Falls of the Ohio State Park

Note: Fishing at the Falls of the Ohio may be done with an Indiana or Kentucky license.

Keeping paddlefish (spoonbills, spoonbill cats) is illegal in the National Wildlife Conservation Area boundaries.

1) Behind the Interpretive Center ($2 per day, pay to park or free with an State Parks and Reservoirs annual pass.) We provide a parking pass for the main lot that is good for night fishing.

2) Outer parking lot near the railroad bridge. No fee. Access the fossil beds from the steps.

3) George Rogers Clark boat ramp on Harrison Avenue - no fee. Park in established lot only! No parking on the ramp! Do not park in front of the gate. When the ramps are open, fisherman must allow boats to be launched.

A collection of images in and around the Falls of the Ohio.

Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife web page

Information on fishing, licenses, boating, etc.

List of Fish Species of the Central Ohio River

Over 130 species of fish of all size found in and around the Falls of the Ohio. This list links to a fish database. Photographs of many fish are posted here.

Fishing Report for the Falls of the Ohio State Park

(IDNR Division of Fish and Wildlife page, updated regularly by park staff)

Paul’s Tips for the Fishing at the Falls of the Ohio

By Paul McLean

Species	Best Months	Type of Bait Used Most
Bass, Largemouth	Spring, Summer Early morning best	Top water plugs: jitter bugs, hula popper Crank baits: Rapala types, live minnows
Bass, Smallmouth	Spring, Summer Early morning best	Top water plugs: jitter bugs, hula popper Crank baits: Rapala types, live minnows
Bass, Striped	Early Spring, Late Autumn	Jigs w/ chartreuse or white tails, spinner baits or live minnows
Bass, White	Spring, Summer	Live minnows or spinner baits
Blue Gill & Pan fish	Spring, Summer	Earth worms, small flies (wet or dry)
Catfish, Blue	Spring, Summer, Autumn	Cut shad, big live minnows, night crawlers, stink bait
Catfish, Flathead	Spring, Summer, Autumn Best at night	Live small fish or big minnows
Crappie	Spring, Summer	Earth worms, small flies (wet or dry)
Drum	Spring, Summer, Autumn	Earth worms, cut bait
Sauger, Saugeye & Walleye	March, April, May and Late November, December	Jigs w/ chartreuse tails, minnow-type spinner baits or live minnows
Paddlefish	Protected species.	No capture allowed. Any snagged fish must be immediately released.

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) is an exotic fish that is renown for its acrobatics. Noise startles this fish, causing it to jump as much as seven feet above the water's surface. It can be hazardous to boaters.