Wet a line and stay awhile!

8-14 I woke up at 5:45 to go on a catfishing trip with Jeff Watson on the Ohio River. I had to dive up river to Moscow Ohio; which is not a short drive. I got to the ramp right on time, it has a lot steeper slope than I had remembered. I could not stayed park at the ramp, so I loaded my gear into boat o.k.. I then had to fine the most level spot on the side of the road. When I open the car door to get out, I had a hard time stay upright.

07:40 We arrived at our first spot; fog was above the trees. The air was mild but humid. There was some current, but the river was clear. On my first cast I got nasty bird nest that I just could not straighten out. Had cut the line after retrieving my line and hook. was a bad sign it might be a bad day for me.

Started dragging with his trolling motor up river at a slow speed. 1 bite so far at 10:15. The Next spot was about 3 miles upriver still on the Ky. side. The fog was burning off now so it was getting warmer.

1023 Jeff got a hard bite, miss it! 10:30 Jeff’s planner board got hit and he hook the fish. He said it was a big fish, from the was his rod was bent I had to agree with him! He fought the fish for several minutes, before the fish got into a snag! We never saw the fish before Jeff’s line broke.

11:05 we headed back up river to the Meldhal Dam. Motor all over that area with his 2 depth finders did not mark many cats. 11:50 motored back down river to barge tie up below the Moscow power plant. It was getting very how by this time even with the top’s shade. No action at all so at12:30 we called it a day.

I just can not understand how we did not get more bites. We had 8 rods in the water, with cut shad, skipjack, chicken beast etc. With that much scent trail in the water any fish should at least would check it out.

I did not realize the heat had affected me until I got off the boat and walking on land again. I was in a rush to get to my car to turn the A.C. on! I had to walk a decent distance to my car. I to 2 of my rods with me to save time. When I got to the cat I was not thinking straight. I left the rod leaning against the back of the car. I unlocked the car and crawled in; turned on the A.C. full blast. I just sat there for several minutes till I felt better. The I realized I had to drive down to the boat to get the rest of my gear. I put car in reverse started to back up when I heard a noise as started to go boat Jeff informed me I just ran over my fishing rods! 1 of them got dragged under the car was not damaged! I got the rest of my gear, thanked Jeff for taking me out. Hope to go aging when is cooled. At least we tried!

7-25. My grandson picked me up at 07:00. We arrived at Gun Powder Lake at 07:25. Both of us surprised that all the better spots had already been taken by other fishermen. Had to settle for the handy cap dock, which turned out to be a problem for me. As I got my rig ready to cast, I realized I grabbed the wrong rod for it was broke! Noah went back to the car to get me on of his open face spinning set up.

Noah had already started catching bluegills, I was getting bites. The fish were sealing my bait as soon it hit the water. Next thing I knew my lower back started to ache for I am not able to just stand any length of time. That Is when I realize I left my fold up chair back home! There was nearby bench that I moved to cast from. Noah was walking around nearby and catching more bluegills.

The bluegills were much smaller than when last fished the lake. The fish were sill stealing my bait, but my back was really starting give me pain! 09:30 Noah caught a redear bream I took a photo of it. The slight breeze really felt good for it getting hot. At 10:00 I finally hocked a small bluegill; Noah had a total of14 fish. Once again, he beat me catching more fish!

We called it a day for my lower back was really killing me. This trip did not turn out as I had hoped, for this maybe the last time I really get to go fishing with him. He is off to get a master’s degree in Gorgia; after college he intents to move where his job takes him. I will miss him a great deal since he has been my fishing buddy since he was 3 years old!

7-19-25 I awoke at 04:30, and got dressed and made me some coffee some breakfast. Packed the rest of my items in my cooler for lunch. Grabbed the rain gear and life jackets to be ready for being picked up by my grandson Noah. Just as I walked out the door he pulled up. We headed to the ramp at 05:15 to meet Mark Blaullvelt. Got to the ramp when Mark pulled up with his boat around 05:30. Noah and I loaded our lunch, lifejackets and rain gear into Mark's boat.

