Every Boat Ramp on Ohio River

About Ohio River

The Ohio River forms the entire 451-mile southern border of Ohio, flowing from the Pennsylvania state line at the eastern tip to the Indiana border near Cincinnati. This mighty river is one of the most productive fisheries in the eastern United States, supporting an incredible diversity of species across its lock-and-dam pools. The tailwater areas below each dam concentrate fish and create world-class fishing zones for sauger, hybrid striped bass, and catfish.

Catfishing is legendary on the Ohio River, with channel catfish, flathead catfish, and an expanding population of blue catfish providing year-round action. Flatheads exceeding 50 pounds are caught each year from the deep holes and rock ledges. Sauger and hybrid striped bass are targeted in the dam tailwaters, especially during fall and winter when fish stack up in the turbulent discharge. Smallmouth and largemouth bass hold along the rocky banks, wing dams, and backwater areas throughout the river.

Public boat ramps are available in every Ohio River county, maintained by ODNR, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local municipalities. Cincinnati's riverfront, the historic town of Marietta at the Muskingum River confluence, and Portsmouth at the Scioto River mouth are major fishing hubs. The Ohio River's commercial navigation requires anglers to watch for barge traffic, but the fishing quality along this massive waterway is unmatched in the state.

Nearest towns: Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Marietta, Steubenville