Fishing the French Broad: Life Lessons

Big Warm Rivers = Bountiful Bass

I have fished large, warm rivers all across the country. Every single river has had an abundance of bass species. Most have smallmouth bass, but some also have largemouth bass, striped bass, hybrid bass, and white bass. All bass species are predators: they eat things that move. Moving or twitching presentations of anything that represents a natural food source will initiate a strike. Natural prey for most bass includes minnows, worms, lizards, crawfish, any other resident fish species, aquatic insects, and when the bass get large, literally anything that gets close! I’ve watched bass eat mice, snakes, and even baby ducks! Bass eat moving protein.

Respect the Power of the River

Big, deep water, strong current, and underwater obstructions make caution the order of the day when fishing big rivers. Respect the river’s power and deadly force. Don’t test it. Be prepared. If you are going to wade big water, wear a life preserver. Several companies actually make fishing vests that are life preservers and they are reasonably priced. Using a wading stick is also highly recommended. I can’t emphasize strongly enough how much one more point of contact with the river bottom increases stability. A wading stick and a life preserver can do exactly that, preserve your life.

Revelations

Unhurried time on a river can yield some of life’s most important epiphanies. Life away from nature is often too fast-paced and loud to generate this depth of import. Let the voice of God in nature whisper strength to your soul.

“Long ago rain fell on mud
And became rock…
But even before that,
Beneath the rocks,
Are the words of God”

----A River Runs Through It