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erie steelhead reports

Fishing Reports- 10/11/17

* Please remember to call us for more up-to-date or detailed information! These reports are not meant to be your one and only, daily source of information. They are typically general, even seasonal type reports and we currently don’t have a set schedule as to when we update. Please, just because we don’t update as often as we like, it doesn’t mean that we don’t care.

There are many different approaches you should take in order to get a good game plan for a trip or a day of fishing. Also remember that things change and these reports are what we know at the time of posting only. Keep in mind that we do express opinions and personal preferences from time-to-time which may be different from yours or what you may read elsewhere. Thanks for checking and don’t forget to call us if you need any further information or a more up-to-date report. 614-451-0363

Thanks as always for reading our reports friends. As the weather gets more conducive we should be reporting more regularly….but we need your HELP!

Send any and all reports to admin@madriveroutfitters and we’ll do our best to get them up.


We LOVE Happy Customers!



Jackson Ballinger with his 1st fish on a fly rod!

MRO Friends,

Attached is the picture of our grandson Jackson Ballinger age 9 with his first fly rod that I purchased for him from your store. Less than 24 hours later he got his first fish. 
Thanks for your help.

Roy Whited


Caleb Blair and his 1st Pike on gear purchased on www.madriveroutfitters.com
Hello,
    
A little over 2 years ago I contacted you guys looking for a musky rig. I don’t remember who I spoke to. I was easily convinced to chose a 10 wt TFO over an Orvis. The whole purchasing experience was based on trust as I live in North West New Mexico and was not able to be in your store to handle the rod in person. I’ve used this rod perhaps a dozen times and my efforts so far have been fruitless in my pursuit to catch a pike or muskie on a fly rod,  until today. Even though this pike is a small one I wanted to share it with you and thank you for recommending the rod and reel.   Both the TFO and the Ross are definitely my finest fishing products.

Sincerely,
Caleb Blair


Top student who has now graduated to a guide client…..Brennon Shanks

My dad and I went out smallmouth fishing with Pat Kelly of Mad River Outfitters. I found the experience to be beyond expectations, as I learned so much about fly casting, presentation, and fish behavior. Pat did an excellent job of answering any questions we had and was always helpful and enjoyable to fish with. I really enjoyed his enthusiasm and excitement for fly fishing as well, it made the trip so much more fun because one of the best parts of fishing is sharing your passion with others. I sincerely thank you guys for all the help developing my fly fishing and always being encouraging and fun to be around. All the best!

Brennon Shanks


Kathy Schultz at the 1-Day Fly Fishing School in September
We inherited some fly fishing gear from my father, and we spoke with Brian about what to do with it in Ohio. We attended the 2 hour free class, which was excellent, and it inspired us to take the one day class on the river in Zanesfield. Brian was very patient, working with a group who had a wide range of experience and knowledge. Brian covered a lot of information and made a very confusing topic understandable. Brian debunked a lot of the ritual associated with the sport. We couldn’t stump him on any questions related to fishing – he has a wealth of experience about current topics as well as fly fishing history. We all enjoyed the day, and we now have confidence in going alone. The best part of learning how to fly fish was the next day! We had an amazing feeling of tranquility and zen! Thank you Brian for getting us involved with fly fishing!

Art and Kathy Schultz


Bill Previty was on our “Naktoberfest” Alaska Trip in September with host Jeff Liskay

MRO,

This year’s trip to Alaska with Jeff Liskay was one of my best fishing trips ever. Jeff did a superb job as coordinator, coach, and cheerleader. The fishing was spectacular, the new lodge a treat, good food, and great guides headed up by James who is managing the lodge. We had a good cross section of participants who enjoyed each other’s company and spiced up the entire week with good humor. I am sure Jeff will provide you a dropbox with a good array of photos. We did have a little competition on the river from a brown fisherman.

