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A ride up the Ohio River is a fishing trip through work-a-day America.
The rush of wind buffeted our ears as Ted Suffolk and I dashed up the river in search of smallmouth bass. For many anglers, "smallies" are a pinnacle catch. They are well worth the labor to find and catch them in a river known more for its role in the United States' steel and energy industries than as a fishing destination.
Something about engaging a 3-pound smallmouth bass on the Ohio pulls me there even when I know I might strike out. Truth is, however, we never are truly disappointed even when the bass are scarce.
The Bass Cat skimmed the smooth water at 55 miles-per-hour a few days ago, racing to familiar hotspots along the banks of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
But for those who are paying attention, it's easy to see there's a lot more going on than fishing. We zoomed past a dozen or more sites where workers toiled to make certain Americans get what we need.
The way I see it, our Ohio River is proof of the value of the 1972 Clean Water Act. Pushed by America's conservation-minded citizens, including the bass fishing community, the Clean Water Act set important standards for what corporations and municipalities can discharge into our lakes and rivers.
I also see the Ohio River as testimony that industry and fishing can be good neighbors.
As we neared a familiar hotspot along a stretch of Pennsylvania shoreline, I throttled back and the Bass Cat glided off-plane. Before us loomed rusty corrugated steel walls and mooring cells. Up on the hill above the river, conveyors clattered, cranes strained to lift loads of whatever the barges carried and laborers went about their work.
It would be easy to ignore the hubbub. The multitude of potential smallmouth bass hideouts in front of us called for focus. But I always find a bit of perspective in noticing the backdrop around my fishing spots.
I may see deer, turkeys, a marina, a power plant or a refinery. They all are details that are worth stashing in the memory bank.
One trip a year ago comes to mind. We were casting jigs matching the size of the Ohio's baitfish along a rusty wall, on top of which was a crew of workers using tools that made a pounding sound. I had my doubts that bass swam there, but I'd caught fish there on quieter days, so I figured it was worth a dozen casts.
Within five minutes, we boated two smallies that chomped our jigs along the base of the noisy walls. Funny, but I didn't even hear the industrial din when the fish leaped and their bronze backs gleamed in the autumn sunshine.
The scenery was far from the pastoral beauty typically associated with smallmouth bass fishing trips. But it was beautiful, nonetheless.
The way I see it, I'll put up with a lot of grit to pick off a limit of Ohio River smallies.
Jack Wollitz frequently fishes the waters near Warren and Youngstown as he looks for story angles to share with readers. Contact him at jackbbaass@gmail.com.