The Portage River

[Heinsman]

Apologies in advance for posting my questions in this forum, but I posted this question in the general forum and didn’t get any answers so I’m hoping I can y’all might be kind enough to help here. I’ve been away from the area for a number of years but am excited to be back around Erie and looking forward to fishing her again very soon. We’ll be running up the Portage from a mile or two south of Route 2 bridge.. I hear a lot of horror stories about depth or debris problems, especially early in the season. I’m running with 20” draft if it helps. Would appreciate any insights about getting to the open water- is it navigable? Do I run risk of bottoming out? Also, if anyone has any info on the train drawbridge, thanks for that too. Appreciate any insights, thank you and tight lines!

[Bankangler]

Welcome to Port Clinton. You should be fine running the Portage River as long as you stay in the channel between the jackknife bridge and lift bridge.
For the jackknife bridge, put this number in your phone and when they answer you must tell them you are requesting them to open the bridge on the Portage River. They control 3-4 bridges and need to know which one. 419-254-1539.

[Heinsman]

Bankangler- grateful for the info. Exactly what I needed and was hoping to hear. Cheers!

[Bankangler]

Glad to help. Once you travel the route a few times you can call and the bridge can be open when you get there if there aren’t any trains coming. I’ve sat there for 45 minutes or longer when train traffic is heavy.