Orvis H3 "Test Cast" Promotion

"Test Cast" a new Orvis Helios 3 Fly Rod

Stop in the shop anytime between now and Saturday, June 16th and test out a new H3 rod and we'll give you this hat and sticker for FREE. No purchase required.....just cast a rod.

And that's not all!

We'll also be able to register you for some amazing prizes:

Grand Prize- Limited Edition Mirage Reel worth $700.00 plus a $2,000 Gift Card good for Orvis merchandise at Mad River Outfitters

Second Prize- $1,000 Gift Card good for Orvis merchandise at Mad River Outfitters

Third Prize- $750.00 Gift Card good for Orvis merchandise at Mad River Outfitters

The H3 is by far the best fly rods Orvis has ever built and one worth taking a look at for sure. The variables of caster, rod, and conditions are too great. Helios 3D was designed to significantly reduce the variables at the point of release focusing the energy of the cast to the intended target.

Check out the full selection of H3 Rods in stock on our website.

It's Easy!

Cast a rod.....get a FREE Hat and Sticker and get registered to WIN!

See you soon and THANKS for supporting your local fly shop!

Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com

New Tenkara USA Hane Rod

The Tenkara USA Hane rod (pronounced like "huh - nay") is a super compact all-around tenkara rod that will quickly become your favorite adventure rod. Measuring just under 15 inches when collapsed, but extending to 10ft 10in (330cm), the Hane fits nicely inside a small day pack, making this a superb tenkara rod for backpacking, bikefishing and other adventures. Whether you are targeting trout or bass, the Hane was designed to work well in your mountain streams as well as your urban fishing outings. It's a rod that can tag along in a variety of conditions without compromising durability. 

They decided to make this rod white, a unique color among our lineup. Part of the reason for that is the idea of having a rod that will blend in well with open skies above. Whereas a black rod does a good job blending in with canopy, its movement tends to stand out when fishing ponds and open meadow streams. The tip of the rod is black 

SPECS:

* Weight: 3.5 oz (100 g);

* Closed length: 15" (38cm) 

* Open lengths: 10'10" (330cm)*

* Handle length:8" (20.5cm) 

* Segments: 12

* There may be slight discrepancies in the extended length of tenkara rods

All Tenkara rods come with an aluminum rod tube, rod sack and are covered by the Tenkara USA Warranty

Kit Comes with: Rod and Tube, 11' Traditional Line, 11'6" Tapered Nylon Line and a spool of 4X Tippet. Everything you need to get started in Tenkara.

Watch the Video!

Click Here to check out the Tenkara USA Hane Rod

Click Here to check out our Tenkara Department

Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com

Fly Tying- Stupidly Simple Caddis Larva

Stupidly Simple Caddis Larva

This fly came about a few years back when I was just starting to mess with UV resins. Have always done well here on the Mad with Green Caddis Larva, as well as elsewhere of course, and I sat down and knocked this one out and it's become a staple in my box since. I often fish it along with a soft hackle behind it and it really is deadly.

Just furthers my obsession these days with putting UV resin on almost any subsurface fly that I tie. This stuff has changed my game more than anything in recent years. Creates a really lifelike effect on nymphs! There isn't a wing case that I tie anymore that doesn't get coated with UV.

I kinow.....it's stupidly simple....but it works.

Brian Flechsig- May 2018

Stupidly Simple Caddis Larva Recipe:

Hook: Tiemco 2457 #14-16 (or equivalent)-  Click Here

Bead: Flymen NymphHeads Tungsten Caddis Bead- small-brown-  Click Here

Head: Peacock Herl (if no bead desired)-  Click Here

Rib: Ultra Wire Gold- Brassie Size- Click Here

Body: 4 strand Floss- Light Olive-  Click Here

Loon UV Resin- Thin Formula-  Click Here

1. Slide the bead onto the hook and start your thread. There is a proper "direction" to slide the bead on. They eyes should be closest to the eye of the hook. You can look at the picture on the item link and get a good idea there.

2. Getting the bead to stay in the proper, (upright) position can be a challenge. I combat this by wrapping a small thread dam behind it and then using UV to hold it in place. Again, look at the picture on the item page of the beads to get an idea of the proper placement.

3. Wrap your thread back to the bend, or a bit past being a curved caddis hook. Lash in the Gold Wire and then the Floss.

4. Wrap the floss body up the hook, creating a semblance of taper as you go. Tie off the floss just behind the bead.

5. Rib the fly with the Gold wire. Again, try to create a semblance of natural taper with the segmentation being closer together towards the rear and more spacing as you wrap towards the head. Tie off the Gold wire and then whip finish a few behind the bead.

6. Run a "candy coating" of UV over the back of the fly and hit it with your UV curing light.

7. Use a fine point black permanent marker to color in the "eyes" on the flymen bead. Not critical but just looks cool!

8. Done! I told you......it's Stupidly Simple.

Take it fishing and let me know how you do!

Watch the Video!

Mad River Outfitters/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Fly Fishing Guides, Hosted Fly Fishing Travel, Schools, Classes and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com

Fishing Reports- 5/11/18

* 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.

Upcoming Trips

 

Alaska- "Silvers and Bows"

August 11th- 18th with host Josh McQueen 

Click Here for details and pricing 

 

San Juan River- Soaring Eagle Lodge

September 14th- 19th with host Brian Flechsig

1-Spot OPEN

Click Here for details and pricing

 

Alaska- "Naktoberfest"

September 29th- October 6th with hosts Jerry Darkes and Jeff Liskay

Click Here for details and pricing 

 

Andros Island Bonefish

February 16th- 23rd, 2019 with host Brian Flechsig

Click Here for details and pricing

 

Click Here to view all of our hosted fly fishing trips

Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

 

David Mangels from Cincinnati attended our 2-Day Fly Fishing School in April- picutred here with instructor Jerry Darkes 

 

Laurel Kennedy from Granville, Ohio caught her 1st trout on the fly during the 2-day School in April 

Upcoming Schools-

Sunday, May 20th- 1-Day School- Sunnybrook Trout Club- Register Here

Saturday and Sunday, June 16th and 17th- 2-Day School- Sunnybrook Trout Club- Register Here

Sunday, June 24th- 1-Day School- Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club- Register Here

Saturday, August 25th- 1-Day School- Sunnybrook Trout Club- Register Here

Saturday and Sunday, September 22nd and 23rd- 2-Day School- Sunnybrook Trout Club- Register Here  

Sunday, September 30th- 1-Day School- Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club- Register Here

Saturday and Sunday, October 13th and 14th- 2-Day Intermediate School- Sunnybrook Trout Club- Register Here

Sunday, October 28th- 1-Day School- Sunnybrook Trout Club- Register Here 

Click Here to learn more about the Midwest Fly Fishing Schools!

 

Warmwater

Bass fishing has picked up big time around the city and throughout the state.  We have BIG Lake run Smallmouth heading into the tributaries as the Steelhead are leaving, pond Largemouth bass are starting to head shallow, local Smallmouth bass are being caught as the flows drop and clear, and we are seeing White Bass and Hybrid Stripers pushing into feeder creeks of the reservoirs.  The Bass techniques are very consistent focusing on sink tip lines and rods in the 6-8wt range and lightly weighted to neutrally buoyant flies.  

 

Flies like Peanuts, Murdich Minnows, Dungeons, Bang Tails, Long Strip Craw, Near Nuff Sculpin, Woolhead Sculpin, Zoo Cougar, Cactus Wooly, J-Pigs, Reapers, and Articulated Fat Heads to name a few.  As the streams warm the fish will begin to push up out of winter holding areas heading toward spawning locations.

 

Forecast:
Winter is officially over and the fish will continue to prep for spawning.  In the ponds and lakes there are plenty of small bass roaming the shallows.  Keep an eye out for those bigger fish as they will be moving shallower focusing on structure.  With the temps this coming week spawning beds will start showing up and more cruising big fish.  The big pre-spawn Smallies will continue to push up stream.  Targeting holding areas below riffles, log jams, and bridges are a great place to start.  These areas concentrate fish as they wait for raising water levels or conditions to improve.  Make sure to have your stream thermometer handy as water temps are everything this time of the year.  Grab your above mentioned rigs and head to the river or lakes.

 

 

 

"Thanks Jim Andrix for your creation of the lil bugger .
Never lets me down in the spring .Urban smallmouth on a lunch break"- Jeff Aufdencamp

 

 

Dr. Neal Murphy with a surprise Ohio Pike on a smallmouth float with guide Josh McQueen. Ohio Pike fishing has been excellent as well.

Mad River

USGS Gauge- Urbana

USGS Gauge- St. Paris Pike

Mad River Map

There have been many calls and walk-ins asking about the current situation with the hatches. Bottom line is that we are not really sure what to tell you. We can tell you the Brian and the folks that have been guiding are claiming this has been one of the worst dry fly seasons in years. Not many bugs and even fewer rising fish.

Here is what we CAN tell you:
There continues to be sporadic Hendrickson throughout the river, but the Sulphurs have started showing up, and that usually signals the end of the Hendricksons. It seems that the Hendricksons have hatched sporadically throughout April and we really never saw a "peak".  Light Cahills are also around along with March Browns and some various caddis.  But yet.....few rising fish.

Right now is the time to have a diverse box of Pheasant Tails and Hares Ear nymphs in 12-16, Soft hackles in green, yellow and natural pheasant also in the same sizes, and plenty of Sulphur dries in 16-18 and various colors.  Right now the trout are not as finicky as they will be in a couple weeks, but that does not mean you can just slap a dry out there and catch a fish.  Now is the time to perfect your reach casts and aerial mending.  Match your 3-5wt rods with a Rio Gold, SA Trout, or Triangle taper and a Rio Supple Flex leader and you are set.  If you need some help with these cast make sure to schedule a private casting class and we will help you change your dry fly game.  If wet flies are more of your game nymphing and swinging Soft Hackles continues to produce.  Mastering these techniques will produce just about any day of the year.  The growing popularity with Euro nymphing offers a very productive tactic for those times when a hatch does not appear to be active above water.  The TFO Drift rod or the Redington Hydrogen coupled with the Rio Euro Nymph line and leader are great options.  Flows continue to be slightly elevated providing some good streamer opportunities for those willing to adapt to the clear conditions.  Smaller streamers in natural colors is a good place to start.

Forecast:
We will continue to see great dry fly weather through next week.  Look for caddis and midges to be the main morning action and mayflies to focus on the evenings.  This is a great time of the year to fish the Mad as there is plenty of bug activity.  All stretches of the river will be producing fish for those who come prepared and willing to change tactics.

Click Here to check out our early season Hatch Matching flies

 

 

"The beginning and the end of an amazing day, courtesy of Brian Flechsig and @madriveroutfitters- beautiful day, lots of fun. Brian made me a (much) better angler and oh yeah, caught some nice fish too. Mad river really is a gem- the shop and the water." - Will Umphres

 

A regular on Spring floats in the AuSable boat with Brian- Will Umphres from Cincinnati

Clearfork River

USGS- Upper Clearfork

USGS- Lower/Mohican State Park

Clearfork Map

The Clear Fork has been a great choice for those wanting a change from Steelhead fishing up north.  The upper river continues to offer good hatches in the afternoon and into the evenings.  Most people are nymphing late mornings and then switching to dries as they find feeding fish.  Hendrickson and Sulphurs are the main bugs right now, but we are starting to see a few caddis, March Browns and a few Cahills in the evenings. March Browns and Cahills are a must for the next few weeks and even into June. 

 

Streamer fishing has been more focused on the lower river below Pleasant Hill dam.  This area offers a great opportunity to camp right next to the river.  Also the lower river holds a big variety of species.  Stripping a streamer can offer just about every game species of fish the state has to offer.  For the upper river have a diverse box of Pheasant Tails and Hares Ear nymphs in 14-18, Soft hackles in green, yellow and natural pheasant also in the same sizes, and plenty of Sulphur dries in 16-18 and various colors.  The growing popularity with Euro nymphing offers a very productive tactic for those times when a hatch does not appear to be active above water.  The TFO Drift rod or the Redington Hydrogen coupled with the Rio Euro Nymph line and leader are great options.  Streamer options are 6-8wts, sink tip lines and various streamers in shad colors like the Barely Legal, Dungeon, Clouser, Peanut, Bottom's Up, Boogie Man and Murdich Minnow.

 

Forecast:
Look for dry fly fishing to continue to improve.  Sulphurs, March Browns and Lt Cahills will be on the menu as the Hendricksons come to an end.  Have your dry fly box well stocked with those and caddis of various sizes and colors.  If you see only a few fish rising a good trick is to fish a dry with Galloup's Sunken Spinner as the dropper.  This will give the fish a couple bug stages to choose from.  In the lower river we have about a month before we have good popper fishing, but do not be surprised if you have some bass or panfish grab a caddis or mayfly dry while fishing for trout.  Streamer fishing as mentioned above is the most productive choice for below the dam.   

 

 

"Dear friends at Mad River Outfitters, thank you for the information that you have taught me from conversations we've had while I was in shopping and visiting, the classes, the online tutorials. I have learned more about the art of fly fishing than I ever thought I would. This mourning I woke up and made coffee and decided to drive out to Clearfork and possibly even the mohican state park. To do that i needed to tie a few flies for the days adventure. I tied 2 henryville specials, a muddle minnow and an olive woolly bugger. I stopped off the road on the upper section and made a few casts and observed march browns and fish rising. Thanks for everything."- Jacob Arima

***We absolutely love to hear kind words like this from great friends and customers. It has been our pleasure to help Jacob along his journey and to watch him grow as an angler. One of the many blessings of being able to do what we do for a living. Thanks right back at you Jacob. We appreciate your friendship and keep up the good work!

 

Clear Creek

USGS Gauge

Clear Creek Map

Hatches of small caddis, a few Hendricksons, and some Sulphurs have been showing up.  

 

Despite these hatches most fish have been caught on nymphs and wet flies.  Right now is the time to have a diverse box of Pheasant Tails and Hares Ear nymphs in 14-18, Soft hackles in green, yellow and natural pheasant also in the same sizes, and plenty of Sulphur dries in 16-18 and various colors.  The growing popularity with Euro nymphing offers a very productive tactic for those times when a hatch does not appear to be active above water.  The TFO Drift rod or the Redington Hydrogen coupled with the Rio Euro Nymph line and leader are great options.  This is also a great location to perfect your Tenkara technique.  The Iwana or the new Hane are great choices from TenkaraUSA while the whole line from TFO also get the job done.  Fishing continues to be tough as regulations have changed allowing people to keep anything.  The fish that have been caught are very small.  Despite what the Wildlife officers state it seems like the stocking amounts were also lower last fall.  We will see what happens this fall when they change up the stocking program.  As for Smallmouth fishing it is a little early, but there have been a few resident fish caught.

 

Forecast:
Hatches will continue to improve as we go into next week.  Look for the evening to be the best opportunity to dry fly fish.  Cover water using a stealthy approach is the best way to catch fish when conditions are very clear.  Euro Nymphing or using a small yarn indicator is a must to find success.   Having a 5-6wt and a box of small bass streamers is a good choice as there can be some good bass fishing as the water warms.

 

 

"I caught this brown at Clear Creek Park this morning on a hare's ear nymph. Thanks for the advice yesterday. Keep up the great work!"- Daniel Green

 

Erie Steelhead

Gauge Links and Maps


Probably our last Steelhead report of the season. Although there are certainly still a few fish to be had, it is mostly winding down. The warm weather the past week has any remaining steelhead moving back into the lake.

Our thoughts are now turning to Lake Run Smallmouth!

 

Guides have been out and are ready to go! Lake Run Smallmouth Trips booking now!

Click Here to get the details on booking a Lake Erie Smallmouth Trip

 

Forecast:
As stated, you can still find some steelhead around but we are in the final stages of the Spring 2018 season. Good numbers of huge smallmouth are showing up and man are they aggressive. We should see good smallie fishing in the tribs up into the 2nd week of June or so. Big white streamers are just about all you need on a sink tip or Titan Clear Tip line. Stop in the shop or give us a call and we can help you out.

Thanks for an amazing 2017/2018 Steelhead Season! Our best on record by a long shot! We appreciate the opportunity to help find and catch Erie steelhead whether through our guides, on the phone, in the shop or the online store. We thank you for your trust and support.

 

“I want to thank you all, for your help. THANKS!”- Lori Ash 

 

Mad River Outfitters/Mad River Travel/Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

Fly Shop, Guides, Trips, Classes, Schools and more!

813 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

www.madriveroutfitters.com
www.midwestflyfishingschools.com

614-451-0363