* 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.
* For sure, the news of the week and what everyone is talking about: CICADAS!!!! Providing some HOT fishing especially in the Eastern and SouthEastern part of the state.
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.
* For sure, the news of the week and what everyone is talking about: CICADAS!!!! Providing some HOT fishing especially in the Eastern and SouthEastern part of the state.
"Folks if you aren't fishing cicada patterns you are seriously missing out. Southern Ohio is on fire on top water. Spent several hours today being dive bombed by these critters. The bite is fantastic. Bass and bluegill by the bucket fulls. Also hearing the carp are eating them up also on several big public lakes. The pattern doesn't have to be complicated. Pretty much orange on bottom and big thick black on top. -Rob Compher"
* Carp season is also in full-swing and lots of reports of good to great fishing. We also have Mulberries throughout the state and the fish are responding. Watch the Blog here during the week for some info on Mulberry fishing.
Friend and customer Michael Kohr on a guide trip Sunday with Andy
"Caught a nice 11 pounder on the Mulberry, Muzzy is on fire. This is Michael Kohr's first Carp ever. Landed a couple nice fish. Fishing has been great and trips booking NOW!- Andy Jensen"
(Join Andy for "Carp School" at the Muzzy Lakes Club- Saturday, June 25th- info Here)
Our own Ryan Ratliff proving that he's deserving of his new Tenkara "Pro Staff" designation. "TENKARPA"
* Warmwater fishing throughout the state has been fantastic. You name it......largemouth, smallmouth, pike. It's great to be a fly angler in Ohio!!!!!
Kevin Lottes with a nice Olentangy smallmouth caught on an Enrico Puglisi Yellow Peanut Butter
* Keep the reports coming folks! Over 1,000 people per day now visting this Blog.....
Mad River
The Mad is getting ridiculously low. Hard to believe with all of the rain we had in May, but it's just getting worse. We desperately need a blowout here!
Big news this week is the Brown Drakes.....or lack thereof we should say. After kicking off strong the 1st part of June there, they came and went pretty quick. Had the 1st sightings on the 2nd and 3rd....and a few folks had good to great fishing. Then, by Monday and Tuesday, they were pretty much gone from the middle and lower river. A few sightings over the weekend in the Upper river but not much. Brian guided on Tuesday and did a late trip in hopes of catching them but not one spotted. You might still see a few in the upper river the next few nights but it is probably safe to say that they are over.
The good news is that there are plenty of other bugs around and in certain areas, the fish are responding. The Light Cahills have been pretty strong the last week or so. They have been coming off in the early evenings, then followed shortly by the #16-18 Sulphers. Fish have been eating both but seem to be more focused on the Sulphers. Also tons and tons of caddis around, especially in the evenings. Make sure to have a good selection of larva, emergers (soft hackles) and dries as Caddis will be the hot ticket for a while here.
Also time to start thinking about ants and beetles. Had a few anglers report great fishing on #12-14 black ants. Won't be long and beetles will become your most important fly as well!
Hope for some rain and here's a few pics and reports from customers this week:
"Hello, I stopped in on 6/11 to get some insight and pick up some supplies before heading to the Mad on Saturday afternoon. I fished up and downstream from the 36 bridge, from about 2:00PM till 8:00PM. Fished nymphs for the first 2.5 hours, switched to drys after that.
Observations:
1) a lot of recreational traffic on the river (paddlers, tubers, swimmers)
2) saw some caddis flying around approx size 16
3) saw some mayflies (sulphur) most size 18 some maybe 14
4) occasionally saw rises in the afternoon, had one fish hit on a caddis, that was about it
5) I never encountered any thick insect activity, but I may have left too early (8:00)
Ended up being a slow day, but please thank Pat for passing along some great insight on strategy, technique, and location. I will definitely leverage that info going forward. Thanks! I've been an online customer for awhile now, but had never previously had the chance to stop by the shop.
Omar Moneim
Frequent contributor Ed Muldoon has been out in full-force the past few weeks looking for bugs:
"Fished Friday night had huge spinner fall, small bugs primarily, and no visible rises, and fished until after 11. Below Dallas. Took fish on nymphs in pocket water, caddis larvae and pheasant tails. Today 94 degrees and took this guy and a friend just as big far downstream of Old Troy Pike. Turkey biot caddis larvae, both of them high sticking. Another massive spinner fall and crazy amounts of caddis below Dallas this evening but again no obvious rising to spinners. Never saw another drake. You think they're still there?- Ed"
Clearfork River
Despite the low water, the Upper Clearfork has been fishing pretty well and dry fly fishing in particular. Most activity is in the evenings and has been on Caddis and Light Cahills. Although we haven't had many reports from customers this week nor have we had a guide up there in over a week, we find it strange that we have had no reports of Brown Drakes. Anybody see any Drakes the past week on the Clearfork?
A few anglers also reporting doing very well on caddis larva and pupa patterns, which is to be expected. Also time to start thinking about terrestrials with the warm weather we are experiencing.
The lower stretch is pretty dang low and starting to get warm. Might want to think about chasing smallmouth and carp down there. Not to say that you couldn't catch a trout or two, but it may be tough here for a while until we get some rain. Keep your eyes on the water temps too....surprisingly high for this time of year.
Clear Creek
A few reports this week of decent dry fly activity in the evenings, but also some scary reports of low water and high water temps. Actually got up to 76 degrees the other day and only down to 64 in the evenings.
Unfortunately, we might want to think about fishing elsewhere until this changes. That's pushing it, even for brown trout, and it's probably best to leave them alone until we get some water and the temps come down a bit.
Try the Hocking for smallmouth!!! Have had some reports that it has been smokin' hot. Water is super clear too and folks talking about sight fishing for big smallies and carp.
Erie Steelhead
Still some good to great Lake Run smallmouth fishing to be had in the region. Water is low and clear and most of the good fishing has been in the lower parts of the creeks. Reports of good to excellent topwater activity.....big fish slamming Boogle Bugs. What could be better?
Also had some reports of the Carp fishing up that way turning on this past week. The fish are off spawn and on the hunt for food. Carp in the lake should be getting good too here.
Obviously, steelhead reporting is over for the season but we are already planning the attack for Fall. Stay tuned...we have some cool steelhead events lined up!
Mad River Outfitters
Fly Shop, Guides, Schools and more!
813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
