Thursday, October 10, 2024

Blane Chocklett Musky School

 


January 26th- February 1st, 2025

held at the Brookwood House near Boone's Mill, Virginia

Your 1 and only chance to be guided by Blane himself in 2025! 

Join hosts Josh Trammell and Blane Chocklett along with Josh Laferty, Braden Miller and Austin Conrad of Virginia Trophy Guides for a 1-Day MasterClass followed by 4 Days of Guided Fishing on the legendary New and/or James Rivers!





Once everyone has arrived and settled in on Sunday night, we will go over our schedule for the week. We'll then share a few drinks and hangout with Blane and the boys from VTG as we wind down for the evening.

Monday morning we'll get up and plan on having a light breakfast around 8 a.m. At 9 a.m. we will start Blane's Big Fly Casting Class and that will continue until around noon. He'll go over techniques and tips to better perfect your casting skills when throwing large flies for predatory fish. When you're used to the typical trout and warm water sized streamer rods (7-8wt), it may be a bit daunting to pick up a 10-12wt rod and try casting a 10-12 inch long fly! Blane and the guides from VTG (as well as Josh) are well versed in casting large flies and will help you improve your game for the rest of the week's fishing and beyond. We will have rods on site for you to use if you choose not to bring your own.

Lunch will be from Noon- 1 p.m. and we'll grill up some burgers and hot dogs before we continue on with the rest of the day.

After we finish up lunch, we will gather in the lodge for some tying demonstrations from Blane. He will go over multiple flies as well as cover some important aspects in the build of those flies that help them "swim" correctly and effectively. Blane is a master of his craft and his mind works like very few in the fly design arena. If you're a fan of articulated flies...this is a class/presentation you don't want to miss.

We'll end day one with some cocktail and Q & A time from around 5 p.m. until we gather at 7 for some fine Southern cuisine.

Day two, Tuesday, is onto the fishing! We will fish with the VA Trophy Guides and Blane Chocklett himself on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Each angler will have a chance to fish with Blane (as he no longer guides professionally....this IS an MRO EXCLUSIVE experience).

The lodge is centrally located between the New River and the James River and we will be fishing whichever presents the best opportunities and conditions.

We will depart for home after breakfast on Saturday, February 1st.
.




The Fabulous Brookwood House!



Join us in Virginia!






833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363


Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Mad River Clean-Up- hosted by Trout Unlimited Mad River Chapter

 



Mad River Clean-Up!

Saturday, September 21st

9 a.m.- Noon

The Trout Unlimited Mad River Chapter is hosting a large-scale cleanup of the Mad River with support from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Buckeye United Fly Fishers, Central Ohio Fly Fishers, Mad River Outfitters, Miami Valley Fly Fishers Nocterra Brewing, ODNR-Division of Wildlife, Ohio Women on the Fly and Project Healing Water Fly Fishing.
Cleanup Locations: From the north side of West Liberty Park (Lions Ball Park on Maps) to Mad River Gorge Park in Clark County, covering 18 or 19 access points into the river. We will assign volunteers to cleanup specific locations. We hold events like this because unfortunately, not everyone does their part, and the river and its surrounding areas are littered with trash.
Our goal is to host a cleanup with support from as many outdoor groups, organizations, and businesses as possible to help keep the Mad River a special place for all.




https://www.facebook.com/TUmadriver/

https://www.tumadriver.org/index.shtml



Monday, May 20, 2024

Cicada Mania 2024!

Howdy Friends! The time we have all been waiting for is finally here! This year there will be a co- emergence of the 13 year and the 17-year cicada broods. To start this off we should talk about what exactly a cicada is. A cicada is a terrestrial insect that is in the family of “true bugs”. A cicadas life history is categorized into what is called periodical and annual cicadas. Annual meaning they emerge every year while the periodical cicadas do not emerge for either 13 or 17 years depending on their life cycle. 

Cicadas will crawl out of the ground, climb the nearest tree where the females will “call” a mate. Then they will lay the cicada larvae in the tree branch. After some time, the larvae will fall to the ground only to make their way into the ground and restart the entire process. For this year’s emergence we are specifically talking about the periodical cicada. This co-emergence only happens every 221 years. One of the main factors we are looking for with the emergence is a soil temp of 64 degrees Fahrenheit at least 8 inches below the surface.

I am sure by now you are wondering; how do I even know when a brood will emerge or even where it is going to be? For that we utilize a couple different online resources.


Cicada Madness Book

https://cicadas.uconn.edu/general_information/

https://www.cicadamania.com/

https://cicadamap.msj.edu/


The last cicada brood I experienced, these two flies provided the best results:

Project Cicada

Cook's Cicada

When you are planning a trip to fish for cicadas timing is everything. After the initial emergence you want to wait about a week to get out there and fish for them. 

