By the Editors
Fishing the Ohio River can be fruitful, with largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sauger and walleye, white, striped and hybrid striped bass, and channel, flathead and blue catfish. Crappies are also abundant in the Ohio River, and the white bass is the most frequently caught–it can average 8 to 12 inches in length.
The 981-mile river has endless spots to stop and fish, but there are certain areas that are best for fishing. Along the Ohio River in West Virginia are the Cluster Islands, the mouths of the Muskingum River, Fishing Creek, Dam #21, the New Cumberland Dam and the Byrd Dam. Locals swear by these fishing spots.
Though Pennsylvania’s portion of the Ohio River is only about 50 miles, most local catfishing is in this small area. Sewickley Creek by the Dashields Dam, Beaver River in Rochester, Chartiers Creek and Bridgewater Cross County Park are your best bets to find channel and flathead catfish.
Ohio has a large portion of the Ohio River, and its best fishing spots are divided into four regions, each with its own best catch. The Central Region includes the Meldahl Dam, which has a good selection of bass and catfish. The West Region, which includes Aberdeen and Ripley Landings and New Richmond, is more fruitful with all kinds of fish. The East Region with Hannibal Pool is best for striped bass and sauger, and the Southeast Region has opportunities for shoreline fishing. In Cincinnati, you can find bass and catfish in the lower end of the Markland Pool.
Sharing the majority of the Ohio River is Kentucky, and many locals say that the Falls is the best place to fish, with the usual catfish and bass. Southern Indiana has opportunities for catching crappies, and during the winter, you can find the annual sauger run on the Ohio River. Illinois, though it doesn’t share much of the Ohio River, consists of two pools and an open river area, where those fishing can find crappies, catfish and largemouth bass.