Mark had his boat in the water buy 06:11 and headed down river. It was cloudy morning that made for a pleasant temperature. The river current was about 2 mph and trying to get clear. We got to our first spot on the Ky. side around 06:20. Mark turned on his “spot lock” to keep the boat in place.

06:30 Noah hooked into 6.5 lb. blue cat that like the shad. A little later we had a very hard bite but no hook up. Noah checked the line and the shad was gone! Looked like we were going have a good day of action.

07:15 We moved down river some more on the Ky. side by another barge tie up. No action there at all. We tried 2 more spots on the Ky. side. 09:10 crossed over to Ohio side of the river. Mark headed back up river 09:55.

Decided to start drift fishing at Rapid Run creek area around 10:15. I saw one of the rods got hammered, Noah handed me the rod as soon as I felt the fish; I realize it was a nice size fish. I was very rusty at reeling it in for I had not caught a catfish since 2023. I was surprised how weak my arms were fighting the fish. I finally got it in the boat, a nice blue cat 10.5 lbs., it also like eating some shad. Needless to say I was a very happy guy.

11:20 We drift fished till around 12:15 when we “spot lock” by a barge tie up. No bites or tapes so Mark moved the boat closer to the bank. Once again, no action, so we moved over to the Ky. side again.

Mark "Spot checked" above the bridge pier at the Ludlow bridge around 13:00. Noah hooked into a 3.5 channel cat at 13:15. 1410 we moved over to the Ohio pier and that was our last spot of the day. The pleasure boaters and jet skiers were out in full force now. 14:50 we called a day and headed back the West Side ramp.

Mark and Noah really had a lot conversations about the different types of fishing they enjoy. Noah and I were both Impressed with his "video scope" and the he had set up and the "spot lock: on his rolling motor. Noah and I both listen to the information mark gave to us fishing for catfishing

Mark is a professional catfish guide on the Ohio River and various lakes in South West Ohio. He can be reached at 937-974-2908 his e-mail is Markblauvelt@hotmail.com. Give him a call! Tight line to all!

YOU can sharpen up your catfish catching skills by reading this informative Kindle e-book. Just CLICK on the photo and it will connect you to the Amazon book store! So check it out, it cost less than a dozen night crawlers at the bait shop.

June 4th. My granddaughter from California was visiting for a few days. We planned for fishing trip with her and my youngest grandson. They love to compete with each other when they fish together.

Once we got her out of state license, we were off to the lake. Got the lake around 11:15. It was sunny day, but very windy. It took her a few cast before she got used fighting the wind. For bait we had wax worms and plenty of corn. She used a combination of wax worm and corn to catch 3 nice bluegills by the time my grandson arrived.

Once my grandson showed up, he ate some lunch, then he started fishing. He located the bluegills on their beds, and started getting action! He tried a piece of his second chicken sandwich that got hit by a channel catfish. That fish got close to the bank, then got off in the moss! It did not take him long to land more bluegill than my granddaughter.

The action slowed downed for the both of them, so my granddaughter took a piece of the chicken for bait. Next thing we know she hooked into a channel cat! My grandson came over and helped her get it on the bank. He then got out his scale and tape measure. The fish was 14 inches, 1# 2 oz., he also helped her hold the fish for some photos. The fish was returned back into the lake. I did take a number of photos of both of them with their catches of bluegills.

I had planned on leaving around 3:00, just then the action really picked up. They both were getting hard bites and catching fish about every cast! We finally an out of bait around 3:45. We all had a really a good time.
BR> We all notice the size of the bluegills were a lot larger than the last time we fished there. She caught the biggest fish, he caught the most fish. They both can claim bragging rights for the day! I was really proud of having time to fish with them and create such good memories.

