Stripers and wipers

[ghostdncr]

I'm gearing up to hit the river again this weekend, probably Saturday morning, to see how the stripers and wipers react to the two-handed rod. My strategy is to work around the main channel that cuts through the fossil beds at the Falls of the Ohio. Particular attention will be paid to the old dam running along the edge of the channel on the Kentucky side, as there's a substantial drop-off there. Type in "Falls of the Ohio" at Google Maps ( Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl) ) and switch to the satellite view for a good image of the fossil beds, if you're interested in seeing the lay of the river in this area.

My flies will consist of Clouser minnows and some deceivers I'm tying right now. Primary colors are white, chartreuse, and bronze, or some combination of those with some blues thrown in on the Clousers, which I'll post some pics of later today. Any other pattern suggestions or color combinations spring to mind?

Here's a link to one of the only online articles I could find about fishing in this particular area: http://www.fishin.com/articles/ohioriv.htm

[speyday]

big, huge, and white. with a big holographic eye. on it. if they arent busting bait on the surface, you can use a big popper to roust them up, but hang a smaller white streamer 18 inches in tow. Thats what the spin fisherman do out east, and it works here, too. Ive seen guys in boats on the "LM" doing this with big cork cigar plugs, and a smaller flutter spoon avoid the temptation of using thin hooks for penetrations sake; they will bend out like a paperclip.
When you first walk up to any faster, ;lively flows, (i.e. any white water is "great"......) make SURE you work your way out....dapple with only about 10-15 feet between you and the fly, and skate it around and toward the bank in a micro swing. When you have covered an area on the surface, and then a foot or two below..........MOVE. You will know instantly if they are there, they are not a fish that needs coaxing or temptation of repeated presentations. They do not hesitate whatsoever. The fish sometimes behave such that they push fish up towards the surface, and over towards the bank. and be READY. They are incredibly hard strikes and fight like duke it out toe to toe linebackers. w-w-w-w-w-w wipeout !!!

[ghostdncr]

Good advice on the hooks. I'm tying these flies on some outright irons! Big and nasty 2/0 and 4/0 hooks that would stand up to anything swimming in this river.

When I was younger, I tended like most people to try casting toward the other shore. That's always where the fish were. :roll: As I've gotten older and calmed down a bit, I'll now creep up to the water and test the near water thoroughly before expanding my reach. I've caught a good number of fish literally right where I would've stepped into the water!

My weekend plans seem to be unraveling as Saturday draws nearer, so I may be forced to give it a go this afternoon. :hihi: