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833 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
Customer Feedback
Forecast:
Seasonal:
Fall fishing in Ohio means change. Being flexible will keep you on fish. We have many streams that have great Smallmouth fishing. This time of the year the fish are starting to school up and push around baitfish. Your summer 5wt or even soft 6wt gets up away and out comes the better bass rod sizes of 7-8wts. Sink-tip lines like the new Rio Big Nasty and SA Titan are your best bet. If you fish the big rivers then a SA Sonar sinking line with a longer head is a better choice especially out of a boat. Most of these fish are targeting dense schools of Shad. Flies like Whitlock’s Deep Shad, Clousers, Half & Halfs, Bottoms-Up, Dungeons, Peanut Envy and Double Barrel Baitfish poppers are great choices for a floating line. While fishing the more productive sink-tips lines we focus on flies like Bang Tails, Modern Deceivers, Murdich Minnow, Gummy Minnows, Zoo Cougars, Wooly Sculpin, Todd’s Wiggle Minnow, Stacked Blondes, and EP Minnows.
Smallmouth Bass will feed heavily for the next couple months but you will need to target different water than where you find them in summer. Look for the deeper water with good flow around large hard structure. Bridge pilings, rip rap banks, large boulder fields, or other rock structure.
Pond and Lake fishing also continues to be fantastic as long as the water temps stay in the 50s. Largemouth will also start to school and cruse feeding on baitfish. Sinking lines like a SA Clear Tip or Rio Big Nasty are great options for these fish. Flies like the Barely Legal, Bang Tail, Todd’s Wiggle minnow, Dungeon, and Boogie Man work great for fishing fast. If fish are not chasing then slow down with the same lines, but change flies to Super Worms, Reapers, Bottoms-Up, and Gulley Worms get the job done. Do not overlook the Bluegill and Crappie bite also. Fish bobbers/indicators with nymphs or Crappie Specials under them and keep them close to drop offs with structure.
Pike and Musky fishing continues to be great from now into winter. Slowly stripping big flies on heavy sink tips is the game. Josh and Pat’s schedules are usually locked in right now, but both do have some open dates. Make sure to call the shop for details.
Mad River
***PSA: This time of the year the ODNR stocks small Brown Trout at various bridges along the River. These fish are the future of our fishery and need extreme care when handling. They are easy to catch, but take a beating from the pressure. We advise if you do find yourself catching a couple dull colored fish in the 8-10” range change locations to another stretch of river far away from the bridges.***
Trout fishing continues to be great with the higher water. Nymphing and streamer fishing has been the most productive. There are fish well distributed and most are having good success. Hot flies right now are attractor patterns like Flashabou Caddis, Cranefly Larva, Prince, Soft Hackle Jig Fly, Shop dip in red, Psycho Prince to name a few. Fishing these flies tight to the bottom and close to structure. Euro nymphing also is a great option for quantity of fish.
Streamers right now in the clear water will be Mini Dungeons, Mini Bangtails, Near Nuff Sculpin, Big Eyed Buggers, Skulpin Bunnies, Dirty Hippies and Legals. Make sure to fish a few bigger streamers also. Dungeons, Peanuts, Modern Deceivers, Nancy P, and D and Ds are shop favorites.
***PSA: This time of the year the ODNR stocks small Brown Trout at various locations along the upper river and Rainbow Trout below Pleasant Hill dam in the lower river. These fish are the future of our fishery and need extreme care when handling. They are easy to catch, but take a beating from the pressure. We advise if you do find yourself catching a couple small dull colored Brown Trout in the 8-10” range change locations to another stretch of river far away from the bridges. The same goes for the lower river Rainbows. If you find yourself catching a couple fish change locations as to spread out your impact on these fish. It is legal to keep the Rainbows, but if we would like to catch fish through late Spring then putting them back is the best bet.***
Water Levels continue to be good. Those that are fishing the upper river have been catching fish. Most of these fish are the stocked fish, but there are a few larger fish in the public water. Nymphing bright attractors like Flashabou Caddis, Cranefly Larva, Prince, Soft Hackle Jig Fly, Shop dip in red, Psycho Prince are all a great place to start. Matching the hatch right now will consist of small Pheasant Tails, Midges and small baitfish patterns.
