Ohio River cats from the bank

[Jackster]

I took my six year old down to the Falls last summer and now he is nagging me to get him back there. We caught some drum and a few small hybrids on jigs, but he wants me to help him catch catfish there. Does anyone have advice on catching cats in the falls area? We will need to fish from the bank. Also has anyone fish there from the bank lately? We'll post if we get to go this weekend.

[olducker]

Hey,the catfish bite is on in all the creeks off the river,great for fishin off the bank eH /

[big_cat]

Hey, if you want the bigger cats you will need to get you some fresh shad, and use it cut up or whole. If you are just wanting some smaller tasty ones try using night crawlers, chicken livers, or real small cut up shad. Take a pair of panty hoes put some liver in it, then twist it up and take some fishing line and tie a knot in it, I use the real small zip ties and Ill make them up here at the house because makes a mess, and it is easier to clean up here then out on the boat or river bank. When you are fishing for cats from the bank at the falls look for some eddies, and try to fish in the eddies. Rember there are some very big cats in there, if you are using shad do not walk off and leave your pole in the water, it just might be there when you come back. I hope this helps and have fun. You might want to try the mouth of Salt river also. Have caught a lot of 20-60 pounders there. Also ask Riverrat he is the the go to man for the Falls

[riverrat12]

Big cat is right on, the only thing I might add is skip-jack are great now to. As of Sun.27th the lower gauge at the falls is 16.3, they have 18ft at dam 14ft@upper 4ft@lower falling slow so it doesn't leave a lot of options from the bank. I would first try the upper dam right below the museum out as far as you can get on the shelf and cast to the little area of foam water, you will be close to the first drop there. Don't move your bait once you throw it out because of all the snags let the fish bring you out. If that area doesn't work try the lower dam ramp to the right side if you are walking down the ramp, or go to the first bend in the road where everyone parks to site see or whatever they do there!! and take the path to the right to the water. @ summer pool there is a hole about 22ft deep there. Of course this info will be out dated by tomorrow. Feel free to pm me when you go and I'll be happy to update with the fluctuation of the water. Chuck

[Jackster]

Thanks for all the info guys. We went down on Sat. and unfortunately were unable to get any bait to get the cats. We did catch a bunch of sauger and hybrids on jigs though. Kida had a blast.

So where can I get the shad or skipjack? I saw some shad walking down the wharf by Joes Crab Shack, but I couldn't figure out how to catch em. I had a dip net and tried that. I also have a cast net, but the shad were hugging the wall. I didn't figure I'd be able to make the perfect throw right next to the wall to net the shad.

[bluegrasser]

Jackster, what size hybrids were you catching and where? The Falls?

And to RiverRat and others with knowledge of that area:

I am heading to the Falls tomorrow afternoon. Work cuts out early because of Derby stuff I guess, so I'm hoping to squeeze in a few hours of fishing in the afternoon.

I usually flyfish and have been to the Falls a few times. Have caught a few white bass but that's about it. I usually am casting some pretty big minnow/shad-imitating flies and stripping them back to me on the bank.

But, I'm also thinking about taking my spinning rod with some bait, maybe chicken livers. I'm itching to catch something, no matter the species and no matter the method used - I'm not picky!

The water levels look like they're stabilizing as far as the USGS stream gauges show, that I'll admit I don't know what exactly is a "good" level. Just know that the River's been up for quite a while.

Any advice or fishing updates any of y'all want to pass along would be appreciated. Thanks!

Andre

[riverrat12]

Jackster, what size hybrids were you catching and where? The Falls?

And to RiverRat and others with knowledge of that area:

I am heading to the Falls tomorrow afternoon. Work cuts out early because of Derby stuff I guess, so I'm hoping to squeeze in a few hours of fishing in the afternoon.

I usually flyfish and have been to the Falls a few times. Have caught a few white bass but that's about it. I usually am casting some pretty big minnow/shad-imitating flies and stripping them back to me on the bank.

But, I'm also thinking about taking my spinning rod with some bait, maybe chicken livers. I'm itching to catch something, no matter the species and no matter the method used - I'm not picky!

The water levels look like they're stabilizing as far as the USGS stream gauges show, that I'll admit I don't know what exactly is a "good" level. Just know that the River's been up for quite a while.

Any advice or fishing updates any of y'all want to pass along would be appreciated. Thanks!

Andre

Andre, I take it you are fishing from the shore?? Well the river is on the rise again as of the 6o'clock reading it's16.5 at the lower gauge with 23ft at dam . I would suspect they have 4ft at the lower and 19ft at the upper, they didn't say but that's what they ussally do, tomorrows forcast is 19.1 at the lower so it's coming up fairly quick. Now this presents a problem because I don't fly fish down there but I have seen a few people doing it around the hydro's and a couple at the upper dam. I would suggest fishing as close to the upper dam as you can and look for small pockets below and behind the rocks. If that doesn't work use your spin cast and 1\4oz. jig below the museum on the shelf providing the water level allows you to, the sauger and bass have been on. Favorite color jigs are white and chartruse. Good luck and let us know how you do...Jackster as for the shad, if you can see them over below Joe's crab shack and they are hugging a vertical wall you can drop a treble down the side and snag them up on the Ky. side, snagging is still legal until may 10th. if that doesn't work PM me and I will let you know where to go with your throw net...good luck Chuck

[Jackster]

The hybrids we were catching were pretty small 4 inches to about 10 inches. May have been some white bass mixed in there as well. Sauger were cigars all the way up to about 8 inches in length. We were fishing the shelf right out in front of the center.

[SKIPJACK]

I went down there two nights ago and wore em out! Small Sauger on 3/8 oz. white jig/red curly tail grub, bouncing it across the rocks. I caught larger Whites and Hybrids on White jighead/white grub and one of those rubber shad that wiggle! I never really tried for cats over there except for in the slack water under the train bridge. I have only caught a few channel cats there. Oh yea, there is a DNR officer on site. Dave

[riverrat12]

I went down there two nights ago and wore em out! Small Sauger on 3/8 oz. white jig/red curly tail grub, bouncing it across the rocks. I caught larger Whites and Hybrids on White jighead/white grub and one of those rubber shad that wiggle! I never really tried for cats over there except for in the slack water under the train bridge. I have only caught a few channel cats there. Oh yea, there is a DNR officer on site. Dave

Yes. Josh, Jason, and I believe Steve are the DNR down there, they are really good guy's.And Steve wanted to let everyone Know that the back parking lot at the museum is now under camera surveillance. Which is all good..And were working on something for the Louis and Clark boat ramp. The cottonwoods are ready to bloom so lets get to fishin...I think it's going to be a GOOD YEAR...Chuck

[mhall]

Chuck tell'em about the bohemeth you caught last week.

[riverrat12]

Chuck tell'em about the bohemeth you caught last week.

Yes sir, beat my personal best blue at 74# with a 79# this past week down by the power plant well we started at the power plant and ended up about 200 yards down. All the time I was saying I'm gettin to dam old for this lol.And Mark I think there's a mess a little fish up here in lagrange in a certain lake that hate me right now...lol Give me a call . Chuck