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The Mad River
1-27-12-
After another big shot of rain the Mad is out of shape for a few days, but the river clears very quickly and the upper river should be fishable Sunday. This winter the Mad has been a yo-yo but for those anglers willing to watch the guages and change with the flows have had consistant success. With the high flows throughout the winter many anglers have been fishing streamers and some very large fish have been caught. With the cold water finding the right retrieve is the key to success, so keep experimenting and keep at it, once you find what they want it has been great. Nymph fisherman have been having the most consistant success this winter. Fishing deeper pools and cuts has kept many anglers hooked up. The best flies change with the flows, shortly after a spike in the flows larger patterns such as San Juan Worms, and craneflies with stonefly droppers have been best. Once the flows stabilize fish key on midges and small mayfly nymphs fished behind stoneflies.
1-4-12-
It looks like the new year will be more kind to anlgers than 2011 was. With unseasonably warm weather this week and no rain before the weekend things are looking great for anglers looking to get the first brown of the new year. Flows are still on the high side but are very fishable through most of the river, the lower portions will still be difficult to wade for a few days but should get easier as the water drops. Nymph fishing will rule as the water drops, the water is clear and cold so getting your flies to the bottom will be the key to catching fish. With the high flows craneflies are still a top producer and will usually account for the larger fish taken on nymphs, #12-16 black stoneflies are also a top option and will remain so until late winter. Small midges and Pheasant tails are always a good option in the winter, #16-20 zebra midges, brassies, and red copper johns are always great trailing patterns, especially in the upper river. As the winter progesses we can usually expect to find some fish rising to midges, especially in the upper river, though with the high flows this winter this will sporatic at best until the flows drop. Streamer fish has remained great with the high flows, swinging streamers is always a great way to take winter fish in high water, swinging wooly buggers slow and low will take some fish on almost any winter day. With no snow to cool the water temps the fish have remained aggresive to stripping streamers. Weighted patterns the drop on the pause have been the best producers lately.
12-26-11-
This has been a difficult December to get on the water but the anlgers that have been braving the high flows have been rewarded with some good fish on an empty river. The upper portions of the river are at very wadable flows and the water is clear. Nymph fishing with patterns that catchs the fishes attention, namely Cranefly larva, black stoneflies, and some attractor patterns such as San Jaun worms and copper Johns has been productive. The fish are not willing to move far into the fast flows to grab anything so make sure you use enough weight to get to the bottom and stay in the strike zone. Swinging moderate sized streamers through deeper runs is still a good way to get good numbers of fish. Stripping larger streamers will continue to trigger fish but the flies need to be kept near the banks in the slower eddies where the fish hold.
12-9-11- Conditions are dropping back down after the rain this week, the upper sections around West Liberty should be fishable today but will be off color. Over the next several days the water around Urbana will clear and should fish sunday. Swinging streamers can be exceptional with the high water flows, get the flies deep and slow and you should have success. Smaller patterns such as Butt Monkey's, Zoo Cougars and Wooley Buggers are the best for swinging. Nymph fishing is also a good bet in the high water, with the water color try Stoneflies and Craneflies. Look for most of the fish to be in any areas that are out of the main flow, the fish will especially be attracted to deeper areas that they will hold in for the winter.
12-03-11- With lots of water faling on the Mad last weekend the river was out of shape for a few days. Right now with more rain in the forecast keep an eye on the water levels, the Mad clears very fast and it will be fishable before any other stream in the area. Right now the river is running fast but fishable with a little color. The upper river has already cleared and is in very good shape today. Nymph fishing has been the main technique, cranefly patterns have been hot as well as pheasant tails and red midges, black stoneflies are also beginging to work and they should be a staple through the winter. Make sure you have enough weight to get to the bottom in the cold water. Swinging sculpins has also been a good method for picking up fish especially when the water is off color. This is a great time of year to take some nice fish with no other anglers on the water with you.
11-25-11- The Mad took a nice jump this week with the rain but is back down and in prime shape for the weekend. Nymph fishing has been the hot ticket with caddis pupae and pheasant tails being top producers although from here on out you surely want to have some midge larvae....especially red. Also, with some more rain in the forecast, you definitely want to have some cranefly larvae in your box. The big fish love these juicy bugs that get dislodged in the higher water. Streamer fishing has also been good with the recent rains and will remain good throughout the winter. Swinging sculpins has always been a great way to pick up nice fish right through the cold water conditions.
11-12-11 Not much has changed on the Mad the past few weeks. The fish are feeding and getting ready for the winter. Look for Nymphing to remain the top bet from now all through the winter. The fish are still keyed in on caddis but small Baetis nymphs and Midge pupae are also on the menu. There is not going to be alot of dry fly activity with winter on the way. Sunny days will have some fish looking up to midges, especially in the upper river, and there will be some small BWO's out for a few more weeks. Swinging sculpins is a great way to find some fish trying to pack on the pounds for the winter.
11-3-11- With the gorgeous weather we are having the Mad is a great place to be this fall! The water is clear, the leaves are thinned out and the fish are biting. Look for nymph fishing to still be the most productive method right now, with caddis pupae, Pheasant tails, and zebra midges producing very well, but don't be afraid to throw some larger attractor patterns. There are still fish rising to BWO's and some Caddis in the evenings, a #18-22 BWO Thorax Dun has been a top producer with these fish. The larger fish should be back on the move in the next week or two, look for streamer fishing to pick up soon, especially when we get the next rain. This is a really beautiful time of year to be on the mad and enjoy nice weather without many other people.
10-26-11- With the fall in full swing the Mad looks great and the fish are in thier fall dress. Currently the water is in great shape and there are lots of smaller fish feeding heavily on caddis a BWO's. Most of the activity is subsurface with swinging soft hackles and fishing nymphs being top techniques. Fishing deep areas below riffles and in small cuts, with PT's, Caddis larva, zebra midges, attractor nymphs all producing fish. There are some fish rising to #20 BWO's and #14 caddis in the evenings. The leaves are no longer a big problem but streamer fishing still is not producing very well with most of the larger fish in the river in spawning mode. Look for fishing to really pick up in the next few weeks.
10-13-11- Fishing has slowed this past week with the low clear water combined with the leaves, which are currently out in full force. Most of the fish being caught have been nymphing with smaller patterns, midges, caddis and soft hackles. Some anglers have had some success in the afternoons fishing caddis and blue winged olives on the surface but overall pretty challenging with the leaves. Calm days will be the best fishing as that will help alot with the amount of leaves in the water. Streamers fishing on dark days or when the water comes up has continued to produce some very large fish, but will remain difficult until the leaves have cleared out.
9-30-11- The water is up and muddy today but should be back in prime streamer fishing condition tomorow. This past week the fishing has been good in between rainstorms, with some very large fish getting caught, this should continue as the storms keep dropping more rain every few days. This weekend as the water clears streamer fishing will not be the only game in town, nymph fishing will remain an excellent option throughout the fall. Fishing midges, caddis pupae, and pheasant tails are staple options, but large attractor nymphs have been producing some great fish the past several weeks, and never forget cranefly larva when the water rises. Dry fly fishing will be good by the end of the weekend, look for the blue winged olive hatches to remain strong throughout the river, #18-22 sparkle duns are top bets when the fish are rising. Leaves will be a problem on windy days for the next month or so, but the fish will keep feeding so have patience and work the flies to them.
9-23-11- There has finally been enough rain to bump the water up a bit which should make the fishing even better. This weekend will make for some incredible streamer fishing as long as the water is below 300 cfs. Right now the water is on the rise so keep an eye on the Urbana gauge. The water will usually remain off color for about 24 hours after the water has spiked. Streamer fishing can be great in off colored water..but dry and nymph fishing might need to wait a day or so for the color to improve. Lately the fish have been active and feeding heavily throughout the river. The nymph fishing has been very good with caddis pupae and pheasant tails remaining top options but larger attractor nymphs are also a good bet. A favorite in the fall has always been the cranefly larva....especially when the water is up a bit. Good Blue Winged Olive hatches have been bringing fish up to the surface, especially in the afternoons. An #18- 20 olive sparkle dun or parachute olive are top bets. The leaves are beginning to be a slight annoyance on windy afternoons but have not become a major problem yet.
9-10-11- Even with the rain this past week the river continues to drop and remains very clear. The fish are getting more active with the cool nights and shorter days but are very easily spooked with the clear conditions. Fishing has been good for many that have been out...we have had a great summer season. Streamer fishing on cloudy or stormy days has been good for those that have ventured out and some big fish have been landed recently. Dry fly fishing this week was very good with some big olive hatches on cloudy days, as well as a surprising number of Ephrons. Seems that the While Millers are winding down but we still saw some in the upper river this week. Fish weren't rising everywhere but if you were willing to travel you could find them. Nymph fishing of course has been the most consistent way to catch fish lately and remain a top technique through the winter. Caddis pupae have bben a top producer but attractor nymphs like prince nymphs and copper johns have been very good. Larger fish are beginning to move around for the fall. If the water comes up the fishing will be great...especially with some color to the water.
8-31-11- As has been the case this summer, the Mad remains in prime condition with clear water and great flow. The fishing has been good, with fish feeding throughout the day. Nymph fishing has been good with caddis pupae and pheasant tails being top patterns. Look for fish holding in fast water areas, especially in any deeper slots near the bank. Dry fly fishing remains great, especially for this time of year. There are plenty of "olives" coming off sporadically all day with a good hatch in the evening as well. In the evenings there are good numbers of white millers hatching at dark as well as some ephrons mixed in. During the afternoons fishing terrestrials and attractor patterns can be a fun way to get some exciting strikes....the fish are still looking for ants and beetles. Keep an eye out for rain, the fish are starting to move around for all and if the water gets any color to it the streamer fishing could produce some hawgs.
8-16-11- Fishing has remained excellent on the Mad, even gotten a little better with the cooler weather. Like the past few reports, terrestrials and soft hackles remain top choices. Trico activity has been minimal for some reason although a few folks have hit them well in the upper river. They should be slowing down though here over the next few weeks. However, there are more Pseudocloens (small olives) in the mornings and evenings as well as some small caddis in the late afternoons. Nymph fishing remains good as well with caddis pupae and pheasant tails being top flies.The really big news is that the White Millers have begun and the evening fishing should be fantastic for a few weeks here. These light colored caddis dance all over the riffles just before dark (many mistake them for moths) and really cause fish to lose their cool and go a bit crazy! We always recommend having some green soft hackles as to imitate the pupae as the fish mostly key into the active swimming emergers. If the fish are rising everywhere and they won't eat the adult this is your answer!!! Around the same time as the White Millers we have seeing some Ephrons (White flies) hatching especially in the lower portions of the river. These large white mayflies are a must have, and are also a great top fly for a dry/dropper combination. The next few weeks can offer some of the best fishing we will see all year on the Mad so get out and fish!
7-28-11- Water had a slight spike the other day but all it did was add a little color to the water. It did make streamer fishing jump back up to top presentation for a few days though! There are a few Tricos hatching but there have not been enough to consistently bring numbers of fish up yet. The upper river is your best bet for finding these little guys. There are still some caddis around as well as lots of midges....which don't make for great dry fly fishing but the pupae have been very effective. Nymphing with a small midge behind a green caddis pupae is a go to in the Summer. Soft hackles are also one of the most effective techniques throughout the river. Fish them on a traditional wet fly swing or behind a nymph. The big story right now if fishing big terrestrials, especially with droppers. You many not see any fish rising but they have been bonkers for big beetles, ants and smaller hopper patterns. If you really want to get fancy, put a caddis pupae off the back and you have a deadly rig for right now. Temps are not a problem...nearing 70 but it is not a problem at all for browns. We have seen the river much warmer for much longer periods of time in the past. The fish are fat, happy and plenty cool. They don't know how hot it is outside the water!
7-6-11- Just about the best conditions we have seen at this time of year. Even better in that the fish are responding very well. Lately the story has been terrestrials in the afternoons. Japanese beetles, ants, fireflies and even some large rubber legged hopper types are all getting grabbed! They key has been covering ground and getting casts as close to the bank as possible. There are still some small mayflies hatching in the evenings in the upper river as well as some caddis in the afternoons. Now that the water has dropped a bit, swinging soft hackles will be an excellent way to catch fish. #14 green or Pheasant tail soft hackles are some of our favorites. If you like to nymph fish, caddis will be the major player through the summer, but small pheasant tails and san juan worms have been good also. Streamer fishing has continued to be good to excellent as well throughout the river. Don't be afraid to try smaller stuff if the monster articulated stuff isn't working.
6-22-11- Incredible conditions with the river holding fast....but clear! As has been the story this year, if you are able to withstand the flows, the river has been fishing very good and it should remain that way. Most anglers are still fishing streamers but the fish have really begun to look up if you can find some softer water. A few anglers have been reporting stellar dry fly fishing the past few days in the upper river. There are still some smaller sulphers and attenuatas hatching in the upper river and sporadic to heavy caddis hatches most every afternoon. There are still a few brown drakes around- look for them now in the upper to very upper river for maybe another week or so- one of the best opportunitues of the year to find a big fish looking up. This is the time of year that we start thinking about terrestrials....ants, beetles and even fireflies tossed up under overhangs are producing good numbers of fish. If you like to nymph fish, brown drakes nymphs are still the ticket here for a bit. Standard summer fare for nymphs...be sure to have plenty of caddis larva and pupae from here on out as well.
6-14-11- Right now the flows are still swift, but the water is clear and the fishing has been pretty good. There are finally some better chances for dry fly fishing and the big news right now is the Brown Drakes. Look for these massive #8 mayflies to begin hatching just before dark in the lower and middle river. This is a night time hatch so they can be fished far into the darkness for those anglers willing to fish by sound. Be sure to have some spinners as well. During the day look for caddis and terrestrials. Should still see some sulphers in the evenings and have had some reports of Attenuatas (#16 Olives) during the afternoons and evenings. The fish are also looking up at the beetles and ants that are now flourishing up and down the river. Our favorite, and one of the best fish producers is the japanese beetle. If you like nymph fishing, brown drake nymphs and caddis larva/pupae are the hot ticket. Look for concentrations of fish around any major current breaks and around logs. As has been the case all spring, the streamer fishing has been excellent both swinging sculpins and ripping big articulated junk with sinking lines. We still have about three times the normal flows for this time of year! This is going to be the best summer season we have ever had on the Mad!!!!
6-4-11- The Mad is slowly dropping down to good levels, but even with the high flows the water is clear and some folks have been out fishing in the upper river. Right now, streamers are really what it takes to get the attention of the fish. Swinging and stripping streamers is a great way to cover ground and find active groups of fish. Ripping big articulated stuff has been effective both at getting mid-sized fish when nothing else works, as well as producing pounding strikes from the resident pigs. Nymph fishing has been a bit difficult with the high flows because the fish have spread out and not locked into the predictable areas. This will get better here over the next week. Attractor patterns such as Copper Johns, San Juan Worms and large nymphs such as Craneflies have been effective. Also be sure to have some Brown Drake nymphs as they are getting very active and could begin hatching at any moment (no reports yet but look for them in the evenings). There have been some bugs hatching but with the water levels, dry fly fishing has been non-existant. Caddis, Light Cahills, straggler March Browns, #16 and #18 Sulphers could all be seen on any given afternoon or evening here for antoher week or so. From then on it will be the #18 Sulpher and the mighty Brown Drake. Let's get this dry fly season started finally....should be a great few weeks of fishing!!!!!
5-27-11- More rain has once again pushed the river way up. Unfortunately, it will not be fishable for Memorial Day weekend. Once this last push retreats, the water wil still hold at high flows but is clearing very fast. Fishing the upper river when the West Liberty flow gauge drops below 100cfs can produce some decent fishing. The insect activity has not been great due to the high water, but some fish have been grabbing some sulphers and caddis in the evenings. Ants and some other early terrestrials have also been effective. Nymph fishing, while effective in the right spots,
has been difficult with the fast water. Streamer fishing has by far been the most effective method. Swinging wooly buggers and smaller sculpins, especially on sink tip and full sinking lines have been very effective. This can be the best way to cover lots of water and pick up some nice fish. Stripping big articulated streamers with sinking lines has still been the method of choice for hogs....even in the upper stretches. With the great weather forecasted for the next week, look for some good to excellent fishing mid to late next week.
5-21-11- The water is really cruising right now in the middle and lower sections of the river. However, the upper river, near West Liberty, is coming fishable and those that have been out the past few days have been doing well. Streamer fishing has been excellent as it always is in higher flows. There are some mayflies hatching in the afternoons. Keep an eye out for a mix of March Browns, Light Cahills and more and more Sulphers as the water warms. There will also be some caddis hatching mid-day. Nymph fishing in the higher water can be very good, fish the seams and along eddies with caddis pupae and pheasant tails but don't forget to try large attractor nymphs in the higher flows. We are looking forward to an incredible late season on the mad this year so get out there.
5-10-11- The river is slowly dropping and the upper river, although flowing quickly, should be fishable late this week as long as it doesn't rain. The fish will be in great shape and aggressive after several weeks without any fishing pressure! Expect to see lots of caddis as soon as the water is down, along with Sulphers and we should start to see some scattered March Browns then Light Cahills as well. this is always a great time of year on the Mad and we expect the season to be excellent!
5-6-11- It looks like the upper Mad is holding at over 500cfs! Phenomenal. This is a great thing for the river but it makes fishing very difficult. The upper stretches of the river may be fishing next week if there is no rain but there is a chance of showers or storms every day. Once the water comes down, we should be right into the sulpher and caddis hatches, and the streamer fishing should remain fantastic. Keep an eye on the guage, once the river comes down this may shpae up to be the best season in a long time on the mad.
4-29-11- Well there has finally been a break in the rain but the river is still elevated. The flow will remain high for a few days but the upper river may be fishable late in the weekend. Fishing streamers and large nymphs will be the ticket once the water becomes fishable. If temps start rising 1st of the week, we should still have some Hendricksons around and theoretically we should see some great hatches next week. Should also be decent numbers of Blue Winged Olives especially in the upper river. We should also start seeing good numbers of caddis on the river. Small black caddis as well as some #14 Tan caddis should keep the fish feeding all day in one form or another. All this water will have a major effect on our season on the Mad- the summer fishing should be excellent this year now that the groundwater levels have gotten a bit better.
4-18-11- After a bump in flow the other day the Mad is back in shape and fishing already. Streamer fishing while the water has a touch of color in it right after these rain events is often a great chance at a trophy fish. The big news lately however has been the Hendrickson hatches. The bugs are in full swing and the fish are gorging themselves! These next few weeks should provide excellent afternoon dry fly fishing. The Hendricksons start hatching mid afternoon and continue for several hours, and then just before dark there is often a spinner fall, depending on the weather and the wind. For Hendrickson dries try Bear's Para Henny, Sparkle Henny's or Beck's Hendrickson. As for the spinner fall a #14 Rusty Spinner of your choice will do fine. Before the hatch nymping can be excellent and make sure you have the Hednrickson nymph as well as some soft hackle pheasant tails. On cloudy days don't forget to bring some Blue Winged Olives as well. If there are low clouds or better yet a light drizzle the olives could hatch all afternoon. They are running #16-18 and will move more towards the #18 here in the next week or so.
4-13-11- This is shaping up to be a great week on the Mad! The Hendrickson hatch is now in full-swing and the fish are taking notice. Start the mornings off by fishing hendrickson nymphs and caddis larva deep. Then, in the afternoon, switch to dries with a nymph dropper or emerger. The bugs should be hatching right now between 2 and 4 p.m. but as the days get warmer the hatch will happen earlier in the day. No reports of good spinner falls yet but the first few warm evenings should provide some excellent fishing just before dark. On cloudy days keep an eye out for Blue Winged Olives as well. The streamer fishing should remain good until the water drops to summer levels but that doesn't look like it will happen any time soon. This has already been a great spring season on the Mad and it's only getting better.
4-8-11- Conditions are looking pretty good for the weekend on the Mad. The flow is up but the color is very good as of this afternoon. This water is perfect for streamer fishing. Swinging streamers should produce lots of nice fish with the conditions and surely more monsters will be landed this weekend on big articulated streamers. If you like to nymph, fish hendrickson nymphs and cranefly larva. Fish these in the deeper cuts and along wood structure especially in the mornings and early afternoons before the bugs begin to hatch. With the warm conditions being called for this weekend, the hendrickson hatch should be excellent in the afternoons. When they have been hatching, we have been seeing them around 3:30 or 4:00 with activity lasting for an hour or so. As the hatch progresses the bugs will hatch earlier and the activity will last longer. Also don't forget to have some Blue Quill/BWO types as they have been hatching pretty good especially on cloudy days.
4-1-11- Current conditions on the Mad are excellent with good flow and very clear water. With a few cloudy days in the forecast, streamer fishing should be excellent over the weekend. May also see some BWOs with the clouds. Hendricksons probably not strong as we still need things to warm up a bit and get some sun. Nymphing will be the best technique for numbers. Fish are actively eating mayfly and stonefly nymphs along the bottom. Time to start thinking about caddis larva as well.
3-30-11- Wow the water looks great right now! Fishing has slowed slightly with the past cold front but the fish and insects are getting more and more active with each warming day. Nymph fishing has been very consistent with Hendrickson nymphs and other mayfly imitations being staples, along with some small attractor and black stonefly nymphs. Look for areas near logs or eddies where the fish can get out of the flow. There is some dry fly fishing available and will opportunities will greatly increase over the next few weeks. A few fish have been rising to mid afternoon mayflies, as well as the newly abundant stoneflies that have been laying eggs on sunny days. Look for the stones to be near the bank under brush. To fish the adults, us a dark stimulator, black elk hair or tape wing and skate the fly near the bank. Streamers are still our favorite technique as long as the flows stay elevated. Remeber to keep changing fly colors until you find what they want that day!
3-25-11- Water level and color is great throughout the river right now. Nymphing with Hendrickson nymphs and Stonefly nymphs is very effective right now. Look for fish holding just below riffles and along logs. There are also a few black stoneflies in the air, as well as a few Blue Quills, some BWO's and even a few Hendrickson duns have been spotted already. As soon as we get a warm spell and some sun it should be game on! for dry fly anglers. The cold front will slow the bugs down for a few days but there should be fishable hatches in the next week or so. Until then, streamer fishing should still be good to excellent. Swinging standard streamers will produce numbers of good fish but Articulated Streamers are producing some huge fish!
3-21-11- The river is in great shape right now! Streamer fishing has been productive nd will continue to produce the biggest fish (duh). Nymph fishing although has also been good and will continue to improve as the water levels drop. When nymphing, tryin hendrickson nymphs and other mayfly imiations as well as cranefly larva and attractor nymphs. Dry fly season is right around the corner and don't be surprised to see a bew bugs on warm days. The coming front should delay good dry activity a few days though. We should have Hendricksons hatching in the next two weeks and Blue Quills/Blue Winged Olives any moment.
3-15-11- After all of the rain it looks like we will finally have some fishing this weekend! Right now the Mad is still on the high side. Wading will be difficult but the upper river is at a fishable level. As the water drops this weekend, the river should be fishable around Urbana. This will be a streamer weekend. It is likely that there will be some big (huge) fish landed by anglers stripping big flies (5-7"). For big numbers of fish you may try some of the smaller flies (#2-8). There may be some insects starting to hatch, however with the higher flows it will be difficult to find fish feeding on them for a week or so.
3-9-11- The river received another half inch of rain overnight and this will bring it back up for a few days. The water should drop quickly and may be fishable in the upper river, with the rest of the river more like early next week. This is the perfect scenario for scoring a GIANT brown trout. There have been some fantastically huge trout caught the past few weeks and this trend should continue with these conditions. As usual, the best method for these fish is articulated streamers and sinking lines. Swinging smaller streamers has also been pretty effective and has yielded some low 20 fish the past few weeks as well. Later next week nymphing should be good to excellent. Fish will be in classic lies below riffles taking stonefly and hendrickson etc. nymphs that are getting active. For those itching to get some fish on dry flies, there should be some early mayflies on the water soon! The first bugs are the Blue Quills often mixed in with some early BWO's. Adams #16-18, Blue Duns the same and some BWO type patterns in #16-20 are all on the menu until we see Hendricksons.
2-28-11- After getting over and inch of rain last night the Mad is on a HUGE rise in flow. Urbana is already over 2000 cfs and still rising. It will be a bit here folks. We'll let you know as conditions change.
2-23-11- As expected, the river dropped into prime streamer levels and there have been good numbers of nice fish taken by the anglers willing to put up with the weather. Remember to change colors often if the fish are not reacting to the fly. Nymph fishing will begin to pick up once the flows at Urbana drop below 200 cfs. Stonefly nymphs will be a key fly, as will San Juan worms and cranefly larva after the rise in water. Just keep your eyes on the weather as we are now hearing reports of big rains coming later in the week.
2-18-11- Snowmelt caused the river to blow out yesterday. This week keep us away for a couple of days here. Once the river drops back into shape it will be PRIME streamer time. There have been some very large fish caught this past week on streamers (articulated) and it will be even better conditions wise after this event. There is rain in the forecast that should keep the water levels up where they should be for great early spring nymphing and streamer fishing.
2-15-11- There have finally been some changes on the Mad, the biggest one being that for the moment we have some water! The warmer weather has caused some snowmelt that has elevated the flows and put a bit of color to the water. This means that for the next few days there should be much better streamer fishing conditions than there has been in some time. This bump in the flow will also push a bunch of the now very active little black stonefly nymphs into the drift. You may also see some stones hatching with adults flitting around on the banks. Though the fish don't key on the adults they can be used as a searching pattern or for dropppers. Black #14 nymphs are the way to go! Look for nymph fishing to be exceptional for the next month or so! The early mayflies are starting to mature and get become more available to the fish. Top flies will be dark Copper Johns, Little Black Sloans, mayflies like Mity Mite Baetis, Plamin' Pheasant and small pheasant tails. Not long and we'll be tossing some Henny nymphs as well.
1-21-11- No major changes in the fishing lately. The water conditions are still low and clear and the fish are generally holding in the deeper pools. It is time to start thinking about switching over to small mayfly nymphs and pheasant tails as your early hatches are not that far off. These early nymphs are now reaching maturity and getting a bit more active and the fish really take notice. The little black stones should be around and you may see some hatching over the next few weeks and into February. Remember that the fish don't see the adults so have some good nymphs. Streamer fishing has been ok to marginal due to the low water.
Don't miss Kelly Galloup in the shop- February 11th and 12th!- Click Here
1-5-11- Happy New Year! Pretty much the same report as it will be all winter unless we get a big push of water. Conditions are still good on the Mad. The river was off color for a few days with the snowmelt but is back down and clear. Most anglers are having the best success fishing with dark (stonefly) nymphs and midges. When the flows are a bit higher we of course love fishing the big streamers but we need some precip to really make that happen big.
****Please note that the past week has seen another RASH of break-ins. Our own Mike Schmidt and Patrick Kelly were hit hard last Friday as well as a mess of other anglers. The Sheriff was actually going up and down the river warning anglers of the danger. Please just be very aware that these criminals are still on the loose and having their way with cars parked at the bridges.
12-18-10- Fishing is good on the Mad right now. Most of the fish being taken on #16-20 red and black midge larva but some days they want larger, black stoneflies. The majority of the fish are holding in wintering areas so be prepared to walk past most water in order to get to the high percentage spots. Swinging small streamers has also been very effective. A ligh sink tip in the low water is still helpful. This is a great way to cover water a little faster to see if fish are there, then nymph the concentrated areas. A warmer sunny day can always bring midge hatches so have some Griffith's, ICSI and Brian/Ryan midges.
12-8-10- This is our favorite time of year on the Mad. Crowds are gone, the snow is on the ground and the trout feed all winter! Nymphing is the big game with the lower, clearer flows that we are seeing any more in the Fall. Look for fish holding in the slower pools feeding mostly on small nymphs and midges. Some great flies this time of year are Little Black Sloans, dark and/or green Copper Johns, Zebra Midges, Disco Midges and small Baetis types. If you are looking sto score a big fish, streamers are the best bet. Bigger fish are willing to chase down a big meal no matter how cold. Swinging streamers is great as long as the flow is up a little which seems to be the hard part these days. If you find rising fish, they will mostly be eating midges, especially on a warm sunny day. Try dropping a Miracle Nymph or other midge pupa below a small dry fly.
12-1-10- The Mad has good water levels and is dropping. Should fish well. Streamer fishing has been good to excellent this past week with water levels elevated and even a bit of color. Throwing big articulated streamers on sinking lines (Kelly Galloup) is the preferred method this time of year. Swinging smaller streamers like wooly buggers and Zoo Cougars is a great eway to catch good numbers of fish inthe highter flows throughout the winter. Fish are also feeding heavily on nymphs. Midges especially but cranefly larva and stonefiles are also important. Little Black Sloans, dark copper johns and small pheasant tails are deadly in the dropping water conditions on the Mad. The weather is going to be cloudy and cold all week so the big fish will be on the feed!
11-26-10- The Mad got a much needed shot of water yesterday. Lots of debris was pushed downstream clearing out much of the weeds and the leaves that have been clogging the system. This is exactly what we needed....albeit a few months late. The next few days should be some great conditions for streamer fishing. There will also be lots of insects in the drift so the nymphing will be good. The baetis, stonefly and midge imitations that work wo well much of the fall and winter will still work but also may want to try some larger bugs like Cranefly larva with the higher water. The water is already fishable today from Urbana upstream. Great weekend to fish!
11-24-10- Fishing should be great the next few days with the rain and snow. This is streamer time so grab the sinking lines and the big sculpins (Kelly Galloup stuff) and look for the fish of the year. If the rain is not too hard, you can still find some fishable blue winged olive hatches as well as some fish starting to feed on midges. Indicator fishing with midge larva, baetis nymphs and small dark stone types should be very effective from now through the winter. This is one of the best times of year on the Mad....don't miss it!
11-16-10- Fishing has been a bit tougher this past week with the leaves, sun and clear water. However, the rainy and cloudy days have made for some great fishing. Now that there has been some rain, the leaves should begin to filter out. Nymping has been the most consisent technique with small baetis type nymphs or caddis larva being top producers. Keep an eye out for heavy rains, fall streamer fishing in the rain/high water is a great way to get a huge fish on the line! A few more days of rain and streamer season will be on!
**This Friday- special guest in the shop: Jim Johnson will be giving a presentation on fishing the Katmai region of Alaska and our 2011/2012 Trips. On hand will be Jerry Darkes as well who is hosting the July 2011 Trip. Show starts at 7:00 p.m.- just let us know if you will be attending
11-5-10- Fishing has really picked up on the Mad. Though the flows are still very low and the water clear, the fish are becoming much more aggressive as the water cools. The leaves are making things difficult at the moment but not so bad that nymphing is impossible. There are small blue winged olives hatching mid to late afternoon every day and there are some very heavy emergences on cloudy days and there have been lots of fish looking up. Fishing size 20-24 olives and emergers can be a blast during these hatches. If the fish are tough, try swinging a nymph and emerger through the risers! In the morning nymphing the deeper pools with standard nymphs as well as small baetis and midges will catch some fish. Streamer fishing has been tough with the low water and leaves but targeting some of the deeper slots is still the best way to get a big fish. The time is comin
The Clearfork of the Mohican River
1-27-12-
The water on clearfork is on the high side but in fishable condition. Indicator fishing with large nymphs followed by midges has been working well here all winter. Small streamers always have thier place in this fishery, try white to imitate the shad and olive for the sculpins, you can even swing two wooly buggers at once to get the fishes attention in the higher water. When the water drops here keep an eye on the surface on sunny days, the fish will often sip midges of the surface all winter here, try fishing griffiths gnats and Brian/Ryan Midges to these risers. If the fish are being difficult, try dropping a small zebra midge behind and small parachute adams.
1-5-12-
The flows in clearfork have dropped into great shape and the winter full will be in full swing here. Nymph fishing with midges and standared nymph patterns such as copper johns and hares ear's has been productive. Fishing wooly buggers through the holes is always an effective and fun way to fish the stream as well. There may be some fish rising to midges on warm sunny days through the winter here, try griffiths gnats and Brian/Ryan midges to these picky fish.
12-26-11- With all of the rain this fall the clearfork is still running very high. But Pleasant Hill lake is almost down to pool and the water should drop this week into fishable flows. This stream is a very good winter fishery, try nymphing with attractor patterns and midge patterns. Swinging wooly buggers near laydowns will also produce some larger fish
12-9-11- Pleasant Hill Lake is almost ten feet above pool so as they try and lower the lake Clearfork will be far to high to fish. We will let you know as soon as the stream drops.
12-03-11- The rain this past week raised the level in the lake several feet so that water is being pushed through the stream right now. Look for the Clearfork to drop later this week. There have been some anglers fishing the upper river with success. Nymph fishing near wood cover or in deep pools with small baetis nymphs and caddis is a top choice in the upper stretches as is fishing small streamers!
11-25-11- Great reports coming out of the Clearfork before the water came up this week. The releases were dropped back to fishable conditions today so the weekend should be excellent! Streamer fishing with small wooly buggers and other small streamers seemed to be a good option. Try adding a soft hackle behing the streamer to tease the fish that don't want to commit to eating the larger meal. Nymph fishing here is always a good option, as usual attractor patterns such as copper johns and san juan worms always do well here. As the water clears look for fish to key into smaller patterns, especially red midges.
11-12-11- It's that time of year on clearfork where the fishing really picks up. The fish are taking nymphs and soft hackles readily, and will even look up at some caddis and BWO dries. Caddis pupae and stonefly nymphs will be on the top of the list as the water cools, look for fish to be feasting on these right below the deep riffles. Streamer fishing with small buggers and sculpins will pick up some larger fish and will often wake up the fish on cold mornings when they don't respond to nymphs.
