Catch More Bass With These River Fishing Lures!

[@kj197734]

I love rivers over lakes. I grew up in Iowa and I am still here. The Mississippi River was right outside my door with a 10 minute drive. I always have a great selection of river lures for bass.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very cool!

[@oldeschoolbob1022]

Thanks Matt! LOLed at the chicken photobomb at 4:53 . I fish creeks more than rivers these days, and with our lack of rainfall lately, there's not much current. Swim jigs are a staple here in Florida of course, but I've had good luck recently with a swimming worm worked just beneath the surface around the pads and vegetation. Junebug or Junebug Red have been good colors in the tannic water. Probably not a great choice in areas of faster current, but it's been a consistent producer for me this year. Great tips as always. Thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

great info thanks for sharing!

[@jamesadams1357]

No other bait can touch versatility of a jig. But swimming it is by far my favorite and balied me out so many times. In fact it saved my day in my tournament this past weekend in the final hour

[@MattStefanFishing]

ive won a lot of money on a swim jig!

[@patricknoll4637]

Agree with those five, all are go to baits. for plastics, tubes, paddle tail and stickbaits are really good. Those have great action in current. Mid depth crank like a wiggle wart has put tons in the boat as has walking style baits. I appreciate the river fishing love.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on

[@michaellaturno2723]

I have done well on Ozark streams using the Berkley Flicker Shad. Not only catches smallmouth, but trout as well. Thanks for another great video. Keep the river fishing tips coming.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Will Do!

[@midwestfischerman]

My favorite three river lures are old school, like me. First, the in-line spinner, like the classic Mepps. So versatile, perhaps the best lure for drifting downriver with the current. Second, the Rebel Wee Craw is a 2" wide wobble crankbait that excels in that 5-foot depth range you discussed. IMO the Rebel Wee Craw is the predecessor of the modern squarebill crankbaits. Third, the curly tail grub, such as the 3" Mister Twister. All three of these lures are multi-species hammers in rivers, tried and true.

[@MattStefanFishing]

great proven lures!

[@quelchx]

All my brother fishes is inlines (not huge into fishing) and he's caught some absolute studs of them it always surprises me.

[@johnrayner5599]

Those are all solid choices and ones that I also would recommend to others. I love the swimjig in moving water, they seem hard to beat.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they are!

[@forrhs8430]

Excellent video Matt...thanks..I fish primarily rivers here in Southeast Virginia!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@dannyyork3742]

Love these river videos Matt! I've fished rivers my whole life I'm 56. River I fish mostly gets hardly no bass fishing pressure. This river starts at headwaters of cave run lake in Kentucky. It empties into the mighty Ohio right in front of Paul brown stadium in downtown Cincinnati. Alot smallest, and spots. Spinnerbaits, and you already know a bladed jig are just hard to beat! But you put out more river videos than anybody. So keep them river videos coming!!!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on!

[@jtotherog]

Yessir! I’m a Kentucky boy myself. Some of these rivers in my area get nearly zero bass fishing pressure. Some days are an absolute blast!

[@bushidocode4773]

Thanks Matt for the great tips! I fish the Youghiogheny River here in Pennsylvania and have a lot of luck with soft plastic tubes.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds great!

[@clintperry799]

Great tips. I love to fish small jigs over large jigs. Lost a 4 lber in the thick weeds yesterday. Of course on a 3 inch wacky. 🙂

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sorry to hear that

[@thua4673]

I happen to catch a lot with a mepps spinners #4 orange blade on the milwaukee river. Lost a few lures on submerged logs. Will try the dirty jig in spring 2023.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good luck! I did this video with a new mepps and crushed them!kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaG0f4eoYrSte7M

[@samuelsellers3829]

I like a Ned rig to pitch to small pools and work it slowly back to me and also a wobble head and a Biffle bug for sand bars of pebble bars

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@christiancognigni6234]

River fishing is such a great topic! Baits of choice here in the Susquehanna river would be the small crankbait you mentioned, a 3"-ish swimbait on a 1/8 oz head, a small jig like yours, a 3 or 3.5" tube with a 1/8 oz head (snag city but SOO effective)... and a black plopper 60.

[@MattStefanFishing]

all good choices!

