* 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
Warmwater
Friends- we are looking for any and all reports on warm-water fishing here in the state or region. With the fantastic warmwater fisheries that we have here, it would be crazy not to add something here from time-to-time.
We obviously can't keep up with standard reports for all waterways so we are asking you folks to send us reports and pics! We would appreciate it and we know that are readers will as well.
Send pics and reports to admin@madriveroutfitters.com. If you include your address, we'll be sure to send you out one of the MRO "Fly Fish Ohio" stickers so you can show your Ohio pride.
We got a nice report this week from friend and customer Chris Schalz:
"Not a trout report, but the Olentangy fished well. These three came on consecutive casts. Solid fish. I'm 6'4" and each of these fish had a head the size of my fist. Have a good one!"
- Thanks Chris and no need to apologize. As you probably know, we love to fish for trout but we are not trout snobs around here. We love fish of all kinds and relish the diversity that Ohio has to offer the open-minded fly angler!!!
* Most streams in the Central Ohio region should be looking good for the Holiday weekend. A few still have some color to them but don't let that scare you. Some of our best smallmouth come out of dirty water each season. They still have to eat!
Mad River
Friends- we are looking for any and all reports on warm-water fishing here in the state or region. With the fantastic warmwater fisheries that we have here, it would be crazy not to add something here from time-to-time.
We obviously can't keep up with standard reports for all waterways so we are asking you folks to send us reports and pics! We would appreciate it and we know that are readers will as well.
Send pics and reports to admin@madriveroutfitters.com. If you include your address, we'll be sure to send you out one of the MRO "Fly Fish Ohio" stickers so you can show your Ohio pride.
We got a nice report this week from friend and customer Chris Schalz:
"Not a trout report, but the Olentangy fished well. These three came on consecutive casts. Solid fish. I'm 6'4" and each of these fish had a head the size of my fist. Have a good one!"
- Thanks Chris and no need to apologize. As you probably know, we love to fish for trout but we are not trout snobs around here. We love fish of all kinds and relish the diversity that Ohio has to offer the open-minded fly angler!!!
* Most streams in the Central Ohio region should be looking good for the Holiday weekend. A few still have some color to them but don't let that scare you. Some of our best smallmouth come out of dirty water each season. They still have to eat!
* Pike fishing has also been heating up the past week or so. It's always fair to good but the next few months should be fantastic. Here's guide Josh McQueen with the largest of the season so far. Stay tuned for more as Brian, Pat and Josh are headed out this weekend for a dry run on "Pike Camp" which you will be hearing about real soon. BTW- anybody interested in a pike trip with Josh or Pat please let us know. The jet boats are tuned up and ready to fish!
* Cottonwood Seeds have been falling the past few days! The un-official start of Carp season!!!! Things should really start heating up with them here also. Send us pics and reports if you get out and get some eaters!
* Seems that alot of Bass and Bluegill are still on beds but that should be changing here in the next week or so and they should be putting the feed bags on.
Mad River
The Mad is a bit on the low side. We could actually use a shot of rain here and hope that the predicted storms tomorrow come true.
That being said, the lower water is providing some good to excellent dry fly fishing. We have been blown away the past few weeks at the reports of bugs and rising fish that we are seeing and that folks are reporting. A fantastic dry fly season for a change.
On any given day right now you could see March Browns, Light Cahills, BWO types, tons of Caddis and of course Sulphers. The Sulphers are now running more the #16 variety and we did have some reports of the Dorothea #18 popping the past few evenings. Most of the bug activity will be in the evenings but you could see March Browns popping in the late afternoon. As we have been saying though...stick around until dark and have some Rusty Spinners with you! By far the most concentrated feeding activity of the day will be right before dark!!!
We are also on Brown Drake watch! Big time! No confirmed sightings yet but with this warm/hot weather we are experiencing, they should start any day now. For sure have some Brown Drake nymphs in the water during the day and watch for bugs. The tough thing about the Drakes is that you COULD see them at 10:00- 11:00 a.m. just as easily as you could from 8:00- 9:00 p.m.! Hard to tell with them but more likely closer to dark and again, be sure to have spinners. We often have Duns and Spinners feeding the fish at the same time and it's a sight to behold when it happens.
