Creek fishing is always full of surprises.
My last outing was no different. It was early June and the water was higher than I expected. Not muddy, mind you – just fast and full, like it had something to prove. But it was crystal clear and carrying very little sediment. The last rain had occurred 6 days previously, which gave the water plenty of time to clear up before I arrived.
I opted for waders even though they felt a little warm when I stepped into them by the truck. Still, the creek is loaded with chunk rock and I’ve fallen on more than one occasion. Bloody hands and ankles are, unfortunately, common here. Boots and waders offer a bit of protection. They make walking across uneven stone a bit more pleasant and, when I stepped into the cool 67°F water, it was perfectly comfortable. A soft morning breeze moved through the trees. The rustling of the leaves, birdsong, and a horse whinnying in the nearby field combined into a pleasant, natural symphony.
Midwest Fishing at Its Finest
A small plastic kayak came with me, along with a single rod and just three presentations. A minimalist approach by modern fishing standards, but in my experience, incredibly effective.
It didn’t take long.
Within the first few casts I had made contact, but something was different. I wasn’t getting bites – I was getting blasts. Slaps. Smallmouth Bass were thwacking my topwater with violent bursts, then immediately turned away. Why such aggression with no follow-through?! It was almost as if they were chasing my plug out of the area. I had seen this behavior weeks earlier. Largemouth Bass chased bluegill away from their beds in the shallows at nearby lakes. But Largemouth always spawn after Smallmouth, right?
Remember I said creek fishing is always full of surprises?
The creek was cool – cooler than those lakes where the Largemouth had already spawned. And, as I continued upstream, the slaps continued as several beds came into view. These Bass were in full-on territorial mode. I don’t intentionally target bedding Bass. Fortunately, not all Bass spawn at the same time, and I was able to catch my share throughout the day while intentionally leaving alone those I could see on the beds.
But I was able to fill my day with Bass after Bass – even when spawning activity threw me a curveball! How? Read on to discover the three lightweight, minimalist, high-success creek fishing techniques I used!
Multi-species creek fishing baits or techniques?
This is a great question we need to get out of the way first. Let me be very clear. My goal is to inform and empower fishermen so that they can make the best decisions based on their current conditions. By the time I write about Lure X, professional sponsored fisherman Bill is hawking Lure Y. Meanwhile, Lure Z is being launched on a rocket from a drone into a Trout stream in Colorado with a GoPro strapped to it!
Which is best? It depends on the conditions. The following techniques will help you quickly break down your favorite creek and have more success on the water. While I’ll mention the baits I use, you’ll get to select the proper tools for the job yourself.
Expert Creek Fishing Technique #1: Triggering with Topwater
Topwater lures are a lot of fun. Few things are more exciting than the explosion you’ll experience when a fish decides to commit to something making a ruckus on top. But aside from the fun, topwater lures allow you to do two very important things: cover water quickly and find the fish.
At times, your topwater will generate immediate, involuntary reaction strikes. Other days, you’ll see fish track and stalk your bait for what feels like miles, only to finally commit and engulf your lure. Their behavior, along with the details of the strike, allows you to accurately gauge the activity level of the fish.
I like to test this with two kinds of topwater presentations: a prop bait and a popper.
Game fish will attack both – especially Smallmouth Bass. I’ll start with something to see if the fish are active, like a Whopper Plopper 60 (a slightly downsized offering), custom painted by Twelve Oaks Custom Lures. Simply cast, then straight retrieve. Active Bass will attack this lure – and if that’s the case, you’re in for an incredible day of fast-paced fishing!
If you don’t receive many strikes, or if you see something different like the slaps I mentioned above – or Bass are following or swirling underneath the lure but unwilling to bite – make a change.
A small floating bait like the Livetarget Frog Popper has an awesome finish that to me resembles an insect more than an amphibian. Fortunately, Bass eat both, so it’s a win-win. Poppers are so effective because they let you fine-tune your cadence. Pop-pop-pause. Pop-pause. Pop-skitter-pause. The possibilities are endless, so make slight adjustments until the fish tell you what they want.
Both of these presentations are great ways to find fish and gauge the overall activity level of the creek.