11-3-11- The fishing on clearfork has been good, the water level is in prime shape and the fish are responding to most techniques. There are some fish rising here, especially late in the day, try a zebra midge below a caddis dry here. As is usually the case here nymph fishing can be very productive, try midges and small copper johns behind large or bright attractor patterns such as San Juan Worms, Psycho Princes, or even egg patterns. Swinging streamers is also very effective here, try smaller sculpin patterns and wooly buggers in the faster areas and hold on when the smack the fly.
10-26-11- The water is low at clearfork but the fishing is pretty good. Look for decent numbers of fish rising to BWO's and caddis in the afternoon and evening. Fishing with attractors nymphs such as Psycho Princes, Copper Johns, and San Juan Worms trailed with small pheasant tails or midges is a great way to catch good numbers of fish right now. Small streamers fished in the faster water will also pick up some fish here, this should improve as it gets colder.
10-13-11- Fishing here has been hampered by the leaves in the water but should really start to pick up here over the next two weeks. Once the leaves diminish it should be game on. The Clearfork is a great option in late fall and throughout the winter.
9-30-11- The water is finally on the rise with the recent storms. It is just about time for clearfork to pick up with cooler temps and more water in the system. Look for good dry fly fishing with olives on cloudy days, as well as some smaller caddis mixed in. Nymph fishing will be the top technique, attractors like copper johns, san juan worms, and psycho prince's will be must have through the fall and winter here. Fish will also take midges and small mayfly nymphs especially when the water is low and clear, and caddis pupae are always a good option at clearfork. Streamer fishing usually picks up here later in the year once the water gets cold.
9-23-11- Not much has changed on the Clearfork as of yet. The water is clear and low and the fish are holding tight to cover and in fast water. Nymph fishing is the best bet. Attractor nymphs and caddis fished close to logs and structure will bring some fish. On cloudy days the fish will rise to Blue Winged Olives....#18-22 and some smaller as well. Streamer fishing, especially in the fater water can produce some exciting strikes early and late in the day. Keep an eye on this fishery, this is one of the best around in late fall and winter. The best fishing of the year is yet to come here.
9-10-11- The water on the Clearfork is very low and clear. Fishing has been ok at best the past few weeks but will begin to pick up into the Fall. Nymph fishing is the best bet right now, with caddis being top producers. Small streamers fished through the fast water may also produce some fish, as well as a few bonus bass. We will let you know as soon as fishing begins to pick up.
8-31-11- The water on the fork is very low and clear. Look for fish in the faster areas or in pools with plenty of woody cover. Fishing terrestrials during the day, or nymphing in the deeper riffles is a top technique for connecting with fish right now. There have been some small olive type mayflies hatching in the evenings that are getting some attention from the fish...as well as some late Tricos in the early mornings. Fishing should really start to pick up here as we head into fall.
8-16-11- Water remains low, but the cooler weather has improved fishing. Morning Trico hatches still reamin the best time to catch numbers of fish. Ants, hoppers and beetles are your best bet during the day and have been producing well. We have seen some of the Ephrons in the evenings but this hatch can be hard to pin down on this river. Mostly seeing them in the upper stretches. May also see a variety of caddis, mostly smaller but a few White Millers as well. These will be in the mid to late afternoons. Swinging small streamers and soft hackles in the faster water is another good bet if there are no rising fish. The fishing here will continue to improve into late summer and fall.
7-28-11- Water is low, clear and warm in the park water. There are still a few trout taking nymphs and soft hackles in the riffles but it's difficult to get past all of the chubs. Look for some of the larger trout to be lazing in the deep pools. Smallmouth and carp though have been good to excellent in this stretch. The upper stretches above Pleasant Hill lake fish well through the summer. Fishing is best morning and early afternoon. Look for some excellent Trico hatches at first light. Once the hatch has finished, nymph fishing the riffles has been effective. Much like the Mad, searching with terrestrials is a great way to find fish thoughout the summer months.
7-6-11- The water is very clear but still decent flow on the Fork. In the summer months the upper river above Pleasant Hill can be excellent fishing. The park water has been awfully crowded with swimmers etc. Look for fish to be looking for beetles and caddis much like on the mad. Dry/dropper rigs are a great way to fish this piece of water. For droppers or when nymphing, caddis will be the ticket although attractors like copper johns and price nymphs will also be effective. There have been some decent reports of dry fly fishing in the evenings with some Light Cahill types still flitting around along with the caddis. Mornings will begin to be very important as the Tricos get started which we did have an angler see some in the past few days!!!
6-22-11- Water levels still in great shape and the fish are active. Look for the best trout fishing in the riffles with attractor nymphs, prices, caddis and san juan worms. Small streamers swung into the deep slots and along cover are also producing fish. If dry fly fishing is your game, terrestrials and caddis will be the way to go from here on out. Large beetle patterns have been producing well the past week or so.
6-14-11- Flows are prime and the fishing has been improving. The water is slightly off color, but the streamer and nymph fishing has been good. A few anglers have had some big fish take streamers in the past week. There have also been some fish rising to sporadic Light Cahill types and some ants/beetles but the dry fly fishing has been slow in general. No word of Brown Drakes yet but they should be around in the evenings over the next week or so. Look for them to be strong in the upper stretch especially. Be sure to have some caddis from here on out as well. Look for most fish in the faster areas just below riffles.
6-4-11- The water has dropped back into perfect condition and the fish have put on their feedbags again. Caddis are hatching in the afternoons and evenings and there have been some Sulphers and Light Cahills hatching as well. Swinging soft hackles in the riffles is very effective this time of year, greens and yellows work very well. Streamers are also lots of fun right now and can lead to more than just trout. Great time of year to fish the Clearfork and looks like mother nature is going to cooperate for a bit here.
5-27-11- The lake went up 8 feet over the past three days. This will keep flows below the dam high until they get the lake back down. The upper is currently a mess as well. We will let you know when the water comes down.
5-21-11- The water has dropped to fishable levels (again) and the fish are right back on the feed. Look for the same hatches here as the Mad but with much more importance on the Light Cahills. There are also lots of midges and caddis here to keep the fish rising every evening. Nymph fishing the deep fast riffles is always a great way to catch fish here as well. Never forget your streamers! There are plenty of nice browns as well as a mixed bag of other species willing to smack a streamer on any day.
5-10-11- The water is down and the fish are hungry! Pleasant Hill Lake has dropped the flows and the stream is in great shape. Expect to see caddis as well as Olives on the water right away. Should also start seeing some March Browns and Suplphers as the weather warms, followed closely by some Light Cahills. May even see a few straggler Hendricksons if you are up there this week. Dry fly fishing should be very good in the afternoons and evenings here for the next several weeks and nymph fishing with attractor patterns is always effective here. This is also a great place to go do some mixed bag fishing. Not only are there some big browns, but also smallmouth, saugeye, carp and crappies. The great fishing plus the beauty of the park makes this a great place to fish in the spring.
5-6-11- With Pleasant Hill Lake very hight and releasing a ton of water, it looks like the Clearfork will not be fishable for at least a week.
4-29-11- The lake is dropping fast but is still two feet above Summer pool. If this rate of fall stays consistent the water should drop to fishable levels late Saturday or early Sunday. Just after the drop streamers will be a key technique for big browns out to grab the confused baitfish. Keep an eye out for hatches of Blue Winged Olive and some Hendricksons over the next few weeks. Those that have been out in the past few weeks have been reporting fantastic fishing!
4-18-11- Great conditions on the Clearfork right now. Choose your favorite technique and go! This stream has diverse water and fish throughout. Standard methods, fishing wooly buggers as well as nymphing with attractor nymphs and caddis larva. The Hendrickson hatch is just getting started here and should last about three weeks or so. Still some Olives and midges over the weekend. This is a great place to fish this time of year....you never know what you will run into on this stream. A few smallmouth caught already.
4-13-11- The water levels are finally in prime shape and it's just in time for the Hendricksons. Use the same methods here as the mad but also keep some soft hackles and midges handy. Streamer fishing is great here this time of year- you don't know what will grab the fly- smallmouth and saugeye are common catches on streamers here in addition to the browns.
4-8-11- The lower river is dropping and might be fishable this weekend. Like the Mad, streamer fishing should be the main affair here. Remeber to have some white streamers here to imitate the shad. It is just about time for the Hendricksons to start hatching as well......hopefully we will see some bugs this week if the weather and water cooperate. Fish nymphs in the mornings and switch to adults in the afternoons if you see fish rising.
4-1-11- Water leavels are excellent on the Clearfork. There has not been much in the way of insect activity yet, but nymphing is excellent. Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, Black Stones and San Juan Worms are all flies of choice. For larger fish throw large streamers along the wood cover. White and Black have been the hot colors.
3-30-11- Conditions are prime for good fishing on the Clearfork! Nymph fishing is currently the preferred method here, with attractor nymphs and san juan worms always being good bets, as well as hendrickson and bwo nymphs. Streamer fishing will still be good, in particular shad imitations (white). Swinging streamers is a great way to cover ground and find fish. The dry fly fishing should begin here in another week or two, with hendricksons and bwo types being the first things to hatch.
3-25-11- Finally the lower river is in good shape. Pleasant Hill lake has dropped down enough for the corps to slow the flows. These are great conditions for swinging streamers and nymph fishing. Attractor nymphs and stoneflies are standard on the stream as well as Mayfly types to imitate the coming hatches. Not much to report as far as bugs yet but with the water dropping we should be seeing some early BWO types hatching with the Hendricksons following close behind in early April.
3-21-11- Still up right now but it has been coming down. Fishing should be great as soon as the flows are down. We'll be looking for Blue Winged Olives, Midges and eventually Hendricksons to hatch as soon as we can get fishing.
3-9-11- It will be some time before the lake is down and the flows drop. We will let you know and when it does the fishing should be good to exellent.
2-28-11- Like most streams in the state, the Clearfork is on it's way up. We will let you know as soon as the water drops.
2-23-11- With fast action from the army corps of engineers Pleasant Hill Lake has been dropped back into shape very quickly after last week's spike. This means that the water below the dam is once again fishable. Streamers will remain a key factor here until the bugs begin hatching. Attractor nymphs and eggs are still producing some decent fish.
2-18-11- Water levels jumped today to unfishable levels. With Pleasant Hill Lake level still rising, we don't expect this stream to be fishable for a bit here. We will let you know as soon as this changes.
2-15-11- Fishing the Clearfork has been good for many anglers the past few weeks. Typical this time of year it is often the best fishing around. Standard fare here has been fishing attractor nymphs in the deper or faster areas. However, like the Mad, big fish are coming on streamers most of the time. As the weather warms, the upper river will begin to fish better and fish will begin to key in on the mayfly and stonefly nymphs that are maturing and becoming more available. This stream has good numbers of spring mayflies so Pheasant Tails and Hare's Ears in the #14-18 range are very good in March and April.
1-21-11- The water is back down on the Clearfork. This does give anglers a better chance to reach some of the deeper and faster wintering areas on this stream. Streamers are still a great option, however fishing attractor nymphs like Pscho Princes and San Juan Worms has been working great. Also time to start thinking about Hare's Ears and Pheasant Tails as well. Should see some Little Black Stonefly activity here as well over the next few weeks.
Don't miss Kelly Galloup in the shop- February 11th and 12th!- Click Here
1-5-11- After a jump in flows for a few days the Clearfork is back in prime streamer shape. There have been some very nice fish caught in the past few weeks so if you are looking for the big bite this will be the best bet right now. Fish big streamers along woody cover and hold on. Anglers also doing well on small nymphs and midges.
12-18-10- Some very good reports coming out of the Clearfork lately...this is prime time in the park. The fish are mostly eating midges and attractor nymphs, as well as eggs and san juan worms. Streamers are also producing well, swinging a white bugger or big sculpin can bring some very nice fish to hand. This is a great place to fish when very little else is fishable and it is a very pretty place to fish with the snow on the ground.
12-8-10- Flows are great and the fishing has been good. This stream fishes great in the winter and rarely freezes. Streamer fishing the deep pools is a great way to grab a big brown. Nymph fishing will be the staple though. Midges play a bit role in this stream, as well as small stones, but never forget attractor patternss like Psycho Princes and Copper Johns. Even a good idea to have some egg patterns as well. Keep an eye out for fish rising to midges here at any time....Griffith's Gnats and Midge Pupae patterns will take these fish and help you forget the cold when they sip a dry fly.
12-3-10- The water has been dropped to great streamer flows on the Clearfork. These are great conditions to look for big and active fish. Standard streamers and sculpins work well here but also keep some white streamers on hand as there are lots of shad in this stream. Like any tailwater stream, keep an eye on the flows down in the park as they could release at any time....looks like they are still trying to get the lake to winter pool.
12-1-10- The Clearfork is currently blown out and it looks like they will be releasing water for some time. We will let you know as soon as we hear different. If they drop it could be a banner weekend up there!!!
11-26-10- Currently the Clearfork is on the rise but should remain fishable for the weekend. The past week the fishing has been good to excellent with some really big fish (20+) being caught, especially in the park stretch. With the water rising, streamers will be the best be this weekend. Large nymphs and eggs will be worth tossing as well. May be the best bet in the state for the weekend.
11-24-10- Prime time to grab some nice fish on streamers! The rain is falling and fishing will pick up for the weekend. Keep an eye out for areas with fast wtater, or places with heavy wood cover. This stream fishes best from now until late spring and often stays fishable when little else is...so keep that in mind. Nymphing with small nymphs is also productive but don't forget your attractor nymphs and egg patterns of this tailwater.
11-16-10- The Clearfork always fishes well in the Fall and Winter and this year is no different. The water is still very low so the fish can be picky, but there are lots of them and they will eat! Streamers near woody cover are a "go to" here in the cooler weather, especially if the water comes up with predicted rains. This stream also has heavy midge hatches that will bring fish to the surface every evening. Midge dries like a Griffith's Gnat with a pupae dropper can be a ton of fun. Look for fishing to improve as we go here.
**This Friday- special guest in the shop: Jim Johnson will be giving a presentation on fishing the Katmai region of Alaska and our 2011/2012 Trips. On hand will be Jerry Darkes as well who is hosting the July 2011 Trip. Show starts at 7:00 p.m.- just let us know if you will be attending
11-5-10- Flows are very low but that is not stopping the fish from gearing up for the winter. There are fish feeding on olives and midges both on the surface and below. Most of the fish are in the areas just below the fast water but streamer fishing the pools can produce some big browns this time of year. Fish big bugger patterns and sculpin patterns along wood cover and hold on! November is traditionally a great time to fish on the Clearfork. Get out there!
10-22-10- Fishing has definitely improved on the Clearfork with the cooling of the water. Still super low but things are looking up. The fish are in the riffles and have been feeding on baetis and midges. Ther are smaller fish (stockers) feeding on dries but the larger fish are still keyed on nymphs and streamers in the deeper areas...especially with wood cover. Streamer fishing will be tough though for a few weeks with the onset of the leaves. Fishing typically gets really good on the Fork around the 1st- 2nd week of November.
10-11-10- Alhtough the water has cooled quite a bit, the water is about as low as it gets. Not many reports other than some smallmouth and carp fishing in the park. Streamer fishing some of the deeper holes is giving up a few trout but mostly smallies. There have been some Blue Winged Olive types hatching as well as some small caddis but not many reports of fish feeding. Hopefully water levels will come up in the next few weeks with some rain and when Pleasant Hill Lake is lowered to winter pool. Good fishing is ahead on the Clearfork!
09-10-10- Not a ton has changed. Still in low...Summer mode but things do seem to be changing. A few folks did report some decent dry fly fishing on caddisflies this past week. Otherwise, small nymphs have been the best bet. Not much reported of White Flies..they appear to be on the down side of the hatch. Mostly small caddis and smaller BWO types to be found in the afternoons and evenings. Craneflies, both adults and larva are a good bet as well as having some terrestrials...they are still around. Another few weeks and things should really crank-up on the Clearfork. Smallmouth and carpin in the park has been good!!!
08-10-10- The Clearfork is on the low side for sure and with this weather....fishing has been marginal. Those that have been out are claiming mornings and evenings which is true just about anywhere this time of year. There have been some Tricos in the mornings in both stretches but not great reports of gangbuster feeding. Terrestrials and caddis in the afternoons. Look for White Miller caddis in the evenings and we have had a few reports of the Ephrons in the evenings. These can at times be killer but also frustrating. Have a few #12-14 white spinners and fish at dark! Hopefully a bit of rain and cooler temps and we look forward to a good fall up there.
07-23-10- Not too many reports recently from the Clearfork and with this heat we can understand why. The water is very low and most fish are being caught in the faster flows very early in the morning. There have been some Tricos around in both stretches in the mornings but no gangbuster reports of feeding as of yet. Midges and caddis dominate the evening. Terrestrials really seem to be the way to go right now. Beetles, ants, crickets and in certain places hoppers. Be prepared to share the stream with swimmers/tubers etc. if you are to fish during the day.
