Quote Originally Posted by Basswipe View Post
I've lost 2 props and a lower unit on the river before. Another buddy of mine lost a prop and lower unit. Yet another buddy almost burned up his powerhead because the lower unit sucked a tampon into the water intake.

Yes, the lakes around the state have trash for a few weeks in the spring. The river has it year round.

You may call it "nonsense", but how much money has trash in the water of the river cost you before? It's cost me and others that I know several thousand dollars. A new prop costs about $600. Lower units can run two grand. What kind of dollar value do you put on tampons being sucked into water intakes?
What time of year.. was the water up? Flood stage.. Or other..
Tampons and other items of plastic or rubber content are found in the waters of the above lakes year round as well because of people not respecting the waters. IF you fish the river it is no more or less likely to be a danger to your prop than any other body of water. I see posts on here every week about losing a prop or a lower unit due to low water or high water or some piece of nonsense some boater dropped in the lake.. Sandwich wraps and plastic bags. I have been on the water for tournaments on the river 12 times now and only ONCE was there a problem. The KBF tournament out of Carrollton a couple of years ago experienced high rollers due to wind. You get those on Kentucky and Barkly as well as Cabin Cruisers, and Barges.. but you would fish Kentucky and Barkley which are both basically rivers like the Ohio..with the same amount of trash and even worse problems with shallow water for people who have no clue it is there. Stumps are everywhere including the MIDDLE of the lake.. which also has concrete foundations. compared to Kentucky Lake and Barkley the Ohio River is a picnic in my opinion. NO stumps in the middle ..maybe a tree floating down stream or an occasional house.. but you should be able to see those.
Jim Dicken