McAlpine Dam fishing

I'm new to fishing the Ohio river. Have been over at the falls of the Ohio twice now. A few questions for anyone who can help. My first trip last weekend the water was low, got lots of bites on liver. Caught one gar. Line got broke by something larger. Got better equipped and returned today to an entirely different scene. Dam was open, water was up and the current was STRONG. Question 1- I really struggled with that current. I got hung up nonstop. Never hooked a fish. Other people were catching stuff in it though. What's a good technique/rig for that kind of situation. #2- how long does it take there for the water to go down? Where can I look to find this info? Any help is appreciated. And if anyone likes to fish here then let me know. This type of fishing is new to me and I wanna learn. Thanks.
Jeff

Phone number for water level and dam release is 502-775-5056. That will be your new best friend.

For my style of fishing which is in front of the hydros and in the 30' hole from the boat ramp over to the hydros I like the water on the lower gauge from12' and below. Five turbines running max and 4' or less open on the dam. Any more than that and you can loose a lot of lures.

If you are drifting and dragging bottom it helps to have a rod with a quick response so when you pull or crank your sinker responds before it is hung. A rod like a flippin stick maybe. Fenwick makes some nice inshore rods of this nature. Get something that will handle up to 4 oz sinkers.
Low stretch line like Sensor also helps a ton regarding hangups, again when you pull on the rod the sinker responds. A there way rig helps for dragging bottom.

I would say the best thing to do over there is talk to others. I have always found most folks below willing to share information.

I like the late summer and fall when the water is lower.

Try searching this forum. I am pretty sure there are some good threads on this.

Good luck

I've got to fish there 3 times in the last two years, and caught fish all 3 trips. I used big bluegill the first 2 trips, and skipjack on the third trip. I got my info from Chuck and Doug. both were very helpful to me. I haven't met Chuck yet, but I met Doug and fished with him, he showed me a good spot to cast a net and catch some big skipjack for bait. it is a lot of fun fishing there. I'm hoping to get to fish there again sometime in July.

Along with the phone number, I use this link
[url]http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lmk&gage=mlpk2[/url]

I like it because it shows what it is- observed, blue, and what it is forecasted to be, green, so I can better plan my trips in advance and have a feel for what it might be like. Weather not withstanding of course, as a sneek in rain can change estimates.

The others are more experienced, but here's what works for me. I go behind the hydro, instead of the lower gates. This way I stay out of the faster more violent water. I anchor out about 40-60 feet from the Louisville side bank and about 100 feet or so back from the hydro. But play with position. Next, lines go out with baits from bluegills, to chicken to liver, shad or skipjack. some with 2 ounces of weight, some with just 1 ounce. This way the water current buncese the lines up and down the water column. I also set out some long free lines, no or very little weight. I anchor where I do, because while the live bait rods are out, I like to make long casts with jigs, or spoons, or cranks upstream and toward the shore line.

I don't catch the size cats the other folks do, but I do like the combination of stuff I get from white bass, hybrids, sauger, gar, and even turtles.

[url]http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/poi/article.asp?id=590&MyCategory=285[/url]
This is a good booklet about the dam area, and makes it easier to understand the area and names of the parts.

Last recommendation, buy the lowest cost brand anchors you can get cause you will loose some in the rocks. I use Danforth style. But take the anchor advice from the others as they are smarter about it than me. Any anchor tips guys? (If I put my name on them, will you guys tell me where I can pick them up when you find them for me? :) )

My anchor tip: I attach about 5 to 6 feet of chain between the anchor and my anchor line. This helps to prevent the rocks or whatever down there from cutting my anchor line. I also believe the chain helps the anchor "grip" the bottom better. Knock on wood, but I haven't lost an anchor since I've been using the chain.

When an anchor is hung, it's best to have a partner that can engage the motor and you can then "circle" the anchor and dislodge it from it's snag. Naturally, you never want the anchor line attached to a stern cleat when you attempt this maneuver.

I use a river anchor.
[URL="http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops®-River-Anchor/product/45253/-949330"][IMG]http://image.basspro.com/images/images2/thumbs/949330_45253-t.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[QUOTE=Tyme2fish;457772]My anchor tip: I attach about 5 to 6 feet of chain between the anchor and my anchor line. This helps to prevent the rocks or whatever down there from cutting my anchor line. I also believe the chain helps the anchor "grip" the bottom better. Knock on wood, but I haven't lost an anchor since I've been using the chain.

When an anchor is hung, it's best to have a partner that can engage the motor and you can then "circle" the anchor and dislodge it from it's snag. Naturally, you never want the anchor line attached to a stern cleat when you attempt this maneuver.[/QUOTE]

Tyme is right put 3 or 4 ft of chain and you wont loose as many anchors,I like sand anchors which that that slip ring ,it helps you get them back too

Also wear your PFD back there

Im strickly a shore fisherman. Unfortunately the biggest mistake of my life was 3 yrs ago when I sold my boat. I'm gonna go back as soon as the water drops. The phone number I have called says lower gates at 19 right now. Is that the correct number for me to be listening to?

[QUOTE=Jeffflem514;457821]Im strickly a shore fisherman. Unfortunately the biggest mistake of my life was 3 yrs ago when I sold my boat. I'm gonna go back as soon as the water drops. The phone number I have called says lower gates at 19 right now. Is that the correct number for me to be listening to?[/QUOTE]

19 is the lower gauge and yes pay attention to that also pay attention to the amount of water running at the dam. It's 38ft right now with 34ft at the upper dam and 4ft at the lower dam ...6 units at hydro.As far as an overall mostly used rig down there allways carry a spinncast with approx. 12 # test , I use braid and an asso. of jigs from a 1\16 all the way up to 1oz.ussally1\4 to 1\2 will work best. I also prefer gold hooks because they bend easy. White and chart. grubs are my favorite but I carry an asso. of them also. You will catch anything that swims with that rig. If you are fishing from shore you might also try 22nd street exit to the locks and hydro's. It's been a while since I've gone over there so someone can give you better directions than I can.If you want catfish advice PM me and I''ll do what I can to help. Good luck, Chuck

[QUOTE=riverrat12;457889]19 is the lower gauge and yes pay attention to that also pay attention to the amount of water running at the dam. It's 38ft right now with 34ft at the upper dam and 4ft at the lower dam ...6 units at hydro.As far as an overall mostly used rig down there allways carry a spinncast with approx. 12 # test , I use braid and an asso. of jigs from a 1\16 all the way up to 1oz.ussally1\4 to 1\2 will work best. I also prefer gold hooks because they bend easy. White and chart. grubs are my favorite but I carry an asso. of them also. You will catch anything that swims with that rig. If you are fishing from shore you might also try 22nd street exit to the locks and hydro's. It's been a while since I've gone over there so someone can give you better directions than I can.If you want catfish advice PM me and I''ll do what I can to help. Good luck, Chuck[/QUOTE]

Chuck, I tried to PM you but it said you have exceeded the limit of saved messages and cannot receive additional ones until you delete some.
Thanks

[QUOTE=fishfever;457918]Chuck, I tried to PM you but it said you have exceeded the limit of saved messages and cannot receive additional ones until you delete some.
Thanks[/QUOTE]

Fixed