07-02-10- After a spike in the water level earlier this week the river is back in good shape and should fish well this weekend.....just be warned of the crowds. Look for caddis in the evenings and terrestrials in the afternoons. There have also been some tiny mayflies around in the evenings but not much feeding on them. A few larger Slate Drakes and Yellow Drakes around and they act as good attractors but the nymphs have been the most productive. Most fish have been taken on nymphs in the faster water but it's always fun to try the dries. Craneflies....both dry and larva are also surely worth having for the rest of the Summer up there.
06-24-10- Levels are finally back down and the fish have gone right back to feeding. There are still some Light Cahills around in the evenings as well as some Slate Drakes and larger type mayflies but the fish haven't been all over them. Most of the fish have been up in the faster water feeding on nymphs and emergers. Swinging larger soft hackles and high sticking in the deeper, faster areas has been very effective. There have been a few fish taking ants and beetles under overhangs and below trees and this will only become more common as the Summer progresses. Be sure to have the Clearfork favorite fly- Steeve's Firefly! Killer up there.
06-15-10- The Clearfork is pretty well blown out as we speak. Best guess is that it will take a few days before it comes fishable again. We'll let you know as we do.
06-11-10- There is still lots of water being let out of Pleasant Hill Lake but at least the lake is getting close to pool level so that should be done with soon. The upper is fishable but a bit off color and hard to say what the weekend will bring there. Once the water drops in the park look for lots of caddis, some Light Cahills and midges. Also time to start thinking about terrestrials up there as well! Could be a good weekend for streamers if we don't get too much rain. We'll check things out in the morning and try to post where we stand.
06-04-10- Brown Drakes, caddis and Cahills! Surface activity has been good to excellent on the Clearfork. Caddis are surely your most reliable as always but the Cahills have been strong in the afternoons and evenings and fish have been feeding on them. A few Brown Drakes have been spotted as well as some small Sulphers but nothing too strong. The Brown Drake fishing could be excellent this weekend and into next week. Keep your eyes out and fish late.....spinner falls have been good. Wanna catch a big fish....try a helgrammite pattern up there and see what happens!
05-28-10- Lower Clearfork is currently in prime shape with a slight jump in the flow. Hatches have been good with the caddis out in big numbers. Sulphers, March Browns and Cahills are also to be found and bringing fish to the surface. The upper river will be in great shape for the weekend and the Cahills will be out in force. Look for good fishing in the mid to late afternoon on the duns and spinner falls right at dark.
05-22-10- The Clearfork is looking very fishable for the weekend despite the recent rains. The upper was a bit off color yesterday but looking good this morning. The lower stretch is actually very low but recovering as they shut the dam down earlier in the week. Looks like they are gradually raising the level and it looks pretty fishable today. Good reports of March Browns, especially in the upper stretch this week. A few Cahills around also and they should only get stronger as we go here. No great reports of Sulphers but this week should pick up as far as surface activity.
05-19-10- The Clearfork has been fishing really well as of late. The big news is the Light Cahills are out already in decent numbers. A bit early but we'll take it! They have been hatching in the mid to late afternoons and the spinners falling in the evening. There are also lots of small caddis around to keep the fish happy as well. The water is actually a bit low right now making the dry fly fishing even better!
05-12-10- The Clearfork is currently fishable in the lower stretch as they did not get as much rain as most of the state. The upper will be off color for a few days but currently good streamer water! Fishing has been very good to excellent the past few weeks especially! On sunny days expect to see fish rising to midges and caddis all day long! Have been seeing a few March Browns as well as some smaller BWO types. No signs of Sulphers or Cahills yet but they should be around soon....Sulphers first. With the shaky weather look for streamer and nymph fishing until conditions improve.
04-26-10- The Clearfork is running on the low side but the dry fly fishing has been good. Look for lots of caddis as always in addition to the Hendricksons and Baetis types that are still hatching up there. There has been good surface activity in the afternoons and evenings in the lower river and not alot of other fishermen. Midges continue to catch fish as well.
04-22-10- The Clearfork has really picked-up this week and we have had some great reports of dry fly activity in both stretches. Mimimal reports of Hendrickson duns but there were spinner falls the past few nights in both stretches so they are around. Caddis are the main fare so having a good selection here is critical. In the lower river, don't be afraid to try midges as well when it's slow as there always seems to be some fish feeding on midges both above and below.
04-16-10- Both the upper and lower Clearfork are very fishable right now. The upper is very clear and down in the park the water was a tad off color this week but shaping up nice. The upper has lots of midges coming off in the afternoons but not many fish looking up at them. Dry/dropper rigs with big bushy dries and attractor nymphs were working well. The lower river had a few Hendricksons and caddis coming off in the afternoon with fish rising to them. There was also a great midge hatch in the evening that brought lots of smaller fish to the surface. If you find the water a bit off color from these rains here today streamers would be a good option.
04-06-10- The Clearfork is now down to prime fishing levels. Like the mad you should be prepared for the hendricksons as well as some dark caddis. We did get a report today from the upper stretch and some Hennys were spotted! Nymph fishing has been good to excellent with hendrickson imitations, midges, as well as attractors like red copper johns and san jaun worms. Also want to be armed with plenty of caddisflies from here on out....wet and dry. Both stretches of water should really tun on and fishing should be great up there.
03-31-10- The Clearfork is still pretty high but it is making progress. The upper stretch may fish today/tomorrow and should look good for the weekend. Our guess is that the lower stretch will continue to drop for the weekend as well. They did bring it down a bit yesterday afternoon. One could streamer fish today if they were careful. Should start to see some good bug activity up there this weekend. Could see some BWO's and relateds but also be looking for some early Hendricksons and Caddis popping around. Midges should be active too and if the water comes down enough they may cause fish to feed. Chucking strreamers probably our 1st choice yet but surface activity should be an option this weekend. Otherwise, #14-18 dark nymphs should catch fish! Should be a great weekend to be outdoors.
03-27-10- The Clearfork is a bit too high and off color to think about this weekend. Maybe throw streamers in the upper section. Things may shape up for Sunday afternoon/Monday. We'll try to let you know. Have been seeing some early caddis and some BWO types up there but not alot of surface feeding reported yet. Hendricksons are right around the corner and the nymphs should be in your box!
03-22-10- The Clearfork did come up yesterday and it has some color to it. Borderline today although it could be awesome streamer water. The next few days could be killer up there. Not too many reports coming in.....let us know if you go!
03-19-10- Sorry- we dropped the ball on this one. They slowed up the water a bit late on the 17th and the entire system is now pretty darn fishable. Should be a great weekend to be on the Clearfork! We are still holding onto streamer season and would be stripping big flies down in the park! Or in the upper for that matter! Those fish should be waking up! Midges have been out in decent numbers....and a few small mayfllies spotted in the park. Water is a bit cold and may be a few before we see consistent hatching but BWO types and Hendricksons are coming. Small dark nymphs should produce as well as small midge larva. Keep your eyes out for bugs and let us know how you do!
03-17-10- Clearfork is still quite blown and off color. May shape up for the weekend and provide some good to great streamer fishing. Once the water comes down we should be right into some good fishing. We'll try to keep our eyes on the levels for the weekend....hard to say right now.
02-23-10- Not too many reports the past week or so....understandable with the weather/snow conditions. The water in the park is in good fishable shape and should continue to be so for a bit with the snow melt. The upper section was low and clear on Monday with most areas being free of ice. Fishing techniques should be similar to what you would do on the Mad right now.....small nymphs, midges or big streamers. Hopefully things will ease up a bit and we can get some reports from up there. Not much pressure this winter so the fish should be hungry!
02-12-10- The lower stretch of the river is open...some rim ice but fishable. Problem is, the past week it has been challenging getting there. The upper has some open water but fishing has been tough. Low water as well. Most reports have folks catching fish on basic nymphs, small midge larva and of course streamers. Pretty much "winter mode" and nothing too exciting to report. Did have a really nice, 24+ fish caught down in the park on a streamer in January but most reports have been pretty boring. Sit tight and pray for more snow and precip.....we need it!
02-09-10- Sorry for our lack of reporting friends. No excuses...but we have been hard at work. You will notice many changes around MRO, both online and in the shop. Basically, the "Fishing Reports" page is one of the last things to be overhauled.........but we are just about there.
You are sure to notice many changes online, as well as in our shop, and even in our staff. We have made some major changes and are very excited about it. Most notably here, Lou Uecker will be in charge of this page, and making sure that our reports page is the best that it can be.
Read more about Lou on our recent blog and check out the changes in our staff on the "About MRO" page.....click on "Our Staff".
Stay tuned and make sure that you are registered as a customer to receive e-mails. 2010 is gonna be our best ever! Be sure to see the new Blog also!
12-2-09- The river is actually up a bit due to the rains the past 24 hours or so. Still on the low side but much better than we have seen in quite some time. We have had a few good reports in the past week. Mostly from down in the park. Most fish have been taken on wooly buggers and similar streamers. Smaller has seemed to be better with the low clear water! Fish seem to be stacked up in holes just below riffles. One angler reporting very good fishing on egg patterns which is a good bet up there at this time of year. Hopefully the rain will continue and the weather will hold. Maybe a fall season yet to come!
11-24-09- Well the leaves are gone and not an issue any more...but the river is extremely low and clear. Most are reporting fairly tough fishing despite the stockings in October and November. A few nice fish caught down in the park on streamers but not many other glowing reports. Best bet overall is midges and small nymphs. Any surface activity will surely be on midges from here on out. Still a nice time to be out especially with the great weather we have been having. Pray for rain and hopefully things will pick up.
11-7-09- The Clearfork is running pretty low and is full of leaves. This will make fishing pretty tough this weekend but it will be nice to be out. We did have a few good reports from down in the park earlier this week. They were eating small BWO type mayflies. Also lots of midges around. Nymphing about your best bet although we might suggest an egg pattern as well....fish can see it through all of the leaves! Stay tuned!
10/29/09- We got water! The Clearfork has spiked from the rains the past few days and is in better shape than we have seen for some time.....a long time. Leaves are the big complaint now and will be for the next few weeks..... Nymph fishing is probably the way to to....maybe even toss an egg pattern to get their attention as well. We have had a few good reports of fish eating small bugs on the surface....especially in the park stretch. A Griffith's Gnat is a great choice if you find this happening. Streamer fishing is going to be tough with the leaves but we are tying and getting ready for when it does happen. Hope for more rain and know that things are looking up for a good fall/winter trout season!
09-18-09- No signs of fishing or water levels improving on the Clearfork. Most anglers are declaring not much reason to fish due to the pathetic water levels. If you were to fish, the upper stretch would be the best bet although we ARE HOPING that the lower stretch picks up a bit. Lower temps should help but we still need a ton of water to come before things begin to shape up. For those that have been fishing, terrestrials and small caddisflies. Some typcial tiny mayflies around in the evenings a few scattered White Flies but no reports of fish feeding on them. We wish that we had better news but until we get a major push of water, things will remain to look pretty bleak.
08-14-09- The Clearfork, like other streams around is super, super low. Fishing has been challenging to say the least.....as far as trout go. Some good reports of warmwater action being pretty good especially down in the park. Some Tricos reported in the morning in the upper stretch but not much feeding activity. Terrestrials and caddis are the deal!
7-31-09- Recent rains have put a bit more water in the system but it is still very low and clear. The upper stretch is the better choice right now if you are heading that direction. Did have some reports of Tricos being spotted in both stretches but not much feeding activity on them. Have some with you if you are fishing early in the day though. Terrestrials and caddis are the ticket.
07-11-09- The rain yesterday didn't do much up there. It is still very low. Some tiny little mayflies around but not much activity on them. Also decent caddis- #14-18. Some folks reporting decent activity on terrestrials and certainly time to start thinking about this category of flies....especially beetles!!! Don't forget the damsels as reported below, especially in the park. No sign of Tricos yet but they are surely around the corner. If trout aren't happening, the smallmouth and carp are!!
07-03-09- Currently the Clearfork is running on the low side of fishable. That combined with the holiday traffic- might be best to look elsewhere this weekend? Sulphers are pretty much done and Cahills have been very sporadic. BWO types (size 26) have been fairly heavy, especially on these overcast days but fish are hesitant to dial-in on them. Damsel nymphs and adults are around in big numbers and are very active at this time. Don't overlook their importance as the mayflies dwindle. Keep your fingers crossed for some rain and have a great holiday weekend.
05-22-09- The Clearfork is in great shape for the weekend. Should be busy and crowded, but still plenty of room to get out and enjoy some fishing. Dry fly fishing has been excellent on both stretches of water. Lots of caddis around #14-16 tan and olive. Great reports of Sulphers and Light Cahills especially in the evenings. Also a few March Browns spotted as well. If nothing is happening on the surface, try caddis larva/pupa patterns in bright green or some March Brown type nymphs (a ton of them in the water). Have a great Holiday Weekend.
4-15-09 Rain this week has taken many Ohio streams including the Clear Fork high and muddy. It's a pity because we have been getting reports of some great fishing on the Clear Fork. Watch the gauge and be ready for some good Spring dry fly action.
3-13-09 5 pm on Friday. The gauge in the parks looks good. The river was very high during the week but the dam release seems to be at a good level to fish in the park over the weekend. Be prepared for caddis and BWO. Small to mid sized standard nymphs will also be a good bet as the naturals are growing and moving looking forward to hatches later this spring. We don't have a direct report from the upper river but speculation is that it might still be high from the rains. Let us know if you've fished the upper river.
3-9-09. The Clear Fork as been fishing but the water levels on the lower river (in the park below the dam) have been variable. Rains yesterday have likely put the upper river out of commission for some days. As soon as we have first hand info we'll pass it along. The season should be heating up and dry fly fishing on the Clear Fork is just around the corner.
2-11-09 Blown out! The Clear Fork is ugly at the moment. Warming temps have finally melted the snow and ice. The fishing will likely be off for a while but the good news is things will pick up once the water comes back down. Check back for updates.
2/4/09 The road to the lower in the river remains closed but according to the park office it could be opening soon with the thaw coming this weekend. Lower river water levels are low but watch for spikes in the levels. The coming snow melt could also change the conditions quickly. Small nymphs and midges or large streamers are mid-winter standards on the Clear Fork. With the low water search out the deeper holding areas. The fish are there.
Lake Erie Steelhead
*scroll below or Click Here for some good information and maps and such
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1-27-12-
Anglers are still catching steelhead throughout the alley whenever the water levels are in shape. The high flows are keeping the fish spread out throughout the streams but the thought of big chrome winter steelhead keeps anglers seaching. Right now the Ohio tribs are blown out and it doesn't look like they will be in fishable condition until next week. The PA streams should be fishable on sunday and into good condition by monday. Most anglers are finding success fishing egg patterns under indicators, remember to keep a keen eye out for light takes in the cold water. With the high flows some anglers are still out swinging and finding some success swinging large streamers, this is a great way to find bright fish in high marginal water contions.
1-4-12-
It looks like winter is going to give us every chance to fish for steelhead that we can handle. Right now every stream in the alley is fishable except for the Grand. Fish have been spread throughout every stream and the angling pressure has been spread out as well. This is a great time for anlgers who like fishing for steelhead without the crowds. Look for fish to be holding in deeper slots and tailouts with the low water temps. Brightly colored egg patterns and wooly buggers drifted through these areas are great ways to contact what can be some of the biggest fish of the season. Keep an eye on the indicator though, cold water takes can be very subtle.
12-26-11-
The fishing in December was some of the best fishing we have seen in ohio all year. The key has been finding the river that is dropping the fastest after a rainstorm and getting to the water before it rains again. Right now the Rocky, Chagrin, and Conneaut are all in good shape, and the PA Streams are in prime shape as well. With the cold water it is time to start fishing low and slow, try larger nymphs and pale colored eggs in the slower portions of pools where the fish will hold out of the fast currents. Swinging large streamers is still an option to move some more aggresive fish, just make sure your flies are near the bottom. We are usually locked up by this time of the year so get out and take advantage of the warm winter.
12-9-11- The streams thoughout the alley are dropping quickly and this weekend should be excellent fishing. The Rocky and the Chagrin should be fishable tomorow and the Conneaut should be fishable by sunday. Fishing bright colored eggs and streamers will be the best techniques with the off colored water. Last weekend the fishing was excellent and this weekend should be no different. Over in PA the streams are in great shape and anlgers are catching good numbers of fish, remember to slow down in the colder water, the fish are less prone to moving far for the fly.
12-03-11- The water has finally dropped to fishable levels in Ohio but with more rain coming that should change in the next few days. Anglers have been catching good numbers of larger fish when the Ohio streams have been fishable. Larger nymph patterns such as Steely Stones and brightly colored eggs have been the ticket in the higher flows. The PA tribs have been fishing very well lately. These streams usually drop to fishable levels within several days of a storm and each rain event has been bringing in more and more fish. With good amounts of water in the creeks the fishing has not been as technical as it often is when the water is low and clear. Small streamers and wiggle stones, along with egg patterns ahve been good bets in PA.
