Transition should make for an interesting Ohio River event
Transitioning fish are always tough. Now give them more than 100 miles of river to transition in, and you have the Ohio River at Tanners Creek Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Buckeye Division tournament on June 29.
Tournament details
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Buckeye Division
Lawrenceburg, Ind.
June 29
About the fishery
Want to get away? Anglers will have plenty of room to do so when they launch out of Tanner’s Creek. Located right near the three-state intersection of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, the stretch allows anglers to run as far as their hearts’ content, even if it means locking through the Meldahl Lock and Dam to the east and Markland Lock and Dam to the west.
Wherever they go, there will be plenty of wood, rock and man-made cover for all three species of bass to hold around. Largemouth are usually the main players, but anglers shouldn’t sleep on the smallmouth in the Tanner’s Creek area or anywhere they can find current.
Of course, like any river, water level and clarity fluctuations are always something to watch, especially in the days leading up to the event.
What to expect
“We’re coming back at the time of year things toughen up a bit.”
Considering the river is already known as a tough place to fish on its best days, Sean Weida’s words are not ideal. The Alexandria, Kentucky, boater would know, though, as he’s a veteran of the division and won the first Ohio River-Tanner’s Creek event here back in May.
With the spawn all but wrapped up, the river’s bass are going to start migrating to their summer haunts. For some, that will be out towards the main river, but for others, it will be further back into the creeks looking for cooler water and bluegills starting on their own beds. Hence, Weida wouldn’t be surprised if a bluegill-bed pattern with a wacky rig doesn’t account for a handful of Top 10s.
Others may look to run the main river in search of current and man-made structures to toss a crankbait. And there is plenty of cover prime to toss a buzzbait around.
A lot will come down to the water levels, said Weida, and any angler who can find fresh fish, as he says the system has had quite a few tournaments already and doesn’t handle pressure well. If someone can do that, they may crack the 10-pound mark to take the win, but even 9 pounds will be enough to contend.
“I think it’s really going to come down to getting away from everybody, buckling down in an area and figuring out how to grind out those key bites,” Weida said.