing like a 360GT search bait.

Always have an ultra light rigged up with a small plastic. Never know when you run into a pod of crappies.

I usually have 8 to 10 rods in the boat depending on the day. By the end they are all laying on the deck in a tangled mess.

Cold weather months are for walleyes. Warm weather months are for everything else that is willing to bite. Bring all the gear.

I always have a snap on. Jigs, cranks, etc it doesn’t matter. Makes it easy to switch from one thing to the next. I like the VMC best.

I have 9 to 11 poles in my boat always,never know what you need. Plus the wife then gets to ask do you need all them poles. I was told yesterday maybe I should just tow another boat with rods reels, tackle and gear? Not that’s a good idea 💡!!

Sounds like I’m in good company.

Anonymous wrote:

I have 9 to 11 poles in my boat always,never know what you need. Plus the wife then gets to ask do you need all them poles. I was told yesterday maybe I should just tow another boat with rods reels, tackle and gear? Not that’s a good idea 💡!!

You can put the wife in the second boat and keep a couple more rods with you.

mxskeeter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>The SCRATCHER wrote:</div>
I have 9 to 11 poles in my boat always,never know what you need. Plus the wife then gets to ask do you need all them poles. I was told yesterday maybe I should just tow another boat with rods reels, tackle and gear? Not that’s a good idea 💡!!

You can put the wife in the second boat and keep a couple more rods with you.

Well stated

I agree with all of above. Have become a much happier fisherman allowing the water I’m on to dictate what my fishing may be for the day, and not the other way around. Lakes and rivers usually ways put out something, just be able to change to what that is.

Am I suppose to bring wife with? I don’t have room for her LMAO

I exclusively target smallmouth in rivers. And that is mostly what I catch too. Other accidental catches of pike and walleyes do occur though but 90% of the fish on my line in a river are smallmouth bass between June – September.

I think you guys are selling yourselves short, My normal rods in the boat, 8 trolling rods, 6 baitcasters, 5 spinning rods, 4 Crappie rods, 3 dragging rods.These will vary and be switched out depending on the plan for the day. If strictly lake Crappie fishing then my Walleye trolling rods get switched out to Crappie trolling rods, and a couple of my heavier baitcasters get switched to lighter baitcasters that can throw Crappie baits, and my 10-14 foot crappie rods get put in the boat.

All my tackle stays in the boat so that never gets switched out except for the overflow of about 200 crankbaits on the shelf.

It really sucks it never used to happen walk in to Scheels fishing department and walk out empty handed. I think I need to start a group Fishing Tackle anonymous.

Tom P. wrote:

I think you guys are selling yourselves short, My normal rods in the boat, 8 trolling rods, 6 baitcasters, 5 spinning rods, 4 Crappie rods, 3 dragging rods.These will vary and be switched out depending on the plan for the day. If strictly lake <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>Crappie fishing then my Walleye trolling rods get switched out to <em class=”ido-tag-em”>Crappie trolling rods, and a couple of my heavier baitcasters get switched to lighter baitcasters that can throw Crappie baits, and my 10-14 foot crappie rods get put in the boat.

All my tackle stays in the boat so that never gets switched out except for the overflow of about 200 crankbaits on the shelf.

It really sucks it never used to happen walk in to Scheels fishing department and walk out empty handed. I think I need to start a group Fishing Tackle anonymous.

Tom, do you use BFS type baitcasters for the crappie lures? I have a couple and they are FUN!

Mine are the Piscifun with the ultra light spool and Kistler Helium 3 MLXF, I like this rod much better then the NRX 802C the NRX was to stiff in the tip.

Tom P. wrote:

Mine are the Piscifun with the ultra light spool and Kistler Helium 3 MLXF, I like this rod much better then the NRX 802C the NRX was to stiff in the tip.

I’ve got the Shimano Conquest BFS on a little 2-piece spiral-wrapped custom St. Croix and a Daiwa Alphas AirSrtream Custom on a 5′ Shimano Trout One rod. They are too much fun!