Thanks again for allowing me to swap to this year’s trip after some medical issues last year. I can say at the end of the week of six straight days spey casting that my arms and shoulders were a bit tired. Comes with age. I’ll be in Columbus late next week and will drop by the shop. I certainly would be interested in another late September trip next year.

Warm regards,
Bill Previty- Boise, Idaho



Thanks for all the great feedback and reviews friends! We love to hear it so…..keep it coming.




Warmwater



Smallmouth fishing continued to be great going into the past weekend.  Currently the local streams are high and muddy.  Looking at the rest of the week’s forecast the streams will continue to drop back into fishable levels for this weekend if not sooner.  This rain was a much needed event to flush out some thick vegetation and leaves that have been backing up in the low water.  Once levels stabilize and water clears then we will find some very nice Smallmouth and Hybrid fishing.  If you do want to get out this week keep an eye on the gauges and focus on the smaller rivers in the area.  Shoot us a call and we will help you sort all this out.  


Going into the fall the main rig we call use will be a fast action 7wt (6-8wt will get the job done) Scientific Anglers Titan Clear Tip, short leader in the 12-20lb tippet range and a large streamer.  Take a look at the Modern Streamers in the Flies section of the website.  Here you will find all of the patterns that fill our Bass boxes.  


Lake fishing has also started to fire back up.  Again once the water conditions settle in the local lakes the bass will continue to focus on schools of baitfish.  The water temps are still pretty high, but are falling.  As the fish get conditioned to the lower temps they will start to feed heavily in prep for the winter.  This is a great time to be fishing the lakes and ponds around the state.  With the stream conditions not favorable then we are taking advantage of the numerous opportunities for Largemouth Bass and Panfish.  


If you are new to Bass fishing make sure to take advantage of one of our guides.  Things usually start to slow down at the end of this month so give us a call before our schedules are booked up.  Speaking of guide trips the Pike fishing continues to be amazing!  Josh and Pat have been steadily putting clients on fish.  Take a look at our guide trip page to see the quality of these fish…and in OHIO! 

Dr. Neil Murphy on an MRO Pike Guide Trip this past Susnday!


Mad River


As usual the Mad did not significantly change despite the inch of rain over the past few days. Conditions continue to be low and clear.  

The fish are cooperating though as long as you plan out your approach.  Utilize extreme stealth (as usual for this Spring Creek) making sure you have your casting well tuned.  Just like for the past few months you will want to use all of the stealth tactics in your tool box.  Always the case with this river but things are extremely exaggerated right now.

Tactics for the rest of the week and into the weekend will focus on nymphing.  Here we like long rods in the 9-11′ range with the longer rods focused on the Euro techniques.  With the low conditions a very small indicator is must for either traditional nymphing or the Euro/tight line tactics.  Here one of the Wool New Zealand indicators are the most versatile.  Flies will consist of small Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, and caddis like the Flashabou or Nitro.  Trail these with a slightly smaller unweighted fly and you will be set.  If you need some split shot make sure to have the micro sizes as you do not want to use shot as big or bigger than your fly. 

 In the evenings there have been some good caddis activity.  We usually fish a dry like the Elk Hair Caddis or October Caddis with a small lightly or unweighted dropper like the Galloup’s Diving Caddis or small Guides Choice.   

Clearfork River

Clearfork Map

The rain did help the flows earlier, but they have dropped back down.  Focus on the upper river until they settle the flows back down below the dam.  Focus on nymphing the upper river with caddis and small mayfly nymphs.  Flies will consist of small Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, and caddis like the Flashabou or Nitro.  Trail these with a slightly smaller unweighted fly and you will be set.  Like on the Mad in the evenings there have been some good caddis activity.  We usually fish a dry like the Elk Hair Caddis or October Caddis with a small lightly or unweighted dropper like the Sunken Caddis or small Guides Choice.


If you just want to fish the lower then you will need to be stripping streamers with a sink tip line. The Scientific Anglers Titan Clear Tip or Rio Streamer Tip, short leader in the 12-20lb tippet range and a large streamer will get the job done.  Take a look at the Modern Streamers in the Flies section of the website.  You will be rewarded with a good mixed bag of fish down there below the dam. 


