Open water fishing can still be excellent

Dick Martin

It may be the dead of winter, but that doesn't mean there's no longer open water fishing to be had, and some of that fishing can be excellent.

Lake Erie steelhead streams are iffy sometimes because with occasional long spells of bitter weather they're likely to be frozen half (or clear) over sometimes, and trout streams like the Clear Fork likely have the same problem. But fishing below the lake dams for saugeye will soon be humming along, and an anglers chances of filling a stringer are good if he or she knows what they're doing.

When will it start? As soon as we have a few good rains or some serious snow melt that will fill our lakes and reservoirs enough to require releasing water.

river water fall dam

The basic rules for catching those fish are simple and are as follows:

1. Do your fishing as early as possible. Saugeye typically move upstream at night and are stopped at the dam. Those fishing at first light can skim the cream, while those arriving at 10 a.m. or whenever will find lean pickings.

2. Know your water flow. Those who control the dams always let extra water out when the lake behind fills unduly. Those surges of water downstream stimulate fish to move, so a day or two after a release is prime time.

3. Remember that saugeye are bottom huggers, and don't like to fight current. Those in mid-stream will be hiding in depressions, behind rocks, little reefs or other current breaking cover, so it's vital to have your jig with twistertail or live bait nearly bumping bottom. Many anglers will bobber fish and slip a sinker onto the hook, then cast out, adjust the float, and cast again until they've got it right.

4. Change positions. Don't keep casting to the same spot like a metronome. Cast far out, then closer in, then move upstream or down.

5. Add some flavor to your hook. Saugeye can spit a bait quickly, but they'll hold on longer if there's a small minnow, piece of worm, or some commercial bait on the jig hook.

6. Finally, don't forget the water near your feet. There are usually eddies near shore, and saugeye like these. Rig one rod with a float and live minnow and let it swirl nearby while you cast the other. If it produces only a single fish, that's still one extra.

There are a good number of saugeye waters, enough that one should be within easy driving range. Starting from north to south, the tailwaters of Charles Mill Lake have produced many a saugeye and there's plenty of parking and easy fishing access.  Territory below Pleasant Hill Lake not far away is a little tougher to reach, but some whopper fish have been caught here and there might be a bonus of brown trout. There's usually enough parking space.

Those who like to drive and explore will find some of the best saugeye fishing in the state around Columbus. Deer Creek Reservoir is possibly best. There are good numbers of fish here, really excellent access for at least a quarter mile below the dam, and plenty of parking. That's a good combination. Hoover Reservoir tailwaters would run a close second with decent parking and reasonable access. Much of it is wadable with care, which allows good water coverage and lure control, and there are plenty of current breaks that can be thoroughly explored.

Alum Creek Reservoir has good access for a quarter mile too, parking, and water that's  uniform in depth for easy fishing.  And Griggs Reservoir has a decent tailwater fishery, not in terms of numbers, but some quality fish. Elsewhere, Indian Lake often produces some excellent below dam action. The stream isn't too wide, but lots of fish are caught. Parking next to the lake, then a modest walk down to the water will bring you to decent, though not great access.

And don't forget the Muskingum River dams, and some of the Ohio River dam tailwaters. It sums up to lots of choices and lots of fishing, and it's going to last for weeks and weeks.