Pro tip! Look for overhanging trees and bushes, especially when you’re using a popper. Why? If you’ve ever spent a day in the creek, you’ve likely noticed the wind whipping up and knocking leaves and bugs off the branches into the water below. We all know these overhangs produce shade and edges for fish to ambush prey. But they also provide a constant trickle of bugs that get demolished by every game fish you can think of. Don’t pass these areas up!
Expert Creek Fishing Technique #2: Subsurface Scouting
The second technique I always have on hand is some sort of subsurface moving bait. There are many options here. You could go with a hard bait like a squarebill crankbait. You can also opt for a Rebel crawfish with a shallow rounded bill, some kind of wake bait, or even a suspending jerkbait. All of these fit the bill (no pun intended).
But what about soft baits? Swimbaits, both hollow or weighted work. Perhaps a curly-tail grub? Sure. You could also swim a creature bait or a ribbon-tail worm. All are viable options, so you need to ask these questions:
- What am I targeting?
- At what depth?
- What is the local forage?
Once you know the answers, selecting the right subsurface offering becomes much less overwhelming.
I like to target seams and current breaks, eddies, shaded cover, and other ambush spots – especially near boulders. All these areas can hold fish waiting for food like dace, shiners, and chubs. Crayfish are also present, but the minnows are by far the most abundant.
If I’m fishing 3 feet of water or less, I’ll go with a shallow-running crank or a wake bait like the Bassday Bubble Crank (again by Twelve Oaks Custom Lures) that has a durable metal lip and a rear prop. This is an active presentation that I can get down about a foot and deflect off rocks all day without bustin’ the bill. A semi-transparent purple and yellow is easy to spot and natural. It flat out gets chewed!
If I’m looking deeper, I’ll lean on a soft plastic. The 3″ Z-Man Slim SwimZ in standard green pumpkin is the perfect size for my creek. Paired with a Z-Man Finesse Bullet, I can rig completely weedless and fish around sunken timber or laydowns, avoiding picking up leaves or debris being carried along by the creek. This means more casts, more fish – and that strong single hook does not let go!
After using your topwater to find a few areas with active fish, always come back through with one of your subsurface baits to pick up those that were interested but not quite willing to commit on top.
Expert Creek Fishing Technique #3: Mop Up on the Bottom
The final must-have technique that works on everything – and I mean everything – almost feels like cheating. It’s so simple, so minimalist, and so deadly. It’s not a crayfish nor a hellgrammite – it’s not even a minnow. I’m talking about a simple jig worm.
The fishing equivalent of placing saltines in the center of the table at a dinner party and watching your guests fight over them.
A 1/16 oz jig. A small plastic worm. Light line and a spinning reel. Lights out!
Colors? That depends on the visibility. Smallmouth, for example, rely heavily on sight and smell to feed. In creeks, they need to be able to see your offering. When the water is clear, go with a natural color or something that blends in with the bottom of the creek bed. If they want it, they’ll get it.
When the water is stained, try something with a little chartreuse or opt for a chartreuse jig. If it’s overcast, test a white that can emit a bit of a glow under the clouds. But if the water is dirty, you’ll want a super high-vis option, like a straight chartreuse plastic.
Cast it upstream and let it drift and tumble in the current. But watch your line! If you see it jump or move sideways, reel down and set the hook. Toss it into the deep outside bends of the creek and all the areas where you previously found fish before with your topwater and subsurface baits.
This bait will drive those remaining hesitant biters crazy. If they had the will to pass on your previous offerings, this will loosen their lockjaw. Jig worms look like nothing in particular, but they do look edible. They’re slow and subtle. Simply put – they just work.
Armed with These Techniques – It’s Time to Go Creek Fishing!
I always tell people that learning how to fish is so much more important than trying to figure out what to fish with. I know many local hammers who use rods and reels older than they would care to admit. But they’re able to fish circles around me on any given day. Their weathered hands select baits they’ve learned to trust. Experience will always – always – beat sponsorships.
Next time you hit the creek, worry less about carrying everything you own or getting the latest and greatest gear. Instead, arm yourself with knowledge, learn to read the water, and take only what you’ll need to adjust throughout the day. This is how you can become the most dangerous fisherman… By being an expert that can adapt. Tight lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
Are you a keen creek angler? Which techniques work for you? Maybe you have a question for the Minimalist Fisherman? Reach out in the comments below!