The lower river is in great shape and should fish very well. There has been a lot of people taking fish so success has been hot and cold for some people. Nymphing bigger nymphs like the Rubber legs, Double Stone, Cranefly Larva, or even the TB Jig Bugger in conjunction with an egg pattern will keep you busy. Fishing flashy streamers will also get the fishes attention. For streamer fishing you will want some Skiddish Smolts, Crystal Buggers, Precious Metal, Egg Sucking Leaches, and Glass Bugger. Swinging a light switch rod or using a sing-hand-spey setup can also be a great choice. Here you can use the above streamers or a Micro Intruder.
Forecast:
Look for the low air temps to cause some issues with icy guides through the weekend. If you can deal with the cold then the fishing should continue to be great. Make sure to limit the amount of line you strip in as this is what causes ice issues. Focus on shorter drifts and slowly work through a section of river. Tenkara is also a great option in cold conditions. Small nymphs or Euro type presentations will produce results. Rainbows are a great battle on Tenkara also. Drift egg patterns or attractor patterns either tight lined or under a very small New Zealand indicator. As the week progresses ice will not be as much of an issue, but we do have more rain heading in late in the week.
Seasonal:
In the lower river Rainbows are easily caught by small streamers, bright egg patterns and nymphs. Once the fishing pressure picks up or we get a few rain events these fish will spread out and get selective. If you are targeting Brown Trout then nymphing is a great choice, but streamer fishing should not be over looked. Euro nymphing is big talk around the shop and industry. There is a little learning curve, but we can get you into the game with the basics. We have the rods, nymphs, leaders, and lines to get you started. Typically jig style nymphs are the flies of choice but fall nymphing is not just a bug game though. Nymphing Sculpin colored streamers like the Peacock Bugger, Strawberry Blonde, Autumn Splendor, Trick or Treat, Orange Blossom Special, T.B. Jig Bugger, Teds Swimming Hex, and Conehead Muddlers are great choices. Drop a Soft Hackle, Nitro Caddis, or Swing Nymph off the streamer and you are set.
As for streamer fishing both in the upper and lower river these tactics will work. 6-8wt rods with Sink tip lines line the SA Sonar Titan Sink Tip or the AirFlo Streamer Max Short are a great choice. Select flies in the 4-6+ range and make sure to have various colors and designs to figure out what will get the attention of the fish. Most of us carry a large array of colors of the same pattern also. We take Kelly Galloup’s approach of switching colors until we find out what they want. A good place to start would be Bottoms Up, Dungeons, Peanuts, Drunk and Disorderly, Bang Tails, Modern Deceivers, Fat Heads, and other Modern Streamers.
Forecast:
Mad River
Remember the land owners allow us to wade this river. If you do find someone deer hunting then find another fishing location. Flows continue to be elevated. This weekend is turning into great streamer fishing as the flows start to bump up slightly. With some more rain heading our way early next week these conditions will continue. Pull out the streamer rods and cover some water.
Clear Fork River
Flows have been elevated and with this rain the upper river is on the way even higher. Fishing has been good, but this rain will most likely limit the upper river to streamer fishing. The lower river is in great shape and has been fishing well. Rainbows are being caught! As long as the upper does not blow out the lower river should continue to fish well.
Clear Creek
Clear Creek will be closed to fishing from Monday to at least Wednesday for deer hunting. With the rain this weekend the creek will not fish until then anyhow.
Steelhead
Be aware of Deer hunting this coming week. Although many of the fishing locations are parks the surrounding areas will have hunters. Traditionally this has been a time of lower fishing pressure and the dedicated steelheader looks forward to this week each year. Fishing continues to be fantastic. Temps are cold, but there are fish around. This rain will continue to add a little color to the water and flush out some more leaves.
More to come next week but just wanted to bring this to everyone’s attention. Stay tuned.
* OPEN Sundays- Noon-5:00 p.m.- through Christmas- rumor has it will be running “Sunday Specials” throughout the season!
