It's a Barge Bite on the Ohio river: An unexplained mystery

[@whiskeyrunner65]

Steve, when i was young, I fished on the Little Kanahwa River. When a sternwheeler would come by the fish would bite like crazy for 20 min. to a half hour. I always said that when the barges go by. The wake that they make stirs the bottom up and that is why they bite right as, and after a barge passes. The old paddlewheelers made a Big wake.

[@hempfourtwenty350]

Another great vid, great show.

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

HemP Fourtwenty thanks

[@sanjose6018]

Excellent job

[@michaelray5732]

I really think the barge bite happens because the boat is rocking back and forth and making your bait move around and you get a reaction bite from that!! But what do I know I'm just an old country boy that loves fishing also!! I have really learned a lot from watching your videos thank you for sharing them and sharing all your information it has really helped me a lot! I hope here in the near future I will be able to purchase a couple of your new rod and a couple rod holders! PS you really got some badass boots!!

[@peterschulties2226]

It happens for us too. Pool 4 Mississippi in MN. We never fish vertically so it's not because the bait is up and down. I think the barges stir up the river producing food so when the barge comes a fish that's near your bait wakes up and goes feeding.

[@triniglock22]

Steve I fish off the Greenwood boat ramp here in Louisville KY and every time a barge goes by you I catch a fish every single time, it never fails. My buddies and I always debate on wether its the wake or the smell under water.

[@MitterNim]

What bait do you use, what size is your hooks, and where do you fish?

[@shakedown2770]

Awesome vids !!! Keep em coming

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

Josh Poop thanks

[@captlost]

Me and my brother both have caught the largest flathead of our lives (one year apart) at the same spot (Point Park in Parkersburg WV) just seconds after a barge had passed by, mine was 45 in. and my brothers 42 in., just love fishing for flatheads, gonna start fishing for them from a boat this year hopefully it will produce more flattys. Love your videos and happy fishing,

[@e1tonymzmz617]

good. Video thanks

[@keithkratzer2913]

I don't know if it's true but I've heard from a guy that fish will follow boats especially barges because the splashing from the paddles put oxygen in the water and the fish can breathe good around them.

[@complaintdepartment8617]

what bait would you recommend using?

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

N0TH1NG_L3FT cut bait works the best for me

[@scottgrizzle5879]

I live in southwest va ,and I fish the clinch river ,and we have miles of river with a train track no more than 100 yards away from it ,and often I get a train bite ,I don't know what it is about it , but when I hear that train I always pay more attention to my rods and more often than not I catch fish.

[@101proofplease6]

scott grizzle Spear's Ferry area?

[@scottgrizzle5879]

Jason Crafton yes and also up in clinchport ,just up river from the Speers ferry train trusses where copper creek runs in the river.

[@101proofplease6]

scott grizzle nice. never fished that area. always wanted to. but my buddy in duffield loved fishin the sprees ferry area. ive had a lot of success there. wish I still lived in SWVA. I miss it. thanks for replying.

[@dannydouglas4986]

Steve, I noticed that in the Intracoastal waterway also, you get a bite when a boat goes by, I'm like you, I don't know why, but I like it!!!, maybe the sound stir's them?!

[@OlJarhead]

I grew up on the Ohio in Bethlehem, Indiana. The same thing happens when fishing from shore with the poles on forks. (unmoving) Rain seems to trigger bites also.

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

Dave Stutesman its odd isnt Dave, but ill still take them LOL thanks for stopping by to leave a comment.

[@dereka3341]

The only thing I can think of is that when the barge comes through, the waves disrupt the water so much, that the baitfish become disoriented and pushed in unordinary ways, and then making the baitfish easy pickings for catfish.

[@Jxdum]

What kind of bait you use?

[@carpkai]

Steve, several years ago I was fishing in my buddie's 5 acre lake for channels.My teenaged son and his cousin, kept swimming over our lines. We noticed every time they did this, one and sometimes both, of us would catch a catfish. It got to where we were having them swim over our lines. I think like your barge bite, they were stirring things up, and maybe causing our cut baits to move around a little,and getting them noticed.I never get upset when a boat goes flying by me when I'm shore fishing for cats.Seems like their wake stirs thing up and the fish start biting nearly every time. Small scale barge bite!

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

carpkai thanks for the comment

[@jamiemickelson2081]

i live in Oregon and fish the Columbia river in and around the mouth for white sturgeon and salmon, this mystery seems to hold true for our fisheries also . you can almost call your take downs when the ship traffic rolls by

[@โจเจ้าะแจ้ะ-ฮ1ฌ]

Verygood

[@bittybadass6376]

Ur videos are the best. Have u ever fished the Mississippi area around st.Louis ?

[@timothysappington976]

I live along a what I call a shallow river the majority of the river is 2.5- 8 feet in depth at the deepest hole of water is 22 feet depth in the 10 mile stretch I fish I like to wade in the water while fishing for small mouth bass because the water is shallow I can wade a couple miles up and down river never getting over waist deep but I have noticed that when boats come by I can cast my bait right behind the boats up stream whether it be a soft plastic craw, or 4 inch curly tail grub I can catch a nice fish almost every time. I have come to believe it's the fleeing of bait fish and injured minnows and such in turn triggering the natural chase response causing a miniature feeding frenzy for 15-20 seconds after the boats pass. My theory anyway and by the way you're awesomeness of the respect you have for fish is on the highest of levels. Keep on Catching Catfish for the best Catfishing Channel on youtube and I will always be a devoted fan.

[@keithearnhart2074]

I was always told here in Arkansas it's because barges will carry grain and stuff that'll fall off or stick to the boat or whatever. Bait fish follow them as well. Then I'm guessing the vibration in the water gets their senses all worked up kicking up stuff in water.

[@MrDonohuea]

Yeah I'd say its the wake, basically making the bait jig. However it may also have to do with the vibrations the barge puts out. So first the cat feels the vibrations on its lateral line, kicking its senses into overdrive. That causes it to kick into feeding mode, and the jigging bait is easy to spot.

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

rhodesain hunter thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment

[@davidcombs5468]

I believe it's the frequency of the motors

[@onebaddj]

happened to us on the intercoastal water way in pcola florida to.

[@tommycash9]

When I was a kid fishing for cats, they would always bite when a train went by. There was a busy track right alond Lake River in Ridgefield Washington.

[@bradnickel7586]

the props churn up the bottom which distributes food(freshwater mussels, crayfish etc.) throughout the water column for a short period and these fish associate the barges vibrating and sound with feeding

[@matthewcross8076]

in my experience, any change in weather or tide triggers bites. not sure exactly why. but where im from, we have big cargo ships come through the river and they cause the tide to momentarily change direction, and it triggers bites

[@TheDbrewer31]

I have no clue as to why those cats bite when a barge goes by, but I wonder if it might have something to do with scaring bait fish away from the barge and the catfish are ready to pounce as they swim in a direction away from huge barges. Just a guess. Awesome videos btw Steve. Catfish are one of my favorites to feel tugging at a line. I almost enjoy watching you catch em as much I like catching em........Almost. Lol. Take care and keep those lines wet!

[@BamaBrian79]

Looks like that 225 was booking it back to the landing. I enjoy the video's and always learning something new.Thanks.

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

BamaBrian79 thanks for the comment

[@scoob0920]

I fish on a very small river compared to the Ohio.About 20 years ago we were fishing about 200 yards down stream from a railroad trestle getting very few bites.After awhile a train came along and we were catching them like crazy for about 10 minutes.Then it slowed back down.I always figured it was the vibration,but who knows?

[@doubled3983]

I sure am glad I found your videos. I've noticed the "barge bite" thing too. I think its cause they stir up the bottom maybe. I fish the navigation canal in Oklahoma. Enjoy the videos, thanks!

[@wadefletcher2007]

I used to work on a sand dredge on the Arkansas river. we could catch fish anytime that we were pumping. I think its a matter of how much food gets stired up that makes them bite.

[@deathtoliberals7843]

Anyone that ever had an aquarium will know why. You stir up the bottom and they go into a feeding frenzy. They have learned to associate the noise with enhanced feeding opportunity.

[@johnpupa5472]

The barge bit is from the rocking of the boat by the waves. It makes ur baits move and induces a bite. Happens to me all the time.

[@tomwaitsfan84]

Maybe the bouncing of your boat combined with the added current of the barge creates a unique action on the floating bait that triggers bites. Something closer to a wounded or fleeing baitfish rather than just a piece of dead cut-bait floating through the water column.

[@jeremiahkeen7268]

I agree with the last comment I also think that the wake pushes bait fish an otherwise in active fish go into a feeding frenzy trying to swallow what they can they like a easy dinner. An thanks a lot Steve for all of ur videos u have taught me a great deal about big blues

[@brucebussert4983]

Years ago when ice fishing was still good on Lake Champlain we always got excited when a train came by, feeling that the train stirred the fish up and caused the fish to turn on. This was in the southern end of the lake where its only a half mile or less across and the train is fairly close to where you are fishing. Maybe we just imagined it but it was fun and gave us something to look forward to. Unfortunately the trains didn't come by very often, especially on weekends.

