* 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 as always for reading our reports friends. As the weather gets more conducive we should be reporting more regularly....but we need your HELP!
Send any and all reports to admin@madriveroutfitters and we'll do our best to get them up.
Thanks as always for reading our reports friends. As the weather gets more conducive we should be reporting more regularly....but we need your HELP!
Send any and all reports to admin@madriveroutfitters and we'll do our best to get them up.
In the News
From all of us at Mad River Outfitters!
We are Thankful that you are all friends, customers, and part of the Mad River Outfitters Community.
We hope that you have a wonderful day and we hope to hear from you on this exciting weekend coming up!
Brian, Andy, Pat, Linda, Ryan, Kevin, Judy, Roger, Josh, Cristina, Dick and Rogue
* Somewhat of an abbreviated report here as we are all heading out the door to get the festivities started. We'll try to get more reports up over the weekend.
* Just a reminder that we will be OPEN Sundays through Christmas- Noon- 5 p.m.- rumor has it that we will be running some "Sunday Specials" so please stay tuned.
* Special congrats to Richard Miller from Iowa Falls, Iowa. He was on our Michigan Steelhead Trip last week and scored this BEAST:
Steve and the boys at the Muskegon River Lodge did claim that this was the largest steelhead they had seen in 2016! Glad Richard was able to make the trip!!!
Warmwater
* It does seem that the warmwater bite has slowed down a bit and it's finally time to turn our attention towards Trout and Steelhead.
* We'd love for you to prove us wrong though! Any pics or reports of largemouth, smallmouth or any noteworthy warmwater fish...please send them along.
* Pat has been out chasing Musky a bit but the low water has definitely been a hindrance. He did have a trip last week and had some follows and an eat but no pics yet. We are still looking for this fishing to really turn on here. Stay tuned.
Mad River
Pretty much the same old report. Low water making fishing challenging to say the least.
At least the leaves are pretty much down and that should help things, but we are in DIRE need of rain!
The fish that have been caught have been on nymphs. Either try really small, midge type stuff or go big with attractor types and craneflies. No reports of any dry fly activity the past week or so although a warm sunny day could see some midge activity. Especially in the Upper River.
We are still holding out hope that the rain gods will deliver a "Fall Streamer Season" but nothing to report yet.
We do have some folks headed that way this Holiday Weekend and we'll hopefully have something more exciting to report.
Clearfork River
At least a glimmer of hope on the Clearfork.
They are lowering Pleasant Hill reservoir to winter pool and have been releasing some water out of the dam. The fishing has picked up a bit and the lower stretch is the place to be. The Upper is still pretty low and clear.
Quite a few folks fishing up in the park this week and we have heard of some nice fish being caught. Most reports have been on nymphs and streamers although one angler we spoke to was killing them on egg patterns. No pics though! If you make it up there, we'd love to have some Clearfork pics to share with folks. It's been a while.
Hopefully we'll get some precip here and get both stretches cranking. We are still hoping the best trout fishing of the Fall is yet to come!
They are lowering Pleasant Hill reservoir to winter pool and have been releasing some water out of the dam. The fishing has picked up a bit and the lower stretch is the place to be. The Upper is still pretty low and clear.
Quite a few folks fishing up in the park this week and we have heard of some nice fish being caught. Most reports have been on nymphs and streamers although one angler we spoke to was killing them on egg patterns. No pics though! If you make it up there, we'd love to have some Clearfork pics to share with folks. It's been a while.
Hopefully we'll get some precip here and get both stretches cranking. We are still hoping the best trout fishing of the Fall is yet to come!
Clear Creek
Although Clear Creek is still very low and clear, we have had some good reports the past week or so. It may be the best trout fishing in the state right now! Hard to believe but folks are catching some fish.
Nymph fishing has been the way to go. Fishing slow and deep with a variety of flies. Not much dry fly activity at all and still a bit too low to really think about hard-core streamer fishing.
* Please note that the Park will be CLOSED to fishing this coming Monday- Wednesday due to the special "Metro Park Deer Hunt".
* Please note that the Park will be CLOSED to fishing this coming Monday- Wednesday due to the special "Metro Park Deer Hunt".
Our buddy Rus Barnes sent this pic and note this week:
MRO,
I fished Clear Creek on Friday (11/18) and took 9 trout using dry flies and nymphs. Missed many more. Was a beautiful day to be on the water. Water is very clear as you can see in the picture. Trout were all in the 9 to 10 inch range. Talked to 2 other fly fishermen having similar luck. Enjoy the pic.
Rus Barnes
Erie Steelhead
Once again, we are looking for the weekend to be busy up on Steelhead Alley.
As you all know, the water is horribly low. We did get a slight bump the past few days but it really didn't amount to much of anything to talk about. We are still in DIRE need of rain throughout the region.
The good news is that the leaves are pretty much down and less of a problem, the past few days especially. The water, or at least what water is there, is starting to "Green Up" a bit which is always a good sign. We have been finding some fish, and decent fish, but working hard to do so. Most fish are being caught under an indicator on the staple eggs and nymphs.
Hopefully this weekend will bring some rain and better reports. We ARE still holding out hope that December is going to be "Steehead Month" around here.
If you get out this weekend, let us know how you are doing. In the meantime, here's a pic of Josh with client Chris Denman on a guide trip yesterday:
Thanks for all the calls this week by the way....and the business. We really appreciate the trust you all put in MRO and MRO's guides. As always, if we haven't put a report up here, FEEL FREE to give us a call. We are always happy to share what we know. (Feedback helps too...let us know how you are doing).
Mad River Outfitters
Fly Shop, Guides, Schools and more!
813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
