Ohio River bank fishing - advice sought
I might have the opportunity this summer to do some fishing from some private property in Prospect, on the Ohio River. I don’t have a boat, so access to a generally unfished piece of property with lots of shoreline is intriguing me.
But I’m also a novice. I love to fish, but I don’t get the chance to get out often at all, so I’d appreciate some advice.
This shoreline is a long stretch of riprap near a man-made marina inlet. I’ll probably try fishing for anything there. I know fishing can be great at the mouths of creeks and down around the Falls, but what about in this straight, middle stretch of river? There aren’t many features; just riprap and probably submerged trees and driftwood. During the summer, am I likely to find all manner of catfish, bass, panfish?
I’d appreciate any comments or suggestions! Thanks.
Re: Ohio River bank fishing - advice sought
I'm having a bit of a hard time visualizing the area. Just a thought. What if you went to that area, stood aout where you might want to fish, and then posted a couple pictures showing a shot looking up the river with the shoreline showing, and one down the river. I think most us could give better thoughts seeing the terrain. Another thought, maybe you could post a little bit more precise area description, like a nearby address, because then we could google the address, then do a satelite view to get a better view of the area. Are we talking Transylvania Beech area? No intent to pry, it's just the method can be tied to the terrain.
To explore the area, a thought, start with a slip bobber rig and maybe some night crawlers. I'd start with the rig set to say 4 feet deep, and cast out to where ever you see sunken structure, or bits of trees out of the water. I'd cast upriver and let it flow with the current down to the structure and then some distance passed it. You can work the banks down stream in the same manner, by casting out say 8-10 feet, then let out line so the bobber rig flats down the river slowly and parrallels the bank. Experiment with that method adjusting rig depth.
Do you have any idea, from other locals, what the bottom is like? Is it a flat, is it rock strewn, does it drop off steep from the bank? Those are things that help you decide if bottom fishing might work. Example, If the rip rap bank drops steeply to the water line but then, say 20 feet out, meets with a fairly flat bottom, then I'd go with a bottom fishing rig with a 2 ounce sinker, and load it up with 3 or 4 night crawlers, or chicken/chicken livers, and I'd cast out about 40 feet, at about a 45 degree angle from the bank, towards down stream.
Last, does any friendly neighbor have a boat dock there? If so, definitely a bottom rig, cast down stream from a dock and slightly angled out toward the center of the river. Used to do that in the Utica area from a dock a Marine Builders. Hit or miss, some nights good, some slow.
Re: Ohio River bank fishing - advice sought
I don't fish the river much at all but my dad has always told me that if you find a transition in the bank on the river fish it because there will more than likely be fish on it. I know when I fish the rip rap at the lakes I fish I can usually manage a couple bass off of it every time. Good luck
Re: Ohio River bank fishing - advice sought
Thanks, Hurrican Bob. Here are some bird's eye views from the internet; I hope this helps.
[URL]http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee175/Bluegill82072/Prospect1.jpg[/URL]
[URL]http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee175/Bluegill82072/Prospect2.jpg[/URL]
No boat docks in the area. I actually don't have permission to fish there yet, but I'm about to do some work for one of the property owners, and he sounds like a really nice guy, so I have hopes.
Re: Ohio River bank fishing - advice sought
In the second picture, bottom left, where that tree sticks out and creates a current barrier. I'd throw a bottom rig out on the down stream side just far enough that its behiond that structure, and about 10 feet back from it. Looks like a catchfish haven in there.
Same with the biger downed tree at the top right of the picture.
I'd also do some expeimenting with a bobber rig there. Cast upstream and float down to it, and then walk down stream from it, and cast up behind the current break it creates.
Good luck, looks like a great area to fish.
Re: Ohio River bank fishing - advice sought
looks like some good fishing around any trees that have fallen into the water but do use a big flavor and please wear a vest those rocks are slick and deadly..
One of the things i have all ways like about fishing the river is you just don't know what is on the end of the line until you get it up to the bank..
Thanks and tight lines