Cicadas basically provide an all you can eat buffet for anything that swims, yes, I said EVERYTHING! But for that to happen the fish need to get key into the free food.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Upcoming Schools and Classes!

 Upcoming Schools and Classes for May and June 2024



Wednesday, May 8th- 6-8 p.m.


This class is designed to take the mystery out of fly selection!

One of the biggest challenges that beginner and intermediate angler's face is trying to determine what fish are eating and how that relates to the flies that you should be using. You will learn a lot about bugs and their life cycles as well as other food organisms that fish eat. After getting pretty in-depth though, we will simplify things for you and make the process seem much easier and understandable than you ever imagined.

*No equipment or experience necessary. A basic handout that outlines the program will be provided and you may want to bring along a pen to take some notes.


Register Here!



Saturday, May 11th- 9-11 a.m.


Two of the most misunderstood and most important aspects of the sport. Join Brian Flechsig for an intensive two hour class that will completely take the mystery out of both!

Brian will cover proper leader design and selection for all types of fishing situations and then show you how to attach everything, easily. You will come away from this class with the skills needed to become a much better fly angler! This may be the most important class that you ever take regarding fly fishing, period.

*No equipment necessary and two handouts are provided. This is not a beginner's class. You will want to have a basic understanding of rigging, leaders, knots etc. before taking this class.


Register Here!


Wednesday, May 15th- 7-9 p.m.


Our Beginner's Fly Fishing Program is a great way to get introduced to the sport! This two-hour lecture session will take years off of your learning curve. We guarantee it.

Join us for an informative session on Getting Started in Fly Fishing which covers the basics on what you need to do to get the ball rolling, where to go, and what further steps to take to become a proficient fly fisher. We will take a look at the 6 basic things that you need to understand and also clear up some of the common myths and misconceptions that surround the sport.


Register Here!


Saturday, May 18th- 8-11 a.m.


This will be an intensive, three hour class, geared towards taking your casting to the next level. Brian Flechsig has had the pleasure of studying fly casting with the likes of Flip Pallot, Lefty Kreh and Dave Whitlock and has come up with a system of teaching that is like no other. One hour will be spent in classroom.....looking at the different components of the cast on a chalk board. Then, the final two hours will be spent working on the techniques with fly rod in hand. The techniques learned will be advanced such as the double haul, and will be geared towards saltwater fly casting although certainly apply to all types of casting.

Students are recommended to bring a 5-6 wt rod and an 8-9 wt rod although one or the other will work if that is all you have. Equipment can be provided if needed! This class is limited to 6 students and will be offered three times throughout the season, Spring, Summer and Fall.

 

* If you don't think that this class greatly improves your fly casting, we'll give your money back!!!


Register Here!


Monday, May 20th- 6-8 p.m.

Fly casting is simple, really! However, it can also be a complete disaster if some basic fundamentals aren’t understood. Let our instructors take the mystery out of fly casting!

We offer a two-hour Basic Fly Casting Class designed to teach you these fundamentals and we guarantee you will learn to be a better fly caster. 

*Please note, a rod, reel, line and leader set-up is required. It is typically best that you learn on your own equipment but if you don't yet have an outfit, we can easily provide one for you. Just kindly let us know in advance and we will have the gear waiting for you.





Monday, June 3rd at Briarwood Sporting Club

Spend a day learning the basics of fly fishing. Held at Briarwood Sporting Club....which happens to offer some of the best fishing in the region. This class will be "Women Only" and will be taught by guide and instructor Katie Johnstone.

These schools are a combination of classroom lecture and hands-on practice capped off with the opportunity to catch and land your first fish on a fly, or first of a particular species. This is a great way to “get your feet wet” in the sport of fly fishing without having to make a huge investment in gear.

Plan to arrive at the location (map and details provided) at 9:00 a.m. Topics covered will be basic equipment, knots and leaders, rigging, basic fishing technique, basic and intermediate fly casting, basic entomology and fly selection and of course the fishing! You should plan on the day lasting until around 5:00 p.m.

Prerequisites: None. This class is designed for anglers who have a basic understanding of the equipment and such, but is looking to learn more about fishing for something other than trout. All equipment/flies/gear can be provided but you are of course welcome to bring your own. 


Register Here!


Wednesday, June 12th- 6-8 p.m.

Fly casting is simple, really! However, it can also be a complete disaster if some basic fundamentals aren’t understood. Let our instructors take the mystery out of fly casting!

We offer a two-hour Basic Fly Casting Class designed to teach you these fundamentals and we guarantee you will learn to be a better fly caster. 

*Please note, a rod, reel, line and leader set-up is required. It is typically best that you learn on your own equipment but if you don't yet have an outfit, we can easily provide one for you. Just kindly let us know in advance and we will have the gear waiting for you.




June 15th and 16th- Briarwood Sporting Club

Mad River Outfitters is proud to sponsor the official Midwest Fly Fishing Schools. No equipment required on these so an easy way to get a thorough and comprehensive introduction to the sport. You'll probably catch your 1st fish on a fly as well!

These 2-day fly fishing schools will be held at Sunnybrook Trout Club near Sandusky, Ohio, or Briarwood Sporting Club near Bellefontaine, Ohio. Centrally located for students from Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton and Cincinnati!


Day 1

• Introduction to Fly Fishing
• Rods, reels and lines seminar
• Basic Fly Casting Clinic
• Lunch
• Knots and Leaders Seminar
• Fly Casting Part 2 and Video Taping
• Basic Equipment Seminar

Day 2

• Basic Entomology and Fly Selection
• Fly Casting Video Reviews
• Lunch
• Rigging and Approach seminar
• Fishing!
• Graduation




Saturday, June 22nd- 9-11 a.m.

This class is designed to take the mystery out of fly selection!

One of the biggest challenges that beginner and intermediate angler's face is trying to determine what fish are eating and how that relates to the flies that you should be using. You will learn a lot about bugs and their life cycles as well as other food organisms that fish eat. After getting pretty in-depth though, we will simplify things for you and make the process seem much easier and understandable than you ever imagined.

*No equipment or experience necessary. A basic handout that outlines the program will be provided and you may want to bring along a pen to take some notes.





Wednesday, June 26th- 7-9 p.m.


Two of the most misunderstood and most important aspects of the sport. Join Brian Flechsig for an intensive two hour class that will completely take the mystery out of both!

Brian will cover proper leader design and selection for all types of fishing situations and then show you how to attach everything, easily. You will come away from this class with the skills needed to become a much better fly angler! This may be the most important class that you ever take regarding fly fishing, period.

*No equipment necessary and two handouts are provided. This is not a beginner's class. You will want to have a basic understanding of rigging, leaders, knots etc. before taking this class.





Sunday, June 30th- Sunnybrook Trout Club

Spend a day learning the basics of fly fishing  and held at either Sunnybrook Trout Club or Briarwood Sporting Club....two of the best destinations in the country!

These schools are a combination of classroom lecture and hands-on practice capped off with the opportunity to catch and land your first fish on a fly. This is a great way to “get your feet wet” in the sport of fly fishing without having to make a huge investment in gear.

Plan to arrive at the location (map and details provided) at 9:00 a.m. Topics covered will be basic equipment, knots and leaders, rigging, basic fishing technique, basic fly casting, basic entomology and fly selection and of course the fishing! You should plan on the day lasting until around 5:00 p.m. See the Calendar page of this website for scheduled schools. Scheduled dates are also listed below for online registration.

Prerequisites: None. This class is designed for complete beginners or someone just getting into fly fishing who wants to jump start their learning process. All equipment/flies/gear can be provided. 






For a complete listing of all schools, classes, trips and events- CLICK HERE!


For complete details and pricing on all schools and classes- CLICK HERE!


Any questions! or to register over the phone......give us a call at the shop!





833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363


Monday, April 1, 2024

Introducing the new Cast Zapper 3000

 A true breakthrough in learning to Fly Cast!



The Cast Zapper 3000 is the latest release in the long lasting series of fly casting enhancement technologies!

 

The Cast Zapper 3000 boasts these new fantastic features:

• Fits any rod and reel combo!

• Fixes your bad fly casts in as little as 3 shocks!

• Now wearable around the neck!

• Over 3000 volts delivered instantly!

 

Get your ultimate piece of fly cast learning tech today before they run out!





Check out the many other advancements that Mad River Outfitters has brought to the world of fly fishing: 








833 Bethel Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

admin@madriveroutfitters.com

www.madriveroutfitters.com



Friday, March 29, 2024

Heed the Call for Spring!

 


Howler Brothers clothing designs honor the soul, passion and timeless style of sports such as surfing and fly fishing but update historic garment ideas with modern influence from waves, water, geography, fashion and art.

Howler Bros shirts, shorts, jackets and hats are crafted with functionality and attention to detail at the forefront. They avoid trendy or overly traditional ideas and use small batch production and collaborations with artists and craftsmen to create original, alternative offerings.






833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363




Friday, March 22, 2024

Spring/Summer Semester Kicks Off!