* Cyber Monday- our biggest online shopping day of the year! FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00, same day or next day shipping, 2-4 days delivery to either coast. Click Here
* Tuesday, December 4th is “Ladies Night”- Join softgoods manager Linda Farner for fun, refresments and savings- Click Here
* In-Store Pickup- Shop our website, (which shows our Entire Inventory and Stock Status) from the convenience of your home and choose “In Store Pickup”. We’ll have your items waiting for you when you arrive.
Big Weekend!
Friends,
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family! We hope that you enjoy a day off with good food and good people.
Around the shop here, we are thankful for 24 years in business and counting…and we couldn’t have done it without you….so THANKS!
Of course, we will enjoy the Holiday…and then things change for us on Friday. Big weekend ahead to kick-off the holiday season.
* Black Friday- open at 8:00 a.m. for “Early Bird” specials and then great deals and “Cash Back” awards all day- full details will go out via e-mail and social media tomorrow
* Small Business Saturday- shop small and support locally owned business.
* OPEN Sundays through Christmas- look for Sunday specials each week
* Cyber Monday- our biggest internet shopping day of the year and we’ll be offering 20% “Cash Back” awards for every online purchase.- full details will go out via e-mail and social media tomorrow
* Ladies Night- join Linda Farner on Tuesday, December 4th- from 5-9 p.m.- Click Here
As usual, Thanks for taking the time to read and we’ll be in touch!!!!!!
Brian, Andy, Pat, Linda, Ryan, Judy, Roger, Dick, Cristina, Kevin, Josh and Rogue
Seasons change overnight here in Ohio it seems. Summer to Fall right into Winter. Fishing local has been a weather window game. Understanding fish seasonal movements are a must. Hybrid Stripers, Smallies, Saugeyes and Panfish are been the quarry. Most individuals have targeted the dams during higher water. Big shad flies are the common choice. High water in these areas can be very dangerous for both boating and wading. If you do brave the conditions grab a buddy. Looking for schools of shad have provided the most success. Most of the time these fish are visible as they school tight together. Once you find these baitfish casting sink tips and matched sized flies to the edges get the job done.
Forecast:
Although we are technically still in Fall most of the fish are in winter mode. With Temps below freezing and highs in the 30’s and 40’s bass fishing will be limited to just a few hours on the warmest days. Targeting Panfish will be your best bet. Hit the coves, fish slow, and send us come pictures!
Pike fishing continues to be great. When the rain has given us a break there has been some great fish brought to boat. There are a few openings on our calendars so shoot us a call.
Seasonal:
Fall fishing in Ohio means change. Being flexible will keep you on fish. We have many streams that have great Smallmouth fishing. This time of the year the fish are starting to school up and push around baitfish. Your summer 5wt or even soft 6wt gets up away and out comes the better bass rod sizes of 7-8wts. Sink-tip lines like the new Rio Big Nasty and SA Titan are your best bet. If you fish the big rivers then a SA Sonar sinking line with a longer head is a better choice especially out of a boat. Most of these fish are targeting dense schools of Shad. Flies like Whitlock’s Deep Shad, Clousers, Half & Halfs, Bottoms-Up, Dungeons, Peanut Envy and Double Barrel Baitfish poppers are great choices for a floating line. While fishing the more productive sink-tips lines we focus on flies like Bang Tails, Modern Deceivers, Murdich Minnow, Gummy Minnows, Zoo Cougars, Wooly Sculpin, Todd’s Wiggle Minnow, Stacked Blondes, and EP Minnows.
Smallmouth Bass will feed heavily for the next couple months but you will need to target different water than where you find them in summer. Look for the deeper water with good flow around large hard structure. Bridge pilings, rip rap banks, large boulder fields, or other rock structure.
Pond and Lake fishing also continues to be fantastic as long as the water temps stay in the 50s. Largemouth will also start to school and cruse feeding on baitfish. Sinking lines like a SA Clear Tip or Rio Big Nasty are great options for these fish. Flies like the Barely Legal, Bang Tail, Todd’s Wiggle minnow, Dungeon, and Boogie Man work great for fishing fast. If fish are not chasing then slow down with the same lines, but change flies to Super Worms, Reapers, Bottoms-Up, and Gulley Worms get the job done. Do not overlook the Bluegill and Crappie bite also. Fish bobbers/indicators with nymphs or Crappie Specials under them and keep them close to drop offs with structure.
