Falls Area Stripers

[condusivecranker]

Hey--
I'm going to try to get a coworker hooked on fishing. I'm thinking stripers out of the Falls of the Ohio may be the best thing to do....only one problem...I dont know how in the heck to catch them!!!!!
We're going to try to go on friday...please help!

[Tyme2fish]

What works today won't work tomorrow. It all depends on water flow and dam release and what the fish want that day.
Start off with jigs and white plastics.
Stick baits.
Spoons.
Rattle Traps.

[artcarney_agr]

I assume you're bank fishing...

Take a big Zara Spook...for some reason they really like that thing! The best thing about it is that you can launch it a long ways, which is one of the biggest issues...no telling how many times you can see them out there and can't reach'em! A Pop-R type bait works good too - Bass Pro has tons of the Pflueger knock offs for sale really cheap, and that's what I use, in the all white color. White curly tails, like the Storm Wildeye Curly Shad or some weird name like that work good for both whites, sauger, and drum...you'll catch a lot of drum and they hit hard!

Start at the dam, in the white water. My first time there I didn't think there would be fish in that shallow water, but that's exactly where they were! If no luck, just start working your way downstream...eventually you'll get into them!

Good luck and be sure to let us know how you do!

[condusivecranker]

Thanks guys...I've never ventured all the way up to the whitewater...how hard is it to get up there? Wheres the easiest way to park and to get there? I know the terain is pretty rugged.

[Grumman]

You can park for free by the train bridge on Riverside Dr. You'll see a well worn path leading down along the wall to the river from there. It's an easy walk.

[fishbum]

You can park for free by the train bridge on Riverside Dr. You'll see a well worn path leading down along the wall to the river from there. It's an easy walk.

If there is no water running at the upper dam, go to the boat ramp in New Albany across from the Bear Traps.. There is always moving water there. Last I heard there was not much water coming through the upper dam, most was at lower dam and fishing was very good down around the bear traps.
Jim

[condusivecranker]

I ended up going to the upper dam access point by the train bridges, walked down to the dam and there was almost NO water. I mean, you said they'll be in the shallows....but that was TOO shallow lol!!!!!
I then remembered the tip about the lower dam by the boat ramp. I went there (which was my first time there), and was more in awe of the water rushing through the dam than anything else. I caught about 10 small stripes. I was there early morning and it seemed like a pretty busy place. Threw a spook. Couldnt believe how close those boats were getting to the dam! Its defenetly like nothing I've ever seen, and I didnt even know it looked like that. But when I was leaving, I got to thinking, do I need a Indiana license to fish off the shore off the boat ramp? I didnt even THINK of that! And also, I saw some shore fishermen on the KY side fishing against the side of the dam. Is there public access there or is it only for those select few the dam lets in?

[RoadToad]

But when I was leaving, I got to thinking, do I need a Indiana license to fish off the shore off the boat ramp? I didnt even THINK of that! And also, I saw some shore fishermen on the KY side fishing against the side of the dam. Is there public access there or is it only for those select few the dam lets in?

No problem on the license. You can fish in the Ohio with either a Kentucky or Indiana license, no matter which side you're standing on. Just don't go up in the creeks on the Indiana side, and you're fine. As to the fisherman on the KY side, I wonder if they were really on that island that JFW was talking about in his post about "McAlpine Courtesy?"

[birdstrike]

There is no access to the KY side shore (island) but there is almost always fishermen who tie their boats up and fish from the bank. Saw a couple who had rowed over in a rubber raft the other day! Whatever it takes!