* 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.
Mad River
Fishing on the Mad has been fairly good despite the cold conditions and low clear water. Definitely winter fishing mode for the past week but that seems to be changing a bit here the past few days. Indicators and nymphs have been the numbers game. Looking for the slower deeper water has been key. Once you find these locations thoroughly covering every inch with good long drifts is the key. The stockers from earlier this fall have spread out a little and are starting to mix in with the older resident fish. Most fish have been giving looks to the usual Cranefly Larva, Trophy Nymphs, and Guide's Choice Hare's Ear. Behind these flies we like to fish a Soft Hackle, unweighted Pheasant Tail, or Caddis.
With the bump in water from the rain and melt the streamer fishing has been good. This was the biggest push of water we have had in a long time! Finally the leaves have pushed out. These flows did not stick around for long as the river has fallen just about as fast as it came up. We need the ground to thaw out and decent rain everyother day or so to get things back to normal and fire up the streamer bite again. We are already back into nymphing mode.
Looking into the weekend...Back to the typical nymphing game. With the daily highs at just about or over freezing watch for ice in the guides. The key this time of year is to limit the amount of stripping in of the fly line and keeping your guides coated with Loon's Stanley's Ice Off Paste. A couple techniques we like to use are long nymphing rods and either water loading or single-hand spey casts. The long rods keep as much line off the water as possible and allow for longer drifts and line control. The spey-type casts minimize line stripping and easily cast the indicators, meat and lead. Also do not overlook the use of Tenkara in the cold weather. There are no guides, reel, or thick fly line to ice up. Some lines are better than others, but a light coating of Ice Off on any line will make things work best for you.
A few reports from the past few weeks:
"Hi all!- I thought I would share my experience yesterday (12/5) fishing off of the Route 36 bridge between 12 and 4pm. Water, as you well know, is very low and clear. I started off fishing up river with olive and natural colored rattlesnake streamers. No luck with those, so I moved to an olive Galloup's Boogieman. Picked up my first fish off the front side of a log jam. Later in the day, just before the rain hit, I picked up my second fish in the middle of a large pool. Technique used was a jerk-strip retrieve.
Overall I was pleased with two fish considering how the conditions have been. Like you, I am still hoping for a "fall" streamer season. Pics are attached. On a side note, the Hydros SL reel I bought from you on Black Friday worked great. Thanks again!"- Chuck Ewing
This next report from over month ago and we neglected to get it up. We owe Matthew a hat! It's on it's way man!!! We'll also send one along for your gal!!!
"Fished the Mad for the first time ever on November 5th. Nymphing was very productive, caught several trout and was very impressed with the area. All the fish we caught were the newly stocked ones, but did have a holdover on that got the best of me and got off. My fiancé caught her first trout on a fly, needless to say she is hooked. Can't wait to get back out there."- Matthew Thomas
Clearfork River
Not many reports as of late from up that way with the low, clear and cold temps, but we have heard word of fish being caught. They are letting water out as we type so the streamer game below the dam is the key right now. We usually start with shad colored flies and the typical streamer setup, then move to Yellow and on and on through our Galloup streamer box. If the upper is your game focus on the typical winter water tails and bellies of pools or deep runs close to pools are key. The same rigs as for the Mad- Indicators, Guide's Choice Hare's Ear, double stones, and alike will get the job done.
From the other reports...Here is the key to winter fishing:
Looking into the weekend...Back to the typical nymphing game. With the daily highs at just about or over freezing watch for ice in the guides. The key this time of year is to limit the amount of stripping in of the fly line and keeping your guides coated with Loon's Stanley's Ice Off Paste. A couple techniques we like to use are long nymphing rods and either water loading or single-hand spey casts. The long rods keep as much line off the water as possible and allow for longer drifts and line control. The spey-type casts minimize line stripping and easily cast the indicators, meat and lead. Also do not overlook the use of Tenkara in the cold weather. There are no guides, reel, or thick fly line to ice up. Some lines are better than others, but a light coating of Ice Off on any line will make things work best for you.
Clear Creek
About the same issues as the past few weeks...or months. Low and clear before this past rain and melt event. Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tails and Soft Hackles are the flies to tie on first. The streamer fishing is good as long as the temps down in the valley stay above freezing. Look at Zonkers, buggers, and such on the small size for the most numbers.
