How do you fish a wide river with a strong current? I have a 6'6" ML rod with a light weight reel. The Concord and Sudbury I fish like a pond, but what about the Merrimack or the Saugus or the Mystic? Do you cast across and reel back? Do you let the current take your lure a ways? Which lures are best (bass, pike, stripers if they're there?)
I'd treat a big river like fishing the Canal. Look for particular spots that look fishy. Are there places where fish can sit watching the current wash bait around? Predators usually want to sit on the edge of a swirling current and pick off bait that gets pushed around.
I just recently took my boat on the Merrimack for the first time. It is much bigger water than I am accustomed to. I went for structure and for current breaks. It worked well for me. There may be other approaches, but I took a lesson from my trout fishing. I have fished some fast water out west and current breaks and structure are key areas to target.
Charlie
Charlie