Our friend and customer Clay Sommerfelt sent us this report from Sunday:
" Friends, I fished all day yesterday on the Mad and it was only till the last 10 minutes that it turned on (for me at least). LONG, LONG, LONG day on the Mad yesterday (6:30 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.) I shuffled around quite a bit though and fished with some different people. Fish started rising around 8:30 p.m. and sulfurs seemed to be the hot ticket. 8 fish between family and friends, but nothing shark size"
Clay Sommerfelt on the Mad Sunday.
Also be aware that Birchbark canoe livery opens this weekend so be prepared for the "aluminum hatch" as well.
Just a reminder also that we are open normal hours tomorrow and will be closed on Monday to celebrate the Holiday.
Get out there and enjoy the weekend and let us know how you do!
Clearfork River
The Clearfork is a bit on the low and clear side, but just like the Mad, should provide for some good to excellent dry fly fishing this weekend. They have dropped the park water to super low levels which is surely in preparation for picknickers and swimmers down there this weekend. Probably better to think about the upper unless you are only planning on fishing early or late.
A super mixed bag of bugs here just like the Mad. A few March Browns still around, tons of Caddis and midges, smaller sulphers in the evenings and good numbers of Light Cahills showing up as well. Best activity will be in the evenings and most reports this week have been fish eating caddis pupa and dries in the late afternoons. A few folks did really well on Light Cahills close to dark. Be sure to have some Rusty Spinners of course as the spinner falls right at dark have been excellent and tons of fish up sipping them.
Could see Brown Drakes on the CF at any moment also so be prepared. A Drake Nymph is a good bet right now if you don't see fish rising. Better yet, fish the nymph with a green soft hackle behind it!
Get out there and enjoy the weekend and let us know how you do!
Clear Creek
Clear Creek is also on the low side but has been fishing pretty well. Good reports from anglers throwing dries as well as nymphs. A pretty varied group of bugs but the focus seems to be on the caddis. March Browns and Sulphers have been around but not in huge numbers and the fish are definitely geared towards caddis and some on midges. Probably going to be a busy weekend down there in the park but don't let that stop you. Better than sitting on the couch!
Jimmy 31376 wrote us this week:
"Hope all is well. Fortunate enough to get in Clear Creek this morning before work got in the way. Saw a few rising including one who took an Elk Hair Caddis. He was roughly 11". Managed to get one other to hand who went about 8". Only bugs I saw were tiny and tan. They were everywhere. Makes me think I need to go home and tie up some tan gnats on #24's or maybe even 26's. Underneath the EHC I tried both green and tan midges but both fish in hand were hooked by the EHC. Three others got off without my consent. They were hooked in riffles and I don't know for sure if they ate the midge or the EHC. Thanks for all the help. I gotta get to your next entomology class!!! What is your guess about the tiny tan bugs? Andy idea what they were and how/if I should fish with an imitation of them? The only thing I could think of was a tan griffith's gnat."
MRO assistant manager Ryan Ratliff wrote back:
"Glad you got down that way. This is my home water and I know/love it well. There is a consistent midge hatch all year down there. Most of what I have been seeing are very small caddis in tan and grey. I would focus on using a size 18-20 Elk Hair Caddis. Griffith's Gnats are also a great cross over pattern. Below the surface swinging soft hackles can also be fantastic. We will keep everyone updated but keep your eye on the water temps. Once things get to 70 degrees and low flows I will typically stop fishing until Fall. The fish just can't recover with the lack of oxygen. Feel free to call with other questions as usual anytime"
Erie Steelhead
Lake Erie smallmouth fishing is going strong and should continue for a few weeks here. We do have guides out tomorrow so hopefully some pics and reports.
The water in the region is a bit on the low side, but that usually doesn't bother the smallies as much as it does the steelhead. Just might need to be a bit more stealthy and maybe switch to smaller streamer patterns.
Should be a great weekend for smallmouth fishing around the state but of course we LOVE the Erie tribs when the lake fish are in!
Send a report and photo....get a sticker. Make sure to include your address to send to.
Check back tomorrow afternoon for an update.
Mad River Outfitters
Fly Shop, Guides, Schools and more!
813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