[@RxDrUAMS]

I've always thought it was because of the sound the prop makes. I used to spear fish a lot when I was a teenager. I noticed when boats would come by the fish would get agitated. Fish that would be afraid to approach me before, are now swimming closer to me. I could hear the boat props turning in the water from a long way off. Only way to describe the sound is like a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeee. I've caught and speared a lot of fish when boats pass. I thought I was the only one who wonder that same thing.

[@MARKHAMBERLIN]

There is a saying on the river that tows move big water. If you were in a narrower area you could see it better. When the tow comes by it pulls water to it from the bottom and away from it on the top of the water. It it essence rolls the river, similar to a lake at the end of summer.

[@arthurritchings363]

what kind of boat you got there sir?

[@npcwill283]

I have a spot above a dam with a few railroad bridges over it just north of the dam.I have experienced a similar pattern when trains pass by.

[@adambeckett6348]

In Chesapeake Ohio the fish on tackle store they sell frozen shad

[@TAGreen-nt2xm]

I think it has something to do with the sonar on the tugs, or maybe as the tub goes by, the waves, underwater propulsion, could be stirring up forrage, which makes fish active to eat

[@dustyreed2289]

We have the same thing in Arkansas. The fish bite when barges and trains go by. Our theory is that the crawfish feel the vibration and start to scurry then the other fish get after the crawfish.

[@semosurvivalist]

Stirs up the water. Smaller fish also follow boats. This is true in oceans also.

[@jerrymaulden9805]

Steve, I'm subscribed... have been for some time now. I like yer show... I like yer Barge bites... Tears my heart out! watching you turn-em back, releasing-em Them Oh I don't know twenty-five pounders, so pretty and blue. I understand why... So others can enjoy catching em. It still tears my heart out. Man-aise a whol lotta cat on em bones being released right there. We need to go fishing... Oh yeah! the reason I'm even here...Bargebites I suspect it is because the fish are anticipating the baits getting cut up the barges into smaller pieces than they prefer...

[@kevinguthrie466]

Barge bite is caused by habit. Barge runs through schools of shad making a chum. Puts them into a temporary feeding frenzy.

[@martymac5372]

Steve, what is that red thing you have clipped to your belt, and pick up and push the buttons on, trolling motor remote? I have a Minnkota 55 IPilot. It has a remote that you wear on your wrist. Do you use your trolling motor to slow your drift? As always fantastic video. Talk about calling it lol.

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

yes Marty its my trolling motor remote. i use my trolling motor to pull myself when there is no current like in lakes and ill use it in current to slow me down. like in this vid.kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXvPhWqLndSraZI

[@chadlegereit8304]

Fish might bite after a barge rolls by because their feeding habits have grown to recognize the sound and they associate it with cut fish from the huge prop. They might even follow a barge looking for falling cut bait. Thats my guess.

[@terencegillespie6675]

I can see that 225 is a lot faster than your new tub and quieter engine.

[@all-starbaseball.fishing9805]

I think the current from the barge moving by pushes all the bait in the area toward the boat/bank. Just a theory

[@bergbryce]

Great video. I used to notice the barge bite effect when I was bank fishing on the Ohio. I think it's because it gives the bait some movement, like jigging. Thanks for showing how to let that fish get decompressed properly, stand up job.

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

bergbryce thanks

[@chuckscherer951]

Grew up in Ironton Ohio. That is no joke! Barge Bite!!!!!!!

[@jakestarr8419]

Ok Steve you got several things happening... first off the wake from the barge rocks the boat creating a jigging motion with a consistent motion... second off as the barge is moving it's spooking the schooled bait fish upstream and to the sides that the cats are chasing... thirdly those props on those tugs kick up mud and all kinds of things, which does several other things like stirring up food, making the water more murky decreasing visibility for bait fish, plus mixing warmer surface water down into the colder water... there is a lot that happens all at once... next time try some live crayfish kept in a jar with come clam juice... scent and movement is the main key in murky water... which makes properly hooked newts and salamanders awesome bait too if dipped at least in clam oil.... they LOVE clams... bait fish follow the clams that filter plankton... why clam scent is a BIG deal in secret fishing bait recipes ;)

[@jakestarr8419]

+Jake Starr i could give you more tips i use... but then there would be nothing left for me to catch :) but if you caught what i was saying... catfish associate clam scents with bait fish which equals omg dinner is served... primal thought process creatures... you can bet if i see clam runs in the shallow water... i will be fishing that area senselessly and not just for cats... all predator fish know this... try for bass or walleye sometime near a bed of clam runs... most especially near a spring fed creek outlet with eddy's...

