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Fishing Ohio River - Pike Island Pool: what the data says
30 miles from New Cumberland Locks and Dam near Stratton past Toronto, Steubenville, Weirton and Wellsburg down to Pike Island Locks and Dam above Wheeling. sauger, smallmouth, hybrid stripers and channel catfish. The river tops out around 40 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Sauger fishing at Ohio River - Pike Island Pool
Spring sauger on Ohio River - Pike Island Pool hold shallow, usually 4 to 18 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4): a creek channel around 30 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | dusk | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Ohio River - Pike Island Pool
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 2.5): a current seam around 22 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Ohio River - Pike Island Pool
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Main-channel hole (mile 0.6), a creek channel in about 32 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Ohio River - Pike Island Pool
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 25 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4), a creek channel in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Ohio River - Pike Island Pool
In spring, flathead catfish run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4): a creek channel around 30 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday |
Blue Catfish fishing at Ohio River - Pike Island Pool
Start shallow in spring: blue catfish sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 40 ft, and winter fish settle into 12 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-channel hole (mile 0.6): a creek channel around 32 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday |
Ohio River - Pike Island Pool also holds white bass & hybrids (10 to 30 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Main-channel hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 32 ft
- Main-channel hole (mile 8.1): creek channel, around 32 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4): creek channel, around 30 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.2): creek channel, around 30 ft
- Current seam (mile 2.5): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 4.4): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 6.2): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 14.3): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 16.2): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 19.9): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 21.8): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 23.6): current seam, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 27.4): current seam, around 22 ft
- Channel current seam (mile 9.9): current seam, around 20 ft
Common questions
How deep is Ohio River - Pike Island Pool?
Ohio River - Pike Island Pool is about 40 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Ohio River - Pike Island Pool?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sauger, crappie, channel catfish, white bass & hybrids, flathead catfish, blue catfish, freshwater drum, common carp on Ohio River - Pike Island Pool.
Where is the best fishing spot on Ohio River - Pike Island Pool?
Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Ohio River - Pike Island Pool?
For sauger, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Jefferson Lake · Ohio River - New Cumberland Pool · Highlandtown Lake · Belmont Lake · Tappan Lake · Guilford Lake
See how Ohio River - Pike Island Pool stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Ohio · best smallmouth bass lakes in Ohio · best sauger lakes in Ohio · best crappie lakes in Ohio
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