New Cumberland Dam ?

Metzie · 09-09-2009, 08:47 PM

Anything happening at NC Dam?

djeisenbraun · 09-21-2009, 11:57 PM

I'd like to hear some news about that area too. I'm planning on going in a few weeks.

Lewzer · 09-22-2009, 08:36 AM

Probably not. I haven't seen Snake post about it yet.

djeisenbraun · 09-22-2009, 01:19 PM

Is there a certain time of year when this area would be best?

Intracoastal · 09-22-2009, 08:19 PM

The NC lock and dam is a great spot. As for the "Best" times, I'd say April-May and October-November. Both can be ridiculously good on certain days when the wind and clouds coalesce just right. Overcast days are generally better, and you should watch the flow data at waterdata dot usgs dot gov -(I'd post link, but my post count isn't high enough) Anything at 15ft or more is unfishable in my mind mind, unless you go a ways downstream--However, never been productive for me. If you are paying close attention, aim for a period of relatively stable water levels or a peak. When the flow is in flux, the fish are re-adjusting and seem to turn off.

This info is true for the walleye/sauger bite as well as white bass/hybrids. The summer time is the best catfish action. What are you after?

I was just there Sunday, and action was near non-existent during the morning. My buddy landed one small hybrid. I fought a few gar--none landed. I also hooked a very large channel cat on a dead 4" shad, but the small(er) hook I was using (targeting smallmouth and hybrids) came loose.
Another local was there who got a small hybrid and a decent smallmouth bass on green gulp.

We decided around noon to go back to the truck, when we spotted drum feeding on the "flats" and shoals along the railroad tracks. We exchanged our spinning and casting outfits for fly rods, and my friend landed a 7lb drum on a 6wt. Not bad! I will try to post a photo.

In my opinion, unless you're out for cats, give it a few weeks, then bring a heaping of cheap 3/8oz jigs and 3-4" grubs as well as some husky-jerk-types that you don't mind losing in the rocks.

-Tim

snake69 · 09-23-2009, 12:29 PM

Hello all. I usually don't start hitting the river until mid Oct and then just periodically to see when they are hitting. Of course, lately I don't post much at all due to the financial crunch, I was forced to get rid of the house phone, internet and some others. (that's for Lewzer)I now hit the library for little checkups & checkins like this. I was gonna attempt erie this Friday, but am considering taking the boat to the river. Off the pier/wall might not be so hot right now, but going up and down the river might be ok. If I make it, I'll post!

djeisenbraun · 09-23-2009, 05:43 PM

I'm going to be going for catfish. I'll probably go in about 3 weeks.

snake69 · 09-24-2009, 01:23 PM

Looks like we're heading for Milton instead. Oh well, won't be long and I'll be making it down that way.

snake69 · 09-26-2009, 04:54 PM

Milton didn't produce either......should've went to the river!!!!!!!!

Intracoastal · 10-04-2009, 12:13 AM

Made it down to NC Dam today for a few hours. A number of white bass/small hybrids and a handful of zander species (1 sauger, 3 walleye) landed on soft plastics on jigheads. Wind was unbearable at times, but the bite shut down when the wind did.

Recondo37 · 10-04-2009, 12:18 AM

tis about that time....boo yah...

Intracoastal · 10-11-2009, 09:48 AM

Went back again yesterday, Saturday, and got handful of white bass/hybrids (15" range), along with 2 'eyes and a sauger.

benpecc1 · 10-15-2009, 01:47 AM

Intracostal, are you catching these from shore? On the Ohio side or the WV side?

Intracoastal · 10-19-2009, 12:26 PM

We catch them from the WV side just below the dam. Sometimes we fish from the rocks, other times on the concrete wall adjacent to the dam.

I went down yesterday with 3 guys. My buddy and I fished near the wall and totalled 12 whites, 7 'eyes, 4 sauger, and a quillback on a jig!. The other two guys fished the brickyard downstream and got 1 smallmouth, 1 (20") flathead cat, 1 sauger, 1 walleye, 1 white bass, and I forget what else.

Looks like it will be really good in a few weeks, though it's not bad now if you put in the time. We definitely had periods of fish and periods without a bite.

isaiashortie · 10-28-2009, 05:46 PM

the last time i went i fished from the wall and caught 4 saugers with a spoon ranging from 10-15in... with creek chubs i caught 1 largemouth 2 channels and 2 hybrids but my friend caught about the same amount of fish if not more but im going saturday to get a trophy sauger!!! is there really walleye at the dam i've never caught one there before???

