With, across or against the current

[Red Childress]

For me, night fishing is across or against the current unless using a slow moving bait, then I will fish it all 3 ways. Larry is fishing in much stiffer current and deeper water on the Niagara while this section's current is about 1.5-2.5 mph (at summer outflow) so I can get by with shallower running baits.

If having a tough time moving fish during high sun hours, I like switching to a "with the current" presentation while moving baits faster to possibly get a reaction strike. Many times at night, I will drop an anchor and free spool 50-75 yards of line downstream into areas holding fish and then slowly (or quick ripping-pausing) retrieve back against the current. After a few casts, pull the anchor and move laterally until the area is fished thoroughly and then begin slipping downstream repeating those same steps. It is a tedious process but well worth the effort if the fish are active or if you have a real pig located. Very little trolling motor noise and other than the anchor being secured, everything else can be very quiet. I like the fact that the boat is at least 100 feet from the primary location when the baits are coming through.

There have been trolling days that the fish just seem to want it with the current. The best day we ever had was trolling with the current and all 7 fish ate the same perchbait.