Jig colors are largely a matter of personal choice. Natural colors are always acceptable, but many successful anglers lean toward bright, fluorescent hues

Saugers and saugeyes like the rocks, too. They'll become active under roughly the same conditions that trigger smallmouth activity. Fish for them by using the same techniques that were described earlier. Saugers are saugers; they don't know what pool they're living in.

Access is a problem below the Belleville Dam. The best ramp is on the Ohio side of the river. It's owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Otherwise, you can bank-fish in this area. Follow the road signs for access.

RACINE DAM
The next dam down from Belleville is Racine. The tailrace is fairly clean looking on the surface but, like all tailrace waters along the Ohio River, there's plenty of fish-holding cover to be found under the surface.

In some ways, this area is one of the easiest to fish. There's plenty of open water available, no matter how nice the weather or how strong the bite.

Saugers and saugeyes are kings here. You can catch them with the standard jig, minnow or bobber rig if you like. A number of anglers like to use modified Carolina rigs, however. Use heavy braid or strong fluorocarbon line and a really big sinker.

Big is defined as 1 1/2 ounces, maybe more. The current is fierce most days in this tailrace, and it'll wash away anything lighter in a matter of a minute or two. Other than the rig, everything's about the same to make these saugers bite. A heavy jig, a strong hook and a minnow will usually be effective.

Long rods are a must here. The water tends to be shallow on the West Virginia side. You'll need to make long casts to get out in the current and swirls where the fish are roaming. Heavy catfish combos and light saltwater outfits are popular and effective for this type of angling.

The saugers and saugeyes that live here are reported to be a little bigger than in the upper stretches of the river. Fish over 12 to 14 inches are common, and nearly every year there's at least one 18-inch giant reported.

Note the word "reported." Size is very difficult to determine under the circumstances. Most saugers and saugeyes are taken home and eaten. Few of these fish are displayed around the docks and at tackle shops.

There's an outside chance of you catching a smallie or two here, but that's about all. For whatever reason -- probably lack of shoreline structure and slack water -- they just don't seem to inhabit this tailrace.

If you have the itch, however, there's a rock bank on the Ohio side of the water at about mile marker 240. It will hold brown bass when conditions are right. That usually means clear water and plenty of warm weather.

Just as in the other areas, jigs and jerkbaits are the most productive lures. If the water has a little color to it, throw brighter colors and bigger baits. Work them slowly. Give the bass plenty of time to find them and to make up their minds.

Access is tough here. There's a ramp on the Ohio side near Racine. Otherwise you're on your own. For bank-fishing, follow the road signs.

ROBERT C. BYRD DAM
The Byrd Dam tailrace might be the best one of the bunch. The river is fairly wide in this area and there are rocks and debris everywhere. Even better, we're getting into hybrid and catfish waters.