[@CastingwithKirk]

Great informational video. Definitely confirms for me that I have been picking the right ones. 1.5 squarebills are my favorite on the Mississippi

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on

[@haroldrogers6566]

Love your pick of baits. I’ll try that swim jig. I like a 200 bandit a little better for a crank bait. But what I really like about this video is at the 5:14 mark is the chicken that walks through the window. He didn’t even stop and listen, guess he’s not interested in fishing 😂😂😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha! They go everywhere!

[@laprice8509]

Love the videos, that swim jig set up is a killer here in Ohio, catches everything bass, pike, Muskie, and some eyes! Rage menaces work as a good trailer also, if you get a Muskie to follow rip of the top tail piece and make the same cast! It makes them go nuts

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome! thanks for sharing!

[@bobjohnston5527]

Here in Fredericton New Brunswick Canada we have the Saint John River that is very deep and wide and tidal water. The other one is the Nashwaak river that is about about 400 feet wide and you can get a 23 foot boat up it

[@MattStefanFishing]

nice!

[@joegrande4848]

1/8 oz or 1/32 oz crappie jigs are amazing to catch bass. Put a white grub worm with trophy bass by procure. You'd catch nice bass in lakes, rivers, or ponds. My absolute go to for nice sized bass. ❤😊

[@MattStefanFishing]

You should try the new Core Tackle size 4 hook hover rig in a 1/32 and 1/16 oz size

[@davidvaughan782]

I do like all of your ideas and I am going to give this a try. Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

go for it!

[@DrSKMetz]

Very useful video. I'd add that some time old school works too. I fish a lot for Susquehanna River smallmouth and have the most success with Johnson Silver Minnows with a pork rind strip. Depending on water clarity I use black, gold, silver or chartreuse flash.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love the silver minnow

[@DrSKMetz]

@@MattStefanFishing I wish they weren't made in China but I find that they're much less likely to get stuck on Susquehanna rocks than spinnerbaits.

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Love the rebel pop-r. Still my absolute favorite popper to this day. Don't know what it is about it it just catches more fish for me and all of the others.

[@MattStefanFishing]

its a killer bait!

[@shawn_r_schultzfishing4883]

Storing these for when my back allows me to get back to the river! Awesome stuff as usual 🎣

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@stevenkaminsky5817]

Thanks. I’ve been looking for videos specific to river fishing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help

[@rvfishingyet]

Love your river videos. I have not tried that popper yet in these scenarios so i will work that in a bit more along with the Carolina. Love the choppo.

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@MVAdventures930]

I love a buzz bait with a keitect swimbait no skirt. I'm from Wisconsin as well and the blow ups you get from river smallie are crazy on a buzz bait

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@stephanelavoie2258]

That subjet is spot on for me , that’s exactly the type of terrain i’m fishing 🎣! No Carolina rig for me ….. now i always have the MINI Carolina tied on , it’s a catching fish 🐠 machine , espacialy when you feel the little weight have it a rock ….. wah bam 💥, i’m moslly using the lunch worm ( MaxScent ) with the curly tails and I’m experiencing with the 90 mm Gilly from Berkley …. Will try that little craw ! Thank you 🙏🏻 Matt .

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on

[@fishindoc6025]

Thanks for this! Perfect timing..headed to Pool 9 next wk. Thinking about downloading the breakdown

[@MattStefanFishing]

have fun! love the mississippi!

[@LowBrowFishing]

The thing about swimjigs, or jigs in general, is that, unlike other types of baits, conditions are always right for a jig. What matters about jigs is where you fish them rather than when. At least in my experience. Also - Supernatural crayfish?! Yikes!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@Gary-yo2fv]

Lots of luck with a jig tied with marabou and flash. The natural movement of the hair allows you to cast and slow retrieve or let the river take it, or drag it along the botton

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds great!

[@quelchx]

I only wade fish cuz of area + budget. Feels like the only thing that works well for me is swimjigs or redish squarebill (casting setup) or ned rigs on my spinning setup. I catch others on other lures but the numbers come from those two (lower ontario smallie fishing).

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@johnroskosky7816]

Another great video Matt. Thanks again for helping me improve my skills.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Happy to help!

[@terrytresemer2864]

Working Baits like a trout fisherman. I've had lots of luck with pink and white swim jigs for those river smallies.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@twiggsherman3641]

All I fish is a large stained river for smallies, I definitely vouch for the orange green baits. I like to throw a bit of moose hair on my jigs as well. Caught some of my biggest fish just letting the current float my jig downstream.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I need to get some moose hair!