11-25-11- As the water cools and the crowds lessen the fishing remains good with this weekend shaping up to be a great weekend for steelhead fishing. The larger fish have been moving in and there are bright fish scattered throughout the streams. Currently the Rocky and Chagrin are in prime shape and the Conneuat should begin fishing tomorrow. The PA tribs are packed with fish and are in very good condition today. Fish have been taking larger patterns, especially big dark nymphs and big bright eggs when the water has been elevated. Keep moving to find fish and you should be rewarded with some hard fighting chrome.
11-12-11- Good news! After a week of low water in the alley some rain fell and atleast got some water moving. Most of the streams are still low and clear but the fish still moved around with the water. The Chagrin and the Grand have good water levels and even a little color, this will be a great time to swing some flies for the fresh fish moving in. PA streams have plenty of fish but with the low water the fish are spooky. Fishing smaller flies below dries or small indecators, or stripping small streams will be the best methods here. Keep on the move, the anglers having the most success are those who are willing to drive until they find the fish.
11-3-11- This is going to be a great weekend of steelhead fishing! The water has cleared and the entire alley will be fishable. The larger streams such as the Grand, Chagrin, and Rocky will have the most water, but there will be enough water in most of the ohio streams to fish. The PA tribs will be low and clear but there have been big numbers of fish spread throughout all of the streams there. With the low, clear water nymphs will often out produce egg patterns, Wiggle stones, Caddis, Chicken Hawks, and Psycho princes are top picks, small eggs in pale colors will also be good. The Grand will have great swinging conditions through the weekend so don't be afraid to swing some big bright patterns for aggressive chrome fish. After this weekend we will be waiting for rain so take advantage of some great weather and good conditions.
10-26-11- Water conditions have been up and down all fall on the alley but the fishing has been pretty good! Some rain fell on the Chagrin and Rocky last night and colored those two streams up, however the Conneaut and all the PA streams will fish today. It looks like we are due for more rain on the alley in the next few days. This affect all off the streams so keep an eye on the guages if you plan on heading up. The PA streams have had lots of fish and will drop the fastest, check the mile creeks if Elk is not fishable. With the higher water we have had this fall lots of anglers have reported success swinging large streamers. As far as nymph fishing eggs and larger nymphs such as chicken littles have fared the best in the off colored water. The fish have had lots of water to so they have spread out through every stream in the alley, any stream with fishable water should be a good bet!
10-13-11- This past weekend really marked the start of the steelhead season with a good number of anglers taking some fish, and a few have some very good days. Right now the water is very low and clear in most of the streams but this rain could make for a decent weekend of fishing.....if you can tolerate the leaves. They are a problem and really, fishing will remain marginal until they have cleared out. Streamer fishing has remained one of the best techniques though as these early fish are typically very aggressive. Nymph fishing with eggs has also been great. It looks like we won't get enough rain to blow things out this weekend so pick your favorite stream and go fishing. Fantastic time of year to be out!
9-30-11- The Season Has Begun! Currently most of the ohio tribs are up and muddy bringing waves of fish out of the lake. Before the rivers blew out the eager early season anglers were already being rewarded with a few chrome fish, the majority seemed to be smaller fish but some of the larger fish are begining to show up. In PA Elk and Walnut creeks are fishable and they have fish throughout the streams. So far this season most of the fish that are getting caught have been on bright colored egg patterns or large streamers, these should be the top choices for the first few weeks of the season. The water levels are changing daily so keep an eye on the gauges before you go up, we will keep reports up to date from here on out and always feel free to let us know if you have any questions on the current conditions.
9-23-11- Exciting times! Steelhead are back and they have begun to show a bit early this year. Though there are not large numbers yet, there are enough that anglers are hooking some steelhead in the streams and there are lots of fish showing up in the surf and around the river mouths. Keep an eye on the river levels, unlike the last few fall seasons, we have some water this year and still some more storms/fronts coming as we speak. This is a good thing as each storm cools the lake and brings more fish to the ready. this is also the time to book prime October and November dates with our guides. These guys know where and how to put you on big numbers of steelhead and the best dates will fill quickly. Check out our Guide Service page for details and pricing. We are looking forward to a great season this fall.
5-27-11- Smallmouth fishing has been pretty good!!! Especially on the East side. Right now the rivers are way up but by next week fishing should be excellent to off the charts. Look for the Elk to start fishing Sunday or Monday and the rest of the rivers shortly thereafter.
5-21-11- The steelhead are pretty much gone, but the smallies are in and in a big way! This is a great time to head up looking for some bruiser smallies. Standard smallmouth tactics work, but there is extra importance on Emerald Shiners. Clousers are a great bet as well as many of the Kelly Galloup streamers and crayfish patterns. Right now the Conneaut, Chagrin and Elk are fishable with the Rocky almost there and the Vermilion a day or two away.
5-10-11- The streams throughout the alley are in prime shape right now, and fishing is still good to excellent!! Lots of reports of BIG late run manistee fish in right now. The lake temps are just hitting 50 degrees and the streams are now hitting 60 so there is still a week or maybe two of good fishing left. Fishing streamers for the aggressive dropbacks and hard hitting lake run smallies is a riot in these conditions. Indicator fishing with large egg patterns and big stoneflies is producing the big numbers of later runners that just moved in the past week or two. This last push or two is always some great fishing so get out before it ends.
5-6-11- It looks as if there is another window of great steelhead fishing to be had right now. Yes, by the calendar we should be wrapping things up but have a look at the water temps in the lake and streams and that will tell you that the fish are still moving up into the rivers. The PA streams and smaller ohio creeks are fishing very well right now, as well as the Chagrin and Rocky. The Conneaut and Vermilion will be fishable this weekend as long as the storms hold off. The fishing for anglers who have managed to catch these windows of fishable water has been excellent. Add in some bonus lake run smallies and it doesn't get better! Anglers are having most success on large egg patterns and small streamers but some anglers are tossing large streamers and getting a mixed bag of dropbacks, fresh fish and smallies. The steelhead should be around at this point until mid/late May and the smallmouth fishing is just heating up so if you haven't been able to make it up, there is still a bit of time.
4-29-11- Finally some good news! The flows on the Rocky and Chagrin are dropping into fishable levels and all but the Grand should be fishable over the weekend. The Elk is in nice shape and there are still fish around. We are also hearing of Lake Run Smallmouth moving-in the lower reaches of Elk and Conneuat already. With the lake temps finally where they need to be, we may be looking at a few weeks of excellent late season steelheading!!!! We do have guides available if anyone is interested in Steelheading yet this season. Dead drifting large eggs and nymphs should produce lots of fish. Swinging streamers should work well for big fresh and aggressive fish as well as drop backs and smallmouth. Still time to catch the run and looks like next week could be banner!
4-18-11- More fish have come in with the last rain and the fishing has been pretty good the past week although conditions are like a roller coaster to say the least. Right now the smaller tribs, PA tribs and the Vermilion are the only streams in good shape. By Wednesday, everything but the Grand should be coming in........without any more precip that is and that's saying alot this season. If you are able to get out, you may well encounter some of the best fishing of the season. There are fish scattered throughout the streams and they are aggressively taking egg patterns and larger nymphs/streamers once you find the pods. Keep on the move and don't be afraid to change spots or even rivers if the fishing is slow. This season should last well into May with the high water and cool temps so get out there and enjoy the fishery.
4-13-11- It looks like we have another window of prime flows throughout the alley. Right now the Conneuat and the Rocky are perfect with the other streams almost there. The Grand is still a few days off but last time it was fishable it did produce a lot of fresh fish. The lake Erie water temperatures along steelhead alley are still only 36-40 degrees right now so there should still be plenty of fish on the way!!! Right now drifting eggs, buggers or chicken littles has ben hot. As soon as the water clears a bit more it will be time for smaller nymphs, psycho princes, fly formerly known as prince, brer possums and the like. Light colored eggs will also be useful.
4-8-11- Looks like a bit too much water in the alley this weekend. Guide trips for today and tomorrow have been cancelled. There may be some fishable water by tomorrow afteroon or on Sunday. If you want to fish this weekend you may need to head all the way to PA or to some tribs to the Grand if at all. We'll do our best to let you know as things change.
4-1-11- We are looking forward to a GREAT week of steelheading! Guides have reported-in today and fishing was excellent and flows/color the same. There should be clouds and light rain so the weather looks perfect. There are fish spread throughout the systems so everyone should catch some fish! No one stream has really stood out but the east side has more water as of now, and therefore more fishing opportunities. Looks like the predicted rains won't do much other than bring more fish into the streams. The spring season is in full-swing so get out on the water!
3-30-11- Every stream in the alley is in excellent condition and fish are being caught. Most anglers are reporting decent catches with some doing better than that! The fish are in deeper holes and pockets and not in the shallows so anglers looking for fish are having some trouble. Hot flies have been chartreuse, yellow and peach eggs, as well as streamers like ice man minnows and wooly buggers. As some of the streams in the alley begin to clear, small nymphs will become key. There is little rain in the forecast so the fishing should remain good through the weekend.
3-25-11- Fishing has been fair to good when the water has been fishable up on the tribs. Right now the west side tribs and PA streams are fishable. The Chagrin and Conneaut should both be fishable by Sunday. The Grand river will still be close to a week or more before it will come into shape. Swinging flies has been very productive with the higher flows this week and the techniques and flies are allowing guies and anglers to achieve some succes in water that we previously didn't fish. They key is covering ground and finding active fish with this technique. Most anglers are nymping with good success...some anglers reporting that the fish have really been keyed in on more natural type nymphs like black stones. Larger nymphs such as Robinson's Chicken Littles, Steeches and Larger Wiggle Stones/Princes have all been producing well. Egg patterns although, are always important this time of year and will become increasingly more important as the fish begin to drop eggs. Egg patterns are also a good choice in the more stained water that we have been experiencing. As the water drops, smaller and more subdued eggs along with smaller nymphs like Psycho Princes, FFKNA Prince and Brer Possums will all be good choices.
* Be sure to see our extensive selection of Erie steelhead flies HERE!
3-21-11- Some good to excellent reports this last weekend! An indication of the spring season arriving. Today some rain though muddied the streams on the east side. Luckily, the Rocky and Vermilion are still in fishable shape. Fishing should continue to get better after each bump in flow, especially once the water begins to warm up a bit. Right now the water is still a bit off color and swinging buggers and streamers is producing some fish. Nymphing with larger nymphs and eggs has been the "go to" however. Try bright colors and larger flies in the higher water conditions and go smaller as it clears.
3-15-11- Just about here! The water levels are dropping and today very little rain has fallen in the Alley. Most of the streams in PA are fishable right now. The Elk is high but fishable in the upper reaches and producing some fish. In Ohio the Rocky and the Vermilion will be the first to drop here in a few days and the Conneaut and Chagrin won't be far behind. This weekend should be the first fishable weekend of the season and we expect the fishing to be good to excellent. Swinging streamers will be a great way to fish with the higher flows. When nymphing, don't be afraid to drift some larger nymphs and eggs or even streamers in the classic areas below riffles. A few guides heading out with clients this weekend....it's gonna be a great season!!!!
3-9-11- More rain coming down right now in steelhead alley but it looks like we will have a bit of a break after this storm. We are looking forward to an unbelievable season this spring. We are due and the conditions are just right!!! Tons of fish have been staged and waiting to run and this water will bring thousands into the streams. By early next week there should be some fishable water in the smaller creeks and PA. Hopefully the water will hold off until later next week and the fishing should explode. Also, as many of you have heard, Gates Mills Dam has blown out with these flood conditions. This has opened up 8 more miles of the Chagrin River and half of this is Metroparks Land in the South Chagrin Reservation. Read More on guide/friend and rep Jerry Darkes' blog site.
2-28-11- Massive Blowout! Will be a bit here before anything is fishable but the good news is that once the water drops, steelhead season should be ON!!!!!
2-23-11- Amazingly, after a major blowout last week, our steelhead streams are dropping nicely into shape. However, there is snow on the ground and weather in the forecast. Some of the smaller tribs are fishable right now and are producing a few fish already, but the flows will be up and down this week. There will also be some shelf ice forming with the cold night temps as well as some slush....but not enough to keep hearty anglers from fishing. Keep an eye on the weather and as soon as things stabilize here the fishing should be GREAT!
2-18-11- Well the good news is that most of the ice is clearing out a bit quicker than expected. With water levels way up though, it will still be some time before the spring season will kick-in. There is a possibility of finding some fishable water in the smallest streams in a few days if there is no rain. It is looking hopeful that by the beginning of March the season can really get going. We are expecting a GREAT spring season.
2-15-11- Alot of excitement about the warm-up.....but....there is still alot of ice. Right now there is little or no water that is fishable. Couple that with some rain and snowmelt this week and we could/should see a major blowout. This is exactly what we need but it will still be some time before we expect good fishable water. There may be some fishing in the smaller creeks, especially in PA in a week or so but even that is hard to call at this time. We have a fleet of great guides keeping us up-to-date on the water so we will let you know as soon as things begin to change. Spring guide trips are booking now and dates are filling! Spring steelheading in our region is some of the best on the planet so let us know if we can get you out this season.
1-21-11- Ice and more ice. No steelhead fishing to be done at the moment! Trips booking for spring season!!!
Don't miss Kelly Galloup in the shop- February 11th and 12th!- Click Here
1-5-11- The rain and warm weather late last week blew most of the ice right out into the lake! Problem is it also blew the rivers out. For the next few days there may be enough open water in some streams to fish but it looks like everything will pretty much lock-up again by the weekend. Those that did make it out were reporting good numbers of fish in the streams though!
12-18-10- It looks like winter has decided to come down hard on the steelhead streams this December. Right now most of the streams are locked up. With no warm-up in the near forecast, it could be a while until the streams will fish again. Time to get some flies tied up for the Spring season.
12-8-10- The fishing has been improving but we are now running into major slush issues. Great fishing can be had if you find open water however. Look for slower wintering pools. They will be there. The fish are taking a variety of flies but dead drifting small, bright colored eggs is most important right now. Small streamers and nymphs have of course been taking fish as well.
12-5-10- Water is down and in great fishing condition right now. All of the tribs except the Grand are fishable. Most have decent flow and are beginning to color nicely. It does seem like some more fish have pushed into the streams and they are hot. There is snow on the ground and fish in the rivers so it looks like we are into an early winter mode. There is no rain in the forecast but good amounts of snow so the rivers should stay in good condition unless we get lots of snowmelt on a warm day. Drive safe and catch lots of steelhead!
12-3-10- Just a quick note on the water levels. The streams in PA have dropped to fishable levels. In Ohio the Rocky and Vermilion are fishable and the Chagrin should fish tomorrow. The flows are on the high side and the water is a bit off color, but fishing should be good to excellent. These conditions make the fish feel more comfortable so swing streamers or drift bigger stones and egss to get their attention. Check out the new "Steech" fly on Facebook.....perfect for this situation.
12-1-10- We should be careful what we wish for! We are currently experiencing a major blowout throughout the alley. There are no fishable streams today and the only places to find marginally fishable water the next couple of days will be the smallest creeks. With snow throughout the 10 day forecast this weekend may not be looking that great unless you are swinging flies. The lake temps are finally falling and fast however and this combined with the push of water we should see even more fish moving into the tribs. A few of our guides feel that the fall season is really just getting going in Ohio. There has been a mix of reports this past week with some anglers reporting great fishing and others having trouble finding fish. Just keep moving until you find them and you can have some stellar fishing.
11-26-10- Major blowout right now....which is exactly what we needed. We have already been hearing some reports that a ton of fish have moved up with this water. There won't be many places to fish today or tomorrow, but by Sunday the water should have dropped enough that most of PA and the smaller streams in Ohio should be fishable. Reports the days before the storm were very good to excellent.....fish were on the bite almost everywhere. Folks into swinging flies (Louie, Louies) should be in heaven the next 3-4 days. Otherwise, bring some big and bright eggs and nymphs!
11-24-10- It is finally starting to feel like steelhead season around here and the fishing is getting better as the weather gets worse! Fishing reports in Ohio are improving and a good sign after a tough fall. We have had some incredible reports today from the Chagrin and Rocky in particular. PA is still producing most fish though, especially after rains. All but the Grand and Conneaut are fishable today, however there is rain and snow heading that way. Most streams will be off color the next couple of days so be prepared to drift some bigger nymphs and eggs for fresh chrome fish. Swinging speys and streamers should be good this weekend as well. In the clearer streams the fish have been hammering the Chicken Hawks, Brer Possums, and Prince type nymphs.
