Master Anglers

[Seanstone]

I finally sealed the deal last weekend with a 23" drum. For quite a while now, Amanda and Rylan had been master anglers so I was quite nervous that I wouldn't get it this year. Here's what we have each individually landed that qualify as trophy catches: Amanda: 9" Bluegill, 27" Channel, 22" Hybrid Striped Bass, 25" Drum; Rylan: 9" Bluegill, 36" Carp, 31.5" Channel, 22" Hybrid Striped Bass. Myself: 9" Bluegill, 30.5" Channel, 22" Hybrid Striped Bass, and a 23" Drum. By far we have caught more trophy channel catfish than any other species, collectively well over a dozen trophy channels. Here's a few pictures of the fish Ohio trophies.


8 pound 8oz drum


Rylan's 11 pound 4oz channel. 31.5"


One of the 9" Bluegill

My little brother currently has 2 trophies, and probably one of the best fish of the year with his 35lb carp. It only measured 38".



Blue cats and Gar are currently without trophy lengths so they don't count toward master angler status, but we managed to catch a few that in our opinions would have qualified.


8 Pound 12oz Gar


47 Pound 10oz Blue Cat.

We still have a month of really good fishing left so hopefully we can improve on some of these lengths before sending them in for our certificates. Best of luck to others still in search of master angler status, and congrats to those who have achieved it.

[bassmassey]

all nice fish, really nice bluecat..!!

that drum reminds me of a trip when me and joey6500 went down to bank fish on the ohio, he caught probably 3 or 4 jumbo drum.....then we moved 100 yards down the bank and started catchin catfish, lol...

i've noticed in alot of your reports you and your buddy are fishin' the big river out of a smaller jonboat...do you guys have any issues with barge wake?? I have a 1448 flatbottom I want to take down to the ohio some this fall/winter, I think would be no problem on the upper ohio, but I know down near cincy the river get's a lil wider it seems....should i be concerned?? I was thinking in colder water to tie a float to my anchor line and just always have a knive ready....

[Seanstone]

We have a 16 foot tri-v boat. It sets a little deeper in the water than a john boat and is a little more stable. I have seen many people on the river in small john boats they usually stick to the tributaries at night. Avoid the middle of the river if you can and anchor in some deeper water near the bank. Some of the waves reach 3 feet when they come from the deeper water up onto the sand bars. There's alot of public access down here, boat ramps, warm water discharges, state forests, etc. You could easily find a spot to fish and beach the john boat if you felt uncomfortable. Most of the shore is fish able due to fluctuating water levels.

Barge waves can be a real concern down here. Its really hit or miss though. I'd say 1 out of every three trips we have the barges are really active 1 every hour or two. It can be a double edged sword, because it seems on the nights with the increased barge action, the fish bite alot better. When we bank fish we get exited every time a barge passes by, because more often than not we get bites when the waves start hitting the bank. I believe Kip mentioned that they experienced similar things when fishing for blues with captain Hughs. At one of our spots a train track parallels the river, and when it comes by we usually get bites as well. Can't fully explain why though. Let me know if you ever come down this way. I'd be more than willing to share some insight.