Really??? Reallllly???

So decided to go hit some of the ohio river tribs today.................................... wanted to fish eagle, straight, 3 mile, white oak. Go to put boat in at eagle creek (govt owned but leased). Mind you, its been open every winter for fisherman to use for as long as I can remember. Cable ran across access road with sign saids closed from dec1 through march..... No prob put in at public boat ramp in ripley. Trees jammed up on ramp 5ft tall (nobodys fault just the way it goes) . Head to straight creek which was a long shot because there normally closed in winter, wasnt opened (not sure if this is a govt ramp). Then down to white oak creek (another government owned ramp leased out) and gates are padlocked........... That pretty much put me out for fishing the creeks i wanted to fish because the next nearest ramp was just above meldahl and that was gonna be a heck of a run especially with swells on the river........

Govt boat ramps shouldnt be able to be CLOSED for winter........ Went to EF and dealt with wind. tribs were good shape and would have been easy tuck out of wind........... THANK GOODNESS FOR NP 1/8OZ JIGHEADS!!!!! Prolly wouldnt have caught fish without them in the wind today. I would suggest everyone have some of these for those windy days. Really worked well today with winds over 20 today!!!

That is dedication right there. Congrats on catching some.

Wow what a day, if I may ask I have seen a lot spoken of these NP jigs , why so special if I may ask ?

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Originally Posted by glasseyes

Wow what a day, if I may ask I have seen a lot spoken of these NP jigs , why so special if I may ask ?

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Personally I like the quality of his jigs and I can get them the way I want them. Years ago I used to by my jigs fron Cabela's or BPS. I didn't like the little hooks they came with and the quality of the hooks wasn't very good. I had a bunch of hooks break. If you could find anything weedless, the qualiy of the weedguard wasn't very good either and they were just to expensive.
NP's are all made just for you. Some guys like weedless, some don't. Some guys like sickle hooks, some guys want the regular jig hooks and i guess you got to look at the color too; bronze, gold or red. Some guys want either a #2 or maybe a #4 hook or he even offers those light wire hooks on those 1/48 oz heads. With Nightprowler you can get whatever you want, the way you want it and really the price is very reasonable.
I would bet if most guys would give Herb's jigs a try, they wouldn't go back to other stuff. If you check on here most guys who have used his jigs speak very highly of them.

Ok thanks, I was just wondering, I have been making my own jigs for around fifteen years now and always looking to improve. I pretty much do the smae things on mine , change hooks, types, colors etc. depending on what I want to try. Although I just make them for myself and a few close friends. Never wanted to get into a full blown production . I like tying my own hair jigs as well it's kind of fun trying new things once in awhile.

glasseyes... crappiemax forgot one thing... Herb is one of the good guys... he also is one of us...

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Originally Posted by Yates

glasseyes... crappiemax forgot one thing... Herb is one of the good guys... he also is one of us...

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Yeah but he is always driving around that Ferrari with "Getting Jiggy with it" blaring loud and clear!

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Originally Posted by AEFISHING

Yeah but he is always driving around that Ferrari with "Getting Jiggy with it" blaring loud and clear!

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Bwahaha, yep thats herb!!!!! Herb is one of those fellas after ya meet him ya just like him...... super nice guy, and i love the quallity of his stuff....... there is not a jig at anynational store with jigs of his quallity......he better never quit making them cuz man if i ever have to buy that garbage from bass pro again ill have no confidence in the heads like i get from him with the sickle hooks....... plus just like larry said hes one of us ohio boys...... and biggest thing i like MADE IN USA BABY!!!!!

Robin,
I used to fish up in those river creeks years ago. Just what you found is the reason I quit making the run up that way. We used to fish Straight Creek alot in the late winter, early spring because we found it harder and harder every year to find a place to launch. I though Eagle used to stay open at least for launching all winter.
That same crap thats going on now below Meldahl has happened before and it's just become a real crapshoot trying to fish the OR. It's a shame everyone makes it so hard to get out up there. It's a real turn off.
What's really a shame is the state puts so much effort in to our northern border, they kind of forgot us guys down south.

