HELP! OH, PA, erie tribs

[ttas67]

Ok, this is a really broad question. In a few days, I have to drive my mother to Columbus, OH for a week to visit some family. I would like to take off for a few days and find some phenomenal fishing somewhere. I am willing to go anywhere within a 3-4 hour radius of columbus, OH. I live in TN, so I'm not interested in fishing too far south. I'm thinking N OH or W / NW PA. I have gear to cover almost any type of situation.

I have never fished in this area and am having trouble finding info, other than steelheading stuff during the cooler months.

anyone have any useful ideas?

[jimmadsen]

Check out the BUFF Group (Buckeye United Flyfishers) - they have info on the Mad River which is right by you in Columbus - http://www.buckeyeflyfishers.com/

There is also a TU Chapter for the Mad River and they have maps on their site as well - http://www.tumadmen.org/index.html

There is also a great fly shop there that will have info about the local waters - http://www.madriveroutfitters.com/default.aspx

And don't forget to hit the Fly fish Ohio site for more info - http://www.flyfishohio.com/index.htm

Good luck!

[joe cool]

Stop in Mad River Outfitters and they'll be able to send you in the right direction. For trout your only real options are the Mad River west of Columbus or the Clear Fork, both are stocked with browns and maybe some rainbows in some stretches, otherwise you'll have to make the drive to PA. For warmwater you've got all kinds of options. Big Darby Creek has some great smallmouth fishing, as do parts of the Scioto River and Big Walnut creek. If you want a chance at a musky check out Alum Creek Reservior. Everything I named so far is within an hour, maybe hour and a half max from Columbus aside from the PA trout, less driving means more fishing. Or you can drive all the way up to Erie and fish the main lake or the tribs for smallmouth and whatever else is biting. There are supposed to be some great carp opportunities down around Columbus too, I just haven't found them yet. Really depends on what kind of fishing you'd like to do.