Ohio River Bass

[MrChickyBaBa]

I need some tips for catching river bass. I am fishing in the Markland pool and have been struggling the last few weeks. I do well in the spring fishing the creeks but I am not real familiar with this pool on the main river. This time of the year the creeks are shallow and warmer so the main river should be better. What do most of you guys look for besides rock, wood, and deeper banks where the main channel runs close to the bank, and also current break in these spots. Is there other spots I am leaving out? I can usually do good on such areas but not lately. It gets frustrating when you see others supposedly doing the same as you but are bringing in limits of fish and you struggle to catch a keeper. Just curious to what some of you guys techniques are and what you look for.

[Bassky]

Fish creek mouths. Look for rocky banks, little sandy or rocky points that come out into the river. Try fishing around barges parked along river. Any logs, weeds or laydowns on sandy or rocky shorelines. They are hard to pattern this time of the year. I believe the most important factor is to look for baitfish in these areas. No baitfish, no fish. Fish at dusk and dawn. Throw topwater, buzzbaits or spooks. Deep diving crankbaits in shad colors for clear water, firetiger or chartreuse colors for stained.
Bassky

[mhall]

Bassky is all over it......

[MrChickyBaBa]

Heres how it played out Sat. Started out at 6am and went to a creek mouth with boat docks around it, shad hitting the surface as well. Nothing threw spinnerbaits, jigs and crawfish cranks. Next off to the main river rocky bank, one keeper, catfish, and 2 small ones all on crawfish crank. Then went back up in a creek that we did well in early this year caught 4 small ones, one at 11 7/8'' all on sweet beavers. Then back to the main river lost 1 keeper for sure and another something get off, both on beavers. These were both off logs and root wads off main river rocky banks outside the creek mouths. I know I can catch fish on the river but it sure does get frustrating when you're struggling and others are coming in with 4 or 5 and talking about how tough a day it was for them. Going to Green river this Wed. thru Sunday so hopefull I will fair a lil better there, thanks for the info. If anyone ever wants to give me a few lessons I would supply the boat for some instruction.

[offdtop]

Have you tried a shakey head? The only reason I ask is I fish the Smithland pool and I know it's a little different but they will put alot of fish in the boat. I go with a 3/16oz spot remover with a NetBaits T-Mac in solid black - river fish love black for some reason they also devour junebug. If the shakey isn't working i switch to a zoom speed craw in green pumpkin with a red hook and I cast to the bank and swim it out to the boat alternating between working it slow on one cast and swim it the next. River fish will stick their noses to wood - used heavier line and cast right over the top of an exposed stump and give it enough slack to drop right alonf the stump and twitch the bait as you pull it back up. I've done this trick and won serious $$$, I also use a 10" power worm starting in June in Black with blue tail.

If they are pulling water I only fish 100yards inside creeks, the mouths seem to hold more fish, if there is a rain I will go on into the creeks and find run-offs and feeder creeks dropping off into the channel. When it is overcast Ohio River fish will eat top water all day - I throw a bone white spook jr. all day!!! If you miss one on top come back in an hour and slow fish because they're there. But note a good creek will hold fish all year and there are plenty that never leave the shallows so to burn through an area before the sun is bright doesn't hurt either - many a day I hammer out a limit hitting every peice of cover I see, SLOWLY, dead sticking it next to root wads, stumps and cover.

[863 bassmaster]

The main river bite is just starting what end of the markland pool are you fishing?both sides of the mouth of craigs creek are good upriver side of turtle creek any barge pilings tanners on the rock, argosy as far as baits cranks crawdad or shad ,rico,buzzbait shakey head with green pumpkin ultravibe speed craw worms 4 inch ,sweepers .

[ironhead70]

whats a rico ???

[863 bassmaster]

A more expensive version of a pop r it,s made by lobina lures rick clunn designed it.