By Ed Diem

River fishing is a love of mine.

I enjoy the flowing water and the mesmerizing riffles, eddies, and current breaks that are signs that fish may be present.

All this is thrown to the wind in springtime however. While others may flee the river when the springtime rains and rising, often flooding, waters come, I make a beeline for my beloved rivers. You see, contrary to popular belief, high water on rivers in spring is one of the best, and easiest, times to catch a fish. Not just any fish but big fish! Not from a boat either, from shore!

Look at it this way:
As the river level rises so does the strength of the current. Most waders have experienced the extra pressure a little higher water exerts on them. This same pressure has an effect on fish. Some may claim that a fish can hide behind a rock or obstruction and be safe from the effects of the increased flow. This is absolutely true! Ah, but why would a smallmouth hang out in the middle of the river behind a rock when the only baitfish to share his haven was already eaten for breakfast? It doesn't make much sense does it? Fish like others in the animal kingdom, are opportunistic. They want to expend the least amount of energy for the most gain. They aren't interested in losing weight like many humans. The idea is to grow! Get more calories than you expend to get them. To dash out in heavy current to hopefully grab a meal doesn't make much sense. To move in towards shore, where the baitfish are, does! This scenario holds true even in summer but not to the extent it does in spring.

Smallmouth are cold blooded and therefore their body temperature is that of the water around them. In cold water their muscle tissue gets stiff much like our hands do in winter. They just can't handle the strong current when the water is cold.

Combine the cold water of spring and strong current from rains and/or melting ice and snow, and you have a dynamite combination for some of the best smallmouth fishing on rivers throughout the year. If the water temperature is too warm, they can already handle stronger current and won't be found so close to shore. If the water levels aren't high and the currents isn't strong, they won't be there either. The right water temperature (when they're just starting to be active) and strong curents though and hold on for some fun!.

A rock you see with just the top sticking out may have a big surprise behind it. I suggest heading to your favorite stretch of river, start at the dam, and drop a large fathead minnow, about 4-6 inches below a split-shot, behind every shoreline rock you see. Not just the rocks 2 or 3 feet out but even those that are half on shore. Tree stumps, roots, ends of concrete walls, drainage pipes etc., halt the current right next to shore and provide relief.