 

Monday, March 25th

7:00- 9:00 p.m.


Our Beginner's Fly Fishing Program is a great way to get introduced to the sport! This two-hour lecture session will take years off of your learning curve. We guarantee it.

Join us for an informative session on Getting Started in Fly Fishing which covers the basics on what you need to do to get the ball rolling, where to go, and what further steps to take to become a proficient fly fisher. We will take a look at the 6 basic things that you need to understand and also clear up some of the common myths and misconceptions that surround the sport.

No experience or equipment required!


Click Here to register for this program!


Click Here to view our full schedule of schools, classes, events and trips!





833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363




Monday, March 4, 2024

Scott Session Fly Rods

 


Scott Fly Rod Company Announces Session Series Fly Rods 



MONTROSE, CO (March 1, 2024) — The Scott Fly Rod Company is pleased to announce the introduction of their new Session series of fly rods.


Session rods bring together high line speed, exceptional loop control, and a light and lively feel in hand.

They load easily, and they respond to subtle inputs from the angler. 

President, Jim Bartschi said, “Anyone who has fished Scott freshwater rods in the recent past will immediately recognize our signature ‘fast with feel’ action in Session rods. They share some of the design approaches and materials DNA with some of our most legendary rods. Incorporating some of our newest technologies give these rods their own unique feel and attributes.”

Session rods feature Scott’s Carbon Link epoxy resin system, Multi-Modulus lay ups, ARC2 reinforcement, ReAct, and Natural Finish blanks.

Session rods are handcrafted in Montrose, Colorado, using the finest components including milled aluminum reel seats with type 2 anodize and wood inserts, silicon nitride stripping guides, and Super grade cork handles.

Available from 8 to 10 feet, in four-piece configuration for 3 weight to 8 weight lines, MSRP $675.00



In fly shops now. Visit your nearest Scott authorized dealer to cast one today, or go online to www.scottflyrod.com to learn more.


Click Here to check out the new Scott Session Fly Rods!




About Scott Fly Rod Company:

Since its founding in 1974, the Scott Fly Rod Company has been dedicated to handcrafting the ultimate fishing tools from start to finish. Based in Montrose, Colorado, Scott has a history of innovation, dedication to performance, and a commitment to protecting the environment while also supporting local fly shops. For more information about Scott Rods, please visit their website and follow Scott on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.





833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363

Friday, February 23, 2024

Fly Fishing Film Tour- Columbus, Ohio

 


2024 Fly Fishing Film Tour
Thursday, March 21st, 2024
Doors Open 5:00pm - Show Begins 7:00pm
Studio 35 | Cinema & Drafthouse


Overview

Ticket Price: $25 | Host: Mad River Outfitters


Mad River Outfitters is once again bringing the F3T to Columbus, Ohio. This year will be held at Studio 35 theater and the proceeds from the event will benefit the Columbus chapter of Project Healing Waters. Tickets are available exclusively at www.madriveroutfitters.com or in the shop.

The 18th annual FLY FISHING FILM TOUR (F3T) presented by Costa, Skwala and others is back in action and hitting the road with a top notch selection of short films that are sure to get you fired up for the season ahead.

The 2024 show will feature locations from Steelhead in Washington State, Marlin in Mexico, Andros Island Bonefish, Peacock Bass in the Amazon, Atlantic Salmon in Canada, Permit in the Yucatan and much more. Join us for a journey of adventure, friendship and the best fly fishing action. 

The F3T is the original and largest fly fishing film event of its kind. Come for the action and stay for the giveaways and camaraderie that will feed your fishing addiction.


Proceeds

Majority of the proceeds go to benefit our friends at Project Healing Waters.

 

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. Began In 2005 Serving Wounded Military Service Members At Walter Reed Army Medical Center Returning From Combat In Iraq And Afghanistan. Since Then, PHW Has Expanded Nationwide, Establishing Its Highly Successful Program In Department Of Defense Hospitals, Warrior Transition Units, And Veterans Affairs Medical Centers And Clinics.

Our local chapter of PHW is run by our friend Jarod Klucho and he should be on hand to give a short presentation on the organization, what they do here in Columbus and how you can get involved. It is our great honor to give back to these veterans that have given so much for us!


www.projecthealingwaters.org

 


Raffle Information

Raffle Tickets will be $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. We accept cash, credit card or check. You will be able to place tickets into a separate container for each Grand Raffle Prize individually. General Raffle will be picked from the table as numbers are called.

Grand Raffle Prizes:

TBA Shortly!


General Raffle:

TBA Shortly!


GET TICKETS HERE!




833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363