Rock bars, which are formed where creeks enter lager streams, are good places to target walleyes like this one.

Summer walleye fishing opportunities exist on flowing waters for both boat and shore anglers. The trick is keying in on a few specific patterns.

Rock/gravel/sand bars, typically formed where a feeder creek joins a medium- to large-sized river, draw walleyes throughout the year.

Feeder creeks attract baitfish as well — even when the water temperature is above 70 degrees — and the rock bars found below serve as a watery highway for walleyes taking aim on the readily available food.

River and weather conditions play a significant role in how productive a rock bar will be. Higher flows push walleyes out of mid-river areas, resulting in greater numbers of fish in eddies below the rock bars.

Bluebird weather generally means a late-day feeding rush. Stained water conditions or a cloudy/lightly rainy day might offset this to a degree, but the smart money is cast on the witching hour bite, which sometimes continues into the darkness.

In most instances, rock bars are sickle-shaped, with the end of the formation curving downriver. A vertical current line is formed in conjunction with the tip of the bar, which is the demarcation between the river's main current and the protected waters tucked in behind. This line provides visual evidence of the corridor walleyes use as they move from deep to shallow water to feed.

Rock bars can be fished either from the exposed portion of the spot or by wading out onto it, depending on the flow.

Using the current line as a point of reference, employ a 6½-foot medium-action spinning outfit to cast a hair jig tipped with an artificial or natural minnow. Be alert for a tell-tale tick on the initial fall, then begin a 9-to-11 o'clock sweep/drop jigging retrieve.

As walleyes move up, there almost always is a sweet spot where the biters are hanging. Change casting positions and fancast at various angles along the seam until you discover that spot.

It's common on larger, navigable rivers for sections of riverbank, particularly near industrial sites, to be stabilized with corrugated steel walls. In some instances, shore anglers can gain access to such spots.

Also, look to the many fishing piers that exist in conjunction with hydroelectric stations on river dams.

While piers can vary greatly, a common factor is that they all can be fished effectively with a drop-shot rig. Drop shots work here because walleyes often hover off the bottom, stalking the minnows that are eating the plankton clinging to the pier's side.

When shore anglers can stand on the actual pier, such as a fishing pier or loading dock, the drop shot provides a great vertical presentation.

Use a Palomar knot to tie in a No. 4 drop-shot hook, allowing a tag of at least a foot. Clip a drop-shot weight to the end. Sinker weight varies with depths and current, but usually runs from one-eighth to three-eighths of an ounce. Likewise, it pays to play with the hook-to-sinker distance. Nose hook a 3- to 4-inch minnow to the drop-shot hook.

With a 7-foot, medium-light spinning combo, pitch the rig upriver of your location. When the rig hits bottom and the line slackens, reel it in, holding the rod at a 10 o'clock angle.

Point the rod tip at the line as it drifts with the current. Expect hits to be the classic walleye thunk-n-hold.

I've watched some interesting landing jobs from piers. The experienced folks bring a basket-style net that's lowered to the water's edge with a light chain.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.