As I told Robin yesterday Eagle creek has always been open year round, but the woman that used to have the lease had some serious health issues this year & had to give it up. The people that run the campground/baitshop next to the Eagle creek/52 bridge have taken over on the ramp. I was told they had it closed this winter to make electrical improvements. I hope that is the case & they will open it back up year round traffic in the future. I normally buy a season pass & will ask her this time if it is good for the entire year. You can still launch at Aberdeen but that's a long run all the way down to White Oak or Straight creeks. Maysville, Dover & Augusta are still open on my side of the river but I've always prferred Eagle as it is out of the river current (I'm normally by myself) & is centrally located. Hopefully it's open next fall/winter.

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Originally Posted by kycreekboy

As I told Robin yesterday Eagle creek has always been open year round, but the woman that used to have the lease had some serious health issues this year & had to give it up. The people that run the campground/baitshop next to the Eagle creek/52 bridge have taken over on the ramp. I was told they had it closed this winter to make electrical improvements. I hope that is the case & they will open it back up year round traffic in the future. I normally buy a season pass & will ask her this time if it is good for the entire year. You can still launch at Aberdeen but that's a long run all the way down to White Oak or Straight creeks. Maysville, Dover & Augusta are still open on my side of the river but I've always prferred Eagle as it is out of the river current (I'm normally by myself) & is centrally located. Hopefully it's open next fall/winter.

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Good info Kycreekboy. Keep us posted.

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Originally Posted by crappiemax

Robin,
I used to fish up in those river creeks years ago. Just what you found is the reason I quit making the run up that way. We used to fish Straight Creek alot in the late winter, early spring because we found it harder and harder every year to find a place to launch. I though Eagle used to stay open at least for launching all winter.
That same crap thats going on now below Meldahl has happened before and it's just become a real crapshoot trying to fish the OR. It's a shame everyone makes it so hard to get out up there. It's a real turn off.
What's really a shame is the state puts so much effort in to our northern border, they kind of forgot us guys down south.

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This stuff thats going on down there is why I havenot been sauger fishing. I used to praise hanna down there but he seems to be turning into an A-HOLE (EAT THAT HANNA) As for Ky game and fish they pat thereselves on the back for all they do to eastern ky and western ky and they seem to forget about the central region. I called ky game and fish last spring for alittle help with the issues of the bouys at meldahl and they said they will look into it and give me a call back. Well here it is next winter and still have never heard one word out of them. I have been driving to markland and been sauger fishing on foot. Dont both OH and KY realize by there lack of efforts in these areas how much they hurt a small busineses like marathon on aa highway and point pleasant. Usually if I am buying any tackle there I am usually getting food drink and gas. I guess to me (personal opinion is they could care less because the states dnr money making is greater in other areas) Sorry guys for the rant I have been holding that in for awhile. May bee we should buy an Indy license to fish Brookville and mainstream of the ohio to show these guys our money in these regions are needed by our states.

I see that most everyone that has responded feels just like i do...... Kycreek pointed out by pm last night that there was a sign at eagle creek that said something along the lines of duck and goose hunters could call a phone number for details about how to get in to launch during winter hours. That I figured would be good so I just went down and got the phone number off the little sign and when I looked it over i realized it was the same number as the eagle creek bait and rv camp right there on 52 as you cross over eagle creek. I called them and a fella answered. I politely asked him if I could be considered to launch during winter even though I wasnt going to be duck hunting or goose hunting and his answer was NO! I gave the dude a little chit about it and told him it shouldnt matter what im taking the boat out for, duck hunting, fishing, pleasure boating..... Needless to say he was the same way he always has been over the years when I would go buy bait there. No smile, not friendly, just give me your money......... He said rudely interrupted me and said call back after 1 because my wife has final say........... Those were the last folks I would want that ramp going into because the way they are......... Order 2 dozen minnows and get 20 kinda ppl........ Whatever, Ill just go over to ky and launch I guess. There ramps are all open i just hate to have to drive another 25 min to get to one........ Im going to call back after 1 and see what the lady saids.....