[@gregsimon3014]

It must be something to do with the bait moving rapidly in the water.

[@onebaddj]

we always figured it was because it stirred up the bottom.

[@mikelbhardin7202]

they do the same thing here on the chickamaga lake In Tennessee crazy but it happens

[@davido8941]

It's like slapping the water with an oar to stir bass up. Sometimes it's a charm for bigger fish.

[@christopherescue8645]

me and my friends love barge bites, we fish alot on the kanawha river in wv for cats and carp. we get excited when we see a barge coming by. and we also asked why we get bite when they passed. and older gentlemen was fishing nears us. and told us that when the barge comes by and causes river wakes. the wakes spook the fish and they move with the wake.but who really knows. Happy Cat FISHIN

[@garyanddoris6022]

The best I've been able to come up with is that big schools of fish follow these barges and other boats just like walleye always bites behind the boat , and I think big schools follow this stuff and just hits everything that looks like baitfish...

[@chriscurry7384]

the actual reason this happens is all the vibration in the water sends the fish into panic mode and they eat as much as possible so they can hide from whatever scaring them longer (in this case the vibration in the water from the barge is whats scaring them because they think its something bigger thats gonna try to eat them).

[@1980cantrell]

Love ur vids, big fan I've been using cut bait in a canal in belmont ,nc and I've noticed when I dip it in "" fish oil"" I bought at Walmart I get a car every time. I don't know what's in it but u can use anything for bait as long as u dip it in that fish oil....You ever use any?. Also. You have any tips on best way to catch channel cats?

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

David Cantrell david i always use fresh cut bait when looking for fish, ive never tried fish oil. and that would probably also be my tip too. use fresh cut bait to land the bigguns.

[@joeogle7631]

id say the bait follows the barges.. and then when it goes by you, your bait gets moved some and releases some more scent.. i have also noticed the bite turning on when a train goes by, in the river that is..

[@redneck31082]

It rocks ur boat and make the bait move around and it kind of simulates a bait getting away even if you're using cut bait. It a primal instinct in all fish. Eat to survive. Ive had catfish checking out my bait right at my dock but not bite, but when i start to move the bait away, WHAM. It also kicks up other food that catfish eat. They fallow ducks and geese to fet the bread they dont get which is why i alway have a catish rod and some bread whenever i go fishing on the river.

[@southernfriedkayakfishing4613]

Perhaps, just perhaps, with the boat bouncing more because of the wake from the barge, it gives your boat a different presentation than the simple drift look. But then again, maybe not..... Patch

[@WaywardSoul85]

I'd say it probably gives the bait a little action and coaxes the fish into biting.

[@johnmcook1]

I would assume they stir up the bottom,the fish know this is a good time to forage for food . Being all the stuff on the bottom has been has been stirred up

[@TheCountryboy79]

no barges around here but at the lakes where thers is a lot of boat traffic I notice the bite will pick up when a boat comes close by me . Must wake them up or if the fish just get use to a boat going by and running over some bait fish .

[@dwmedley06]

Don't know about a "barge bite" but i know when we go deep sea fishing we would fallow the shipping ships and cruise liners the fish seemed to fallow them in hope to eat the waste the boats leave behind. They throw their scrap food over board. May be the same thing going on here. I know next time i fish the river ill give it a try.

[@konaboss83]

I’ve had a large marge bite after bar closing time I’m not proud of it but I gotta own it 😬

[@rebelrenegade1584]

I always heard that it puts oxygen in the water and the fish go crazy

[@charlescain7962]

The wake makes the boat bounce and jig the bait???

[@inthegreenetv4936]

Barge bites lol...I use work on them barges,and let me tell you something.We use to throw alot of food in the water.My old captain use to say the fish would follow the boats for a little ways looking for a free meal. Don't know how true that is,but I use to take my fishing pole to work and when we had lock delays, I would fish.And I would catch catfish after catfish on bread and hotdogs,because that was the only bait I had....hope that helped

[@jerryd270]

Do you ever try to target the barges? Locate a barge and find a piece of good looking water ahead of the barge and get set up. After the barge passes and the barge bite is over then run ahead of the barge, find another piece of good water, get baits in the water, and do it again. Just repeat throughout the day. This would keep you on fish that are feeding all day. I'm not sure if this would work or how easily it could be done because iv never fished big rivers with barges but figured it may be worth a shot. May burn up a lot of fuel.

