I'd go ahead and try a 1/8 oz jig with a 3" baitfish-colored twister or swimbait. Smallmouth and saugeye in there along with surprise catfish and wipers. Good luck.

 

I don't know what's been floating down the Scioto these past several days north of O'Shaughnessy, but it's the ugliest I've ever seen it in almost 50 years. Came here thinking surely someone had put some sort of alarm out, but don't see a thing posted.

 

I don't know what's been floating down the Scioto these past several days north of O'Shaughnessy, but it's the ugliest I've ever seen it in almost 50 years. Came here thinking surely someone had put some sort of alarm out, but don't see a thing posted.

Yeah, this is probably the worst year ive ever seen on the Scioto. Frankly im not sure what to make of all the muck. Only thing i can think of is all the sediment from the Prospect dam removal washing downstream, can anyone verify this?

 

Yeah, this is probably the worst year ive ever seen on the Scioto. Frankly im not sure what to make of all the muck. Only thing i can think of is all the sediment from the Prospect dam removal washing downstream, can anyone verify this?

Was wondering the same. Worst year for me in 7 years.

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I think that it is related to the dam removal. There was a lot of sediment behind that dam. Mile after mile worth. Ever since the removal the river north of Oshay and Oshay itself has been way muddier than normal. It does not ever clear up anymore. Hopefully after a couple years it will return to normal.

 

The Olentangy River has been mud all year. It's been raining too much. About 4 or 5 years ago the month of June was nothing but rain and the fishing just stunk that year. The typical reason why seasoned anglers have really good and bad years relates to the weather.

 

O'Shaughnessy has been unfishable for saugeye since May 6th. I've witnessed mudslides there before, but I've never seen a toxic one, and that's what this has devolved into if I'm not missing my guess.

In the early 80's, the channel depth across Butts' Corners was close to 20', with a broad expanse of 16-17 foot water to either side. Today it's about 6 foot across the whole width. The area north of the Home Rd Bridge is one half its depth of 30 years ago.

Though the toxic flotsam (have any of you actually seen this crap?) coming down the Scioto may be attributable to the Prospect reservoir, it's not the sole cause of the mud slide. Mill Creek has kept pace with the Scioto for brown water this Spring. Too much rain, too much "development" and untrammeled farming up to creek banks.

 

The Olentangy River has been mud all year. It's been raining too much. About 4 or 5 years ago the month of June was nothing but rain and the fishing just stunk that year. The typical reason why seasoned anglers have really good and bad years relates to the weather.

It does not ever clear up anymore.

Im no stranger to rainy springs/high water, but this Spring, for whatever reason has been beyond bad (when it comes to clarity). Biggest change i've noticed is that even when the river drops to like "Low" levels it is still just plain muddy. In years past it is almost always green/clear once it gets down low, but not this year, something is definitely up.

That said the fish are still biting/feeding heavily, but still wish that water was just a touch clearer.

 

Exactly. I'm no stranger to heavy rains and high water either. It used to clear back up in a week or two. The last two years it has stayed muddier than normal for extended periods.

 

The Upper Scioto always tends to be muddy. The first time I scouted the Upper Scioto, I asked myself, "Why is it so muddy?" It was the middle of summer without much rain, and it was ugly muddy. This year it is muddier than usual because there is more rain than usual. It would be less muddy overall if good farming and drainage practices were followed.

The river fish are not biting as well there for the same reason that they aren't biting anywhere...they aren't biting.

If your creek is muddy, they aren't biting is because it is muddy. If your creek isn't muddy, they aren't biting because of something else. All I know is that the fish aren't biting. Maybe they will bite tomorrow, but maybe they won't because the water is muddy. If it isn't muddy, I don't know why they aren't biting. Maybe the water is too clear. Maybe it is too muddy.

 

I fished north today around prospect, not much action 1 decent smallie and 2 little guys. Not muddy at all but extremely tannin stained, I'm used to a little tannin coloration but this was bad. Idk what's going on. Might have something to do withy the dam being gone? Also noticed ALOT more silt in areas that were never that bad before.

Kind of a high jack here, does high tannin levels cause fish kills? Saw 6 dead cats a dead gill and 1 crappie! I was only there a couple hrs and saw all this. Also the area I was fishing was a honey hole. I usually get at least 10-12 nice smallies from this area and have had 30+ fish days here. And only got the one today makes me wonder what's going on

Put that in another thread too but I'd figured I'd throw it in here too, and stream stalker I agree above oshay it does stay more stained but isn't usually as bad as this year. I have fished this section of river for almost 20 years now and it's bad. And I agree farming practices aren't helping but farmers didn't change the way they do things in the last coue years. Doesn't explain the sudden change in the way the river is behaving this year. We did have more rain early this year but haven't had all of rain recently here on the north stretch.