Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

[DocG2828]

Hello all! Getting a boat soon and will be dry-storing it at a marina off the Ohio River right outside Cincinnati. Anyone familiar with boating the river? Once I get a tow vehicle (maybe in a year), I'll have more options. For future reference, anyone know of some good lakes near the Cincinnati area....maybe 1-2 hours away? I know there's a lot of good lakes in Central Ohio and Central/Southern KY...but I want some options for those quick day-trips too.<br /><br />Thanks guys!

 

[kozman01]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

Just watch out for floating refrigerators and the occassional body on the Ohio. Other than that, you'll be fine. Just know of lakes in central and western OH, sorry, can't help you out ont he lakes.

 

[Always Broke]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

I used to boat on the Ohio near Pittsburgh. I had a heck of a time getting a mattress spring untangled from my prop once, the telephone poles were always a hazard too. Your down stream from them so they will be coming your way, be careful!

 

[DocG2828]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

Yeah I've heard some things about the Ohio, but have also heard its 10x better in this area than it was 10-15 years ago. Well, we'll see what happens. I'll post any collisions with mattresses in "stupid human tricks".

 

[borourke]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

Alum Creek and Delaware Lake both in Delaware are not bad, but nothing meats the islands up in Lake Erie, that would be a good day trip for you depending on the size of your boat.

 

[bpaliobeis]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

I've been boating on the Ohio at Cincinnati for 4 years and have yet to see anything like what's mentioned here. Yes, there will be debris after storms for a day or so but no worse then Lake Cumberland. Right now, the river is as nice as I've seen it this early. If its between 26-29 feet its great boating.<br /><br />As for local lakes, you've got 2 options. Brookville which is 50 minutes away in Indiana and is a really nice fairly good size lake (5-6,000 acres with a marina, restaurant, beach, camping, etc) and East Fork near Batavia. About half the size. I recommend tryin Brookville when you can tow. Otherwise, enjoy the rive but just pay attention to the condition. Of course, going out when its got debris isn't wise.

 

[WanabeBoater]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

Ive been boating on east fork lake for the past few weeks and its not a bad place to break your boat in. However, you will need to check the lake schedule to make sure no events are going on that day such as college row teams...fishing tournys..because then your boating fun becomes a congestive nightmare. As far as the river, if the debris doesn't get you..the sludge will when you pull into a cove. But if you must, put your boat in or around the Riply area and not the New Richmond area. Happy Boating.

 

[bpaliobeis]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

Coves? What coves? I'm not aware of any coves on the river around the cincinnati area except for that mud puddle out near lawrenceburg and the 275 bridge. have you looked at the river lately? even with this lousy weather there is no debris and i look out at the river all day.

 

[bpaliobeis]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

 

[bpaliobeis]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

 

[WanabeBoater]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

I haven't been out in that nasty filth ridden river since last year. ....Debris...I have two props in the garage that say different.

 

[bpaliobeis]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

Sorry about your luck. Not sure how you've found the debris. Like I said, not a single twig out there and certainly not the massive logs you can see floating randomly through lake cumberland.

 

[DocG2828]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

I've hit the river about 8-9 times since May 1 so far. We store at a marina in Dayton KY...so we're just a little east of the city...usually boat between the city and Meldahl dam somewhere. One day we hit the river and it was like walmart on a Sunday afternoon....debris everywhere. You literally couldn't manuever the boat around it. We pulled the boat out within 5 minutes. Most of the time we see the occassional twig or coke bottle. Sometimes we have to maneuver around a larger log 3-4 times when we're out. Nothing too bad though considering what I've heard. <br /><br />We have friends that refuse to tube on the river. Once I get my boat broken in, I plan to tube on the nicer days. <br /><br />Hey Cincy Aquaholic....email me sometime, be great to hear more about your experiences with the river since I'm a newbie. GSKuchar@msn.com<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[WanabeBoater]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

I dock at 9-mile in New Richmond...not bad...not busy

 

[WanabeBoater]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

I dock at 9-mile in New Richmond...not bad...not busy

 

[4runneradam]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

Thought I'd bring this topic back up. I'm a new boater, only been out on the lake a few times, but I've been out on the ohio with friends a few times. I REALLY want to get out on the river and cruise through downtown. Anyone got any tips? River looks nice and smooth (I drive over it everyday to and from work) I have a 16' Bayliner 85hp outboard.

 

[JAL51974]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

I boat on the Ohio river between Steubenville and Wheeling. Just use common sense and stay off it in high water periods or right after rain storms, that is when the debris is bad. Anytime though, I watch the water closely when on the river. Depending on your launch area, the shallows will result in too much mud, silt, etc. getting into your engine/outboard which is terrible to get out...don't ask how I know!

Be careful and have fun.
Joe

 

[4runneradam]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

I got the boat out on the Ohio last week for the first time. I launched down in New Richmond. Just a quick 30-45 minute run to test out the repairs I did on the outboard. It was a blast! But I hit something already, and bent my prop a little! And the boat is taking on a little water. Oh well, both can be fixed!

 

[licketdsplit756]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

below the locks are excellent fishing. lots of stripers and saugers there to be caught not to mention the big flatheads.. good luck. madell dam is another on the river goood fishing there stay to the left as you come up to the dam fish along that wall. newwell dam wv another of the greast spots on that river. while your that close make a run for mesquito lake in ohio. not far off the river.100 miles maybe. makes lake erie walleye fishing look like a kids fishing hole. theres a abundunt s of walleye to be caught there. worm harness with 3 hooks and a chartruses blade. troll the ol red barn area. good luck.

 

[Jerry1947]

Re: Ohio River Boating - Cincinnati

We have been boating on the Ohio River for the past 15 years. Our favorite area is between Portsmouth and the Meldahl Dam just south of Higginsport. Yes there are years when it seems to rain all the time and the river is above its banks much of that time creating alot of debris. Then there are other years when, by late July early August, the river clears up enough to see 15ft into the water. Lake boating in Ohio is a joke. We have tried several of the inland lakes in Ohio and if you want to get killed on the water they are a perfect place. Too many boats and way two many boat owners that don't have a clue. On a clear day, the Ohio River offers 981 miles of some of the best boating in this country. We have done the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany; the St. Lawrence Seaway to Montreal; the Hudson to NYC; the Radeau Canal; Lake Champlain; Lake Erie; etc. etc. but we always come back to the Ohio River. This is easy boating without all the crowds. Everyone should get out of the office and on the Ohio someday.