Hey guys. I moved to Central Ohio a couple years back, from Minnesota. The difference in fishing culture is drastic to say the least. Not to say there aren't some dedicated anglers around here, but its just not the same. In MN, you can't walk 10 feet without a decent sized natural lake coming into view, even in downtown Minneapolis!
Anyway, I'm starting to get my boy out fishing. Most of the stuff around here is man made ponds, or reservoirs. What ive noticed is that there are no real predators to speak of. Every pond and reservoir is essentially bluegills, perch, and catfish. Maybe some bass, here and there and thats it. Theres a reservoir that stocks saugeyes about an hour away, but thats the extent.
I guess my question is, why aren't there more predators? I'm used to at least small northern pike, if not muskie, in every lake. Most places are not even big on bass? Is this just an northern midwest thing?
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by reasonableliberty
What reservoirs are you hitting? I can't think of any around me that don't at least have some bass. Check the fishing section of
ODNR's website. They've got maps of most of the bigger lakes and reservoirs, along with survey numbers and species for each water.
Probably nothing like Minnesota, I haven't seen a pike around, but there are definitely bass, walleye, sauger, and even a few Muskie.
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by HandsomeB
I think you're underestimating just how predatory catfish become once they eclipse fifteen or twenty pounds. Flathead catfish are incredible predators. Blue cats are no slouch themselves.
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by jswledhed
I think I might be too. I'm used to just the river cats where I'm from.
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by reasonableliberty
The pike and muskie are just found farther north. They are both a cooler water fish. Northern ohio is about the farthest south they are found naturally. It looks like they used to stock some rivers and lakes, but they haven't since the population seems to be sustaining itself now. Here are the locations where you can find pike, they might be a little bit of a drive for you though.
The muskies are still stocked each year. I can't copy and paste that one as easily so I'm going to just give you the link there. It looks like the muskies might be easier for you to find since it seems to be more spread out.
Muskie-
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/fishing/fishing-tips-by-species/northern-pike#tabr3Pike-
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/fishing/fishing-tips-by-species/northern-pike#tabr3This is the pike locations below from the link above.
Northwest Ohio
Maumee River (between Grand Rapids Dam and Waterville)
Lake Erie (East Harbor, West Harbor, and Sandusky Bay)
Northeast Ohio
West Branch Reservoir
Mosquito Creek Lake
Cuyahoga River (upstream of Cuyahoga Falls)
Tuscarawas River (upstream of New Philadelphia)
I'm in Northern Virginia, so I'm in about the same predicament that you are. Bass, sunfish, and catfish everywhere but that's about it. They stock a river with muskie, a lake with muskie, and a lake with pike within about an hour to an hour and a half of me. There are some good places here, but its as the southern end of the state surprisingly.
Browse that ohio link though, you can sort by species and it will give you fishing tips and information and where to find the species you are looking for. Best of luck to you.
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by DarkRyok
Wow thanks for all the information. I guess I never thought about the water temp. I'm admittedly learning as I go outside of my native habitat. That was really my big question. Its not so much that I want to go after them, I was more wondering why they didn't seem to be a rampant where I'm at.
I should have known to just consult the DNR resources, but I appreciate you pushing me in the right direction.
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by reasonableliberty
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