[@twiggsherman3641]

@@MattStefanFishing it's a pain to work with, but I like using it as the entire bottom of the jig, I don't bother trimming it, just bend it over some, it wants to return to shape, so it helps push the jig off the bottom, kind of like the rubber on your finesse jigs.

[@bradmccafferty7654]

Matt - Those are some great river choices. I'd be hard pressed not to pack some of the original Gitzit 3" tubes and some of the Zoom Fish Doctor 4" worms. They can be fished on various jigs and weightless on a split shot rig. Both will catch any bass swimming in the river. The Gitzit tube also makes a good trailer for a swim jig or skirted jig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@SpookyRedz]

I fish that speed craw color in the mouth of the Mississippi in the Rosos pitching Texas rigged , those orange colors work

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes they do!

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Thanks for that Great Video, Matt!!!👊🏻 Glad to learn more about river fishing. On the top water I usually go with a buzzbait(1/8-1/4 oz) taking off the skirt and putting on a Pit Boss!!!Had success last year hoping I can do the same this year!! Like the idea of a compact bait. Started to use them more myself. Stay Safe & God Bless!! Hope you do well on the James River. Will be 👀👀 you!!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on!

[@williamgould2470]

Excellent video. My favorite top water has always been the pop r but in river systems especially, another overlooked bait that has been a killer for years and is relitively inexpensive is the hedden tiny torpedo prop bait.. Lots of bites on that bait.there are so many old school baits that I'm afraid will be gone because there is always something new not always better coming out.

[@MattStefanFishing]

tiny torpedo catches them!

[@maxcole3930]

I have fished small rivers & streams up in OH in my kayak. But I've mostly fished lakes. Sense we moved last summer, I'm very close to Savannah river, I have fished bit but I want to learn to b much more effective & consistent on river. Tons of tricks & techniques with current I'm sure I'm unaware of

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good luck!

[@bobjohnston5527]

Here in Fredericton New Brunswick our Saint John river is tidal water to Saint John city in the south of the province from the Bay of Fundy. I fish the Nashwaak River that flows into the Saint John River here in Fredericton. I use all baits from soft baits to spinnerbaits

[@bobjohnston5527]

I cast up river from where I fish on the Nashwaak riverbank on the east side of the river under the bridge

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@bobjohnston5527]

@@MattStefanFishing Your welcome

[@terryreed7996]

Excellent Content as usual sir! Looking forward to the next video thank you

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@rogermurphy1548]

As always, I got some more good info from Matt🤗 I also discovered he has chickens 😁😃. I saw one walk by the window at 4:55🐔🐔

[@MattStefanFishing]

16 of them haha

[@rogermurphy1548]

@@MattStefanFishing ❤️

[@davidvaughan782]

I live in a town in south Arkansas that has a river right beside it, allways fished with spinner baits and wiggle warts

[@MattStefanFishing]

give these baits a try!

[@travisbruno1988]

great picks Matt thanks for the vid

[@MattStefanFishing]

No problem 👍

[@tlegro]

Awesome breakdown. I was wondering how you choose weight of the swimjig. 1/4 vs 3/8 vs 1/2. That’s the hardest thing for me to understand. I’ll be fishing the Upper Potomac in a couple of weeks for smallmouth and can’t wait. Thanks so much.

[@MattStefanFishing]

its usually dependant on current but my go to is the 3/8

[@tlegro]

@@MattStefanFishing thanks for answering my question and thanks again for such a great channel. Tight lines, Matt!

[@rodneyritchie8846]

Man you are the best I feel like I can catch more fish in rivers from watching this. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome! good luck!

[@ro-cl2do]

Love my Yellow magic's. Aswesome popper. Thanks for the video.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching!

[@SpookyRedz]

Loved it , that color pop r is so fine

[@MattStefanFishing]

its a good one!

[@DominusEstOK]

Love the rooster in the background. Great video Matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks 👍

[@kennethfilas7979]

Try a firecracker Micro jig with a berkley maxscent lil trooper as a trailer. That jig is almost snag-proof.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes it is!

[@mikesr.7185]

Ned rig is my go to river fishing

[@MattStefanFishing]

its a good river bait as well

[@danorris5235]

Woah. Found a guy who talks about lures like the tools they are to accomplish specific goals instead of magical wands and trinkets that bend the laws of space and time to magnetize fish onto them. Thank you for having your head screwed on straight.

