Fishing "Soft Water" and Currents

By: Field Pro Mike Hatfield

In a river system with noticeable current, fish seek “soft water” for protection and survival. Soft water is the slower current caused by an obstruction or change in topography of the stream bed or bank. Unlike trout or salmon, largemouth bass do not have a body shape that is conducive to fighting river currents. Because of this, they seek a holding spot in more comfortable, slower moving water.

The most obvious obstructions creating soft water are large rocks, stumps, logs and weed beds. Each of these examples has an area of soft water directly behind it fanning down current in a “V” shape. A fish will use the obstruction as an ambush point to feed on prey brought down stream by the current. Don't overlook the soft water directly in front of an obstruction. As water is flowing downstream and hitting a big rock, the water molecules are hitting the rock head-on and creating a traffic jam of sorts forming a pocket of soft water directly in front of the rock. Picture yourself shoveling snow. As you push the shovel through the snow, it piles up in front of the shovel and then spills over the sides and top. The same pile-up happens in front of that rock, resulting in the area of soft water.

Other areas of soft water can be found in holes or troughs in the stream bed or the stream bank itself. Once again this soft water is caused by the water molecules being slowed down from contact with the stream bed or bank. In these examples, fish will hold tight against the slower water flowing along the bank or they will lay in the low spots on the stream bottom and let the faster water flow over top of them.

When it comes to fishing The Original Fishing Snake in current, you need to pay attention to several things. First, you should avoid fishing the snake upstream. A snake will never swim upstream and will look unnatural to a fish if they do see one swimming the wrong direction. Concentrate on fishing downstream or cross-current. Cast well past your target. Since you are fishing in moving water, you need to cast further past your target than you would when fishing calm water. Next, work the snake to get a natural swimming motion, then let it sit still for a second or two. Work it again as if it were swimming. Once the snake gets well past your target zone and there was not a strike, go ahead and reel in and cast again. Moving water can be very productive if you take your time and fish the soft water pockets thoroughly.