Pike and Musky fishing continues to be great from now into winter. Slowly stripping big flies on heavy sink tips is the game. Josh and Pat’s schedules are usually locked in right now, but both do have some open dates. Make sure to call the shop for details.
The lower river should start to drop soon offering you a great chance at catching some Rainbow Trout. Nymphing bigger nymphs like the Rubber legs, Double Stone, Cranefly Larva, or even the TB Jig Bugger in conjunction with an egg pattern will keep you busy. Fishing flashy streamers will also get the fishes attention. For streamer fishing you will want some Skiddish Smolts, Crystal Buggers, Precious Metal, Egg Sucking Leaches, and Glass Bugger. Swinging a light switch rod or using a sing-hand-spey setup can also be a great choice. Here you can use the above streamers or a Micro Intruder.
Forecast:
The high water should slowly continue to drop thought the rest of the week. There is some rain heading in this weekend so keep an eye on the flows. This will mess up the upper if thing keep as forecasted, but the lower should continue to fish. There are some cold nights heading our way so make sure to have some Stanley’s Ice off Paste for the early mornings. Nymphing will be your best bet as usual for numbers. Do not leave your streamer rod at home though. Once the air temps are above freezing then stripping a streamer can be a good change to get the blood pumping.
Seasonal:
In the lower river Rainbows are easily caught by small streamers, bright egg patterns and nymphs. Once the fishing pressure picks up or we get a few rain events these fish will spread out and get selective. If you are targeting Brown Trout then nymphing is a great choice, but streamer fishing should not be over looked. Euro nymphing is big talk around the shop and industry. There is a little learning curve, but we can get you into the game with the basics. We have the rods, nymphs, leaders, and lines to get you started. Typically jig style nymphs are the flies of choice but fall nymphing is not just a bug game though. Nymphing Sculpin colored streamers like the Peacock Bugger, Strawberry Blonde, Autumn Splendor, Trick or Treat, Orange Blossom Special, T.B. Jig Bugger, Teds Swimming Hex, and Conehead Muddlers are great choices. Drop a Soft Hackle, Nitro Caddis, or Swing Nymph off the streamer and you are set.
As for streamer fishing both in the upper and lower river these tactics will work. 6-8wt rods with Sink tip lines line the SA Sonar Titan Sink Tip or the AirFlo Streamer Max Short are a great choice. Select flies in the 4-6+ range and make sure to have various colors and designs to figure out what will get the attention of the fish. Most of us carry a large array of colors of the same pattern also. We take Kelly Galloup’s approach of switching colors until we find out what they want. A good place to start would be Bottoms Up, Dungeons, Peanuts, Drunk and Disorderly, Bang Tails, Modern Deceivers, Fat Heads, and other Modern Streamers.
Forecast:
**Sorry for the long lag in fishing reports. No excuses other than we have been extremely busy. We are working very hard at keeping everything running smoothly and regret that these reports have taken a back seat. Most of you have been calling in to get the most up-to-date report and we love hearing from you. We will continue to supply these reports and commit to getting back on schedule! **
What a Summer!
To say that we have been busy is actually an understatement. Seems hosts and guides are always coming and going these days…..and we love it!
Smallmouth fishing continues to be fantastic as the fish are fattening up for the winter. Despite the cold temps fish have been eating poppers with regularity. The local streams are very low and clear. This has caused some issues with finding fish for those unfamiliar with certain water systems. Understanding migratory patterns of bass at certain water temps has played a major factor in finding quality fish. Most people have been fishing shad streamers on a sinking line like the SA Clear Tip, Rio Big Nasty, or SA Titan sink tip. We still have a few weeks of great Smallmouth fishing so make sure to get out there or book a trip.
