One trick that I use at times in streams/rivers is to use a twister-tail grub
on a jig and fish directly downstream. If you match the weight of the jig to
the depth of the water and the speed of the current, you can just let it hang
in the current without retreiving it. Just twitch your rod to make it dart
erraticly in the current, but it won't actually "swim upstream". I think it
looks like a small fish struggeling against the current and if you do it in a
likely holding spot for bass ( or trout - it works on both) most times the fish
will eventually grab it. The technique also works with minnow plugs ( the
rebel minnow is my all time favorite for this, but rapalas work too.)

-Zimmy