Intracoastal · 10-31-2009, 11:17 AM

Why would I mention walleye in my reports if there weren't walleye at the dam? I'm not confusing them with sauger because you will see sauger in my reports as well.There are a lot of walleye at the NC lock and dam. Every year a number of 7-9lbers are taken from there.

Intracoastal · 10-31-2009, 11:26 PM

Spent a couple hours at the Dam this afternoon. A buddy and I got 1 sauger and 3 walleye to 23". A healthy, thick fish too. Water was brown and high with the second gate open, making fishing somewhat difficult. Water was about 15ft or higher, and it dropped 1ft while we were there.

We gave it 2.5hrs, then hit little beaver creek on the way back. 1 SMB and a nice 15" sauger on jigs/plastic.

If the water level drops and that second gate closes, fishing should shape up. Good luck out there.

legendaryyaj · 11-05-2009, 07:44 AM

Just got back. Water conditions are pretty much the same as described above. I managed pictured fish on my first cast. I got a 3 others which were all walleyes as well. I find it weird no Sauger at all. Every fish I got was a walleye. I know the difference in the fight and the marks. Walleyes fight a ton harder than that of the other two species.

Fish went 28" and 7#6oz. I took home only this one, all others released as they were on the younger side.

Fished from 1-4am.

isaiashortie · 11-05-2009, 04:26 PM

wow good job what did you catch it on... but im headed ther in about two weeks so what a good bait right about now for the trophy walleye or sauger...???

Procraftboats21 · 11-05-2009, 07:06 PM

nice fish from off the wall! sonar?

legendaryyaj · 11-05-2009, 11:27 PM

Fish came from below on the rocks. If I had gotten her off the wall im pretty sure I would have lost her as I had no net.

I am a bass fisherman so bass gear was used including the lure. Can anyone guess?

This fish was also my PB to date but I dont do much walleye fishing.

isaiashortie · 11-06-2009, 12:27 AM

wow thats crazy what was you using???

snake69 · 11-06-2009, 02:23 PM

Normally from the rocks/bricks we use jig and twister with or without a minnow. From up above we use the same and also vertical jig and cast spoons!

Lewzer · 11-06-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

I am a bass fisherman so bass gear was used including the lure. Can anyone guess?

Let's see,
Lucky Craft RC, wacky jig or a super Roostertail

legendaryyaj · 11-07-2009, 04:00 AM

Haha. Nope.

Lipless crankbait in chrome sexy shad. I dont know if the color means much at all though but it was on a lipless. I dont see too many people throw cranks for walleyes. I snag to often with jigs and hate retying. I snag cranks once in a while but its not that big of a deal usually.

When I fish Pike, I throw cranks exclusively unless they want only the jig. I seem to catch bigger fish as well as Ive personally experienced it. Luck maybe?

GL fellas!

moondog5814 · 11-07-2009, 09:30 AM

Do you guys usually fish before the dam or after it? used to fish there about 30 years ago and there was a small breakwall over by New Cumberland down river. We would catch some monster catfish at night. Where do you guys park at on the WV side? By the old brick yard?

Intracoastal · 11-07-2009, 12:06 PM

I usually park about 3/4 mile upstream of dam on the WV side in an old brick parking lot, then walk down the RR tracks the rest of the way. Fish below the dam mostly, but if I make the run down there and the water is out of control, I will head farther downstream or even upstream along the tracks as the flats/timber can hold decent smallmouth bass.

isaiashortie · 11-07-2009, 10:05 PM

o by the way this is for you jig fisherman what color twisters is working so far for the fall walleye and sauger???

Intracoastal · 11-08-2009, 10:18 AM

White is a staple at the river. However, I like to have a couple variations, such as salt & pepper, white/chart, or white with silver sparkle. Sometimes I'll switch to a chartreuse with silver sparkle, but I usually don't have to. Pink or pink/white can also be good, especially for walleye.

For plugs (crank and stickbaits), the same colors as above will work, but I have a lot of luck with blue shad (blue over white).

Intracoastal · 11-09-2009, 08:49 AM

Fished yesterday alone 2-6pm at NC. Got 5 white bass, 3 walleye, and 5 sauger over the rail. Many other sauger and walleye came off, and I had a hell of a bite that stole my jig (admittedly the line was very worn from fishing in rocks and other snags).