Ohio River Stripers?

[Dahlbebop]

Hello everyone, newbee to the forum. Though I am a pretty good saltwater angler, I have very limited time on fresh water fishing.

Does anyone here fish for and catch Striped Bass on the Ohio river?

I know Cumberland is a great place to fish for them, but the river is right out my back door. Any advise would greatly be appeciated on how,where, time of year, bait etc. I have always liked fishing live bait and I have seen plenty of shad in the river. Are there Stripers in the river?

I have heard behind the damns, but I am using a not so small boat. Again any ideas or advice will be greatly appreciated. Anyone troll for them around here?

I am in Louisville, thanks again.

[peter]

Welcome to the board. Try using the search function on this board. There have been quite a few discussions on Mcalpine Dam stripers here. You're in luck. Now is the time of
year when the Striper fishing get's good down there. I am sure there are a number of folks that will help you on this board.

I like it when the level below the dam is 12' or below.

[apb]

You can catch stripers and hybrid stripers below many of the dams on the Ohio River. Some of your surf gear will work real well in tailwater areas from the bank. Various plugs (poppers, pencils, spooks, metal lips), tins, and jigs will all produce depending on the conditions. Bottom bouncing jigs (usually just a lead head with a twister tail or sassy shad style trailer) produce a lot of fish. Very similar to how you would jig the Cape Cod canal or breachways.

As Peter suggested, it would be worth doing a search on this forum for suggestions on where and how to fish on the Ohio.

Andrew

[riverrat12]

Everything Peter and Andrew said + time on the water. Call this # 775-5056 and start a log.The # will give you what the upper gauge Mcalpine pool and the lower gauge below the dam is, and the amout they are running at the dams.Also the # of units at the hydro.Get to know the area below the museum and the 22nd street exit to get to the hydro's.I wouldn't suggest taking a large boat down there do to it being one of the largest sedemintary rock formations in the world. I'm sure if you fish the area alot we will run into each other eventually,just look for a guy with long blond hair, I'm there every week and talk alot faster than I type LOL.Welcome to the board lot's a good people on here. Good luck Chuck

[TroyRalph502]

http://water.weather.gov//ahps2/hydr...,1,1,1,1,1,1,1
Thats their online link to the dams around here. it should show you the McAlpine dam. Thatsw where i usually catch my strippers. But if you want to troll, you may want to try ther Salt River which runs into the ohio around the West Point area. I have never done it but herd rumors of people catching some decent ones that way.

[Dahlbebop]

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate the kind words and advice. Has anyone trolled with success around louisville? Maybe downriver from the Mcalpine lock? I'm on the up side but thought about locking through and trying my luck there. If anyone is up for some fishing and know the lock areas pretty well, I would be more than happy to have you on the boat.

I have tried trolling around but haven't really gotten out as early or as late as I would like. I'm assuming these are the best time for stripers around here. Would it be safe to go in behind the locks/dam and do some live bait fishing off the boat? My boat is a 254 chris Craft seahawk. Great fishing platform but it isn't a bass boat. More of an offshore rigg.

By the way, what size stripers have you guys caught in the ohio? Thanks again, Budd

Pic of boat
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/x...oatpics438.jpg

[TroyRalph502]

I have never been in a boat up by the dam. But i have caught quite a few nice stripers off the bank. Caught several 10+lbers in the early spring. Have caught them up to about 15lbs. But when they are biting, it doesnt matter what you throw their direction. They hit it and they hit it hard. Good Luck sir

[apb]

Yep, early and late in the day are the best times, or night. Current also places a role, as you probably know from fishing them in the salt. Tides are not a factor, but there are various generation schedules below dams when the current will be flowing harder.

Generally, the stripers on the Ohio will not top 20 pounds, and most will be much smaller. You'll find our Hybrid Stripers will hit the same lures/bait as stripers. Hybrids will hit mid teen size. The larger ones can be a whole lot of fun in current. They remind me of bluefish in how they fight: short fast runs, never give up, and generally a bad attitude. Biggest difference is the lack of teeth on the hybrids. Not sure that many folks troll on the Ohio like they do on the coast with umbrella rigs, tube and worm, or bunker spoons. Down at Lake Cumberland they'll troll this time of year, though bare in mind with our higher water temps catch and release is not an option (stripers go belly up after the fight).

Andrew

[fishinfreak]

if i were you i wouldn't take that boat up there. There is alot of rocks up by the dam

[Dahlbebop]

Reply, I may just take the boat down to the lower side and do some night fishing. Bring the grill and some burgers and just chill out down the river a couple thousand yards and sea what happens. Its been a long time since I caught any fish of any size, would love to see a striper, hybrid or white either one.

I have tried umbrellas, spoons, eel etc with no luck so far on the high side. I have caught a couple sauger with a rap that was almost as big as them trolling.

Thanks again for the Information and advice guys, I really do appreciate it. And no, I won't taking any chances with the boat until I really know the area down there. I have been marking fishing spots all season on the upper side of **** all the way up to 18 mile. I have found some very good locations based on my depth sounder. Have probably 50 or 60 spots wave pointed so when I do finally get to go, I will be ready. I know the sunken debris moves, but I like drop offs and up and down bottoms.

This is going to sound crazy to some of you, but I have never even caught a LM or Sm bass. Just have never fished for them. Will be getting more into that this year to. Hope to see you guys on the water, say hi if you see me. Budd

[fishinfreak]

harrods creek would be your best bet for LM and below the **** would be your best bet for SM.

[waterdog101]

nice boat, and good luck with the fishing.