If you don't fish rivers and streams for bass, you're missing out on some great fishing! Photo by David Paul Williams.

When most Pacific Northwest anglers think of bass, they think of large impoundments like California's Lake Shasta, Oregon's Davis Lake or Washington's Potholes Reservoir -- all great places to fish. But if you fish only still waters, you're missing half the fun of bassing. I caught my first largemouth in an Oregon river. My first smallmouth came from a small California stream. To this day, I'll fish moving water every chance I get.

Many still-water fishers, mystified by moving water, stick with their tried and true lakes. With a little effort, you can learn the effects of currents on bass in streams and rivers.

GOT CURRENT?
The major difference between still water and moving water is that simple phenomenon called current. Its speed is a function of:

• River gradient -- that is, the steepness of the riverbed,
• Proximity of obstructions, like dams, and
• River structure, like rocks, weeds and bottom structure.

Water tends to flow faster just below a dam, as well as toward the middle of the waterway and on the outside edge of a bend. Its velocity diminishes along the river bottom, the edges of banks, near structure and the inside edges of bends.

These different speeds, or flows, are a combination of gravity and friction. On a high gradient, gravity pulls the water faster. With rocks, logs, weedbeds and the like to bump up against, friction slows the water.

Current determines where the bass feed, spawn and rest. In short, the more you learn about current, the more you'll know about catching fish.

Bass always orient themselves to the current because it's a conveyor belt that brings them food. Since bass are not stout trout, they tend to avoid swift flows. They may dart into swifter water to snatch a bite, but they'll always return to their slow-water holding spots.

RISING WATER
Bass are also sensitive to changing water levels. During spring run-off, rising water increases the velocity of the current, forcing bass into the shallows where they're more accessible to anglers. But flooding water also exposes tons of food, like insects and earthworms. That draws in forage fish, which in turn draw feeding bass.

When the water's rising, fish in tight to shore. Focus on back eddies where the current curls into soft water. Big bass love to hang in gentle water and eat whatever goodies the current brings them.

WATER DEPTH
Smallmouths in Lake Washington may hold 65 feet deep in winter and move up to 3 feet during the spawn. That difference can make it difficult to locate the action. But most smallmouth rivers and streams are 10 feet deep or less, which makes finding fish on a river much easier.

But relatively shallow water can be both a boon and burden to the bass angler. It helps to predict where the fish can be found, but also lets the fish find you. Shallow rivers dictate a quiet, stealthy approach to catch fish.

PRESENTATION
The current affects your presentation of flies and baits. If you cast directly to the spot where you think a fish is holding, the current will sweep away the lure before it can sink to the depth where the fish is.

For the fly-fisher, this means that weighted flies, short leaders and sinking fly lines are required. For the gear fisher, heavier jigs and smaller diameter line are best. Cast upstream to allow the lure to sink down to the fish's feeding zone.