I wouldn't drink it.

 

I wouldnt eat a single thing out of there, in fact I think that all of ohio water is polluted and not safe for fish consumption so the fish should be threw back.

 

My grandpa keeps every crappie he catches and he has caught a ton over his 86 year old life span out of many Ohio lakes. I would say they are safe to eat. He is living proof. He eats fish at least twice a week.

 

I've lived here since '84. I've eaten a ton of fish from local water, lakes, rivers, etc. So has my kids and grandkids--more than 20 years, and no one has ever gotten sick or had anything but a full tummy from them. That's bass, BG, crappie, trout, catfish--don't eat carp, and never CAUGHT anything else--but they've all been "safe", apparently. They sure make my grown kids and grandkids "invite themselves" for dinner! I don't take many--usually only from very highly populated waters and not more than 2-3 times a season, but they've all been fine. That's my experience.

 

I won't eat from the Ohio River, Scioto River (unless above the zoo), or the Oleantangy River (unless above Columbus). All other waters are open game. But I don't keep fish much. I am 90% C&R. But I do eat Crappie, Walleye, Sunfish, Perch, Salmon, White Bass, and Trout. I don't eat Largemouth Bass or Smallies because I like to C&R them for another day. I don't eat Catfish much and can't stand the taste of carp, even when the vain has been removed the right way, it still taste awful to me. There is no amount of seasoning in the world that can fix that sickening taste.

 

Hey Iteech!
Whatcha bet there's a bunch of us here on OGF that wouldn't eat fish from Ohio river, or others, but will most likely bring about an earlier death from other self destructive behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking, illegal drug use, unsafe boating practices, unsafe driving practices, won't wear seat belt, etc. ?
I'm sure this won't be a popular post, but we all do some pretty stupid things to harm ourselves, families and those around us, but I sure won't eat no dang fish from OHIO river???? Whaddup wid dat?
MHO
LMJeff

 

All of the water is polluted. That goes for the Oceans and the fish farms too.

 

All of the water is polluted. That goes for the Oceans and the fish farms too.

So is the air you breath if you want to go that route.

 

EPA knows better than peoples urban legands. Power to the people not eating the fish though, more fish around for me to catch .

 

True, true. I really don't think the EPA would tell you it's safe if you'd die from eating/breathing it. And people ARE weird, 'ya know?? The folks I know who are germ-phobic or "won't eat anything from that river" or won't even shake hands with you if you've got the sniffles...THOSE are the ones who smoke like a chimney, drink to excess, speed in the car with no seat belts, and go SKYDIVING, for pity's sake!!! That's a scream. But as I've said before, each to their own. Everyone has a personal estimation of danger, and I try to respect that...it's just them, 'ya know? And that's OK...

 

Now I did hear this I did not read this so I don't know if it true or not . All of the drinking water for Cinn. comes from the Ohio River , sure they run it thru a filter system but they also dump raw sewage into the Ohio . Does anyone know if this is true ?

 

Now I did hear this I did not read this so I don't know if it true or not . All of the drinking water for Cinn. comes from the Ohio River , sure they run it thru a filter system but they also dump raw sewage into the Ohio . Does anyone know if this is true ?

lol WOW you just opened up a whole nother topic with that question. I can't answer your question, but we have a few on here that work at these kinds of treatment plants you ask about and they will answer you if/when they read this.

 

I am shocked..only 2 posts about how grandpa has been eating fish from toxic waters X for years w/o any ill effects. Unless you can see into a person's body this is one of the most ignorant "justifications" you can make. Everybody can cite the heavy drinker that never got cirrohsis,etc. but the stats don't lie. If you feel compelled to feed your family fish from polluted waters I feel sorry for them. I have a simple consumption rule - if I have to stop and think about whether I should I don't. And yes I don't shake hands with visibly sick people (who should be smart enough to not extend their hand in the first place).

 

How long did you think about the last fish you ate at a restaurant or bought at the grocery store??? Where did it come from??? The ocean?? Would that be the same ocean that the world dumps its waste into???