Ezgo, yeah man I feel really bad for you because I know meldahl was your home water there. Sucks man.....

Robin, I was hoping you were going to get a chance to try those MONSTER JIGS I gave you and post a report. Those tings are a hoot.

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Originally Posted by crappiemax

Robin, I was hoping you were going to get a chance to try those MONSTER JIGS I gave you and post a report. Those tings are a hoot.

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Yeah you know its funny how things work out. Just before the stuff went down at the dam I went and spent right at $400 bucks on sauger fishing stuff just so it can sit and not get used. Bought a new rod and reel, tons of large jig heads, plastics, dyes, yeah thats the way it goes i guess!! LOL

Welp, I just got off the phone with the (very unfriendly) lady that is now in control and taken over the lease for the boat ramp at eagle creek. I was very polite asking her if there is any way to call and have the gates unlocked when folks wanted to fish since this is what she was doing for the duck/goose hunters. She said no and that ended today anyways since this was the last day for deck season. I explained to her that I disagreed with this situation completely since taxpayer dollars pay for this ramp and should be open for any of us to use Year round. She laughed and said thats up to the person who leases the ramp...... I let her know Id be calling the about this issue and she laughed and said that i was waisting my time. BAD PART IS SHE IS PROLLY RIGHT.............

This pretty much boils down to laziness, her driveway is literally a couple hundred yards away from the cable that is blocking the ramp.......

Just what I thought was going to happen. If I can't launch there year round as always, no way I'm going to buy a season pass. As I wrote you last night, I knew that it was all about the money. Well that sucks doesn't it.
Looks like I will be launching in downtown Ripley or on my side of the river.

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Originally Posted by kycreekboy

Just what I thought was going to happen. If I can't launch there year round as always, no way I'm going to buy a season pass. As I wrote you last night, I knew that it was all about the money. Well that sucks doesn't it.
Looks like I will be launching in downtown Ripley or on my side of the river.

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Yep, nicest boat ramp around in my opinion....... Like you said, there is other ramps around its just that the "core engineer" ramps are the best ramps to use since there normally backed up into a creek where most times there not much current........

Im like you. I fish alone a lot and backing into a river with current by yourself can be tricky. I have done it a lot in my day but like right now that current is freakin rippin and ripleys boat ramp would be dangerous by yourself.....

Maysville ramp will prolly be my go to ramp from now on but thats still a long run to some of the creeks I wanna fish..... Shame, several perfectly good ramps to use and lazy ass ppl wont keep them open......... You would think the core engineers would have that in the lease that it must be open to public at all times but im sure its just like anything else...... Soon as core gets there money, who cares.

Anyone have any complaints about meldahl access on ky side. Go to the ky board and prister which I think is the heads or one of the department higher ups to give your opinion on what you think of what is going on at meldahl. He posted on the your input on bait from the ky department game and fish. Nows your time to shine C. Crazed

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Originally Posted by ezgo

Anyone have any complaints about meldahl access on ky side. Go to the ky board and prister which I think is the heads or one of the department higher ups to give your opinion on what you think of what is going on at meldahl. He posted on the your input on bait from the ky department game and fish. Nows your time to shine C. Crazed

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Ive been on the phone a bunch today about the meldahl dam situation. After working my way up the ladder and about 10 phone calls I finally got in touch with the head of operations of "meldahl"...... He was based out of huntington west virginia. I asked him if he could explain exactly "what" was off limits to fishermen below the dam. He and I both pulled up a 3d google map so we could both look at it. He said to draw an imaginary line from the ky to ohio side at the end of the long lock wall........... I told him that was fine with me so he asks, well why did you call then????