Clear Creek

Clear Creek Map

The creek is currently “high” and off color, but clearing and falling fast.  Conditions should be good later in the week and into the weekend.  Nymphing will present the most productivity.  Like in the other reports your rig will be small Hares Ears, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, and caddis like the Flashabou or Nitro.  Trail these with a slightly smaller unweighted fly and you will be set.  

Small streamers can be a good choice also.  Wooly Buggers, Glass Buggers, Mojo Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, and the new Mini Dungeons are great choices.  Here you will want fast 5wts and 6wts.  As long as you are fishing a weighted streamer a sink tip is not ususally needed on this small creek.  Also keep a few caddis dries hand once everything clears.  Here typically small Elk Hair Caddis and Goddard Caddis are the key, but do not overlook those bigger October caddis if you do not see any fish rising. 


Erie Steelhead

Gauge Links and Maps

Steelhead Season is right around the corner in the Great Lakes Region!

RAIN!!!  We have finally gotten a decent push of water up to the lake.  Everything as expected is dropping fast though.  There is some scattered rain in the forecast which will be needed to keep the conditions perfect into the weekend.  Just because the SOME fish are moving into the Tributaries does not mean that you need to drop everything and call off work…this is just the very beginning of the run.  There are many factors that we need to keep in mind when heading that way.  Keep an eye on the water temps.  Looking at the forecast the air temps will be pushing 80.  If the streams get low there might be a water temp issue.  Just something to keep in mind.  This week focus on the lower rivers and harbors.  Stripping streamers, swinging flies and indicator/bobber fishing buggers, eggs, and nymphs will cover all your tactics needed.  If you are new to this game stop by or give us a call and we will help you get set up.  If swinging and Spey casting is your game we have the Scientific Anglers Spey Lite lines, Sonar Leaders and the best Skagit tips on the market the TC Textured dual density tips.  

If you need help lining a rod contact us and we will take the confusion out of the game.  
Interested in a guide trip this coming Fall Season?

Our guides can provide most equipment and are available most any time.

Click HERE for information and pricing on an Erie Steelhead Trip.

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

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

813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363

Fishing Reports- 9/22/17

* Please remember to call us for more up-to-date or detailed information! These reports are not meant to be your one and only, daily source of information. They are typically general, even seasonal type reports and we currently don’t have a set schedule as to when we update. Please, just because we don’t update as often as we like, it doesn’t mean that we don’t care.

There are many different approaches you should take in order to get a good game plan for a trip or a day of fishing. Also remember that things change and these reports are what we know at the time of posting only. Keep in mind that we do express opinions and personal preferences from time-to-time which may be different from yours or what you may read elsewhere. Thanks for checking and don’t forget to call us if you need any further information or a more up-to-date report. 614-451-0363

Thanks as always for reading our reports friends. As the weather gets more conducive we should be reporting more regularly….but we need your HELP!

Send any and all reports to admin@madriveroutfitters and we’ll do our best to get them up.


Busy September for MRO!

San Juan, “Naktoberfest” and New Orleans

* Shop manager Andy Jensen just returned from hosting the San Juan River trip and he can’t stop talking about it! We have been hosting trips at the Soaring Eagle Lodge for about 8 years now and can’t say enough about the place. We should be posting the dates for 2018 within a week or so and the host next year will be Brian Flechsig himself. In the meantime, check out the updated photo album HERE.

MRO shop manager Andy Jensen- 2017 host of the Soaring Eagle Lodge Trip

* Today the “Naktoberfest” Alaska group left the lower 48 and should all be arriving into Anchorage shortly. Tomorrow they will take the flight from Anchorage to King Salmon and be whisked off to the Katmai Trophy Lodge on the banks of the Naknek River. There they will be met by MRO Trip Host Jeff Liskay and will spend the week swinging up Trophy Rainbow Trout! Dates are already in place for the Alaska Trips 2018 and you can find those and the details HERE.

“Speymaster” Jeff Liskay is hosting our Alaska “Naktoberfest” Trip


* And last but certainly not least, Brian Flechsig is heading up our annual New Orleans trip to the Woodland Plantation. He and a group of 9 lucky anglers will spend the week chasing GIANT Bull Reds, eating cajun home cooking and enjoying some cocktails. Truly one of our favorite trips! He should have good internet access so stay tuned to Social Media for videos and pictures throughout the week.

He’s fished “few places” in his career and swears this is the BEST!



Warmwater



Smallmouth fishing has been good despite the low water.  A successful smallmouth fishing trip requires some homework understanding water temps and river features.  Streamer fishing will produce the most fish, but poppers are still producing.  The new Double Barrel poppers have been a big hit and going fast.  


Looking at the forecast things are going to continue to be fantastic.  Temperatures are remaining warm keeping fish in shallower water.  The local streams have been producing thick Caddis hatches and the small panfish and minnows have been raising to them.  Fishing a Fat Head Moth or Elk Hair caddis can be a fun change and add a few new species to your catch list.  


Tactics include fishing smaller patterns like more trout sized streamers, smaller poppers, and crawfish patterns.  Your boxes should include Black Nose Dace, Natural colored Wooly Buggers, Dirty Hippies, Dave Whitlock’s Near Nuff patterns, Pencil Poppers, Double Barrel Poppers, Hoppers, Fat Head Moths, Lt Cahills, and large Stimulators.  


Largemouth/Lake fishing has been stable.  The local lakes are still rather warm so look for the fish to be in summer patterns or following schools of baitfish.  Sinking lines and slow jigging style flies will produce.  Stock up on Super Worms, Half and Halfs, Bottoms Up, J-Pigs, and Reapers.  Poppers at low light can also be a great choice.  Now that the boat traffic has slowed fishing the main lakes has been much easier. 



Mad River


The river is very low and with the forecast things are not going to change for a while.  That doesn’t mean that you can’t catch fish, but it does present challenges.

Fish midges and small caddis for the most productive dry fly action….although with the weather we are experiencing an extension of our terrestrial season. With the temps next week do not overlook your ant and beetle box also.  We have also been seeing good numbers of the Pseudocloen mayflies and there have been some fish feeding on them. A #20-22 BWO or Sulpher pattern works fine for these but make sure you are fishing a long leader and 6X or 7X tippet.

You will need to pull out all of your Spring Creek and stealth tactics….but it can be done. Long leaders, light tippets, drab clothing….all important right now.  If you are new to fly fishing or your casting needs improvement then make sure you get a lesson in before heading to the river.  Stealthy approaches with little line on the water are the keys to success.  

These conditions are also a great time to hone your Tenkara skills.  There are plenty of fish to be caught if you follow these recommendations.  As always if you need any help with this we will set your straight.

Streamer anglers will want to scale things back and revisit some classics like Gray Ghosts, Muddler Minnows and smaller Wooly Buggers. The Galloup style articulated stuff will probably have to wait until the leaves come down and we get some water.

Nymph fishing is of course your best bet and we have been doing extremely well on Green Caddis Larva, Green or Red Copper Johns as well as small Prince Nymphs. Also a good time to fish the Cranefly Larva as there have been a bunch of the adults around.

Clearfork River

Clearfork Map

The Creek is VERY low.  If you are heading that direction and just to fish trout,  then very early mornings will be the most productive.  As with the Mad you will need to “be on your best behavior” and fish as stealthy as possible.


At well under 15cfs and the predicted temps it might be more ethical to head below Pleasant Hill and fish for Smallmouth Bass and Panfish. 


Let’s hope for some rain and cooler temps so that we can get back to business on the CF.


