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
Mad River
USGS Gauge- Urbana
USGS Gauge- St. Paris Pike
Mad River Map
Frequent contributor Joe Olivas with a a nice little brown from the Mac-O-Chee earlier this week.
The Mad did get a nice bump in flows with the rain early last weekend but is right back down to where it was. On the low side. That being said we have been getting some decent reports this week.
The Upper river as well as a few of the feeders have seen some decent dry fly activity on midges. For sure have some with you, especially if you are up North. If the dries aren't on you MUST have midge larva and small nymphs. Of course, the fish are gorging themselves on #18-20 midge larva so have some Brassies or Red Midge Larva and fish them along the bottom below an indicator. Also reports of smaller attractor nymphs like Copper John's working well especially in the red and chartreuse varieties.
The middle and the lower river have mostly seen fish caught on nymphs. Either go really small or really big. The midges and small attractors will work but don't overlook the larger stuff like Craneflies, Bitch Creeks or Big Nasties etc. You could be rewarded! We are still looking for our Fall "Streamer Season" to kick-in but that's not to say that you can't catch a fish on a streamer. Just might want to go with something a little smaller and go a little lighter on the tippet. Smaller buggers, muddlers and the like can catch some fish for sure. Again, not to say to leave the sink-tips and articulated flies at home but still not yet "game-on" for the big stuff like we are used to this time of year.
Let's hope for a couple of days of good rain in the next week or so. Fishing will remain good on the Mad of course through the winter but some water would help.
Thanks for reading and we should be in touch next week.
Clearfork River
USGS- Upper Clearfork
USGS- Lower/Mohican State Park
Clearfork Map
The Clearfork did get some water last weekend and a bit here during the week. The upper was not affected much but the lower did get a bump yesterday afternoon. Not much but should be enough to turn things on for the weekend.
Although we have had some decent reports from the upper stretch, you will probably see a few of us on the lower this weekend. Things should get cranking pretty good there with a chance at some larger fish.
If you see fish rising, it is probably the recent little guys that they put in and they will be eating midges and pupa at or on the surface. The larger fish will come more on nymphs and streamers. Might even consider an egg/nymph dropper rig. That often produces decent results this time of year. Throwing a bit streamer through some of the deeper holes is a pretty good idea also.
Get away from the covered bridge and you'll probably do better, especially if you are looking for a bigger fish.
Stay tuned and let us know how you are doing out there! We'd love to get some customer Clearfork photos up here!
Clear Creek
USGS Gauge
Clear Creek Map
A bit of precip this week did turn things on a bit but the Clear Creek is still pretty dang low. Not low enough to stay home but just not what we are used to this time of year. We are mostly fishing small nymphs and streamers and catching a few fish. Nothing much though reported this week other than the usual 9-11" variety.
With the weather predicted this weekend you should see some surface activity on midges. This can be a blast on this small creek. Have some Griffith's Gnats, Bryan/Ryan Midges and the like. If you don't see fish rising, try some small midge larva below the surface.
Of course, dragging a small streamer through some of the deeper pools would be your best shot at a larger fish, especially as you get closer to where it dumps into the Hocking.
Thanks for reading and we'll stay in touch!
Erie Steelhead
Gauge Links and Maps
Angler Fred Rosenberg from Cleveland on a guide trip today with Josh
We did get some precip the past day or so and it has brought the streams up. Also precip combined with some snow melt today and things are looking up. The good news is that the water is more plentiful than last weekend and looks like we have fish moving.
The bad news is that the Grand and Conneaut are out for a couple of days and on the rest of the tribs we didn't quite get enough and what it did was bring a bunch of leaves off the banks and choke the water a bit. Several of our guides today said the leaf matter today looked like the 3rd week of October! Made it hard to swing a fly so the method of the day was nymphs and eggs under an indicator.
The Vermilion and Rocky are still pretty low. Anglers scouting the Vermilion are just not finding fish yet and pretty much haven't all Fall. The Rocky of course has a few here and there but has not been on fire as of yet. Same with the Chagrin, although it did come up a bit, and was hot earlier, we are not hearing of big numbers of fish.
The Grand is out for the weekend and will be early to mid next week before it fishes...maybe a pinch earlier but surely out for the weekend. The Conneuat may fish on Sunday but we'll see. If we don't get a report up, please give us a call. Regardless, when they do fish, it could be EPIC!
Hot picks this weekend might be the Elk, which of course has alot of fish and fresh fish, if you are willing to fight the crowds. The other would be the Ashtabula if you are willing to fight the leaves that this rain brought off the banks.
We did hear from guides this week that although your standard fare nymphs were working, they were starting to find some fish eager to slam egg patterns. Typical...go with more subdued colors in clear water and brighter colors in stained water. Good sign though if they are willing to take eggs....more fish in the system.
We'll try to throw a Steelhead Update here on the Blog as we know but if we don't....feel free to give a call. We have guides on the water daily right now and customers in-and-out so we are keeping close watch.
Thanks for reading and be sure to click on the "Steelhead Central" page to view the gauge heights, view maps and for some links to "Cool Steelhead Stuff" on our web page.
Mad River Outfitters
Fly Shop, Guides, Classes, Schools and more!
813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
www.madriveroutfitters.com
614-451-0363