I then went into how I was fishing about 75 feet downstream from the long lock wall and one of the folks came out onto the end of the wall and told me I was not able to fish the ohio side all the way from the dam all the way down to bear creek...... There was a terribly long pause and he saids "well, I need to call and talk to the lock master about that because that is definetly NOT restricted area"............. I told him that was all I needed to know and I would tell them to call and talk to him if there was a problem. He told me before I do that he needed to talk with them and he would call me back beginning of the week...............

Now he already stated he was head of operations over several dams, one being meldahl and he already stated the boundaries so i sure hope he doesnt go back on his words when he calls me back just to side with the dam operators...........

Robin, I'll be anxious to see how this plays out. Thanks for all your work.

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Originally Posted by crappiemax

Robin, I'll be anxious to see how this plays out. Thanks for all your work.

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Well, I don't think this is gonna help us get back into the locks but may help us be able to fish just outside the "LINE" from ky to ohio at the end of the lock wall..........

When the river is running hard or up this is still gonna be worthless because once outside that wall the current is crazy you still can't fish well unless your in those lock walls.

Hey c-max, that jig you gave me............ You think that big arse thing you gave me will hold in moderate current?? I know that my 1/2oz heads sure don't hold at all. By the time you drop to bottom there waaaay behind the boat!!

If you noticed that little orange sign you can buy a pass for $50 in the winter to launch at eagle. You can thank us now duck hunters, LOL.

So we have to pay for a regular season pass & then pay again for a winter pass???

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Originally Posted by CrappieCrazed

Hey c-max, that jig you gave me............ You think that big arse thing you gave me will hold in moderate current?? I know that my 1/2oz heads sure don't hold at all. By the time you drop to bottom there waaaay behind the boat!!

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Yeah, I think so.
I was down there last year on the Ky side fishing the rocks. (Ooops...I was inside the buoys.) I used those "big arse jigs" in that heavy current and was staying in contact with the bottom most of the time. As you know I was only over there a few hours and caught about a dozen or so. I also used them on the Oh side fishing just inside the current break and did okay with them. That little stinger hook was the ticket for the light hitters.
I think I fished them on one of my lighter casting rods. I know they stayed down as good as or better than my 3/4oz jigging spoons. At first I was a little skeptical because of their size but like anything else they do have their place. You will be amazed at the feel you have with them.


I generally avoid these controversies because I just can't afford the rise in my blood pressure any more. LOL
What gets me about the Ohio River in this area is the seemingly lack of interest both Ohio and Ky seem to have in this fishery and the fisherman in this area. Having to deal with all the state in federal agencies is ridiculous. Can you imagine if someone were trying to block some fishing access on one of the real money makers like Ky Lake or Lake Erie.
The Ohio River is the 2nd largest body of water available to Ohio anglers and probably has the potential to generate lots of local income along it's 90 plus miles of length but when you read about the access restrictions you can understand why it fails to deliver. You read more about little Cowan Lake.

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Originally Posted by Fish Assassin

If you noticed that little orange sign you can buy a pass for $50 in the winter to launch at eagle. You can thank us now duck hunters, LOL.

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Your right and wrong nicky...... she said it wad 50 bucks to put in if you were a duck hunter and now season is over and now you duck hunters absolutely cannot get in........ she said as soon as duck season was over that was it for the orange laminated paper you were talking about...... and when u find this to be true i hope u never give those a&&holes money again........ i dont have to say there going to ruin that place....... there already doing it!!!!

Nicky, i been tryin to call ya....... gimme shout sometime!!!

Amen cmax that is what i beleave alsso.

I'm missing Doris (The lady that used to run it) already & Spring isn't even here.:twocents

Your right right Rob. It was for duck hunters. I knew that. If I don't have a boat don't really matter for me.

http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.48485...h=135&c=7&rs=1

WOW, Thanks for the compliments!
You guy's ROCK!
NightProwler