* Please remember to call us for more up-to-date or detailed information! These reports are not meant to be your one and only, daily source of information. They are typically general, even seasonal type reports and we currently don't have a set schedule as to when we update. Please, just because we don't update as often as we like, it doesn't mean that we don't care.
There are many different approaches you should take in order to get a good game plan for a trip or a day of fishing. Also remember that things change and these reports are what we know at the time of posting only. Keep in mind that we do express opinions and personal preferences from time-to-time which may be different from yours or what you may read elsewhere. Thanks for checking and don't forget to call us if you need any further information or a more up-to-date report. 614-451-0363
***THANKS for all of the reports and pics this week friends. Although we can't use or reference all, they are appreciated. Keep them coming!***
Mad River
3-25-16- Weekend update- The rain last night did bring the river up a bit but it should be looking perfect for the weekend. For those looking to throw streamers, the lower river should be in fantastic shape for this....especially tomorrow. With the front and the chill in the air we probably won't see bugs for a few days but sounds like Sunday will be a sparkler so maybe a chance. Otherwise, we'll be back on "Henny Watch" 1st of the week.
***Thanks again for all of the pics and reports friends. We'll do our best to get them up here and on Social next week. Great to see the sense of community this Blog is creating!!!!
3-23-16- BREAKING NEWS! Hendricksons on the water yesterday!!!
Good numbers of bugs spotted yesterday around 3:00 p.m. and fish were responding in a big way. Quite a few folks reported good to excellent dry fly activity for a few hours. No reports of spinner falls yet, but it's already time to be thinking of evening fishing. Although it's hard to say what will happen with the cooler temps and precip expected the next few days, it's safe to say that Spring is here....and it's early. (It's been many years since we have seen Hendricksons in March).
The upper river is in perfect shape for dries and nymphs and the lower river still has enough flows for larger nymphs and streamers. We are expecting a front to move through tomorrow with quite a bit of precip so we'll see what happens over the next few days. May put the kabosh on the bugs for a few days at least. We'll try to update on Friday for the weekend but for sure...word of the day....Hennies.
Shop rat and guide Ryan Ratliff was out on the Mad yesterday with young Jack Tjarden and his father and wrote up this little blurb:
Happy Jack on a guide trip with Ryan!
Eigth grader Jack Tjarden made the most of his Spring Break this week by giving his skills a little boost on the Mad. It was a cold windy start, but Jack soon had his mending, roll casting and even the single-hand spey stuff perfected by the time the midges were coming off thick. After seeing a few fish rising to midges we pulled out the Tenkara rod and Jack fell in love with the simplicity and ease of casting. As the day was starting to come to an end we found some more consistent rising fish. At closer inspection there was a good Hendrickson hatch starting. Jack was quickly introduced to the selectivity of the Mad's inhabitants! Combine selectivity, complex current seems and 30mph winds things got pretty challenging...well down right frustrating! After watching many beautiful takes only to find too much slack in the line or a gust blew some line into the brush Jack finally had a fish to hand! His dad had to drag him off the water or he would have stayed there all week... Great time out with a young man who has a love for the outdoors and is a natural at the spey style casting! It is good to see our next generation with a love for fly fishing!- Ryan
Also got this note from Arthur Wolf:
"Thanks guys for all your help. Pulled this brown out of the Mad River on Friday. It's my 2nd trout on a fly!!"
Clearfork River
3-25-16- Weekend Update- The Upper did come up enough to give us that streamer water we were looking for. Get out there!!! They did raise the lower a bit as well so it should fish well. Keep your eyes on the gage though as they might open her up a bit more tonight or tomorrow. Regardless, looks like a great weekend of fishing ahead. Keep your eyes out for bugs!!! Should be some BWO types and Hennies popping soon.
Thanks again for all of the pics and reports friends. We'll do our best to get them up here and on Social next week. Great to see the sense of community this Blog is creating!!!!