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

jerryd270 ive seen guys chase the barges during tournaments but ive never caught a big fish with the barge bite so its not worth my time to chase them down in tournaments

[@Musky37373]

When I was a kid in the knife river in North Dakota we used to man the poles when a boat went by maybe they get nervous and hit from the sound.

[@cynthiareed8239]

it is indeed the waves. I often will rock my boat when fishing is slow and will often induce a cat to bite. you don't have to have waves.

[@ryanwhite4433]

Steve, It been my experience that the tugs pull and displace a tremendous amount of water when moving in the river, the more shallow the river the more water the tug moves, similar to water pressure in varying pipe sizes. When barges approach, the water being pulled down the river also pulls bait fish and other species down the river. The predatory fish recognize this and take advantage of the food sources being stirred up.

[@wolfpackflt670]

My theory on this: when the barge passes by the fish on that side get scared and move towards your side and see your bait and grab it as the fish is moving around

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

wolfpackflt670 thanks for the comment

[@sethmorton8539]

Stirs up food from the under tow and current pushing them is why Mississippi river near st louis where I river fish

[@marshallhurt8814]

Nice video, enjoy watching it! That barge could have gone slower thats crazy how fast he was going.But it seem to help u catch some cats thou.Maybe it going by gets the bait fish go and then the cats go the bait fish.Keep the videos coming.

[@cool_hand_luke97]

we use to have the same thing happen crappie fishing.they say when a boat came through .it would push the fish out of the channel.they would swim in to our bait.it is to do with depth and water temp

[@JohnDoe-ct7fk]

I think it has something to do with the movements of sediments from the barges wake, this probably makes the food stir up and move around allowing easier access to whatever is washing down the river.

[@eliharrell4318]

when the bargecomes by the rod will bounce and they will hear the weight bouncing off the bottom and they hear the noise plus the bait it stirs up the bait

[@kpickett7730]

I think it's the vibration from the barge that agitates them and their natural reaction is to hit anything in site. Also the movement of the baits from the wake catches attention I'm sure. Just my opinion lol

[@pennywise3381]

I think it does something to the prey the catfish feed on. Makes them school, easier to pick off, just a thought.

[@hunteranglerwv3353]

Ever fish around wheeling wv on the Ohio river?

[@greenpea9412]

OK so I have a theory....... Either them barges stir up the bottom and get em looking or maybe the rocking of the boat up and down kinda jigs the bait and they attack!!! What do ya think?

[@ronking5123]

steve, have you ever thought of making something that duplicates that sound and project it into the water.sound travels under water better than out of water. remember the show with flipper how they called flipper in. just a thought but it might just work

[@Duck01740]

I think it is all the waves are moving and they're the puled up a little and they see food and they eat it,and then you get them

[@nathankacey7071]

I think it is because your boat is bobbing so so is your bait its kind of like your jigging your bait so the catfish find it more desirable if it is moving or maybe the catfish are riding the waves in kind if like in lakes/oceans

[@sdic0rkyz]

Your bait moves around alot and the current is easier on the fish most of them just travel down the river with the barge but the fish that are all ready in the area notice your bait from the massive pull from the barge it pulls the fish around as well I fish on the bank all my life and I always try to cast down river from the current so when a barge comes it has lots of room to drift my bait and good job on the videos I look out for them every day they help alot sometimes.....

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

***** thanks for the comment

[@scottyboy7804]

the only conclusion I can come up with is when a party barge comes across somebody fishing it's steers up the little fish and the big fish knows this so they follow the barge four little fish to be spooked and when they come across on a bait that looks like a smaller fish that is on a hook they attack that is the only solution I got I hope this is some good information

[@jeffsmith350]

Your bait is going up and down. Kind of like bumping the bottom . While drifting.

[@mikekilroy8991]

I know they hate loud noises

[@garyanddoris6022]

One thing I will say is there's something really wrong with the weather and getting worse...

[@Gman6755]

Love your videos and I like how you are concerned for the health of the fish you catch. Never knew that about cats getting out the air in them before they come up. Thanks for sharing that.

[@SteveDouglastheCatfishDude]

thanks for stopping by

[@jenniferberry5445]

you are a very good sportsman take care of the little ones and you will have big ones to catch later

[@pocketsproductions8825]

Wish I could fish like this but I can't