One of the most important things to consider when fishing rivers in the spring is water clarity. If there’s been a lot of snow, leading to flooding and runoff carrying debris into the river as it melts, and you can’t see anything in the water – visibility is essentially zero. This makes fishing very difficult.
A simple rule of thumb when you’re out fishing: if you can see your prop clearly, you’re likely to have a better day on the river. This year, with a mild winter and little snow, there’s a lot less runoff. This means the water is relatively clear, especially by Rainy River standards, where you might be able to see down 2-3 feet.
When the water has good visibility and fish can see further, they are much more likely to find your bait. So, pay attention to how clear the water is – it can make a big difference in your spring river fishing success.