3-23-16- The upper Clearfork is looking pretty good as we speak, maybe getting a touch on the low side. The lower is...well....pretty low. We could use this rain that looks like is going to hit tomorrow and into Friday. The lower stretch especially needs a bump.
Once again though the upper has been producing some fantastic fishing. Those willing to chuck big streamers have been rewarded big. Once again, Josh Snyder sent us these photos from Sunday:
"Got out on the UCF this morning to toss some meat. Fish were eager to chase! They wanted it as fast as I could jerk-strip it. Number of decent fish to the bank, including these two!" - Josh Snyder
No word on any bugs yet...and probably not going to happen this weekend, but with Hennies popping on the Mad the past few days they can't be far behind on the Clearfork. Keep and eye out for Caddis as well and surely arm yourself with some caddis larva patterns. They will be key food along with the #12-16 mayfly nymphs.
Let us know if you get out!
Let us know if you get out!
Clear Creek
3-25-16- Weekend Update- The Creek is in good shape....just enough bump in flows that you might consider throwing some streamers. We did have some good to great reports the past few days and seems that the season is starting off great down there. We did get some hats and stickers out to those that have contributed and we'll get the rest out 1st of the week.
***Thanks again for all of the pics and reports friends. We'll do our best to get them up here and on Social next week. Great to see the sense of community this Blog is creating!!!!
3-23-16- Clear Creek is looking good right now and fishing has been surprisingly decent. We'll see what the rains the next few days do for the weekend but we are hopeful we can get out.
***Thanks again for all of the pics and reports friends. We'll do our best to get them up here and on Social next week. Great to see the sense of community this Blog is creating!!!!
3-23-16- Clear Creek is looking good right now and fishing has been surprisingly decent. We'll see what the rains the next few days do for the weekend but we are hopeful we can get out.
The big story here is our friends Elliot Cantwell and Justin Shiflett.
Last week we challenged folks to get out on Clear Creek and send us some reports/pics. Well....Elliot and Justin did! We'll let them take over here:
"Saw your report on clear creek and thought I would send you a report. Fished the last three days with good results, numerous fish per day with a few bigger than average. Nymphed consistently and caught most fish on a 16 grey hare's ear, bed head hare's ear, or dark grey scud pattern. Fish were in deeper holes half the time but picked up the fish above ( one of the nicest) in a thigh high run. Black caddis coming of sporadically Monday but no rising fish. Thanks for being an awesome shop, ordered from you guys a couple times. Hard to find in Ohio"
And yet another report from today:
"Today resulted much of the same as last week, some bwo coming off and a few winter stonefly but no rising fish. The drop and water temps seemed to slow things back down. Grey hares ear and scud patterns took most fish. Here's some pics, will be out tmrw let you know if anything changes"- Elliot Cantwell
And from Justin:
"Since my bracket was busted, I decided to go try my luck for the first time at Clear Creek. Threw some streamers around looking for larger fish, but no luck. Caught plenty of the smaller guys on smaller streamers and nymphs. Decided to snap a few photos to share because, well, who doesn't love a free hat? Thanks for pushing me to try a new spot."- Justin Shiflett
Thanks Elliot and Justin for taking us up on the challenge and delivering. Free hats and new MRO/Ohio stickers are on the way to you guys. We really appreciate the participation and support.
Erie Steelhead
3-25-16- Weekend Update-
The V did shoot up overnight but has crested and will probably fish well tomorrow and for sure on Sunday. It will be a little dirty but probably good swinging water. This water should have brought some really nice fish in. We look for the V to be hot here for a few weeks.
The Rocky and Chagrin are pretty high and off color but should be fishable for the weekend. They have both been fishing pretty well this week and should continue and maybe even get better.
The Grand did come up to where it might not be the best choice for a few days. We'll have to see what happens overnight and get some eyes on it. As soon as it does start to drop to safe levels....get out there.....she's packed with large, fresh fish. This weekend though if the main stem is too much, try the tribs.
