“There is something about getting the fish at the end of a pole,” said Mike Clark who is originally from Ashland County. Clark taught himself how to fish at a young age. He fishes for recreation and for food, in and around Richland County, because he is usually working within the county.
His favorite spots include the Pleasant Hill spillway, Clearfork River, Black Fork River, Charles Mill by the marina, and Clear Fork Reservoir. When asked about specific spots in these locations, he said, “I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you.” Fishing spots are dear to fishermen’s hearts and are unlikely to be revealed, unless one is a family member or close friend.
One of Clark’s favorite fish to catch is the catfish. He usually fishes for these near Charles Mill Lake by Molly’s Cheese House off Route 603. To prepare for catfishing, Clark catches fresh creek chub for bait, and freezes them. When he is ready to use the bait, he lets them thaw out, cuts them in half, hooks them, and casts. He lets them sink to the bottom of the river and waits for a bite, usually late at night off the shore.
Clark also loves to eat fish. Therefore, when asked to talk about how he likes to prepare his fresh catches, he divulged some helpful information for those looking for ideas on how to prepare fish to eat. He does not hold prejudice to different kinds of fish, and he has trouble in letting go the small ones when they are not large enough to eat.
Here are some of Clark’s tips on how to eat different fish from the area:
Bluegill: filet and descale, saute in butter in a skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Musky: special recipe for beer batter. Check out this recipe here.
Perch: filet and descale, saute in butter in a skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bass: batter in egg, flour and Old Bay seasoning.
Trout: leave whole, stuff the inside from the stomach cavity with butter, onions and garlic cloves.
Catfish: filet and descale, saute in butter in a skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sometimes he prefers to beer batter them.
Ohio requires all fishermen to own a fishing license when fishing on a public body of water. There are also regulations and limits. This information can be found here.
