I think it was the Ohio river that was so polluted it caught on fire. It’s come a long way since then. I used to go fish below the Dashields dam. We would catch smallmouths, walleye, sauger, wipers, white bass, catfish, gar and a musky. They have been working to clean up the rivers. The Kiski river used to be bright orange, algae wouldn’t even grow from acid mine drainage. Now it even holds trout.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
No, Tom. Wrong end of the state. The fire was in Cleveland, OH.
But having been born and raised on the Ohio River, it is much, much cleaner than when I was young.
I have spent a lot of time on Smith Mountain, and Leesville Reservoir, the lake below, and also Bugg’s Island, Gaston, and the lake below Roanoke Rapids. I’ve caught some nice stripers from all of them, and the Roanoke River below Roanoke Rapids.
Rick
Tom, I’d have to say the East TN tailraces in general…The Knoxville area has so many to choose from. I haven’t really fished each of them enough to have a “favorite” but all are capable of producing monsters. My first three trips below Watts Bar dam I never caught a fish less than 20 lbs and the biggest was 28 lbs. Melton Hill is a “secret” lake, not many people realize that the giant stripers are in there because the state of TN doesn’t stock it with Stripers but they come in through the locks. You can catch skipjacks and Gizzard shad near the Bull Run steam plant fairly eaisly there for bait. Don’t be surprised if the next 70 lb landlocked striper you hear of comes from Melton Hill or the Melton Hill dam. Not to mention , you might also catch a giant Muskee there. Then there’s the Ft. Loudon dam and also the Douglas Dam all within 75 miles.
Team Shad Up & Fish
If you’ve had fun catching fish on the transom bait, you are welcome…
I’ve spent about 85% of my life’s wages on fishing, the rest I just wasted…
In my 7 years in Charleston, plus time in Columbia while at USC, I never fished for landlocked stripers. I grew up fishing for them on the Chesapeake near the Bay Bridge (trolling or bottom fishing the Thomas Point to Love Point area) We caught them all over the bay but for the trophies (Over 36") that area is one of the best. Eventually, I’ll get around to making a trip to the lakes and give it a try. I did catch a small one in the Wando once.
If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.
Yaint missin out on the eating jp, the landlocked taste like a largemouth.
Clark Hill. Hartwell and as of today, the ICW near Cherry Grove.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
Taz, was it a good one? … Like there’s such thing as a bad striper:)
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Black river and Santee river
About 15". He nailed a swim bait on a jighead trolling along a grassy bank.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
Still an honest-to-goodness wild, saltwater striper in SC waters!
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer