* 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.
Congrats!
We'd like to extend a HUGE thanks to all of our friends and supporters...especially those who attended the Fly Fishing Film Tour this year.
On Wednesday, we announced the Proceeds from the event that are being donated to The Mayfly Project.
We SHATTERED last year's record!
If you haven't seen it already, hop on over to Facebook and you can watch the repost of a Facebook LIVE that we did of Brian calling Jess Westbrook to give him the news! Needless to say, he was thrilled.
Even if you didn't attend, just supporting and shopping with Mad River Outfitters, you are helping us to make things like this possible. We truly appreciate the opportunity to serve you, and in turn, serve our community.
THANKS and Congrats Columbus!!!!
**Across the board most of the streams are on the drop and fishable. There is some rain in the forecast for Sunday and the middle of next week. The amounts are changing by the hour so make sure to contact us if you head up early in the week. This is a great time of the year as almost everything is active. Get out there and fish.
Warm Water
The ponds and streams continue to warm and the fish are very active. While the reservoirs are not quiet prime focus on the ponds for large mouth bass and bluegills. Crappies are also starting to move shallower in these smaller waters. There has been reports of White Bass also starting to move up into the feeder streams of the reservoirs. For all of these fish stripping streamers will get the job done. Grab some Wooly buggers, Clouser Minnows, Half and Halfs, Decievers, Deep Shad, Murdich Minnows and Skiddish Smolts to name a few.
Smallmouth Activity picking up both inland and on the Erie Tribs
The Mad River is fishing very good. Look for typical clear water and active fish. The hatches continue to be the main topic this past week. Hendricksons have been thick. Normally we have seen these mayflies from the 11am-2pm range, but lately the brunt of the hatch has been later in the day. There have been some large blanket spinner falls into the evening also. Currently the weather is overcast with spotty drizzle. Conditions like this we always have a good size range of BWO (Blue Wing Olives) on hand. Streamer fishing continues to be great during the low light periods and on cloudy days. If you happen to head out mid-morning and there is no visible hatch going on make sure to have a nymph rig ready.
As for rigs being diverse/prepared is always the best bet this time of the year. Streamer fishing low light times will require 4-5 different colored patterns with varied designs. Flies for this style are Barely Legals, Articulated Monkeys, Dungeons, Bottoms Up, Silk Kitty, Boogie Man, and others. Smaller streamers also get the job done: Cougars, Dirty Hippies, Wooly Sculpins, Near Nuff Sculpin, and other traditional streamers. Nymphing will be our typical Hendrickson Nymphs, Guides Choice Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Prince, Copper Johns, and Galloup's Peacock Hares Ear. These will need to be in the #12-18 size range. Grab a Lemer Lead Selector pack, Airlock Indicators, and some 3-4x tippet leaders to get you ready. Dry fly fishing is pretty simple: Beck's Henny, Bear's Para Henny, Hendrickson Sparkle Dun, Borchers, BWO- paracute, Adams, and Quil Gordon.
Clearfork Map
Not much happening on the lower river with the recent high water, but we expect that to change in the next few weeks. The lower river below Pleasant Hill Dam is a great place to have a mixed bag of fish.
The upper river id dropping nicely after the rain earlier in the week. Look for good hatches of Hendrickson to be the main focus in the next few days. Nymph the mornings and keep an eye out for rising fish then switch to dries into the evening. As for dry flies stock up on Beck's Henny, Bear's Para Henny, Hendrickson Sparkle Dun, Borchers, BWO- paracute, Adams, and Quil Gordon. Nymphs to focus on are Pheasant Tail, Copper Johns, Galloups Peacock Hares Ear, Prince, and Guides Choice Hares Ear. There is some rain in the forecast. If the river comes up then streamers will be a great choice. Flies would be Barely Legals, Articulated Monkeys, Dungeons, Bottoms Up, Silk Kitty, Boogie Man, and others. Smaller streamers also get the job done when the water is clear. Stock up on Cougars, Dirty Hippies, Wooly Sculpins, Near Nuff Sculpin, and other traditional streamers.
Clear Creek Map
The creek is starting to clear out from the mid week rain making for good conditions this weekend. Clear Creek is not the same fishery as the Mad or Upper Clear Fork, but if you are down in that part of the state it makes for a beautiful outting. Rummors of some Hendrickson, Blue Quil, and BWO are hatching, but not in the quantity as the Mad River.
Dry flies to have in your box are Beck's Henny, Bear's Para Henny, Hendrickson Sparkle Dun, Borchers, BWO- paracute, Adams, and Quil Gordon. If you want to focus on numbers then nymph with Pheasant Tail, Copper Johns, Galloups Peacock Hares Ear, Prince, and Guides Choice Hares Ear. Streamers would be single hooked patterns like Wooly Sculpins, Cactus Sculpins, Wooly Buggers, Big Hole Bugs, and Clousers.
Lots of traffic through the shop this week from people heading up to the 'Alley. Seems that the streams are pretty crowded here this week.
Most of the streams are clearing out well and should be great for the weekend. There are a lot of fish on or heading to gravel. As standard in the industry we do not advise disrupting these fish as they spawn. There are plenty of fish eating eggs in the runs below the spawning riffles and that is where we fish.
With the forecast we should still have decent numbers of fish for the next few weeks. If nymphing is your game then focus on eggs and nymphs as the streams clear. A bead headed nymph followed by an egg is a great place to start in clear water. Nymphs that we like are the Steak and Eggs, Bloody Mary, Psycho Prince, Chicken Little, Sparkle Maggot, Steelie Stone, and Guides Choice Hares Ear. As for eggs Glo Bugs, Glo Bugs, Glo Bugs. Have them in bigger and bright colors for dirty water and then smaller pastel colors for clear water. Swinging is still an option even in lower water. Using intermediate iMOW tips on your skagit heads or an integrated switch line is a good choice. In low water conditions we swing flies like Skiddish Smolts, Wooly Buggers, Chicken Little, Cross Dresser, Zonkers, and Classic salmon style flies. If the water is on the rise or drop your typical Greg Senyo flies like the Flow Ryder and the A.I. Intruder will get the job done.
THE SMALLIES ARE IN!!! There is a good number of Lake Run smallies in the lower rivers already! If you are heading up to Steelhead Alley do not leave the streamer rod and sink tip at home. Here you will want to fish the Kelly Galloup articulated streamers stripped though likely holding water. These fish are fat mad and a blast to catch. Also do not be surprised if you come in contact with a Chrome or spawned out (Drop Back) steelhead. This is a great time to book at trip on the 'Alley!
A Good Friday for Bob Berner- Guide trip today with MRO Guide Josh McQueen
Mad River Outfitters
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813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