11-16-10- Big news here.....Rain!!! Everything is blown out today and there is more rain in the forecast. This is what we have needed all fall to bring in the staging fish. Most guides are reporting a striking lack of fish in both Ohio and PA and the lake guys are claiming that most of the fish are staged out front and ready to go. Although we have been catching some fish, it appears that our fall fishing really hasn't even kicked-in yet!!! Look for the smaller tribs especially in PA to be fishable as early as tomorrow afternoon. If there is no more rain this week, it will be at least the weekend before the larger streams in Ohio will have good color and flow. Bring out the big eggs and nymphs for some high water nymphing for a few days. Swinging flies is also a good option in the higher water. Fish will take a big streamer swung in front of them in very off color and/or high flow conditions. We will keep you posted as the water levels and conditions change.
**This Friday- special guest in the shop: Jim Johnson will be giving a presentation on fishing the Katmai region of Alaska and our 2011/2012 Trips. On hand will be Jerry Darkes as well who is hosting the July 2011 Trip. Show starts at 7:00 p.m.- just let us know if you will be attending
11-5-10- Looks like we got a shot of water just in time for the weekend. The water should be in good condition in the Ohio and PA tribs for the next few days. The Grand and Chagrin will have some color but the flows are fishable. Most of the fish are still inthe lower reaches of the streams in Ohio but they are on the move and it won't be long until fish are everywhere! This will be a great weekend to swing some streamers to find fresh pods of fish entering with the push of water. Indicator fishing the smaller streams should begin to produce good numbers of fish. Keep walking to find fish and be prepared to get in the car and head to another location or stream if you are not finding fish. Indicator fishing with small brightly colored eggs, caddis and stoneflies, small princes, small wiggle stones has been productive once you find fish. For swing fishing try larger shiner patterns, or Louie Louie tube "stringers". Purple and white have been hot colors lately but don't be afraid of something really bright or jet black in off colored water.
***New "Steelhead Stuff" listed Here
***Check out the new Louie Louie "Egg Chasing Stringer Leeches" from Tony Pagliei
10-29-10- We finally had a good cold rain fall across the alley this week! The really good news is that a big chunk of the leaves blew out in the storm. Hopefully this means that the leaves will be gone a bit quicker, but they will still be a nuisance the next week or wo. The Ohio streams are beginning to show some sustained fishable flows as well as some more fish! This weekend the Chagrin and Conneaut should be fishable, and will have fish in the lower stretches, mostly north of 90. The Grand is on it's way back up and might be good to swing on Sunday but expect the water to be off color. PA streams received more rain last night and were blown out today. The mile creeks should fish tomorrow as well as Elk but expect them to be stained and on the high side. Walnut might not fish until Monday. With the higher water larger stonefly patterns like Senyo's Wiggle Stones have been good along with larger, bright colored egg patterns. There will be water to swing big streamers this weekend. Also remember to dead drift streamer patterns- this can work very well when nothing else is producing. Patterns like Chicken Littles and Ice Man Minnows. Get out there and fish!
10-22-10- With good amounts of rain in next week's forecast, things are looking up for the steelhead tribs. The water is low as we speak but we were able to get a few successful early guide trips in this week. The larger tribs are your best bet until we get more water. There are fish throughout the PA tribs and there are decent reports of fish being caught in the lower portions of the Ohio streams. We have even heard of anglers who are finding and catching in the Vermilion. There are pods of fish moving in with every push of water and these fresh fish are aggressive! Hot flies have been drab colored sucker spawn and smaller eggs, caddis imitations, Brer Possum, sparkle nymphs and wiggle nymphs. Streamers have also been doing well with small and bright shiner imitations. Jerry Darkes has been fishing the mouths of the creeks with two-handed rods and big flies and getting some "bone jarring" strikes.
Please remember that the leaves are beginning to fall and will make fishing challenging at best over the next few weeks. A windy day could be a shut-out. Streamer fishing could be tough. Jerry Darkes always says: "Steelhead Season begins when the leaves are gone and the water Greens-up".
10-11-10- Alhtough many folks got out this past weekend, the reports are less than desirable.....as expected. We don't need to tell you that we need rain bad. The Grand was the best bet and still is but most reported tough fishing. The tribs are super low and getting lower. There are fish around, and they seem to be scattered, but not that many. We need a big push of water and things will heat up for sure....although we will also have leaves to contend with increasingly over the next few weeks. Small nymphs on light tippets are the best bet if you go although stripping a streamer in front of these early fish can be explosive! Watch the weather and if you can hit the streams on the drop over the next few weeks you could have the time of your life! Guide trips starting up in late October and booking through mid December. Jerry, Jeff, John and the guys over at Steelhead Alley are all geared-up and ready to go. Give us a call if you want to fish this Fall!
Be sure to check out this new DVD from our old buddy Kevin Feenstra- CLICK HERE!
10-01-10- What an exciting time of year! It's good to be back and we are looking forward to an exciting season around here! Our guides are gearing up looking forward to fishing with friends both old and new! We are especially exctited this season to be working with Jeff Liskay as a guide and spey/switch instructor. Be sure to read Jeff's bio on the Guide Link above. We are proud to bring this caliber of guide onto our staff here at the shop. Jeff will be doing some guiding, teaching some classes and hosting a few specialty trips for us in the future.
With the entire Steelhead Alley getting plenty of water this week and a nice change in the weather....steelhead season has begun. A good number of folks were headed out this weekend including some of our guides and employees. Reports and pics should be rolling in from here on out so stay tuned. Any good push of water will bring fish!
Reports before the rains already had decent numbers of fish in PA and NY as well as a few fish starting to show up in Ohio. Good fishing has been found the past few weeks at the mouths of creeks and right at the lake. These fish are bright and aggressive this time of year so be sure to beef up your tippets and hold on. Swinging tubes and streamers can be very effective on these early fish, especially when the water is up and stained! Small nymphs like stones, caddis and other favorites are on the menu when the water is low and clear.
The fish will often be in groups scattered through the lower portions of the rivers so if you can't find them.....cover lots of ground.
As always, we will be reporting here as we can. If you don't find what you need here...feel free to give us a call at the shop during hours, we'll be happy to let you know what we do at the time. Be sure to also see the charts below for some great links to other sites/water guages that will help you plan your outing.
Erie Steelhead Info
Mad River Outfitters/Steelhead Alley Outffitters Erie Guide Service- Details and Pricing by Clicking Here!
Archived Steelhead Reports- Mad River Outfitters
05-12-10- An Erie Smallmouth report from the guys over at SAO:
Overnight, 1-3 inches of rain fell across the alley. Currently all tribs are up and out. By days end, the Elk will be dialed in. Conneaut will most likely be fishing well in a couple days as she was pumping huge amounts of chocolate colored water this morning at 6:30. All other tribs will follow suit, fishing well by Friday and into the weekend. The Grand is the exception as she is back to her normal spring self. She will dial in when she feels like it (a week or more) barring more rain.
Best fishing is on the lower 5 miles of our tributaries such as Elk Creek, Chagrin, Vermilion, and Conneaut Creek, with fish scattered further up stream on the Grand River.
Everything from Large Sculpins, Wooly buggers, Clouser Minnows, Swimmy Jimmy's, Senyo's Ice Man Minnows and crayfish patterns are doing well. Try to imitate steelhead smolts(Rainbow) and creek chubs on Erie tribs as these colors are extremely hot!
05-07-10- Although a few steelhead are still lingering, the season appears to be over. Yes, you may be able to get out and find a few fish...and maybe even a few fresh ones.....but that would be luck. It appears that it is now time to trade pink for hues of green and gold. Thanks to everyone who participated in steelhead season around MRO! Reports from here will be geared towards smallies.
Here is what SAO had to say yesterday:
The Small Mouth Bass are in the rivers in decent numbers! Bass from 3 to 5 pounds have been regular catches with a few bruiser 7 pounders being caught.
Best fishing is on the lower 5 miles of our tributaries such as Elk Creek, Chagrin, Vermilion, and Conneaut Creek, with fish scattered further up stream on the Grand River.
Everything from Large Sculpins, Wooly buggers, Clouser Minnows, Swimmy Jimmy's, Senyo's Ice Man Minnows and crayfish patterns are doing well. Try to imitate steelhead smolts(Rainbow) and creek chubs on Erie tribs as these colors are extremely hot!
05-01-10- Looks like a bust. Most reports have steelhead few and far between. Not to mention the water levels came right down to "low" levels much quicker than anticipated. A few reports of decent numbers of fish in the Vermilion but pics we saw looked like mostly drop back fish. Rocky and Chagrin are not showing much. A few reports of some fish in lower Conneaut but mostly smallmouth. The Grand is fishable today with about a foot of visibility but no reports of anybody catching or seeing fish. The good news is that we are getting happy reports from anglers catching bruiser smallmouth! It does seem that steelhead season is coming to a close and smallmouth season is on! Trips booking now! We'll let you know if anything changes but we are surely a report or two away from the end.
04-30-10- Tons of folks heading out today including a bunch of guides who are mostly scouting. We should know more throughout the day and into tomorrow. The Vermilion, Rocky, Chagrin and Ashtabula are all fishing today. Conneuat will be prime tomorrow but will surely have a crowd today. Elk is nice and fishing well for smallmouth. There are certainly steelhead around....question is how many came up and what kind of condition they are in. Water levels and temperatures surely improved to the point where we could see a strong late season here. We'll see.....send pics!!!!
04-27-10- The rains this weekend brought us the water that we needed.....better late than never. All Erie trib streams are up and muddied and will be a few days before we can get out to scout again. The big question is to whether this water will bring a fresh push of late steelhead up the rivers. The ODNR did state that there were fish piled up at the mouths of the creeks just waiting for water. If they do come, it is very likely that they will travel fast both in and out of the rivers so be ready to go! As soon as we start hearing from guides/anglers we'll let you know!
04-22-10- The good news is that there is still quite a few steelhead around....bad news is the water levels the past few days are approaching "critical low" levels. Guide trips the past few days have produced fish but it has been challenging to the point where unless we get a good push of water this weekend......we will not be conducting any more steelhead trips this season. If we get some water...there may be a bit of life left in the season and we may yet see some fresh fish. If that doesn't happen in the next few days it may be all over. Don't get us wrong...you could and can still go catch some steelhead, but you'd better get up there. We will keep our eyes on the flows and let you know if things change but for now we are thinking about Erie Smallmouth season!!!! Look for blog and pics any minute now to see what's moving up into the streams now. We are accepting trips for bronzebacks!!!
04-16-10- The water in the Alley is super low and clear. We really need some rain to put some water and color in the streams. Hopefully the forecast is right and we get some precip. Fish are still around....in big numbers most places....and very willing to bite! Smaller nymphs and more subdued colors is the trick with the low clear water. Look for fish in fast water just below the big pods of fish on the gravel. There are also good numbers of drop-backs that are willing to take swung flies. Still good numbers of bright fish and we are really just a week into this big "push" of fish. Get out there in the next couple of weeks and you will score BIG! Be srue to see the photo albums for recent guide trip pictures.
04-10-10- Fishing the past few days has been incredible. Guides on Wednesday and Thursday said that fish started pouring into the streams and hook-ups nearly tripled. Good numbers of fresh fish showing up. We'll see what the weekend brings but the next two weeks should be the peak of steelhead season! Streams are getting pretty low and we need some water at this point. The larger streams are the better bet. Yes....the Grand is fishable......they are working on the gauge! Great reports from the Vermilion, Grand and Conneaut the past few days. Other streams seem to be a bit low and clear and not quite the numbers of fish. Another push of water will surely help.
Great season so far though! See the updated pics including a bunch from this week:
Here is what our guides over at SAO had to say on the 7th:
Everything is fishable at this point with the larger rivers looking the best and most rivers on the low and clear side of the spectrum. Thunder Storms and Rain are in the forecast and the river conditions could change quickly. Keep an eye on the gauges. Lake Erie weather can be fussy, but forecasted mid week cold temps with possible snow flurries??? Talk about hot and cold!
Hot Flies this week so far are Senyo's Ice Man Minnows, Robinson's Chicken Little's and Chicken Hawks. Various stoneflies, caddis and attractor rubber legged nymphs. Egg patterns in cheese, peach, white, cream, and light pink.
04-06-10- Can you believe we are in need of a shot of water? Good news is that fishing has been decent almost everywhere in the Alley. Big news we have heard the past few has been the Grand and the Vermilion. Both are extremely fishable and also seem to have more fresh fish than others. Fish are surely being caught throughout but most are running in and hitting the gravel pretty quickly. Lotsa dark fish around. As in many years past....we are still feeling that the best is yet to come. A good push of water and the Alley could explode with steel! It does look like we are in for some welcome rain and some cooler temps which will surely help. Darker nymphs and streamer/nymph crossovers like Robinsons chicken little have been really productive. Another nymph we have been hearing good feeback on is the Bloody Mary. With the lower water light colored eggs and sucker spawns are also picking up a good number of fish as well....smaller sizes. With the incredible weather we have been having there are a lots of anlgers out but those willing to walk and cover ground have been well rewarded.
Pictures from the last few weeks of guide trips are coming....sorry for the delay.......stay tuned.
04-01-10- From our friends over at Steelhead Alley Outfitters:
Eveything is fishable today except the Grand River and the Vermilion River which are still a few days out. The weather is going to be absolutely beautiful this week! Fish are spread out through the rivers nicely and staying mobile and locating pods is key to a successful day.
Hot Flies this week so far are Senyo's Ice Man Minnows, Robinson's Chicken Little streamers. Caddis, stoneflies, and attractor nymphs. Various egg patterns in cheese, peach, white, chartreuse, and hot pink.
If you are swinging; Sculpins, zonkers, and intruders in whites, olives, and black were productive.
We are out daily and will have Report blogs up when we are able.
03-31-10- Guide trips the past few days have been pretty challenging. We are having to work awful hard to find good fish and most appear to have been in the rivers for some time. We are really chomping at the bit to get back onto Ohio waters. Conneaut fished yesterday but was still a bit high. We should get a good report today and expect good numbers of FRESH fish.......but it's spring and we always do with high water. The Vermilion is still high and muddy and could be another day or so. The Rocky and Chagrin should fish today and will look prime for the weekend. Heck the Grand may even look decent by the weekend. With a good mix of fish and temps rising you can expect a variety of techniques to work. Swinging Ice Man Minnows and large tube flies/spey flies has continued to produce fish and we are hearing of this more and more. Basic nymph fishing has been good and you surely want a good staple of eggs/sucker spawn/crystal meth. Seems we are experiencing somewhat of a late season and we fully expect April to be "all out" and the season should last well into May at this point. We'll see. Smallmouth right after that!
Guides are out every day and we are in "full-steel" mode at the shop right now.....if you don't read what you need here, give us a call.
03-27-10- Kind of a tough week conditions wise. Water did rise again with the rain/snow mix and the temps plunged. Turns out this was a good thing as it got the fish on the move. Guides had to work hard but some great fish were caught. We are now seeing a pretty good push of fresh fish and the 1st of the week should be GREAT fishing. The Vermilion is high and muddy and may not fish for a few days. Rocky and Chargrin are coming in and basically fishable today. The Grand is out for a bit but we'll think about it mid-week. The Ashtabula and Elk are fishable today, Conneaut is borderline but we did have anglers call in this morning from the upper stretches and they were doing well swinging flies in the bigger water. The switch rodders are out there today. Subdued colors of eggs have been working with the colder water. Other hot flies have been Chicken Littles and of course Ice Man Minnows. Also great reports of the Bronze/Peacock sparkle nymph and the Bloody Mary doing well on guide trips. Think nymphs and eggs- big flies if the water is up and dirty.
03-22-10- Good news/bad news! A great weekend of guide trips (pics coming) and now just what we always need.....more water. Perfect. The Vermilion has come up a bit and is pretty stained but may fish later today/tomorrow depending on the weather. Everything East of that is pretty well blown and will be a few days. The Grand came way up but those that got on it the past few days did ok. PA is up also and may fish tomorrow/next day and they were in need. This water should bring a fresh push of fish up the rivers. We were hearing reports of fish around but not a strong run yet. Hold onto your hats! We'll let you know as soon as we are fishing again.
One interesting note is that due to the popularity of "Switch Rods" and swinging bigger flies, we are seeing and hearing folks fishing higher, muddier water and taking advantage of the really fresh fish. In essence they are getting out there sooner and reaping the rewards. Due to the fact that you can cast much further, you can sometimes even swing from the bank, or a secure wading position, in these high water situations. Just be safe out there. Pretty cool evolution going on.
03-19-10- Three guides out today and each did well. Morning was slow but the afternoon really picked up for all. Steelhead season is on throughout the region! Sounded like they had to move around to find fish but finally did. Many independent reports are sounding pretty grim but it does appear that a push of fish came up with the water and have moved way up the rivers. Most of the reports we are getting have people fishing in the lower sections of the rivers. We'll see over the next few days.
We will have guides and customers on the water most every day from here on out and will do our best to keep up on reports from all. Please note that if we don't post....don't hesitate to call. We should have some further details from the guides, including pictures, over the weekend. Here's what we know as of now-
Most streams are in fishable condition. The Vermilion is fishable but does have a good bit of color to it- folks have been fishing for a few days now with very limited results. The Rocky and Chagrin are actully down and totally fishable....varying reports from both. The Grand may even fish Sunday or 1st of the week and the tribs are certainly fishing as we speak. Ashtabula is normal to low flow and Conneaut fished today and should be prime over the weekend. The PA tribs are of course in good shape and decent reports of #'s there. Seems more fish caught the past few days in PA.
