When I reach a new river, how do I decide where to start fishing for bass?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

Rolling up to a brand-new river? Here’s a practical, bass-focused plan to find your first handful of bites fast, especially in late-summer conditions.

- Start with a quick reconnaissance of three things: **current seams**, **depth changes**, and **cover**. Walk a short stretch (50–100 yards) and note where the water slows or accelerates (these seams are ambush lanes), where the channel depth shifts (drop-offs, ledges, and undercut banks), and what cover is present (fallen trees, rocks, brush). Think of the river as a blueprint for bass holds.

- Create three anchor zones you’ll target first:
  - **Zone A – inside bends & slower water behind cover.** Bass often lurk here with ample ambush points and cooler pockets.
  - **Zone B – outside bends & current seams.** The fast water along the outside edge with a deeper tail often holds fish feeding on bait moving through the seam.
  - **Zone C – mid-channel structure.** Look for wood, rock piles, or drop-offs that create edge water where bass can hide and ambush.

- Plan your initial casts (three-step approach):
  1) Start with a reacting lure along the bank or inside edge to cover edges quickly (think *spinnerbait* or a shallow crank). 
  2) Move to the seam or drop-off with a mid-depth lure (a medium-diver crank or a football jig) to probe the deeper water. 
  3) If bites are scarce, switch to a finesse presentation around any visible cover (soft plastic worm near timber or rocks).

- Coverage pattern to maximize your odds: fish 2–3 casts in each zone, then step downstream/upstream to a new spot. If you get a bite, repeat in that zone’s depth range and watch for depth clues (how deep the fish were holding). For added confidence, reference scouting methods from proven resources: [Fishing And Scouting A River Spot With Potential](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp1Npm7130U) and [How to Find BETTER Fishing Spots | Scouting tips & techniques](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W9bP9Ewrp4).

- Gear to stay organized and ready: a compact tackle box helps you swap baits fast. Check out a few solid options like the Vipfish kit: [Vipfish Fishing Tackle Box with Tackle Included Lures, Hooks, Weights, 3-Layer Freshwater Fishing Tackle Kit](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F8J919T8?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) and a versatile lure set for quick changes: [PLUSINNO Fishing Lures, 137Pcs Tackle Box with Tackle Included](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT25MCP5?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).

- Practical technique tip: start with a short jog along the edge, then a slow lift-and-lall along the seam with a pause at the bottom. The pause lets the current carry your lure into the bass’s strike zone—this often produces the first key bite of the day.

- Late-summer pattern nugget: in warmer water, bass hold closer to structure and deeper pockets where oxygen remains stable. Early morning and late evening give you the best windows to exploit these holds before the heat ramps up. If you want a broader scouting mindset, these additional videos are worth a watch: [Scouting at New River State Park](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwlI7TuHgKw) and [How To Find Fish On Lakes and Rivers - a simple guide to watercraft](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScpSvcoUm4M).

Get out there with a plan, stay flexible, and keep moving until you find the bite. You’ve got this—now go put some bass on the board! 🎣🐟

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