The Ashtabula and Conneaut didn't get much. The Ash is a bit low but may still be worth trying. The Conneaut has been good but it's pretty clear. As the weekend rolls on it may get tougher as the water drops. For sure lighter tippets and more subdued colors are on the menu. Could have used a push of water but we'll see what we hear over the weekend.
****Thanks again for all of the pics and reports friends. We'll do our best to get them up here and on Social next week. Great to see the sense of community this Blog is creating!!!!
3-23-16- As we speak right now, we have several guides out on the water today having "Epic" days...to say the least. For those of you that follow us on Facespace or Google or Twittergram etc. you know what we mean.
Here's just a taste of the day that Stephen Was had today:
The V did shoot up overnight but has crested and will probably fish well tomorrow and for sure on Sunday. It will be a little dirty but probably good swinging water. This water should have brought some really nice fish in. We look for the V to be hot here for a few weeks.
The Rocky and Chagrin are pretty high and off color but should be fishable for the weekend. They have both been fishing pretty well this week and should continue and maybe even get better.
The Grand did come up to where it might not be the best choice for a few days. We'll have to see what happens overnight and get some eyes on it. As soon as it does start to drop to safe levels....get out there.....she's packed with large, fresh fish. This weekend though if the main stem is too much, try the tribs.
The Ashtabula and Conneaut didn't get much. The Ash is a bit low but may still be worth trying. The Conneaut has been good but it's pretty clear. As the weekend rolls on it may get tougher as the water drops. For sure lighter tippets and more subdued colors are on the menu. Could have used a push of water but we'll see what we hear over the weekend.
****Thanks again for all of the pics and reports friends. We'll do our best to get them up here and on Social next week. Great to see the sense of community this Blog is creating!!!!
3-23-16- As we speak right now, we have several guides out on the water today having "Epic" days...to say the least. For those of you that follow us on Facespace or Google or Twittergram etc. you know what we mean.
Here's just a taste of the day that Stephen Was had today:
Hopefully we can get Stephen to write something up about his legendary experience with MRO guide Josh McQueen today.
As you can see, Ohio Steelhead fishing is absolutely on fire. It seems that the past few days things have just lit up...and lit up chrome....even despite the mostly low and clear creeks. We are finding large numbers of large fish in the streams. Some drop backs but plenty of fresh fish as well.
The problem is, the waters are mostly getting pretty low and we are hoping for the rains tomorrow and Friday to freshen things up a bit. Depending on how much rain we get, the weekend and 1st of the week could again provide Epic fishing.
Most fish have been caught on small nymphs and egg patterns. The more subdued colors have been working better than the bright stuff...especially in clearer water. Black Stones, Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails and the like have been good and we have had to go to 3X and even 4X tippet to get takes. That should change with a bit of rain here. If all goes well, we should be back to swinging some big and bright stuff for at least a few days.
The Vermilion has really turned on and is getting pretty clear. A bit of rain will do this creek wonders and it should fish well moving forward. The Chagrin and Rocky are getting a little low. Don't get us wrong, you can still go catch some fish, but this rain will help alot. Conneaut is on the low side and super clear, but folks have been doing very well but reports of the fish being a bit spooky. A bit of rain and it will turn on again big time! The Ashtabula is just too low right now and not really conducive to fishing until we get some more water.
The big news is that the Grand has come fishable in the past few days. It has been the hot ticket as you would expect. We really haven't been on the main stem at all this spring but we know that the feeders have been full of fish. Hopefully this rain won't completely shut it down for weeks again and we can get right back out there. Fishing the Grand River in the Spring is such a treat!
We'll keep a close watch on the rain coming in and try to get a report up for the weekend. In the meantime, we'll hope to get a story out of Stephen Was about his day today.
Mad River Outfitters
Fly Shop, Guides, Schools and more!
813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
