* 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
Mad River
As you can imagine, the Mad is super high and dirty right now. The good news it that it looks like it has crested here this afternoon. The bad news is, there is more rain and then snow in the forecast.
As things stabilize and the river does start to drop, look for some good to excellent streamer fishing. Also have some black stonefly nymphs as the fish are seeing these guys as they crawl out of the water to emerge. We usually don't see the fish eat the adults but might not be a bad idea to have a few with you just in case.
It's also time to start thinking about the coming hatches. Some #14 Pheasant Tails or your favorite Hendrickson nymph should start working well and will continue through the hatch in early April. Also not a bad idea to have some smaller, BWO/Baetis type nymphs along as well. Might not catch the big fish on these but surely will catch some fish.
For those that got out over the beautiful weekend, the fishing reported was good to excellent. Streamers down low, nymphs throughout and we had some folks catching fish on dry midges in the upper river.
Keep your eyes on the gauges and we'll let you know what we hear and see.
Clearfork River
The Clearfork has also come up today with the rains. The upper is blown and they just a bit ago opened up the dam and the lower is unsafe levels as well. May be a day or so depending on how much more precip we get here tonight and tomorrow.
The good news is that the river has been fishing very well. We continue to get good reports from both stretches but especially the upper. As the water comes down may try to get up there with some big streamers and see what happens. Also been some winter black stoneflies hatching along with the typical midge activity for this time of year.
We'll try to let you know as things change but if we don't, feel free to call the shop.
Clear Creek
The creek is up and raging as you can expect. Hard to say when but we'll keep our eyes on it and let you know. In the meantime, here's a report that Ryan wrote yesterday before the rain started:
The big melt off sent the snow and ice on its way down to Athens. Friday night into Saturday the creek crested at around 1100cfs! That was the biggest push of the year and has moved some structure around for the good. The flows are still a little off colored and at pushing 45 degrees it is streamer fishing the heads and tails of the deeper winter pools. With the higher flows a light sink tip not out of the question.
If the run and gun stripping streamer game isn't your thing, then pull out the little black stones. When the water is off colored as it is in the coming days we focus on a little bigger stones like two Bear's Stones in tandem.
This rain and snow coming in the next few days is going to mess up the fishing, but everything should clear out by early next week. Looks like a little cooler weather so it will be back to nymphing.
These fish aren't big, but the scenery is what sets the Hocking Hills apart!
Erie Steelhead
Well...turns out that our "Big Time" winter mode from our last report was shorter lived than expected. The good news is that the ice has left the streams and we are looking at getting the season going....again. Bad news today is that with all of this rain and snow melt, the streams are raging. It will be a few days at least before we get back at it but when we do, we expect banner steelhead fishing throughout the region.
Folks that did get out last weekend just as the ice was clearing did report gangbuster fishing. We had killer reports from the Rocky, Chagrin, Ashtabula and Conneaut. All seem to be pretty full of fish and this water here will bring more. The Vermilion has still been a bit murky and even more so now but we are anticipating good to great fishing there as soon as things clear.
We'll try to let you know as things stabilize and we get back out there.
Anybody interested in fishing the Muskegon in a month or so? We have a few spots open on the Muskegon River Lodge Trip, March 27th- 30th. Two days guided float fishing, fantastic lodging and gourmet meals? What could go wrong?
Click Here for the details, dates and pricing on these trips.
Folks that did get out last weekend just as the ice was clearing did report gangbuster fishing. We had killer reports from the Rocky, Chagrin, Ashtabula and Conneaut. All seem to be pretty full of fish and this water here will bring more. The Vermilion has still been a bit murky and even more so now but we are anticipating good to great fishing there as soon as things clear.
We'll try to let you know as things stabilize and we get back out there.
Anybody interested in fishing the Muskegon in a month or so? We have a few spots open on the Muskegon River Lodge Trip, March 27th- 30th. Two days guided float fishing, fantastic lodging and gourmet meals? What could go wrong?
Click Here for the details, dates and pricing on these trips.
Mad River Outfitters
Fly Shop, Guides, Schools and more!
813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
