Billy Jo
08-22-2008, 05:41 PM
Many have asked for Info on fishing the river, so I will try to help for the first time river fishermen.
FISHING FROM A BOAT.
Learing to read the water is the most important thing you need to know. What the water looks like when flowing over a sandbar or other shallow areas. Some Parts of the river will have a sandy bttom a other parts may have a rocky bottom.So until you know what to look for I would say take you time until you know were these areas are. Nothing will make a good fishing trip turn bad If you are suck on a sandbar and the water is going down or loseing a prop or lower unit. So take it slow the first time out. You also have to remember that the water level will drop in the evening and this will make the river lower at night. I always keep a eye on my depth finder when running the river and when I see the water getting shallower I will slow down so if I end up on a sandbar I will be able to push the boat off and I've been there and done that. It dosen't matter what kind boat you have you need
a good motor to get back to were you started. Paddling up stream won't get you back to were you started for a day or two If your lucky.
Having a good anchor or two, I find the best anchor for the river is a navy type anchor 15 lbs or more with a 6 ft of chain and a 100ft of rope, most of the water you will be fishing will be 10 foot or less.
I find the best places to fish are in the slower water or in a eddy were there are bullrushes along the banks with water 4 to 10 foot deep. You need to remember that flatheads are going to feed were the bait fish are and the bait fish will hide in the root of the bullrushs or other cover were they can find a place to hide. another good area is in the backs of sandbars with a hole behind the sandbar. If you can find a sandbad next to the shore with bullrushs and a hole give it a try,you never know.
Now you found the spot you plan to fish, before you drop anchor go up and down both ends of you spot and check the depth so if you plan to move after dark you know it will be safe to move. I say this because the river is no place to run after dart, unless you know the river like the back or your hand.
I seen sandbar move over a 100 yards in a month or two.
Sometimes you will be the only boat on the river for a miles or more so its always safety first.
OK, now its time to get that fish you have always been looking for. But you need to have good fishing gear, I would say a good M/H rood, a reel with a good drag (bait casting or spinning) with good line 30# or better. You will need to get live biat and a good bait bucket with a air pump or some way the keep bait fish lively. You can use bluegill,Tapala or goldfish. The way I rig my poles is I use a Carolina rig. I use 40# main line with a slip sinker and bead tryed to 100# test swivel with 18" 40# leader and a Gamakatsu hook 7/0 to 10/0, hook size depends on size of bait. But I have used 3" goldfish with 10/0 hook. Flathead are not hook shy,all they see is the baitfish.
I do most of my fishing from Blythe to Palo Vrde. I fine the best time to fish the river is from early June to mid October,but the water temperture plays a big part in it, when the water is 65* to 85* is the time to fish for Flatheads.
So if you are planning a trip to the Blythe area of the river you can camp at Mayflower camp ground north of Blythe off Hwy 95 about 2 miles East on 6th ave. You can get goldfish at B&B bait shop on 8ave west on your way to Mayflower camp ground. Fishing the river in the summer can be HOT 120* in the afternoon and 100* at 2am. But if you want to get flatheads the hotter the better. We will be at Hidden Beaches RV park, You will see it on your way to Mayflower on 6ave. Dale(riverbud) has his trailer there across the street from the store and if we are not there you can see us going up river aruond 4:30 to 5:00 pm Dale (riverbud ) has a 20ft North river with a 150 Yamaha jet outboard, Ryan( martinman) has a 12 foot lowe and I have a 14 foot Sea Nymph with 20hp Merc. So if you make it down and we are there look us up we will give you all the help you need.
If you are a shore fisherman you may want to check out westcost catmasters they have a lot of good Info on fishing the canels in that area.
Hope to see you on the river.
Later Billy Jo
FISHING FROM A BOAT.
Learing to read the water is the most important thing you need to know. What the water looks like when flowing over a sandbar or other shallow areas. Some Parts of the river will have a sandy bttom a other parts may have a rocky bottom.So until you know what to look for I would say take you time until you know were these areas are. Nothing will make a good fishing trip turn bad If you are suck on a sandbar and the water is going down or loseing a prop or lower unit. So take it slow the first time out. You also have to remember that the water level will drop in the evening and this will make the river lower at night. I always keep a eye on my depth finder when running the river and when I see the water getting shallower I will slow down so if I end up on a sandbar I will be able to push the boat off and I've been there and done that. It dosen't matter what kind boat you have you need
a good motor to get back to were you started. Paddling up stream won't get you back to were you started for a day or two If your lucky.
Having a good anchor or two, I find the best anchor for the river is a navy type anchor 15 lbs or more with a 6 ft of chain and a 100ft of rope, most of the water you will be fishing will be 10 foot or less.
I find the best places to fish are in the slower water or in a eddy were there are bullrushes along the banks with water 4 to 10 foot deep. You need to remember that flatheads are going to feed were the bait fish are and the bait fish will hide in the root of the bullrushs or other cover were they can find a place to hide. another good area is in the backs of sandbars with a hole behind the sandbar. If you can find a sandbad next to the shore with bullrushs and a hole give it a try,you never know.
Now you found the spot you plan to fish, before you drop anchor go up and down both ends of you spot and check the depth so if you plan to move after dark you know it will be safe to move. I say this because the river is no place to run after dart, unless you know the river like the back or your hand.
I seen sandbar move over a 100 yards in a month or two.
Sometimes you will be the only boat on the river for a miles or more so its always safety first.
OK, now its time to get that fish you have always been looking for. But you need to have good fishing gear, I would say a good M/H rood, a reel with a good drag (bait casting or spinning) with good line 30# or better. You will need to get live biat and a good bait bucket with a air pump or some way the keep bait fish lively. You can use bluegill,Tapala or goldfish. The way I rig my poles is I use a Carolina rig. I use 40# main line with a slip sinker and bead tryed to 100# test swivel with 18" 40# leader and a Gamakatsu hook 7/0 to 10/0, hook size depends on size of bait. But I have used 3" goldfish with 10/0 hook. Flathead are not hook shy,all they see is the baitfish.
I do most of my fishing from Blythe to Palo Vrde. I fine the best time to fish the river is from early June to mid October,but the water temperture plays a big part in it, when the water is 65* to 85* is the time to fish for Flatheads.
So if you are planning a trip to the Blythe area of the river you can camp at Mayflower camp ground north of Blythe off Hwy 95 about 2 miles East on 6th ave. You can get goldfish at B&B bait shop on 8ave west on your way to Mayflower camp ground. Fishing the river in the summer can be HOT 120* in the afternoon and 100* at 2am. But if you want to get flatheads the hotter the better. We will be at Hidden Beaches RV park, You will see it on your way to Mayflower on 6ave. Dale(riverbud) has his trailer there across the street from the store and if we are not there you can see us going up river aruond 4:30 to 5:00 pm Dale (riverbud ) has a 20ft North river with a 150 Yamaha jet outboard, Ryan( martinman) has a 12 foot lowe and I have a 14 foot Sea Nymph with 20hp Merc. So if you make it down and we are there look us up we will give you all the help you need.
If you are a shore fisherman you may want to check out westcost catmasters they have a lot of good Info on fishing the canels in that area.
Hope to see you on the river.
Later Billy Jo