 

Keep throwing them back boys so I can put them in my livewell.

 

Your absolutly right,, many water treatment plants pull water from the riverbeds, aquaferrs etc. As well many wastewater facilities dispose of treated wastewater into the rivers all wastewater plants have to let the product go somewhere,, big and small rivers. Be mindful as to the physical locations of water/wastewaster plants the majority of the time there on a river or real close!!!
As well when the river is UP Flooded,,,, many treatement plants are overtaken by the river letting untreated sewage into the river. As well many chemical companies release waste at the time of a flood. In the local area a plant just settled out of court for millions of $$$$$ FOR FISHKILLS during flooding (discharge) ,,,,if it killls fish its not healty for them.
Trust me I salivate to eat Ohio River fish but I just dont do things like that,,,,,,or skydive,,use drugs,speed,beat little ladies.

John

 

I also have NEVER SMOKED!

 

As do most large cities that have a river running through them. It is obviously filtered, treated and sent on its way to the citizens of the city. The intakes are upriver from the sewage discharges but even properly treated water isn't bad. In fact, MSD has mentioned many times that apart from the stigma, their treated discharge is actually safe to drink. I don't know that my brain would allow me to do that but it is true.

The EPA issued some consumptionm advisory changes on some species. Catfish are one of those that changed. I don't eat the catfish I catch no matter where I am- there are better eating fish out there.

I don't trust the EPA always though- too many instances of oversight or plain stupidity have happened in the past. They may be right, they may be wrong.

As for eating fish out of the Ohio, I'd eat any predatory fish such as walleyes, sauger, bass or the like but I would avoid any bottom feeders like cats, white bass or carp. The predatory fish can still accumulate toxins but the bottom guys will build it up faster. Remember, PCB's NEVER break down or go away.

UFM82

 

Cadyshac... its not too hard to figure out - there are consumption advisories for ocean fish as well. What level of risk are you willing to expose your family to for the want of a fish meal? Lots of other less polluted options. Sunfish are far better than predators or worse yet bottom feeders. I am not ever that desperate for a fish meal and there are plenty of other healthier options that taste as good or better than whatever species your are avoiding. Ohio in general is a very polluted state and I am very picky on where and what I harvest. To each his own though.

 

Your right to each his own, but some people wouldnt let a fish go to save their moms life. I am not one of them.

 

http://water.usgs.gov/wid/FS_216-95/FS_216-95.html

link to an explanation of mercury bioaccumulation in fish

 

http://water.usgs.gov/wid/FS_216-95/FS_216-95.html

link to an explanation of mercury bioaccumulation in fish

Interesting read. Nice link. Almost makes me won't to stop eatting meat all together....Almost. I would suggest women not eat fish while pregnant from what I read there.

 

With all the pollutants everywhere, people should stay sealed up in tiny little bubbles to avoid anything dangerous. The air you breathe is much more harmful than a few fish out of a river. For gods sake, look at the beef or chicekn you eat. They are pumped full of testosterone and other chemicals, and live/are slaughtered in some of the most dirty places known to man. Use your heads/open your eyes when crying about eating a few fish.

 

Use your heads/open your eyes when crying about eating a few fish.

I second that...I eat fish out of the Scioto...Not very often..But I eat them without thinking twice...A single meal of "questionable" fish isn't going to kill/harm you...Now for developing kids and pregnant women I would likely reconsider. I'm not sure if it's true, but I have read that you have to eat an unbelievable amount of "contaminated" fish before you risk running into problems...I believe it was something along the lines of 3 meals a week for months/years on end...Anyone else heard that before?

 

Thank God we live in a free country where everyone pays taxes to fund organisations such as the Health Dept. and E.P.A. whose mission is to use their expertise,equiptment,time ,and technology to advise us of fish in some waters that have proven to contain hazardous levels of chemicals. As I said we live in a free country where people choose to ignore warnings all the time and I could care less although I feel sorry for their families who they could be putting at risk.