The next month and a half is going to be a blast! Stay tuned and look for a report from our friends over at SAO any minute now also!
03-17-10- The rivers in Steelhead Alley are falling and conditions are shaping up to where we could have a banner weekend. The PA tribs are starting to fish and all but the largest Ohio streams should begin to fish well by the end of the week. This looks to be the first weekend of good conditions in a long time! Look for fish to be spread throughout the rivers and taking a variety of presentations. The water may not be all that clear so bigger eggs, nymphs and streamers are all still on the menu.
Here is what our guides over at SAO had to say yesterday:
The Elk started fishing well yesterday. Not so many fresh fish around but decent fish were caught in the upper and lower sections. White Wooly Buggers, Ice Man Minnows, Stone fly and attractor nymphs, and egg patterns in Chartreuse, hot pink, and peach were also productive.
Most of the Ohio Tributaries are still high, but they are on the the drop. The smaller streams and feeders are fishing now, as for the larger tributaries look for the Chargin to fish here quickly.
We are out daily and will have blogs/reports up when we are able.
We'll have more for you soon...
03-09-10- Right now the tributaries are high and muddy, as you can understand, The good news is that this push of water should move all of the remaining ice out into the lake for good. The high water should also bring in a nice push of steelhead that have been waiting to move into the rivers but have been blocked due to the ice. We start up with guide trips later this week so we should be able to keep you updated on the river and fishing conditions more often now. Although the reports from the last week have been marginal, the fishing should be excellent as soon as the levels drop. This weekend you may be able to find some fishable water in the PA streams and thier tributaries but with a fair bit of snow still waiting to melt they could remain high for some time. With the high water if you do fish, bring some bigger flies to get the attention of the fish and use lots of weight to get them to the bottom where the fish will be holding. Big, gaudy streamers can do the trick! Otherwise, plan on the usual fare of nymphs and eggs.
Also remember that this weekend is our Steelhead Extravaganza, be sure to stop in and check out the new tube flies and tube fly tying gear. Special guests Greg Senyo and Patrick Robinson.
02-23-10- Same old story but maybe a bit of light at the end of the tunnel! The rain and snowmelt this week should push the bulk of the ice out of the streams. Looks like a good bit of rain and snow this week in Cleveland. We'll have to see what happens. Could be some fishable water by this weekend....could be super blown. We are hoping for the 1st weekend in March to really kick things off. Up to this point there was very little open water and not alot of fish being caught. Until it warms up a bit, egg patterns and black stonefly nymphs will be the main flies of choice but don't forget dead drifting streamers if the water is off color. **Be sure to see the Erie Steelhead Info chart if you are not familiar- good links all in one spot!
02-12-10- As you can imagine, there has been relatively little steelheading going on so far in 2010. We did have a few windows where waters were accessible during January and a few folks got out and caught some fish....but for the most part we have been locked-up. There is a ton of snow and ice in the region and there is really nothing to report as of yet and no signs of ice to clear-out in the next few weeks. We'll keep you updated and will only post here if things start to change.
02-09-10- Sorry for our lack of reporting friends. No excuses...but we have been hard at work. You will notice many changes around MRO, both online and in the shop. Basically, the "Fishing Reports" page is one of the last things to be overhauled........... but we are just about there.
You are sure to notice many changes online, as well as in our shop, and even in our staff. We have made some major changes and are very excited about it. Most notably here, Lou Uecker will be in charge of this page, and making sure that our reports page is the best that it can be.
Read more about Lou on our recent blog and check out the changes in our staff on the "About MRO" page.....click on "Our Staff".
Stay tuned and make sure that you are registered as a customer to receive e-mails. 2010 is gonna be our best ever! Be sure to see the new Blog also!
12-19-09- In the last few days, water across the region has been dropping back from our last big blowout from earlier in the week. Most streams are back to fishing now and some are already getting clear. With this happening, ice and slush is becoming even more of a problem. In the next few days, expect to see more ice with low nighttime temperatures. Fish can still be had for those who know where to look. Make sure you fish the obvious winter holds and fish smaller offerings such as egg and nymph patterns.
We are still running some trips and will be monitoring the flows....ice flows that is. We will keep you posted on what we find.
12-8-09- The last few days have provided great late fall water levels. On Saturday night we saw the seasons first measurable snows up on the Alley and it looks like more is on its way.
The concern in the next few days is a storm system that is bearing down from the plains states. Forecasted is a wintry mix with the possibility of high winds. Only time will tell what kind of precipitation will hit the ground. Immediately following the storm, we are forecasted for cold temps....WINTER IS HERE. We are going to be out as much as possible between now and the inevitable ice up that is around the corner. Water temps as of yesterday were 34 which means the possibility of ice in the flows will increase quickly in the coming days. Don't let that keep you off the water though. Many great days of steelheading come with ice!
We will keep our eyes open and let you know what we see.
12-5-09- All streams in the region came up dramatically and are on the way back down to fishable....the Grand may be a few days more but the next few days could be awesome. We did have guides out yesterday on upper Elk and they claimed that others in the area would fish today/tomorrow. This is what we have been waiting for!
From SAO on the 3rd- "Well we finally got the mother load of rain! No complaints here it's about time! All the area streams are up and dirty... Keep one eye on the gauges over the weekend. The feeders in Ohio and PA Mile tribs will fish first...
Steelhead will be on the move once again, but heck with this much water, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out...With the colder temps and chances of snow/rain mixes through the next week, the streams flows should hold and provide excellent december fishing for all. "
12-2-09- Rains the past few days have brought the streams up and really have things moving. Most streams are coming back down and looking good today and the next few days could be great! Rain is falling as we speak but looks to be slow and steady.....just what we need and more in the forecast. Guides that were out today did very well. Looks like it could be a killer weekend. We do have guides available.....Click Here for the Details.
Here is what the guys at SAO had to say on Monday:
The area got some rain overnight and streams are on the rise to healthier levels. The first measurable snows are in the forecast for the next couple of days, so we will see what actually becomes of it. Perhaps our normal fall weather is catching up to us.
Flies that have been producing the last couple of days have been nuke eggs and other miscellaneous eggs in pinks and oranges as well as Bob's minnows, Money Flies, and natural colored nymphs.
Keep your eyes on the stream gauges as everything is in a state of flux right now. We will be out and about throughout the week and will keep you posted.
11-24-09- We did get enough rain this week into the tribs that at least they are moving again. Guide trips have resumed although fishing continues to be tough. Those that were postponed last week will be contacted by your guides soon for rescheduling. Looks like tough fishing.....small flies, light tippets and lots of walking.....until we get a good push of water. Here is what the guys over at SAO had to say:
The Area streams are back on the low and clear side for now, but we are forecasted for a good amount of precipitation during the week. Lets hope we see it! Right now think small flies and light tippets! Nymphs such as Copper johns, pheasant tails, and princes have produced great results in sizes #12-#14 Small nuke eggs and single egg fly patterns in sizes #12-14 in Peach, cream, white, light pink, and orange have also caught their fair share of fish.
11-18-09- Certainly some of the worst conditions we have seen in a long time. Bottom line is that there is no water! There are fish around....but they are basically trapped and can't move! Here at MRO our eyes and ears are primarily in the hands of Steelhead Alley Outiftters and they have decided to suspend all guide trips until the conditions improve.
Here is what they had to say as of yesterday:
"All the area tributaries in Ohio and PA are low and clear. We need a serious dose of precipitation to bring the streams back to good fishable flows!
In fact, the only trib fishing currently is the Grand River and the pressure on that stream is increasing greatly with every angler and guide operation pounding it.
Here at Steelhead Alley Outfitters we have made the decision on behalf of our clientele to suspend all guide trips until we get that good dose of precipitation we are all waiting on.
This is a tough decision, but we believe it to be the right one by our clients.
Of course, we will have our eyes on the streams and will keep you posted on what changes come."
11-09-09- All of the area tributaries in Ohio and PA are low and clear. Some are better than others but in general, we need a serious dose of precipitation to bring the streams back to good fishable flows. The guides put alot of miles on their waders this week! The fish are defintiely spread out and few and far between in most tribs right now. Most of the steelhead we found were in small pods and holding in faster flows. A good push of water should push most of the leaves out and bring some fresh fish in.
Hot flies were #14 KW's Catt Nymphs, Chicken Hawks, Natural toned nymphs, and various #12 and #14 pastel colored egg patterns. Small minnow and emerald shiner imitations also took a fair share of hits.
Rain in forcasted for this Tuesday, and lets hope we get it! Until then keep trekking and hunting water....... it will pay off in the end...
11-7-09- Most streams are pretty low and clear and fishing has gotten progressively tougher this week. Fish are certainly being caught but guides are walking alot to find a few pods of fish here and there. Leaves of course have been a big problem but do seem to be winding down late this week. Small flies and light tippets have been one secret this week and have produced fish in tough conditions. This weekend will be great to be out but you would most likely see many..many more fishermen than fish. Another push of water to get the leaves out and things should start to "green-up". Perfect!
10-30-09- Yet another decent push of water over the past few days. Streams are dropping and as we speak are in pretty good shape....the Grand may even fish over the weekend depending on the weather tonight and tomorrow. Folks that were out yesterday on the Elk caught fish all day. A few of the Ohio tribs were a bit tougher and off-color. The leaves are definitely a huge issue and will be for a bit here. If you have to go...go.....but may be best to wait for the leaves to fall and wash out. Then it's game on!!!!
10-24-09- The PA tributaries of "Steelhead Alley" were on the rise as of mid day today. We didn't get a huge push of water, but it was enough to bring the streams back up, flush some leaves, and get the fish moving again.
The Ohio Tributaries (eastern) have started to follow suit and were rising in the afternoon hours. We will wait to see how the streams react....
Best bet is still on the lower to mid river sections, some fish have moved up further but in small numbers. This rain will definitely allow more fish to push into the upper reaches of the rivers.
Fly choices vary right now due the fluctuating flows, so carry what you have. If the waters stay elevated, go big and don't be afraid to swing those flies. If waters drop back down and clear again, go back to some of the smaller, paler colored flies and egg patterns.
10-11-09- The PA tributaries of "Steelhead Alley" looked great as of this morning with a good greenish color. We still have a small chance for precipitation going into the week, but overall the streams flows are still lower than usual. Most area streams are clearing thoughout the day and they will fish well to start the week. Elk, Walnut, and the Mile tributaries all have a decent amount of fish that have spread out nicely.
The Ohio Tributaries are seeing a smaller run of stray PA steelhead as well, and its only getting better each day. The Ohio tributaries have really started to turn on this week.
Flies of choice will be Emerald Shiner imitations such as clouser minnows, woolly buggers in white, Chartreuse, and Olive. Blue/Pearl and Orange/Pearl toned Ice Man Minnows, and various rabbit strip Zonkers.
Small Nymphs #14 and #12 in natural toned colors such as black, tan, and grey. Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, Wiggle stones, Catt Nymphs, and Copper Johns, etc...
Small eggs #14 in Peach, pink, orange, cream and chartreuse in single egg designs such as Nuke eggs and cluster patterns like sucker spawn are on the menu..
10-01-09- The tributaries of "Steelhead Alley" are starting to look good, with fishable flows and good color. This weekend should fish pretty well.....especially the further east you go. Look for the lower rivers to be the most productive. Flies of choice will be Emerald Shiner imitations such as clouser minnows, wooly buggers in white and olive, Olive or Blue toned Ice Man Minnows, and various rabbit strip Zonkers/Sculpins. Small Nymphs #14 and #12 in natural toned colors such as black, tan, and grey. Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, Wiggle stones, and Copper Johns, etc...Small eggs #14 in Peach, pink, orange, cream and chartreuse in single egg designs such as glo bugs and cluster patterns like sucker spawn are on the menu as well but these early fish are known for slamming streamers and they are not yet accustomed to seeing the eggs.
We'll have more soon!!!
09-30-09- The big news is: It's raining and looks like more on the way. Stay tuned.....looks like the early season may be ON!
In the meantime, mark your calendar for MRO's "Steelhead Extravaganza". Friday and Saturday, October 23rd and 24th. Help MRO and Steelhead Alley Outfitters "kick-off" the season! Special guests in the shop will be Greg Senyo and Patrick Robinson.
Full details to come but this will event will both serve online customers as well as locals!
09-18-09- We need rain bad!!! Tributaries are very low and clear! A decent amount of fish are patroling the surf off the stream mouths. Right now casting and fishing the beach is your best bet.. #2 thru #8 Emerald Shiner imitations are the fly selection of choice.
A few scattered fish are starting to show up in the Lake Erie Tributaries. To be completely blunt, few is an understatement. Most fish are just entering the stream mouths early and are moving back to the Lake by mid afternoon. Elk had fish up to the "Mud Hole" but very few are up to the access as of today. Walnut Creek from the Project waters to the break wall have more anglers than fish right now.
The Ohio Tribs are fairing about the same with fish staging at the mouths. I am sure a few fish are further up stream, but not enough to get your hopes up... look for the next big rain and each rain after to slowly bring them in...
Best bet right now is hitting the Lake Erie Surf in the early mornings and evening. Watch the forcast for a northern wind and shoot out a good Emerald Shiner imitation. The fishing will not be fast and furious, but it will be exciting!!!
As long as we keep having cool nights and continue to have good rain fall, steelhead season will be right around the corner.
This is the best time of year to scout Steelhead Alley tributaries. Due to the low and clear water every nook and cranny is exposed giving you a detailed view of the river bottoms. Seeing potential hidden spots steelhead will likely hold is a big advantage. This is very useful and beneficial during the fall steelhead season when the river contours are not visable during normal flows.
Take advantage of the time of year and scout if you can.
04-29-09 Don't call this season dead just yet. There are Erie tribs fishing and reports of fresh egg-dropping fish in the rivers as I write this on Wednesday evening. As the water warms the smallmouth fishing in the Erie tribs has also taken off with catches of 2-3 pound fish. The steelhead are there and fishing should remain strong through next week.
04-21-09- Rains the past few days have brought the streams up and un-fishable starting yesterday afternoon. The V to the Grand are all unfishable today. It looks like things may start to shape up for the weekend. The Eastern Tribs may clear a bit quicker...in fact we do have guides out today on Elk Creek and they are finding some fresh fish. We have been finding a mix of fresh fish and fish that have been around/spawned. There are a ton of fish on gravel so they are getting on with their business. This water should still bring plenty of fish and we should still have another few weeks of decent fishing ahead of us but we will know more once we get back on the Ohio streams. PA is certainly winding down as far as steelhead go.
04-15-09 UPDATE Rain in the Alley has put many of the streams high and off color. The Grand is especially high and even Brandy Run in PA is showing a sharp increase today. Check the gauges or call the store for the latest information.
04-14-09- All streams in the alley are looking good and most fishing even better. A few streams on the low side! Even the Grand is coming good and fishable....(which will please Mr. Turek and our new "Switch Rod Brigade"). The rain has been intermittent the past few days and it looks like it will do the same today although a few streams have started to spike a bit this morning. All reports have a ton of fish in the water and it is certainly "game-on". The guides have been having a blast with folks....be sure to click the links above for more details and pics! * Details on the Spring Fling event next weekend will be announced shortly!!!
04-08-09- As of right now, the Ohio/PA streams are shaping up (except the Grand), and barring additional precipitation should fish well this weekend. The rivers are still running a bit high due to snow melt the past couple of days. Some fished today and our guides did fairly well with clients. The water color quality did decrease due to the afternoon sun and melt-off, but should improve overnight. Most of the snow is gone, so expect the next couple of days to tell the story......did that fresh push of fish come in hard and heavy? We will keep you posted with details as they come available.
04-07-09- Some precip over the past few days...good and bad. Snow-sleet-rain still falling in the region and it is pretty hard to say exactly what will happen the next few days. Depending on how much snow falls in an area..then melts...it's day-by-day right now. The Vermilion is fishable level but cloudy. We did get some glowing reports from there the past few days and it does appear that fish are moving into the river in good numbers. Today the Rocky and Chagrin are borderline and really not that safe to fish..but also full of fish. The Grand is blown but not outrageous. Conneaut about the same as the Rocky and Chagrin but did have some folks fishing up high and in PA and they killed em. Elk is in good shape and there are fish around but most reports have the recently stocked smolts making fishing a hassle. We'll stay on top of this here and let you know how the weekend looks.
04-04-09- Here is what we know- The Vermilion is still fishable level but has clouded up....go figure. Everything else in Ohio is pretty blown and will be Monday or Tuesday before fishing resumes. The PA streams should be in decent shape for fishing on Sunday and we have still been finding plenty of fish...and fresh fish....moving into them. The Grand is of course really blown and it will be a week or so at the least. Guides are out and about so we will try to get a report up on Monday to see how the week is shaping up. The good news is that this should be the big push that we have been waiting for. The next 2-3 weeks should be the best fishing of the season!!!
