Scioto Question

[alberts11]

Hi all.

I am working on a project at OSU on the Scioto, and am wondering if anyone can give me an idea about the quality of fishing in the lower section (Chillicothe area mainly). The habitat looks pretty nice, but we haven't had enough time to get a line in the water.

We will be electrofishing in the next month or so, and will find our answers, but I figured it might be worth checking out on here beforehand.

Any info is much appreciated.

Jeremy

[Eugene]

Greetings, Jeremy. I can't claim to fish that stretch, but I have done some research there myself, albeit very briefly. I'm curious about some details of your work. Can you share?

I work at OSU. I suspect we may have met. Have we?

[alberts11]

Yes, Eugene, we met last week actually. I was with the group from ORSANCO.

We are working on tracking contaminant flow through the Scioto foodweb and looking at 3 land-use types (agricultural, urban, forested).

[Eugene]

Ha! I'm pleased to meet you...again, and thanks for the carp.

Interesting. Sorry, I have very little to offer in that realm. I was last professionally active on the Scitoto around 15 years ago. We were looking for appropriate paddlefish spawning habitat and trying to document spawn. That year saw some pretty serious floods and the project was aborted.

Best,
E

[Eugene]

PS: I hope some of our southern Ohio regulars find this chat and weigh in for you.

[Kyle Kochheiser]

Jeremy, I have not personally fished it but I got it second hand that it is not very smallie friendly. At least, it doesn't seem to produce consistently. I was told the river is wider, slower and flatter in that area and the catfish love it. I am anxious to get into the stretch from 270 down to Circleville as I have heard it holds smallies and muskies. Now, that is my kind of water!

[alberts11]

Thanks Kyle. We have 3 sites in that section between Greenlawn and Circleville, so I'm excited to see what is there as well. Again, the habitat looks great but you never know. Our sites near Chillicothe have a lot of riffles, runs, and gravel bars, so I have to imagine they hold smallies, but it is pretty turbid down there.

Eugene, that paddlefish project sounds very cool. I wish it would have worked out. It would be a good read I'm sure. I'm going to try and make the Stone Lab lecture at Kottman tomorrow if we are back in time (and I'm not too filthy). Also, you are welcome regarding the carp. We had great fun collecting them.

[Eugene]

Before the plug was pulled, the project did generate one thesis on Ohio River data. Here's one to look up in OSU's thesis collection:

Durkalec, M. 1996. Availability and use of paddlefish spawning habitat in Ohio rivers. The Ohio State University, Columbus.

Mike, the author, is a good friend and now a biologist with Cleveland Metroparks.

I hope you can make one of our lectures. I'll offer my howdy if/when you do. This week's will feature everything you wanted to know about Lake Erie re-eutrophication and nuisance algae blooms. Next week's will feature the threat Asian carps pose to Lake Erie.

[alberts11]

Eugene, that sounds good. I'm planning on attending after we return from one of our Chillicothe-area sites. I looked up the thesis and will have to locate a hardcopy or microfiche in the library. I was lucky enough to net a big paddlefish last summer on the Ohio during a survey. They are amazing fish, and I really enjoy reading about them.

[ecoangler]

I have a little experience between Circleville and Chillicothe.
You will find anything and everything under the sun (& water)!!!
Bass, sunfishes, muskie, gar, catfishes, carp, pickerel, drum, wipers, etc.

Good luck with the shocking! Lets us know what you find?