This rain and melt really shot the stream up. Cresting over 1700cfs and raising over 4' is a big deal for this little stream. It needed a good flush! Look at the water color to start clearing as we get later into the week, but it will fish with streamers now.
As stated in the Mad River writeup...this will be the key for the rest of the winter:
Looking into the weekend...Back to the typical nymphing game. With the daily highs at just about or over freezing watch for ice in the guides. The key this time of year is to limit the amount of stripping in of the fly line and keeping your guides coated with Loon's Stanley's Ice Off Paste. A couple techniques we like to use are long nymphing rods and either water loading or single-hand spey casts. The long rods keep as much line off the water as possible and allow for longer drifts and line control. The spey-type casts minimize line stripping and easily cast the indicators, meat and lead. Also do not overlook the use of Tenkara in the cold weather. There are no guides, reel, or thick fly line to ice up. Some lines are better than others, but a light coating of Ice Off on any line will make things work best for you.
This rain and melt really shot the stream up. Cresting over 1700cfs and raising over 4' is a big deal for this little stream. It needed a good flush! Look at the water color to start clearing as we get later into the week, but it will fish with streamers now.
As stated in the Mad River writeup...this will be the key for the rest of the winter:
Looking into the weekend...Back to the typical nymphing game. With the daily highs at just about or over freezing watch for ice in the guides. The key this time of year is to limit the amount of stripping in of the fly line and keeping your guides coated with Loon's Stanley's Ice Off Paste. A couple techniques we like to use are long nymphing rods and either water loading or single-hand spey casts. The long rods keep as much line off the water as possible and allow for longer drifts and line control. The spey-type casts minimize line stripping and easily cast the indicators, meat and lead. Also do not overlook the use of Tenkara in the cold weather. There are no guides, reel, or thick fly line to ice up. Some lines are better than others, but a light coating of Ice Off on any line will make things work best for you.
Erie Steelhead
12/21/16 Emergency Update- Seems that we were a bit too optimistic and the temps fell a bit more than expected last night. Most streams are iced up pretty good today or slush at best. The Chagrin is in the best shape but we don't think the slush will come off at all today. Maybe later this afternoon but if you are driving any distance at all, probably not worth it. We've got scouts out today and should get a better report up later today.
12/20/16- Lots of slush and Ice recently but fishing really heating up here the past few days... This rain gave some much needed flush of the ice, but with the cold night temps flows will start to lock up in the slower water but the main flows should be fishable for the foreseeable future. The weather looks good for the next week or so...minus enough rain. The highs should keep things good in the middle of the day so there is really no need to get out at first light...unless you are trying to get the prime water through the weekend.
The Chagrin and Rocky are fishing good with some color to the water, but that should settle out as we get later into the week. The Grand is a week out or so while the Ash and Connie will be fishing well by Thurday or Friday. Fish are all in winter mode. Look for the tails of pools, deep runs, and holding water. Eggs are the flies right now with a Bugger or Zonker to help get everything down. This time of the year a 10' rod or switch is really helpful to keep everything drifting nicely and ice free. These rods keep as much line off the water as possible and also provide more line control and reach. Stanley's Ice Off Paste, gloves, layers, and spey casting or water loading are the keys to success all winter long. Try to keep from getting your reels wet and stripping too much line through the guides as this will ice them up quickly. Also remember that felt and snow or ice don't mix well so make sure to install those spikes in your felt and rubber soles.
There is some good looking weather in the forecast and plenty of fish around. Should be a decent week and weekend of steelhead fishing here in Ohio. We do have guides out this week and will keep you updated as to river conditions if things change.
Send us reports and pics and if you need an up-to-the-minute report, don't hesitate to give us a call.
Here's a few shots from the past few weeks:
John Updyke was out with our good friend Bob Wing and got this Ohio Beauty!
Ray and crew came out on their yearly Guided Trip- this year with guides Ryan and Patrick. This day will always be remembered by the clients and guides as the "Snow Bowl"
MRO Guide and Fly Tying Manager Ryan Ratliff claims this is the only "selfie" he has ever taken but he couldn't resist. Pretty much sums up the "Steelhead Snow Bowl" on December 9th
Lunch!
Pretty much sums up the past few weeks but luckily things are opening up here! (Nothing can stop an MRO guide though from "scouting conditions")
Proof that if you are persistent enough, even ice doesn't stop the fishing!
Mad River Outfitters
Fly Shop, Guides, Schools and more!
813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
