Falls of the Ohio

[KYHorseflys]

[QUOTE=mastin03;284146]

Hadn't heard of it... they got a website I could check out and find out how to join?

I joined the Sportsmans club about a year ago as well....I just went out there and told the manager that i wanted to buy a membership. dont think they have a website, but could get you directions if you were interested.

Yes, please send directions, I'll check 'em out! Thanks!

[KYHorseflys]

hey guys just got home checkin the board...upper 15.3 fallen lower 38.6 also fallin you can catch fish at the falls now if ya want to get muddy alittle . it washes off most of the time!

Well, I definately need to get over there and give it a whirl... I've heard lots of good things from folks about fishing there. Guessing I should take pretty heavy tackle... am I right there?

[Fisherjoe]

Take whatever tackle you would normally use for the specific species/size you are targeting. If fishing for whatever will bite, a 7' spinning outfit, 10# test, and some leadhead grubs or live/cut bait, such as crawlers, minners, etc, is a hard set-up to beat. I have seen 20# stripers caught, heard reliable source speak of 40# cats, and seen hybrid stripes that would push 10#, so big fish are possible in the right situation. Start by targeting current edges, eddies, or slack pools and move until you find them. Usually a little flow of some amount is needed to help trigger feeding, but not always. Good luck and be careful with the moving water.

Joe

[bluegrasser]

Thanks for all the info guys!

Though I'm not the originator of this thread, I'm following it with interest.

I live in Louisville and am just now getting interested in the amazing fishery in my own back yard.

Once the water drops some, I might get out there and explore.

Y'all ever see anyone casting a flyrod out there? I have recently been expanding my fish species list from trout and smallmouth in streams to LMB in ponds and more recently to hybrids in lakes. I am used to casting a long, heavy rod with a 3 inch shad-imitating streamer fly for hybrids in places like Lake Monroe in IN. and Guist Creek over in Shelbyville.

Would this sort of tactic work at the Falls? Or does it take a longer cast to get out there? I'd prefer using my flyrod set up because that's what I'm better at, but I've got plenty of spinning gear that I'd be willing to work through the learning curve to get a shot at some good fish at the Falls.

Thanks again for all the good info!

BG

[KYHorseflys]

Yep, this has been a great thread and I too wanna say thanks... that's why this site is so much better than say the forums at bassmaster.com - it's LOCAL!!! Anyways... I can't wait to take advantage of something so close and easy to get to. Regarding tackle I normally fish for LMB, without a lot of luck (LOL!), so I was wondering if something a little heavier would be in order for the Falls. I'm thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea just to go down there like bluegrasser says and just have a look around, see what others are throwing out there. As I've said, I've always heard lots of talk about it, but never went thinking I had to have an IN license to fish there, being on the other side of the Ohio River and all.

[artcarney_agr]

About all I take is two spinning rods and couple packs of curly tails and some small swim baits, both of which are made by Storm. That's really all you need! I'll throw the curly tails on 10lb line or less and usually catch sauger and white bass. I'll use 20lb. for the swim baits because that's what gets the bigger fish.

My buddy Eric has used a jig with some success on smallmouth a little bit farther down out of the heavy current, but that was in late summer. The thing about the falls is that you never know what you might catch!

[riverrat12]

Blue grasser' yes there is a guy down there that fly fishes for striper on a regular basis .some at the upper dam and some down by the hydros he does pretty well when the bites on top .I'm ussally throwing a spook or superspook when there on top.The only problem is since the flood in the late 90's I think it was 98 the top water bite has been off for big stripes!I don't know if it was the flood or the work there doing on the locks but it hasn't been the same.I now throw a big 1oz white rooster tail right up in the boils of the turbines and let it sink15 to 20ft at summer pool its approx 23 to25ft deep right behind turbines oyou need a boat for that and I suggest going with someone that nows that area some very turbulent water there lifejacket forsure.If you don't have a boat.and want to fly fish try going to the upper dam after spring floods when running about 2 or3 ft at dam you can catch anything from there down to the museum. And best bite at dawn or dusk for top water...hope this helps...good luck..RR12

[riverrat12]

Horsefly, if your jigging I suggest gold hooks they bend easy and are easier to sharpen you will get snagged being this is one of the largest sedimentary rock formations in the world...and I would avoid throwing up stream increases chances of snagg.Bring plenty, lots of people get discouraged and never come back. funny thing years ago the first time I was in the paper over my 80+ pd flathead that next week it was elbow to elbow down there as I watched in dissmay I thought I,ll never tell people where I fish again..then I noticed 90% of the fishermen where hanging up constantly.The next week half where gone ,in three weeks it right back to the regulars.so don,t give up I feel were sitting right close to one of the best fishin holes in the state and then some..good luck ..RR12

[KYHorseflys]

Thanks for the info RR12... very helpful for sure! Like I said, I'll probably head down there a couple times and hang out and see what's going on, and get a little fishin' in! Can't believe something so close and I've never gone... jeez, shame on me.

[Roostertail]

Be careful, everytime I've been down there someone in a boat looses their lower unit.