Story by Adam Savage
I’m a river rat at heart. The bare-knuckle, in-your-face style of flipping wood and chasing current feels natural. Even though I can fish offshore or the main lake, I always push into creeks and river arms to build a pattern. That’s where I thrive.
River systems let me mix it up: power fish when the bite is aggressive, finesse fish when it’s tight. Spinnerbaits, squarebills, and ChatterBaits cover water quickly, while shaky heads, Ned rigs, and small jigs coax bites from sluggish fish. But my year-round all-time favorite is a jig. I love to slack line a fish and hear that line and rod whine like a two-year-old in the toy aisle.
Picking Apart Structure
When I fish wood or laydowns, I go outside-in. Think of it like a chicken wing you don’t just bite it once and lay it down; you take it all the way to the bone. Start on the outer edges, work every branch and shade pocket, then gradually move deeper. Bass are watching, and rushing just spooks them.
Sometimes I joke I’m a raccoon at a campsite. I leave nothing behind. Often, the best bite comes on the fifth or sixth flip into the same laydown. This outside-in approach works whether you’re on a feeder creek or a river.
The Transition Zone & Mudlines
Where river meets lake is a goldmine. Mudlines, current seams, and hard-bottom transitions concentrate bass. A mudline can act just like a grass edge or ledge. Bass set up parallel to it, waiting to ambush prey that drifts by. Casting along the line and working the edge often triggers explosive bites.
Bass hold differently based on flow. They tuck behind current breaks in strong flow, roam near depth transitions in slack water. Generation schedules on reservoirs often create feeding windows if you time things right.
River-fed reservoirs reward anglers who understand current, structure, and forage. I’m a river rat by nature, mixing power and finesse, running and gunning, and picking apart every laydown. What I learn on lake feeders translates directly to real rivers, making me a more versatile, confident angler.
For me, it’s about adaptability, persistence, and instincts. River systems aren’t just water, they’re living, breathing challenges that keep me sharp and hungry. I feel like 2026 is going to allow me to fish more open-minded and showcase that river rat mentality.
Adam Savage – Angler Profile Coming Soon
