Boat capsized on Ohio River

[RoadToad]

Thank God nobody was hurt.

http://www.fox41.com/Global/story.asp?S=8406830

I haven't fished there myself, yet, but I have asked around, and gotten some advice on fishing there. This story reminds me of what one friend told me: If you're ever fishing below the dam, keep a big knife handy. When they blow that horn, if your anchor gets hung up when you try to raise it, don't fool around trying to free it. Just cut the rope and get the hell out of there. I don't know if it would have made a difference in this case, but it's something to keep in mind.

[Tyme2fish]

I was on the river there with my son and a friend of his. We left about an hour before all the excitement started. Oh yeh, caught some some nice stripes and a 6 lb blue.

[Chubminnow]

I've only fished in this place once and we caught fish there...but man it was definitely not a place for a novice boater or angler, that water is rolling and churning BIG TIME out of those gates or turbines or combination there of. For me it was bad enough that I felt the urge to not only have my life vest handy but to also wear the dang thing while I was out there.

I wonder if the person who this happend to reads or reports on this site?

[kc]

There's no substitute for common sense. If they change the water up or down the fish will change too so you might as well pull anchor and move. Still a little odd that the increased current swamped the boat. I wonder if it was a jon boat?

Years ago I was out there and the current was pretty swift -- about 18 feet or so on the lower gauge and these two guys in an 18' bass boat were idling up towards the dam on the Indiana shore throwing their anchor out trying to catch. But the ding dongs were anchoring from the back of the boat. When it finally hung in that current (they made several passes) it pulled the back end of the boat down and that boat was gone in a heart beat. Same story - boats everywhere to the rescue. No one hurt but we spent a while dipping tackle boxes, coolers, life vests,(neither had one on), etc from the river. Where's the common sense?

kc

[DJD]

There's no substitute for common sense. If they change the water up or down the fish will change too so you might as well pull anchor and move. Still a little odd that the increased current swamped the boat. I wonder if it was a jon boat?

Years ago I was out there and the current was pretty swift -- about 18 feet or so on the lower gauge and these two guys in an 18' bass boat were idling up towards the dam on the Indiana shore throwing their anchor out trying to catch. But the ding dongs were anchoring from the back of the boat. When it finally hung in that current (they made several passes) it pulled the back end of the boat down and that boat was gone in a heart beat. Same story - boats everywhere to the rescue. No one hurt but we spent a while dipping tackle boxes, coolers, life vests,(neither had one on), etc from the river. Where's the common sense?

kc

Common sense? Experience? That's hard to come by with some people I have seen knuckleheads doing the same thing around some inlets in Florida and it's down right scary. All it takes is money and your a boat owner!

[kc]

I agree on the knuclehead theory. I was up below the dam another time and these three guys were running up the chute (by the locks) in a 14' jon boat and 2 of them were sitting on the nose seat (leaving the middle open) while the other ran the outboard. If you have ever run up the chute at the very top there is a small series of waves that begins the riffle. I am sure you can guess how this story ends. Being nose heavy they plowed right into the waves, filled the boat and capsized. Once again they were lucky no one was hurt. Knuckleheads indeed.

The river is no place to be if you don't understand boating and some basics about the river and dam. There are truly major dangers in the current out there if you aren't prepared.

kc

[birdstrike]

I had to cut an anchor off right there. I don't know what's on the bottom, but it eats anchors!

[gocards40]

I have only fished that area from a boat twice my whole life. Lucky for me I was with a guy who fished it all the time. But I can tell you that I was not comfortable much either time.

[Chubminnow]

Gocards - Yea I hear what you're saying on that not feeling comfortable thing...below the dam there is definitely not the place to be for a nice "relaxing" day on the water, lol...

[mhall]

Fished it many times with riverat12, (CHUCK), and thank God he's experienced down there. I feel safe with him in charge but that is no place to screw around. We saw two guys swimming down there once, yea swiming and over adjacent to the hydros to. Chuck looks at me and says Mark we are fixin to see two guys drown. Before Chuck could yell to these two mental giants they were out in the main current flow and not doing well AT ALL. As they began screaming for help and swimming with all their might towards shore and they were loosing ground fast the people with them with the runabout on shore got to them just in time. One of them was so exhausted when they got him over the gunwale he collasped and was limp for quite awhile. Guys it was close I tell ya and if it would have happened it would have taken place and been over in a matter of a few minutes. That river will eat you quick and not think twice.

[riverrat12]

You said it Mark, If I had a quarter for every time I've seen someone doing something stupid down there...Well I'd have a bigger boat. I to am thankful that no one was hurt, but people that have know knowledge of that area should not be there.Some don't realize the discharge below a dam will draw you in and before you know it, it's to late. And as stated before cut you anchor rope...I use rope 2$ and a concrete block what are they around 3$ ?? I always find them on the bank free and believe me I've left enough out there to build a 2 car garage, but I'm still here to talk about it. I hate to think about the weekend warrior that goes out and loses his life because he was stupid...and then they ban boat traffic to one of the best fishing areas in the state. Chuck p.s. Mark I'll be back to my regular sced. this week if you get free you know where I'll be.

[kc]

I have one more mental giant story from below the dam. Years ago I used to fish the boils directly below the hydro. I would anchor out on the current edges and make very long casts to the dam and drift jigs or spoons out. One day I was fishing as such and this boat comes up and runs up to boil and ties a rope to the metal ladder rungs to the side. I had seen boats do this before but they would let out 50 to 75 feet of rope and drift comfortably back from the boil. This ding dong had 10' maybe 15' max and as I was sitting there in disbelief that anyone would do such a thing in that the nose of the boat pretty much stayed in the boil. Low and behold after being there for an hour or so I heard the screams just in time to look up and see their boat being pulled in between the boil and the wall and capsize. Fisherman flotilla to the rescue again.

kc