First trip to Markland Dam

Well, this is my first post on this board. And I wanted to share a little about my first trip to fish the Ohio River.

On my way to meet my fishing buddy, I ran over a 8 point buck. Almost no damage to the truck, which is already beat up in the front, so I just slowed down awhile, made sure the tires stayed up and the motor didn't get hot and kept on trucking. Numerous deer hunters were heading into my neck of the woods this a.m. so I figure he didn't go to waste.

We were on the water @ Ghent at about 8:45 a.m. It was about 25 degrees. We trolled crankbaits up the river, then ran awhile until our faces started to freeze and trolled up to the dam. Just two other boats were there. We pulled up near the wall and I quickly caught a nice 17" sauger and a little one. We then went over the dam on the current break line next to the last hydro unit. We were fishing probably 200 feet from the dam gates (restricted area begins 150' from the dam), when another boat came up and pulled directly in front of us (where we were casting) and started to fish. We jigged behind them for awhile then fished slowly across the face of the dam toward the lock wall. Incredibly, when we were within casting distance to the wall, the same guys left the break line and got between us and the wall, took up position right on the 150' line and had the gall to ask us "how we were doing"!

I have never fished below Markland or any other dam on the Ohio, for that matter. It was an eye-opening experience. Other boats seemed to remain pretty stationary on the wall and they seemed to respect each other, but there were only about eight boats. I can imaginge how intense it is when there is a hot bite, the weather decent and every tom, **** and harry is on the water trying catch fish out from under everybody else.

We ended up catching three nice sauger, a 5 pound channel cat, a few white bass and had a few nice fish get off at the boat. Not a bad day for a first try at jigging a spoon. However, I fish for fun and relaxation. But because of being cut off from where I was fishing TWICE by the same guys, I found myself being pissed off, not having fun.

By the way, it was a white Stratos from Indiana with two younger guys and an older guy. If you guys are reading this, kiss my A$$!

JWP

Welcome to the sauger run on the river.

Should have spoke up and told the guys to back off from your fishing hole. They had no right to move in on top of you like that.... If people would just speak up and let the people that are doing wrong know it, then I think the fishing would be better off for all involved. If no one tells the rule breakers what their doing wrong, then they aren't going to change and stop breaking the rules of fishing.... First come first serve as to spots and locations in fishing.... When meeting a boat going down the bank, which ever boat has it's steering wheel closest to the bank has the right of way...Exact same thing when out on the main lake running.....Just think about it......

MsgMills... I appreciate your point of view and I agree. I had plenty of things to tell these guys rocking around in my head but I knew that tempers would flare if I let them hear what I thought (and after I heard what they said in return). Getting into an altercation over a fishing spot on big water w/ air temps in the upper 20's and water temps in the lower 50's just didn't seem to be worth it. I'm not very diplomatic when I get mad, so I usually just let stuff slide.

However, that is not say that I won't forget to follow my own advice if this happens again.

Way back when I was a kid out with my fishing mentor (my buddy's dad) we were in pretty much the same scenario, at the same place-I live in Ghent. He got so pissed off at the guys getting up close and personal, that he tied on a big egg-sinker, probably 2 ounce, and fired it right at their boat. Plonk! That got their attention right quick. They dived to the bottom of their boat. After they popped back up, ole Gene gave them a good cussing. They kept a respectful distance after that, LOL.

It is to bad you have to put up with idiots like that but welcome to the board and I would say you did well for your first trip. Next time get there boat registration number and let them see you writing it down.