Clear Creek

Clear Creek Map


Despite the great water temps the creek is very low and extremely challenging.  Most of the trout have been very weary requiring little to no fly line on the water.  If you happen to be down in the Hocking Hills taking in some early Fall colors and want to fish make sure to have your Tenkara rods or Redington Hydrogen 10′ 3wt.  

Soft Hackles, midges, ants, and beetles will cover your dry fly fishing with small Pheasant Tails and Hares Ears for nymphing. Streamers are pretty much out of the question until we get some water.


Erie Steelhead

Gauge Links and Maps

Steelhead Season is right around the corner in the Great Lakes Region!

We are still a ways out from good fishing.  With the forecast also things are not going to progress in the coming week.  If you are up that way focus on the Jettys and Beaches at the creek mouths.  This is a game of sinking lines/shooting heads, stripping baskets and shiner patterns.  Hit these areas at first light.  This is not a high percentage game, but is great to hook a fish stripping at streamer when it has the whole lake to fight in!  Once the sun comes up over the tree line your better off sight fishing for Sheephead or targeting Smallmouth on the lake shore or in the lower rivers. 

Interested in a guide trip this coming Fall Season?

Our guides can provide most equipment and are available most any time.

Click HERE for information and pricing on an Erie Steelhead Trip.



Mad River Outfitters and The Midwest Fly Fishing Schools

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


www.madriveroutfitters.com

Fishing Reports- 3/3/17

* Please remember to call us for more up-to-date or detailed information! These reports are not meant to be your one and only, daily source of information. They are typically general, even seasonal type reports and we currently don’t have a set schedule as to when we update. Please, just because we don’t update as often as we like, it doesn’t mean that we don’t care.

There are many different approaches you should take in order to get a good game plan for a trip or a day of fishing. Also remember that things change and these reports are what we know at the time of posting only. Keep in mind that we do express opinions and personal preferences from time-to-time which may be different from yours or what you may read elsewhere. Thanks for checking and don’t forget to call us if you need any further information or a more up-to-date report. 614-451-0363

Thanks as always for reading our reports friends. As the weather gets more conducive we should be reporting more regularly….but we need your HELP!

Send any and all reports to admin@madriveroutfitters and we’ll do our best to get them up.


* Some crazy weather eh? Hot, cold, sun, snow, rain, wind. Ohio


* With the warm weather we WERE experiencing, it’s been really crazy to hear the reports of good to excellent smallmouth fishing. A TON of folks were getting out locally and the smallmouth bite was on. Seems to have slowed up a bit with the cooler temps but no question that our season is starting early.


* Also good reports of folks catching largemouth and bluegill in ponds. Bluegill in particular have been very active and very aggressive from most reports. Even some decent surface activity.


Mad River

With the rains the past few days the river did spike up….big time….but has dropped right back down and is clearing. 


As we get into the weekend the streamer bite will be switching over to the typical nymphing. There have been quite a few people in the shop buying sink tips and streamers for today and tomorrow, but we havent heard any reports yet.  Saturday will be tough stripping streamers with the air temps so nymphing will be the ticket although it doesn’t hurt to try.  


Sunday will be a transition day was the stream will be clear, but warming.  Mix up your game for the day and you will be rewarded.  


The warm conditions last week had the stream fishing very well.  Some reports of caddis and plenty winter stones had the fish very active.  As soon as the weather warms again we will be keeping an eye out for Hendricksons…crazy, but it we were not far from now last year.  
The fly list will be the usual: As for Nymphs fish big nymphs followed by smaller nymphs and soft hackles.  For patterns in the Nymph category Guide Choice Hare’s Ear, Prince Nymph, Copper Johns, Hares Ears, Prince, and Pheasant tails also and don’t overlook the San Juan.  Also time to start tossing Hendrickson specific nymphs as they are maturing and getting active. Won’t be too long now and we’ll start “Hendrickson Watch”.