[@TrippingSavage]

😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

thank you! thats exactly how i look at them

[@rodcashman4793]

Great choices 👌 question if the rivets aren't moving how well do these work. Good luck in your events 👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

they still are your best options...just got to realise the fish wont be as dependent on current breaks

[@19empire85]

Great video as always...On a completely unrelated note what is your favorite blank for a general purpose frog rod?

[@MattStefanFishing]

MB874

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

Nice video Matt with good info again. Picked up another $500 worth of product on your TW link. Thrift and Wheeler made it thru group “B” today. So all 4 are into the knockouts. Coulter, Neil, Thrift and Wheeler. We shall see tomorrow.

[@oldeschoolbob1022]

They had a run on Bacon Rinds just after Matt posted that video about two weeks ago.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks so much for the TW support! It really is appreciated! Any your picks have been on fire! When fishing is legalized for gambling...a year or two out they need to contact you to be an oddsmaker!

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

@@MattStefanFishing 🍺I follow MLF live/Bassmaster live. Listen to the anglers a lot. Watch the weigh ins, watch all their channels, give a lot of clout to the knowledge of the water(“ home lake”) being fished, read a lot and then go with my gut on that anglers strengths ( shallow/deep/casting ability/ electronics)and the angler that is due. Always picking a different group of anglers. Saved the Johnston brothers, KVD, and Taku for up north. You for the title event. Lets get there please🙏. Picking 5 winners this season has been great especially Christian Greico but my 2 second place finishers Clausen at Redcrest and Welcher in the classic were my two best in my opinion.

[@bradmccafferty7654]

Also, for top water - the Heddon baby torpedo has proven to be a nice river lure to have on hand.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@SimplyFishing]

Good stuff man. All that works good here in North Alabama.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good to hear

[@lildumpy-e5w]

I like Ned rigs for rivers

[@MattStefanFishing]

They work great in rivers

[@arthurdirindinjr1792]

I know yearly my purchases of several $100s of is of no real significance but I make it a point to use your links to buy tackle if at all possible I USE TO watch a crap ton of fishing shows trying to learn to be a better fisherman and then teach what I learned to my sons I know only watch 2 or 3 besides yours yours most often I must say Matt no ones show is better than yours. I am both a significantly more successful as well as slightly poorer fisherman buying and using your recommended luers as you instruct using them. Thank you I wish you success equal to your willingness to help other fisherman improve themselves

[@MattStefanFishing]

your support is very much appreciated!!!

[@bootlegbassfishing1730]

Great video Matt. Do you throw a topwater all day in a river during the summer, or only in low-light conditions or shade??

[@MattStefanFishing]

ALL DAY!

[@bcleave88]

What about throwing something upstream and letting it bounce along the bottom. What would you use for that?

[@MattStefanFishing]

any bottom bait. Most baits i prefer doing that, but i can get precise presentation on targes allowing the current to keep my bait in a specific spot.

[@Glock-1]

I love the chicken photo bomb!

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha!

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

Ha Ha. I just rigged up a swim jig like yours, with a similar trailer. But I will use it in a lake

[@MattStefanFishing]

works great in a lake as well!

[@rickhensley2251]

Matt, what size swim jig do you use the most?

[@normanham6142]

Interested in the answer to this. What size used most?

[@MattStefanFishing]

3/8 oz is my go to

[@normanham6142]

Thanks Matt. You always try to answer your fan’s questions. Greatly appreciated. 👊🏼🎣

[@huntermusar8522]

Good info thankyou! added subscribe

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for the sub!

[@andreoliverlaoutdoors290]

I smoke em on a small 1/4 oz buzzbait in our small current rivers down here in south Louisiana

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome! thanks for sharing!

[@dannyyork1142]

40 years fishing for bass in bigger rivers, to small ones. Most importain is fishing with the current. Move your bait the speed of current. And if I had pick 3 baits #1 be, spinnerbaits, vibrating jigs, #2 jigs, swim jigs, #3crankbaits, of all kinds. I do really well fishing luppless cranks, from oct- March. Last 2 years, I've caught 3 over 5 , smallies.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@fishingvids5905]

i just caught a 2 pounder in a pond on a jerk bait with my phone in one hand and my curado dc in the other

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes!

[@outdoorswithjt6652]

Going heavier to fight the current. Is this correct or smaller profile? Thanks brother

[@MattStefanFishing]

both are good options

[@gcalivol72]

I have never fished a Carolina rig in the river. What size weight would be ideal to make the speed craw look natural?

