Salt Creek a must-have in '10

[mikem]

One float I was really hoping to take but didn't in 2009 was Salt Creek, located in Ross/Vinton counties. Eco Angler had told me enough about this smallmouth/muskie stream that I really wanted to see it for myself. Unfortunately time got away during early summer and I didn't make it down.

This past weekend I was deer hunting down in the Tar Hollow area and got several nice glances at Salt Creek during some pre-hunt scouting. The creek runs just east of the state park through some land owned mostly by Mead Paper Company and a few farmers. The creek looks good. It is small, for sure, probably running about 50cfs on the day I was there. But it runs through rugged country and had some decent rock in it through the sections I was looking at. I started thinking about a float - fish - hunt possibility thru there as well.

Add to this that a Columbus Dispatch article in maybe October said Salt Creek one of the most pristine and pollution-free waters in the state, and let's just say I'm hooked! Has anybody out there been on the Salt? More importantly, anybody else want to scope it with me this spring???

Ok cya later. Hope I do get my chance. Dreamin' of spring,

~mike

[Eugene]

I'm curious. I don't find much opportunity to fish or work in that SE corner.

[ecoangler]

Mike,
I gladly offer some suggestions for access and angling on the Salt. Its been a couple seasons since I've visited that water.

The Middle Fork is noted for it muskies. as is Gregg's Bend. Smallies are hot in April/May. We've landed a few stream walleye and big shad.

Its a great small stream to float & wade before late June.

Note that the underbrush along the stream has a population of wild pigs. They are hunt club renegades and domestic hybrids.

[huntinmup2]

HELLO I'M NEW ON HERE...... I WAS BORN AND RAISED CLOSE TO SALT CREEK AND HAVE FISHED IT FOR 25 YEARS...... A GOOD SMALLMOUTH CREEK... I'VE CAUGHT A FEW OVER 2 1/2 POUNDS..... BUT MOST FISH ARE SMALL

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[Eugene]

Welcome, huntinmup2, and thanks for the assessment.

[sciotoriverangler]

Welcome huntinmup2!
Your experience for that creek will be greatly appreciated! We had a great TOSA meeting Thursday even if you weren't there! take care!

Yeah Mike, let's get together for the salt creek trip!

[ecoangler]

With the weather you are having you need to get on the Salt soom. After late may you will be out of water.

Normal effective patterns include safety-pin spinner with jig and grub tail, jig & grub, tubebait, smaller suspended minnow crank, wee craw.

Concentrate between Laurelville to Richmondale.

For you river muskie guys the confluence with the middle fork is a holding area for big muskie.


I'm exploring a Salt Creek, Clear Creek and White River in Indiana.

[ecoangler]

mikem
How did the scouting trip go on Saturday?

[mikem]

Well my buddy SciotoRiverAngler wasn't available for a float but I did go on down for some scouting. I started scouting at Laurelville and followed the creek all the way down to Route 50. The creek looks really, really good, although it was down, with holes few and far between in the upper section. Down around Dixie Mills Road/ 674 it looked really good, although yes the creek was still down and spots deep enough for big fish were still some distance apart. My next trip, unless after a significant rain, will be from Dixie Mills or even Route 50 south towards Vigo/Richmondale.

Along Dixie Mills Road I got out and went down to the river. Unfortunately I was pinned up at a deep bend in the river. Have you ever stumbled into a new spot and suddenly realized you're standing right where the fish are? That was my situation Well I waded down a bit and managed to get across the river, walked upstream for about 1/2 mile until a good rain started. I headed back to my original location and hit the hole really good from the sandy beach on the other side.

A bass magnet crankbait in crawdad pattern produced 3 rock bass, then 2 spotted bass, then finally 2 smallmouth. None of them would have broke a 12" ruler but considering the downpour I caught them in I wasn't complaining.