Where are you fishing?
That is the central question. Not what bait or color of bait? None of that matters if there are no fish to take the bait. Practically all the quality fish I catch are on transitions.
So what is a transition? It is a change in water depth and river bottom contour. You will hear a lot about “deep” and “flat.” Water in rivers and streams ping pongs from bank to bank. The bank routinely hit by the current will washout and form a deep pocket often with a steep wall or ledge. Step into the river on the deep side of a curve and you will be in water up to your neck very quickly. You want to wade in on the flat side. When current hits the deep side bank, it often creates a swirl. This action slows the water, creates eddies, and deposits silt on the opposite bank. This action often forms a flat shelf. The flat gradually gets deeper and then drops into the channel. This is prime fish territory.
Where to fish in current: Fish the flat hard when there is current. The flat side holds the slower water. Fish will hold on the flat to avoid fighting the current. Anything coming downstream in the current is easy prey. Cast up stream. Work the bait shallow to deep if possible. Work the transition from the flat to the channel. If you can hit the deep bank do so. It will have ledges and hold rocks and debris—fish will hide behind this cover because it breaks the current. Put your bait on every square foot of bank on both sides if possible.
How to fish from a Kayak in current: Park yourself in the middle of the river. Yep, anchor up. Cast upstream covering every inch of the transition from flat to channel. If the eddies are close to the bank on the flat side, work them hard. Now move the kayak to the deep side and cast upstream parallel to the bank. Work it hard close to the bank and fan out toward the channel. Try different depths toward the channel. Now move upstream (to where your casts landed previously) and repeat so that you cover all the water.
How to fish eddies: Eddies should be treated like cover. Cover that breaks the current will create an eddy. This is clear. Transitions will also create eddies because they slow the water flow. Fish transition eddies hard. They provide a convenient break from current and sit beside faster, deeper water generally. Any bait carried downstream by current will be scooped up by these predator smallies. Put your bait on every square foot of this real estate. If no bites, give them a different bait. Don’t give up. The fish are there.
How to fish in low water flow: In my neck of the woods, this is typically a summer time and fall situation. River levels can drop dramatically in dry summers and low water can linger into fall. The water will become crystal clear. The fish no longer use cover as there is no current to break. They roam. They may be deep. They may be schooling shad in a pack. They may be shallow rooting for crawfish. This is finesse time. Choose finesse gear and baits. Throw them in every direction. Fan cast with shorter casts first and then long casts. Try a couple of baits and then move. Be sure to completely cover the water including the shallows. The fish will be easy to spook in these conditions because they can see and sense you with ease in clear and calm water. Noisy baits may spook them too. Choose subtle baits and steady slow presentation. Speed up the retrieve if no bites.