03-30-09- Well we finall got a push of water. As we had all hoped, it wasn't a blow-out, but a nice slow rain event! The streams did bump enough to allow the passage of fresh fish. The reports the past day or so has good numbers of fish moving in. We had 5 guides on the water today and all of them found chrome or fairly fresh fish. The current water conditions are slightly elevated on most streams with a slight downturn in visibility.
At this time, due to the slow rise, most streams are still very fishable for those willing to fish tougher conditions. Hot flies today were fluorescent egg patterns, dark colored wooly buggers with flash and bright colored nymphs. Should be good water here for swinging big flies for a few days. Stay tuned- the best is yet to come!
03-24-09- The PA and Eastern streams are fishing well....actually getting a bit on the low side. It is a great time to get out and enjoy the fishing before the next flood event! Although there are plenty of fish around, the majority of them have been around for a while. It does appear that we have yet to see the "big push" of spring fish. We are now in need of another rain event. Hot flies have been black stoneflies (Senyos Wiggle Stones), caddis larva and chartreuse and cheese colored eggs. Great reports on the new Bloody Mary fly also!
**Note on the Vermilion: The V is retaining a ton of sediment again...it appears that we are dealing with less than stellar conditions over there again this year. Most folks are reporting few to no steelhead. Sucker fishing has been good!
03-17-09- The PA tributary streams are fishing well, and starting to get a little on the clear side. We have been successful on both the upper and lower sections of the streams and look forward to the next few days or so...fishing should be killer. Hot flies were Yellow and Pink eggs, various minnow imitations, and caddis patterns.
The Ohio tributaries are really looking good, and the fishing is starting to heat up. The only river not yet fishable for obvious reasons is the Grand River. The lower rivers are seeing some fresh fish, but the majority of the river systems are seeing hold overs from the winter. We are yet to see the strong push of spring fish as of yet.....but it's coming!!! Black Stones, Caddis, and Emerald Shiner patterns have all been good producers... Lots of good fishing is still to come and we will keep you updated along the way.. **Be sure to see the chart below for some great information on each stream including desired flows!
3-13-09 The Elk is fishing today and word is the Ohio tribs should start to fish as early as Sunday. Into early next week looks very good based on what we see right now. The recent rains and high river levels will certainly bring in the fresh fish.
3-11-09- Rains continued and all streams are currently blown out. Here is what we currently imagine: Elk will fish well starting Friday with Ohio tribs following behind by a couple of days...in most cases. The Grand for example is blown out for a good while and is currently well over flood stage. One thing is for sure....the fish are in! When water comes down to fishable levels we will instantly be at full throttle for Ohio/PA spring steelheading.
At this point, it is day-by-day though. We are staying in touch with all of our contacts, guides that are on the water and watching the gauges. As things change we will let you know.
3-9-09 The good news is that more water in the streams is exactly what we need to bring in fresh fish. However, the flow gauges are reflecting the rain we have received and the Ohio streams are high, and in some cases very high. PA is also receiving rain and Elk is on the rise. The end of last week, fishing reports had a silver lining. In fact on Elk in PA, we had reports from the mouth all the way up to Folley's and beyond that anglers were landing fresh chrome. It's a foregone conclusion that a fresh push of fish will ride the wave of water coming out of our tribs currently. We may not have good fishing conditions for a few days, but soon, fresh fish will be ours for the catching.
Keep your eyes on the gauges and we will let you know what we see.
03-04-09- As of noon today, reports from guides were less than ideal. Most streams are frozen over (completely) in the lower reaches making fishing impossible. Though the ice isn't that thick, it is an unfortunate nuisance. Upper regions of the streams have some open water at this time. The problem however is the low number of fish that remain there due to the ice grinder that killed a large number of fish a month ago as the ice blew out (this varied depending on the stream). As temps warm and rivers rise, fish will push in making the upper reaches more favorable targets.
The current temps in northeast Ohio are in the mid 30's but the next 5 days are forecasted for mid to upper 50's. This will take care of the ice, but will also bring rain to the region. Keep your eyes on the guages (chart below) and we will update you with changes as we see them. From here on out we have guides on the water every day so check back often for updates.
02-27-09- Everything is blown and looks like it will be for the weekend. Vermilion level is ok but climbing- problem is the clarity is shot. It will probably blow out completely over night. We had all the best intentions for the weeknd but mother nature feels otherwise. We'll let you know as we see conditions improve.
02-25-09- The past couple of days have been down right cold on the alley, with 12 degree night time temps side ice was forming and slushy water was present most of the day. Today's warmer temps have started freeing the streams of Ice once again. Jim at Folly's End fly shop stated that Elk Creek is starting to fish well today with guys coming into the shop with great reports. Elk should fish well into tommarow, but chances are good that the forcasted rain and Snow melt could make the rivers come up and become unfishable. The Ohio tribs are all at fishable levels, but have been having the same problems with slush and side ice in the mornings. Again the warmer temps today are freeing the streams and providing decent conditions. Rain is in the forcast so take advantage....We will keep you updated.
02-21-09- Things are really looking up.....As we speak, everything but the Grand is in fishable shape. The Vermilion is even clearing and looking good for the weekend. Folks have been out catching fish the past few days. Still a bit of rim ice and slush but really not bad at all. Many good reports from over on Elk! We did have some guides out the past few days and we are anticipating some good reports. Check back Monday morning and get ready!!!!
2-10-09- The good news is the tribs are free of ice this morning! The bad news is the rivers are at flood stage and many tributaries are so high that we couldn't believe what we saw on the flow gauges. The Vermilion right now is at over 15,900 cfs and still has not peaked. The Rocky, Chagrin, and Grand Rivers are dangerously high with more melt off expected today. With rain in the forcast and the continued melt off this will keep our rivers unfishable for a while. The PA tribs are experiencing much of the same right now and are also at flood stage. We don't see the tribs freezing up again this year, so its only a matter of time before we all can hit the streams once again. Stay Tuned!!!
2-6-09 Ice is still the story of the day with the exception of the lower stretches of the Rocky which are open. The thaw coming this weekend could start to turn things. We'll keep you posted.
1-26-09 Well, the cold has held long enough to finally freeze lake Erie almost 100%. That has drastically cut the amount of snow we are seeing, but we still have 10 inches or more on the ground. A few days above freezing recently brough those levels down from 30 inches to the current levels. All the streams are socked in with ice. It's time to tie flies and dream of great days to come.
01-18-09- The last report we gave, we made the announcement that Old Man Winter had arrived. Well, it looks like he brought his grandfather too. In the last week, we have gone from temps just below freezing to temps at my home in the heart of the alley at near -15. Yes, you heard it.....15 below zero. A few weeks ago slush was our enemy. This week, we would be happy to see slush! It looks like winter is making up for lost time. With nearly 20 inches of snow on the eastern alley, and the streams frozen over, now is the time to get loose ends wrapped up around the house.
As always, come see us at upcoming shows and get to tying some flies if you tie. If you are interested in some of our patterns, we are adding tutorials daily to our fly tying blog.....
01-13-09- Well, we can officially say that Old Man Winter has finally arrived. Currently most streams are partially locked up and approaching full lock-up in many areas. The current temps are just below freezing on the alley, and the forecast is for blistering cold the next couple weeks. Some areas are forecasted to see single digits.
At this point, we can pretty much call it quits for the winter and hope for an early thaw. As soon as water is fishable, or we get out to investigate further, we will give you a full update. Until then, throw another log on the fire, get out the fly tying gear, and make the most of the winter season.
01-08-09- Roughly 4 inches of snow fell in Lake City and Girard. The Elk is very slushy this morning, and with the cold nights predicted ahead this could possibly lock our rivers up here pretty quick. The Ohio streams look to have the same problems as the PA tribs, but still have a little open water on some sections and on the bigger streams. Best bet now is to hit the rivers in the afternoons, until we see a little warmer weather.
Hopefully soon!!! See you in Cleveland and Indianapolis this weekend...see the blog for details.
01-05-09- Talked today with Clyde Murray at Folly's End Fly Shop, and Elk and the PA tribs are seeing alot of side ice and slush coupled with low water. Much of the river is slowly starting to freeze over. Hopefully this is temporary and we get to see a season with no freeze over, but thats just wishful thinking. Our guess is that it is coming. The Ohio streams are seeing simuliar situations with slush and side ice, but the flows seem stable for now. The larger rivers such as the Grand are your best bet right now. Stay tuned for Iced rods and cold feet.
Be safe in these conditions and good fishing!!!
01-01-09- Happy New Year Everyone!!!!
Well its January and the streams are still free of ice as of yesterday, which is good news in itself. The PA tributaries are fishing well and Girard, PA received just an inch or two of snow on tuesday. Pink/Cerise colored fly patterns were the weapon of choice this week. Most Ohio tributaries are dialing in and are looking really good, hopefully the weather will stay cooperative this year and keep them open thru the winter. Temps are dropping so be on the look for shelf ice and frozen fly lines.
Have a safe holiday!
12-24-08- Well, it has happened once again, only this time with wicked extremes. It all started Friday as snow and ice hit the region. Shortly after, we saw actual temperatures registering below zero with wind chills as cold as 20-30 below. That was Sunday night. Fast forward to today, and all the snow and ice we had hit the region the last two days has been met with nearly 50 degree temps.
We think by now you have figured out where the rivers stand. You guessed it they are all blown. In fact, the secondary streams around my home are way out of their banks which doesn't bode well for the main rivers in the next day or two or three or four.
MRO Update 12-26- Continued heavy rains in the region are only making the above report worse- things don't look good for the weekend and even beyond.
12-20-08- After yesterday's mixed bag of precipitation, the rivers did rise slightly. Rivers to the west more so than the eastern tribs. Currently it looks as if the eastern tribs are either starting to fish (Elk) or will in the next day or so (Conneaut). Keep your eyes on water levels and keep your ear to the ground.
In the past two days, good numbers of fresh chrome fish have been caught, so get out if you can. Although we are slowing down for the holiday, the fish are still heating it up.
We will let you know as we do.
12-15-08- Today we once again cancelled trips due to high water conditions. It seems to be the theme lately. However, looking to the rest of the week, it looks as if cold temps will return making any precipitation a mix or snow. Hopefully this will allow streams to start shaping up for later in the week. Keep your eyes on the gauges and your ears to the wind. When we get on the water, we will let you know.
12-12-08- Quick Update- PA streams did come into shape and we did get guides out on the water today. All streams are dropping quicker than anticipated but snow fell last night which may mean a melt the next few days. Keep your eyes on the guages.
12-10-08- Well, just as you think things are going to dial in, the rains come, the snows melt and it's up, up, and away! Currently all tribs are completely blown! A good example is the Grand River. It went from running roughly 650cfs to about 8000cfs in just a matter of hours.
The fish are available as always though....just not right now!
On the bright side of things, this keeps the rivers from freezing, so there is still more fishing to be done. Keep your eyes on the gauges and we will try to get out as soon as we can.
For now, make use of the high water to restock those fly boxes.
12-6-08- What a week is all that can be said. Most streams from the Vermilion clear into New York were up and out of condition most of the week. All of our trips were cancelled due to the unfavorable conditions. Yesterday, Pennsylvania tribs started to fish while the Ohio tribs remained high and stained. The bad news is that after a week of high water, we are now looking at extremely cold temps for our region. This morning, we were on the water and there was a lot of slush and ice flowing. The forecast looks to remain just as cold with more snow, so we could be in for a much earlier end to the fall season than we would have liked. Temps the next few days will remain well below freezing (with high winds) making most of the tribs an icy mess until early to mid afternoon. If you are willing to brave the elements and can confidently get your drifts through the ice flows and in the zone, things will start to fish in a couple days here in Ohio. Just be forewarned that the conditions will not be for the faint of heart and can be dangerous. If we keep these conditions for very long, ice up will come soon.
12-1-08- Well, we wish we had better news, but the rain received on Monday has officially put us out of the steelheading game for a few days. We had guides out scouting today and everything from PA water to Ohio's western most streams were an abundance of chocolate milk. Looking at the flows, most streams will be out of shape until late week at the earliest. We will let you know what we do, when we do.
11-28-08- We hope everyone had (or is having) a great holiday. We have had a number of guides and friends on the water the past two days. As far as the eastern tribs are concerned, most are fishing, but are flowing at higher than usual flows. As one guide put it, the river(s) are not navigable (by wading) in many zones. Anyone attempting to fish should exercise caution. Having heard that, please be careful as you find yourself out on the water. Remember that fish are not worth your life. Water temps are near freezing and high water makes for treacherous crossings. The clarity in most areas is improving and fish are being caught. If you get out in the next couple days, conditions should only improve. Just keep safety at the forefront of your mind. We'll see you on the water.
11-26-08- We just got off the water a couple of hours ago which means it was a half day....not good. The news is that the rivers have come up to unfishable levels. Only time will tell how high the rain and snowmelt will push things up. Based on the forecast, it may be sometime on Thanksgiving before they start to fish. If not then, it may be Friday. Snow started again this morning (east alley) coming down at about an inch an hour. Travel conditions are currently treacherous but should improve as the snow subsides. Remember that snow on the ground means potential run-off in the days to follow. Keep your eyes on the flows and watch for them to drop. Most streams are full of fish and are willing to come to a fly if you present it well. We will keep you posted as we find things change.
MRO Note- The Vermilion has come up a bit to more fishable levels. It is a bit off color today but may be a good choice over the next few days. Elk is currently coming into condition and may fish tomorrow but do keep your eyes on the guages to get an idea of what the snow melt/runoff is doing. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for checking.
11-24-08- All that can be said for the current conditions is welcome to December a bit early. It has been bitterly cold for November! We had numerous guides and clients on the water today and most got a late start due to high volumes of slush in the flows. The diehard, persistent angler can still catch fish as all of us did today. Only one box was needed today and it was the egg box. A mixture of old and fresh fish were caught, so get out while the getting is good. Be forewarned though that this is the holiday week and crowds will increase with each passing day moving toward turkey day. Additionally, we got rain today. The precip coupled with warmer temps (40+) brought some snow melt and runoff. By days end, streams were starting to go off color. We will be on the water again tomorrow and will have a better idea of what to expect for the holiday.
In the meantime, keep the air temps in mind as the colder they are, the colder the water will be. When I came off the water today, the water temp was a balmy 32 degrees. Definitely plan for ice in the mornings until we get some warmer temps.
Get out while you can.....Ice up may be sooner than later....
11-20-08- Just got off of the water after a couple days away due to weather. The good news is that most water is fishing or starting to fish today. Scouting this morning produced good numbers with a mixture of fresh and old fish. The snow in areas still remains (mostly on the eastern side of the alley), and overnight tonight they are forecasting a major lake effect event with major accumulations. So, if you are planning a trip for the weekend, be mindful that travel conditions could be hazardous due to the nature of lake effect snow. Fish today came on a variety of flies both big and small, eggs and streamers. If you have a chance to beat the elements, the fall season is back in swing.
MRO Note: Thanks again for your patience friends. We will be chiming in here from time to time with some additions from our own guides and what we hear from customers. We are super excited about our new partnership with Greg, Patrick and the rest of the guides at SAO. We can tell you that it has been a very exciting early season in the Erie Region. It's good to be back!
* This report provided in part or whole by our friends at Steelhead Alley Outfitters. Click Here to learn about our new partnership!
11/08- Sorry for the very late start this season friends and thanks for your patience. We have been working on several major "steelhead related" projects...including an updated Fishing Reports section. Look for a few big announcements in the next few days.
4/28/08 We've finally had a couple of weeks of good fishing. Over the weekend water levels were low and clear making conditions a little tricky. Rain early this week could change this. We've had reports of many fish still in the streams with some excellent catch rates. Swinging streamers is very popular at the moment but fishing nymphs and eggs is always a good technique.
4/18/08 The season is finally in full swing. Water conditions are good from west to east and we've had many great reports this week and conditions look good for the near future. Swinging streamers is very popular at the moment but fishing nymphs and eggs is always a good technique.
03/28/08- Snow melt the past two days was causing some streams to rise and color up...then.....
Rain and more snow yesterday and last night blew things out yet again. Looks like the only bet for the weekend would be the mile creeks over in PA and possibly the upper reaches of Elk Creek but that is a crap shoot. Very hard to predict anything at this point as there is 2-3 inches of rain predicted by Monday. We can only hope that someday soon we can write a positive steelhead report.
03/25/08- Our guides report that the fishing in Ohio has started to pick up. Conneaut is fishing today and the rest of the Ohio streams heading west from Conneaut should fish tomorrow if we don't get any more rain. The Elk over in PA has been fishing well and should continue.
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Mad River Outfitters- Your Online Fly Fishing Resource!
Fishing reports for Erie Steelhead, Mad River and Clearfork Trout
614-451-0363 888-451-0363 toll-free
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