While reservoirs offer good cat-fishing, there's just something special about fishing a river for whiskerfish. Maybe it's fairly easy to locate good spots to cast for catfish on rivers? Maybe it's because some big ones inhabit riverine environs? Or perhaps the fact that rivers tend to offer more shore-fishing opportunities than many of the state's reservoirs, which tend to be heavily wooded and often steep. Rivers provide the perfect venue for a relaxing evening of catfishing, a quality way to cool off following a hard day's work.

The Ohio is a classic example of a big-river catfishing situation. It has dams, feeder streams, hydroelectric facilities (within some of the dams), and industrial/municipal discharges. Opportunities abound for both the boat- and shore-angler.

Much of the fishing attention on the Ohio, regardless of species, occurs in the tailwaters area below the navigational dams. Along West Virginia's portion of the river, navigational dams are found at the Pike Island, Hannibal, Willow Island, Belleville, Racine and Robert C. Byrd projects. The facilities vary a bit from site to site, but some catfishing opportunities exist near all of these dams.

The immediate tailwaters areas are limited, for the most part, to shore-anglers. A restricted area exists below the dams, one where boats are not permitted. State agencies located along the Ohio have been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to expand the sections where boats are permitted, in an effort to add fishing opportunities. Therefore, if you are a boat angler, you may find that you are now permitted in areas where you were previously prohibited. Restricted areas, during the recreational boating period, tend to be well marked with buoys.

The Hannibal Locks and Dam, found near New Martinsville, provides a good example of an area for Ohio River cats. On the West Virginia side of the river, below the dam, you will find good parking and river access. Fishing platforms are provided, and you can fish from the rocky shore as well. A hydroelectric power facility is located within the dam on the West Virginia side, so game fish (such as catfish) tend to be drawn to the place. Baitfish such as gizzard shad, injured or disoriented from a ride through the turbines, provide a buffet that attracts catfish (as well as other predators like hybrid stripers).

A couple of miles below the Hannibal Locks and Dam, you'll find the mouth of Fishing Creek, entering the Ohio from the West Virginia side at New Martinsville. Boat-anglers will find a good launch ramp up in Fishing Creek that provides boat access to the river.

A deep hole has been gouged out at the mouth of the creek. Catfish, as well as other Ohio River inhabitants like saugers and white bass, find this hole to their liking. It's a good night-fishing spot. This same situation is common at the mouths of the many creeks and small rivers that join the Ohio. Often it is necessary to cross private property to access these areas, so be prepared to acquire permission to do so.

Boat-anglers should look for the deeper holes in the river. These are often located at outside river bends. A sonar unit will easily point out the deeper holes. Catfish tend to hold in the bottoms of these areas when they are inactive, then move to the head (shallow lip) of the hole when it's time to feed. The twilight period is a good time to anchor just upstream of the front edge of a hole. Stay at least an hour or two after dark. Flathead catfish, in particular, tend to feed under the cover of darkness.

There are a host of public access sites on the Ohio River. Visit the West Virginia Division of Wildlife's Web site at Wvdnr.gov/Fishing/Fishing.shtm. Under the "Fishing" head, click on "Public Fishing Areas."

A reciprocal agreement between West Virginia and Ohio permits licensed anglers from either state to fish from the shores of both states.