As for streamers supply yourself with a good mix of colors and rotate through them as needed.  Pick up any Galloup pattern that is big and articulated.  Dungeons, Barely Legals, Bottom Up, Cougars and Totally Articulateds will produce.  Make sure to have your sink-tip lines and 6-8wts!  


A report from the 21st of February from our friend and customer Bill Rice:


“Went to the Mad river yesterday and fished from 1:00 to 6:00. The river was low and very clear, but the overcast skies probably allowed the fish to feed a bit more confidently. There were substantial numbers of black stoneflies flitting around and a few rising fish noted in slow current areas. I fished most of the time with small streamers and had decent success. My best catch of the day was an 18” Brown with a liking for grizzly wooly buggers.”


Nice “Winter” catch for Bill Rice

Clearfork River

The upper River is going to still be off colored into the weekend.  If you have permission the mouths of the feeders will treat you well.  
Saturday and Sunday will be nymphing with the usual for this time of the year.  Sunday has the look of a good streamer day throughout the system.  
As for nymphs keep Trophy Nymphs, Guides choice Hares Ears, and plenty Prince Nymphs in your boxes.  Also make sure you have some small stone imitations as there are still a few Winter Stones around.  

This winter our streamer boxes have been getting a workout on the Clearfork.  Make sure to have all of the usuals Dungeons, Barely Legals, Bottom Up, Cougars and Totally Articulateds will produce. Make sure to have your sink-tip lines and 6-8wts!    

Clear Creek
Clear Creek had a good washout this week!  The gauge says it came up almost 10’…We didnt make it down that way to verify, but we are sure some things have shifted around a little.  


Not much going to be happening down that way, but if you are in the area bring your streamer rod and sink tips and have some fun.  The same streamers as for everywhere else, but make sure to have a few smaller versions also.  With the forecast and current conditions we do not expect the creek to clear out for a while.  Muddy to off colored water is what you will encounter this weekend, but fish can be caught! 

Erie Steelhead
The past couple weeks have been some of the best steelheading we have had in years!  Fish are well distributed and in good supply everywhere.  Before the heavy rain this week our guides have been putting clients on some very nice big fish.  These high flows are just going to continue to add fresh fish to the system.  

If you are looking to get out this weekend there will be a small window, but should be some of the best fishing of the year so far.  Saturday is looking very cold up north so look for the middle of the day to provide the best opportunity.  With the high temps still below freezing you will be dealing with ice in the guides.  Remember to bring some Stanley’s Ice Off Paste, long nymphing rods, long belly lines and lots of split shot.  Trying to keep from stripping line through the guides as much as possible.  Nymphing with a double fly rig is the name of the game for numbers of fish.  Usually we run a Crystal Bugger or Zonker and then follow it with a Glo Bug, Sucker Spawn or Crystal Meth.  

As we get into Sunday the temps will be in our favor along with even better flows.  Sunday will also be a better day to take advantage of fresh fish on the swing.  There will still be some color to the water for most part and the warmer weather should fire these fish up.  Make sure you have a good variety of colors in flies, but dark colors have been the ticket in the off colored water.  Senyo’s A.I and Flow Ryder are our common staples.  Make sure you have a good set of different sink rates for tips and 12-15lb tippet.  

As for locations…everything but the Grand is going to be fishing.  The streams are not all going to be clear, but that is how we like it.  Make sure to get your name on the calendar being that we are starting to fill up quickly.

We are having one of the best winter seasons we have had in years.  So clear out those schedules and plan on heading up to the Alley!

Mike Billow from Cleveland on a guide trip with Josh this past Monday. He’s a graduate of the Midwest Fly Fishing School this last season and has been killing it since!

Our good buddy Tim Greiner out enjoying the fantastic steelhead fishing this week.



Interested in a guide trip this coming Spring Season?

Our guides can provide most equipment and are available most any time.

Click HERE for information and pricing on an Erie Steelhead Trip.


Mad River Outfitters
Fly Shop, Guides, Trips, Classes, Schools and more!

813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363