May 10th. UPDATE April 30th. It has been a very strange five days for me. I had posted a message on FACE BOOK seeking any catfishing men that had a empty seat in their boat; for I no longer had a boat. I received a reply from the lady that runs the Ohio chapter of “OPERATION VETS WITH NETS”. That group takes vets out on a fishing trip. A hour later I got a phone call; she informed me she would contact one of the members to take me out on the Ohio for catfishing trip.

A hour later I received a message from a guy that offered to take me fishing the following Monday morning. It happened so fast I had to think about going so soon. We planned on meeting up river above Ripely Ohio at 07:in the morning. I called the guy and said I would meet him! I was very excited for I wanted to wet a line SO bad. Monday morning I awoke at 05:51, made some coffee loaded my gear, bait and lunch in the car. 06:00 I left my drive way. I believed I had plenty of time to be there in time. I was excited and eager to finally wet a line. I had never fish that pool of the Ohio River before in my life. As I drove, I realized it was going to take longer the 40 minutes to arrive at the ramp. I gave Jeff a call to inform him I was going a little late. He said that weas o.k. for he was getting his boat in the water.

I arrived at the ramp at 07:15. Jeff already had the boat tied up to the dock. Since I was running a little late, I grabbed my 2 small coolers and raced to the gang plank. When I got to the plank I stopped for it was very narrow. It took me a minute to figure out how I would walk to the wider section just fine. When I started the finial small narrow section lost my balance and slammed forward hard onto the dock. I had thrown both coolers out of my hands. I was stunned when I realized I had smacked my left leg on the edge of the dock. I was helped up to my feet when I spotted my blood on my jeans. I checked my leg, there a nasty deep gash at my shin bone. That ended the fishing trip right then and there!

When I got to my feet I was helped off the dock and I walked straight to my car. I tied a hankie on the wound to stop the little bleeding. I drove the car heading back home. Half way home I stopped for a pit stop. My leg was really painful, so I bought some Tylenol to ease the pain. Once I arrive at home I removed the coolers and put the bait back in the freezer. I then sat down in my recliner to rest for about 45 minutes. I then decided to go to “URGENT CARE” to stiches in the gash. I was taken, care of rather quickly, the lady numbed the area and sewed 10 stiches. She ordered me to take a x-ray of the shin bone just to be sure it was not damaged. I got that done very quickly a short time later I got a call from the x-ray folks: that everything was fine! I then drove home and notice I had burned up a half tank of gas so far that day.

Later that evening Ashley the lady that had set up the trip call, said she talked with the guy that had the boat. She wanted to know how I was doing. I told her I was sore and had some stitches. She offered a suggestion of another tirp in the future. I said that would be fine with me. I am still sore and the river is still messed up.

I then called Jeff to tell I was o.k. just sore and that I did need stitches for the gash. I also ask how he did that day fishing. He informed he did not get a bite! River current was too strong. He was not able to keep he bait down on the bottom even with 6 ounce sinkers. I was just too eager to go on a catfishing trip on the Ohio River. Not sure when the river will get in shape to try again. The docks around Cincinnati should be opened be the end of the month. This was without a doubt my most expensive fishing trip around here! The fishing gods still have the CURSE on me. At least I tried!C

April 12th, I did get my fishing license on March the 2nd for the new year. That has been it for thinking about fishing so far. The weather has been terrible since, right now the Ohio River at Cincinnati is in flood at 60 ft.! It will be at least a couple of weeks for it to get back down to fishable levels.

. I did have a friend seeking a Zebco reel with metal gears. I checked into my extra reels and found I had a Zebco Hauge 777 in good condition. We agreed on the price, so I got a few bucks and he now has a reel that will handle anything he is trying to catch.

One of the guy I hope to fish with this season took a trip to Santee Cooper the other week. From talking with him they had an action-packed trip. The last day there they boated 50 catfish!

I learned the other day that friend got flood water in his camper; it messed up 2 of his motor cycles. The boat was o.k. I found out one of the lakes I was planning on fishing was flooded as well and the club house by the Licking River. Not sure when I will be able go over there to fish. There weather has turned cool again so not sure when the water will warm up to get the fish active.