Fishing Deep River/Creek Channels

[Hydrilla Gorilla]

Hey everyone, what is your favorite technique for fishing deep river and creek channels? I have only done well throwing a worm, but haven't really tried too much else. Tomorrow I am going to Talquin and I am going to try a jig and some cranks. Is positioning shallow and casting deep the best approach?

[Andrew]

Different times of the year determines what lure I'm going to use in a channel or ledge. My first go to lure for deep channels is a jig either with a rubber skirt or a hair jig both with a pork chunk since it's winter here. Summer will be a large plastic trailer. If nothing with a jig I'll go to a c-rig. At least these two will determine what type of bottom I'm dealing with. After those I'll use a spinnerbait or a deep diving crankbait. Other lures I'll use on deep channels/ledges are spoons, drop shot, or A-rig.

Position yourself both ways until you see what the fish wants. Go shallow and throw deep to drag the bait back up the edge of the channel. Then go deep and cast up into shallow water and drag the lure off the edge. Check your graph to find where the fish are holding it will help decide on what lure to use.