Both lakes would be large enough (Rocky Fork is 2,080 acres and Caesar Creek is 2,830 acres), but the determining factor became the structure of the dam. Apparently the fish management folks think too many fish are lost through the dam at Rocky Fork. Whatever happened to all those stocked muskies?
The large dam at Caesar Creek Lake discharges water through the bottom of the structure. Normally one might not think that would be true for retaining catfish, mostly bottom dwellers.
But blue cats are different from their channel cat cousins. Blue cats normally hang out in the middle to upper part of the water column, according to Rich Zweifel, inland waters program director for the Division of Wildlife.
He said the plan for Caesar Creek is to stock 20-fingerlings-per-acre or approximately 56,600 fish.
“We will have to see what kind of (hatchery) production we get, but that’s the plan,” Zweifel said.
Hoover Reservoir, near Columbus, has been stocked with blues for several years, Recently, a 30-pounder was caught. Biologists figured it has been growing at about five pounds per year after attaining a certain size.
Dale Broughton was a little surprised at that figure, but thinks the growth rate might be slower in the Ohio River. Broughton has been guiding catfish trips on the Ohio out of Cincinnati for more than 20 years.
Over the years, Broughton has boated more big blues than, perhaps, any man alive. So I asked him: what’s his take on blues being stocked at Caesar Creek?
“I think it’s great. They did a study in Kentucky that showed it takes 14 years to grow a 23-pound, 35-inch blue,” Broughton said. “I’m surprised about the 5 pounds per year, but in a lake setting with plenty of shad, that could be.”
How do you catch them?
“I use a large chunk of cut skipjack or shad. Sometimes it takes two or three chunks of shad,” Broughton said.
Women's weekend: The fifth annual Ohio Women's Outdoor Adventures weekend will be Aug. 24-26, at Deer Creek State Park. The event includes boating and paddlesports in addition to numerous outdoor education and athletic activities. A detailed listing of the weekend's events is available by visiting watercraft.ohiodnr.gov/owoa.
Registration opens on May 15, at 12:01 a.m. It is open to all women, including girls 12 years or older who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. The cost is $300 per person and includes lodging and five meals. There is room for 120 women to participate, and registration fills up quickly.
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