Has there ever been an alligator in the Ohio River?


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Is there good fishing in the Ohio River?

The pool areas, embayments, and open river areas provide diverse habitats, which provide for excellent fishing opportunities. Over 150 different species of fish have been recorded from the Ohio River with many of these being sport species.

Where can I fish on the Ohio River?

Central Region. Shawnee State Park near Portsmouth hosts two well-stocked lakes providing good catches of largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie and trout. Fish the Ohio River alongside and behind the locks at the Meldahl Dam for a good selection of bass, stripers, sauger, white bass and channel cats.

What type of fish are in the Ohio River?

  • Largemouth Bass. Largemouth Bass move into creeks and embayments to spawn in the early spring, around the time water temperatures rise above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Smallmouth Bass.
  • Sauger & Walleye.
  • White, Striped, & Hybrid Striped Bass.
  • Channel, Flathead, & Blue Catfish.

What is the best bait to use in the Ohio River?

In faster water (Ohio River tailwaters) use heavy spoons and jigs. In less current use imitation minnow baits and other crankbaits.

Can you eat fish from the Ohio River?

While you can eat fish from the Ohio River, the ORFA and Ohio EPA both recommend you don’t do it more than once a month for most species. The amount drops for children and women of child-bearing age. So, if you’re worried about pollutants in the fish caught from a contaminated river, you’re RIGHT.

Do you need a license to fish in the Ohio River?

A fishing license is required to take fish from Ohio waters. through an agreement or lease with the Ohio Division of Wildlife are required to have a fish- ing license. anyone on request. Licenses may be displayed using a mobile device.

What’s the biggest fish in the Ohio River?

Massive 95-pound catfish ‘by far the largest’ trophy fish caught by these Kentucky men. Michael Robinson and Terry Raymer have made an annual tradition of catching massive fish on the Ohio River, but their latest snag is a personal best.

Can you fish in the Ohio River with a Kentucky fishing license?

Pursuant to the reciprocal agreement incorporated by reference in this administrative regulation, Ohio and Kentucky shall recognize the sport fishing license and appropriate stamps of Ohio and Kentucky on the main stem and from the banks of the Ohio River where the Ohio River forms the state boundary, excluding …

Are there alligator gar in Ohio River?

In Kentucky, the Alligator Gar is native to the Ohio, Mississippi, and lower Cumberland and Tennessee River systems. Alligator Gar are found in large and slow moving rivers, reservoirs, oxbow lakes, bayous, and bays.

Are there Muskie in the Ohio River?

Ohio muskies are commonly found in the southern and eastern portions of Ohio but have been found throughout major streams and lakes, for example Ohio Brush Creek, Muskingum River, Salt Creek and Wolf Creek.

Where is the best place to fish in the Ohio River?

According to locals, the most bountiful spots to fish are the Cluster Islands, the mouths of the Muskingum River, Fishing Creek, Dam #21, the New Cumberland Dam, and the Byrd Dam. Almost all Ohio River favorites can be found in WV’s waters.

Are there sharks in the Ohio River?

yes, I said “shark!” If I remember right, in 2014-2015, a “Bull Shark” was spotted swimming in the Ohio River. Bull Sharks can live in both freshwater and saltwater and have been known to travel up rivers off the ocean. There is actually a “YouTube” video online of kids in a school bus spotting a shark in the Ohio.

What is the best time to fish a river?

Fish generally prefer early morning and evening sun to the bright midday rays. In midday, the surface temperature of the water is also hotter, forcing the fish to move deeper.

Is there mercury in the Ohio River?

Mercury-contaminated fish are common in waterways across the country, and the Ohio River is no exception. Species including angler favorites like hybrid striped bass have been found in the Ohio River with mercury above the level considered safe by the EPA.

Why is the Ohio River so polluted?

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), founded to control and abate pollution in the Ohio River Basin, reported 23 million pounds of toxic discharge (Cory, 2015). The river is victim to the pollution of industrial plants, barges, sewage waste, agricultural runoff, and general urban pollution.

How many fish can you eat out of the Ohio River?

For most Ohio fish, people can safely eat one serving every week ( or four servings per month.)

Who is exempt from Ohio fishing license?

Under current law, Ohio residents who are at least 66 years old and born on or after January 1, 1938 pay one-half the regular price for hunting and fishing licenses and permits. Ohio residents who are at least 66 years old and born on or before December 31, 1937, are issued these licenses and permits free of charge.

How much is a Ohio fishing license?

Ohio’s resident fishing licenses are $25 and are valid for one year from the date of purchase and can be purchased up to 30 days prior to the expiration date. A fishing license is required to fish in Ohio public waters.

Can I fish Ohio River with Indiana fishing license?

An agreement between Indiana and Kentucky allows that each state will recognize the fishing license issued by the other state on the main stem of the Ohio River, excluding embayments and tributaries. This means anglers can fish the Ohio River bank to bank with a license issued by either state.

What is the best fish to catch in the Ohio River?

Sauger & Walleye Sauger provide some of the highest catch rates of any fish in the river and walleye can be caught by fishing the same methods. Walleye and sauger (Percids) concentrate in tailwater areas in the early spring then disperse during the summer months.

What is the biggest catfish ever caught out of the Ohio River?

Price’s big catfish tipped the scales at 67.22 pounds. The fish also set a new record for length at 50.7 inches. caught by Justin Goode in the Ohio River in 2021.

What lives in the Ohio River?

Featured Species Forty seven species of native freshwater mussels live within the refuge waters on the Ohio River. This includes eight federally endangered mussel species: fanshell, pink mucket, sheepnose, northern riffleshell, purple cat’s paw pearlymussel, rayed bean, snuffbox and clubshell.

Whats in the bottom of the Ohio River?

“When you get into some of the deeper areas of the Ohio River, of course it’s completely dark, but you can stand on bedrock,” Velas said. “If you are diving and you get about 10 feet away from the shore, the bottom is mostly gravel. Most of the mud is near the shoreline.

What is the deepest river in the United States?

At a depth of 216 feet (though some sources argue its 202 ft), the Hudson River is the deepest river in the United States. The Hudson River’s headwaters are located in the Lake Tear of the Clouds in New York’s Adirondack Park. It travels 315 miles from that point to Upper New York Bay.

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