OHIO RIVER
The Ohio River is an underrated fishery when it comes to marble-eyes. Most of the eating-sized fish are harvested below the dams in the fast- moving waters. Fish jigs tipped with minnows or live bait on slip-bobber rigs that'll keep the bait down near the bottom.

The Ohio's fishing should improve. The new stocking program will increase both the numbers and size of fish. The upper pools are generally considered to be the best, but all will produce good fishing from time to time, especially early and late in the year.

MONONGAHELA RIVER
The Monongahela River is another good venue for eating-sized fish. Most are harvested from the deeper, slack-water pools. There are scores of them along its path. Pick one that's reasonably close and learn to fish it correctly.

Most of the fish will be located along the swings, cuts and turns of the channel. If you can find a few rocks, weeds or maybe a stump or two down there, so much the better. Work those areas thoroughly from every direction. As the weather warms, concentrate your efforts during periods of low light or after dark.

Jigs, small jerkbaits and live minnows fished deep are your best bet. Some surprisingly large fish are taken during the warm weather months.

For complete information on fishing conditions in the rivers, launching advice and current hotspots, call the West Virginia DNR's main office at (304) 558-2771.

DISTRICT I
According to fisheries biologist Frank Jernejcic, the place to fish in District I is Tygart Lake. This 1,750-acre impoundment in Taylor County has been a consistent producer of eating-sized walleyes for years. The fishing here is expected to be good in 2006 and beyond.

He reports that from winter through at least early April, good numbers of walleyes will work their way through the dam and into the tailwaters spilling from it. This is the only time of the year that walleyes will move through the dam. The numbers can be fantastic for brief periods of time. Take advantage of this when it's available.

After a brief stay in the tailrace, the bigger fish will move downstream eight to 10 miles and can be caught near Valley Falls State Park. The fishing action will not be as fast as below the dam, but it's worth some of your fishing efforts nonetheless.

Of course, good numbers of fish can be harvested from the main lake itself during this period and on through the summer and fall. Jernejcic said most of the fishing reports he gets from anglers indicate that walleyes will school near the channel and other deep-water areas. "Most of them seem to be caught around 30 or 40 feet deep," he said.

The usual array of jigs tipped with live bait, minnows and small jerkbaits will take fish from any of these locations.

For more information about Tygart or other places to fish for walleyes in District I, call the office at (304) 825-6787 or visit the DNR's Web site at www.wvdnr.gov.