[@MattStefanFishing]

3/4 oz

[@slimetime4668]

Wacky rig is a must have, fish it like I’m trout fishing I’ll pitch it up current and let us drift down past whatever cover I’m fishing, regularly opening the bail to let line out and manage the depth of the bait…or I’ll pitch it out near the bank and drift along side it, watch my line or just occasionally pick up the rod tip to check for weight, they just can’t resist the easy meal and I’ve caught big largemouth, smallmouth, and my PB spot of 5.1 lbs doing it

[@MattStefanFishing]

wacky rig is always a good choice!

[@justincrawford1325]

My river is running pretty shallow this year. What weight swim jig would you recommend?

[@MattStefanFishing]

3/8

[@davidhidalgo5662]

whopper plopper 90 the smaller size has a smaller tail that better imitates minnows in sound and profile. Spro popping frog in a bluegill color and just green pumpkin which can look like a large bug. Heck when the cicada have a good year I will try and get a frog that matches them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good tips thanks for sharing!

[@jwm2588]

I've caught some nice smallmouth on the whopper plopper 60 and 90.

[@ricks5606]

I can't put the swimjig down, its like a weedless crankbait

[@oldeschoolbob1022]

It's a great bait, and very versatile.

[@MattStefanFishing]

its great!

[@semper_fi1]

Nice baits.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@douglasspickler4925]

I fish the upper Potomac river in a slackwater area but there is still a current. Down river toward the dam of course the water is deeper. Up river more rocky and shallow. Now I fish into the current bringing my lure down stream. So is this the best way to fish or do you recommend something else.

[@MattStefanFishing]

generally the best presentation yes, but at times work your bait upstream can allow for precise presentation

[@douglasspickler4925]

@@MattStefanFishing thanks

[@jkfishingchef5597]

Haha. A chicken walked past the window behind you. 4:54

[@MattStefanFishing]

they are out of control at my house haha! we have 16 of them

[@MrHabitat009]

It’s funny when you watch as many of Matt’s videos you notice how the tackle room morphs into a more organized gold mine of baits.

[@MattStefanFishing]

hahaha

[@bigmikefishingchonicles9950]

Man that is my go-to craw green pumpkin orange craw if I could only have one craw that would be it

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@jamesh7469]

I would say that Matt is just biased towards his favorite bait, but honestly it’s just true, there’s never a bad time throw a swim jig

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha! true!

[@davidvaughan782]

What weight swim jig?

[@MattStefanFishing]

3/8 oz is my go to

[@josephschneider9680]

Not in New York. Most of the larger fish in our rivers are deeper than ten feet

[@MattStefanFishing]

interesting

[@tylerjames8836]

I fish a lot of the grasse river and raquette river, occasionally the oswegatchie here in New York and more often than not I’m in less than six feet of water. I’ve never landed any gigantic fish in these rivers, but I’m happy catching a 17” smallmouth or 20” northern or 30” musky. I have landed all of those fish in less than two feet of water, so again, I know none of those fish are huge, but they definitely make for a great day fishing and can all be had in less than six feet of water.

[@cabinvibeetsystore9094]

New sub! Liked 🙏✌️👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for the sub!

[@carlballoy7015]

I think u missed jerk bait yes they get snag but it’s worth it specially on the st Croix river but i did find this video every helpful

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@maxwellsulham6604]

Anyone notice the chicken in the background around 5:00-5:10?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep those are ours

[@charlescurryadventures]

Your face looks a lot like mine did in my last video. You must have been out on the water fishing. Ha

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@johndrx165]

Who saw the chicken? Fishing in the river for smallies tomorrow.

[@oldeschoolbob1022]

I did. Good luck! Wish we had smallmouth down here in Florida.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good luck!

[@CarolinaBassHunter]

I get snagged on fishing line more than anything else.

[@MattStefanFishing]

that can be frustrating!

[@CarolinaBassHunter]

@@MattStefanFishing for sure. I get as much as I can out of the river.

[@smalliehound]

Fluke, wacky rig, tube, Buzzbaits

[@MattStefanFishing]

good picks

[@davidvaughan782]

I cannot hear you with the volume all the way up

[@MattStefanFishing]

not sure why that is. sounds fine on my end

[@Jason_Emry_Fishing]

I will have to try these lures soon on the river. I will have to let you know via Instagram!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds good!

[@mikeeller557]

What jig colors in clear water?

[@MattStefanFishing]

greens and browns. dirty Jigs "The Go To" is my favorite for clear water