Lake fishing also continues to be fantastic. Bass and panfish are bulking up on baitfish making streamer fishing good right now. Most of us are fishing shad patterns on our larger rods with sinking lines. The window of productivity is getting smaller as the air temps are dropping fast, but if you adjust your technique then you will find fish.
Pike fishing continues to be fantastic, but for this year so far it has not slowed down! These fish are packing on the pounds right now making fishing really good. Expect good numbers and big fish this time of the year. Seeing the pictures coming from guide trips we are exceeding our client’s expectations. Make sure to get on our calendars now before you miss out on any of these warm water opportunities.
Forecast:
COLD! We are not getting a break from the cold…seems like just a few weeks ago we were saying the same thing about the heat…well it was just a few weeks ago. The good thing is that we have decent flows on our warmwater rivers and not many leaves as of yet. If you can keep your mind off of Steelhead and Trout this time of the year a diverse bag will be your reward. The cold night temps are going to get the leaves changing fast so make sure to take advantage of clearer water and feeding fish before you miss out. We have a few open spots for the Smallies and Stripers left and a quickly shrinking window for Largemouth. Pike season seems to go on all year, but the best is right now. Guide Pat Kelly is also in FULL ON Musky mode in case you were interested in chasing these Apex Predators.
Make sure to contact us now if you want to book a guide trip. Take advantage of some great fishing right in town on your own also before water temps drop and the bass get into winter mode.
Seasonal:
Fall fishing in Ohio means change. Being flexible will keep you on fish. We have many streams that have great Smallmouth fishing. This time of the year the fish are starting to school up and push around baitfish. Your summer 5wt or even soft 6wt gets up away and out comes the better bass rod sizes of 7-8wts. Sink-tip lines like the new Rio Big Nasty and SA Titan are your best bet. If you fish the big rivers then a SA Sonar sinking line with a longer head is a better choice especially out of a boat. Most of these fish are targeting dense schools of Shad. Flies like Whitlock’s Deep Shad, Clousers, Half & Halfs, Bottoms-Up, Dungeons, Peanut Envy and Double Barrel Baitfish poppers are great choices for a floating line. While fishing the more productive sink-tips lines we focus on flies like Bang Tails, Modern Deceivers, Murdich Minnow, Gummy Minnows, Zoo Cougars, Wooly Sculpin, Todd’s Wiggle Minnow, Stacked Blondes, and EP Minnows.
Smallmouth Bass will feed heavily for the next couple months but you will need to target different water than where you find them in summer. Look for the deeper water with good flow around large hard structure. Bridge pilings, rip rap banks, large boulder fields, or other rock structure. As long as we stay out of the 40-degree temps at night, fishing will continue to be fantastic.
Pond and Lake fishing also continues to be fantastic as long as the water temps stay in the mid-50s and up. Largemouth will also start to school and cruse feeding on baitfish. Sinking lines like a SA Clear Tip or Rio Big Nasty are great options for these fish. Flies like the Barely Legal, Bang Tail, Todd’s Wiggle minnow, Dungeon, and Boogie Man work great for fishing fast. If fish are not chasing then slow down with the same lines, but change flies to Super Worms, Reapers, Bottoms-Up, and Gulley Worms get the job done. Do not overlook the Bluegill and Crappie bite also. Fish poppers with nymphs or Crappie Specials under them and keep them close to drop offs with structure. As temps cool down swap out the popper for a float and add a dropper to your other sub-surface fly.
***PSA: This time of the year the ODNR stocks small Brown Trout at various locations along the upper river and Rainbow Trout below Pleasant Hill dam in the lower river. These fish are the future of our fishery and need extreme care when handling. They are easy to catch, but take a beating from the pressure. We advise if you do find yourself catching a couple small dull colored Brown Trout in the 10” range change locations to another stretch of river far away from the bridges. The same goes for the lower river Rainbows. If you find yourself catching a couple fish change locations as to spread out your impact on these fish. It is legal to keep the Rainbows, but if we would like to catch fish through late Spring then putting them back is the best bet. Fall also means spawning time for Brown Trout. During this time some of the biggest fish in the river are in shallow water on gravel. Out of ethics these fish should be observed, but not pestered with fishing pressure.***
As usual this time of the year we have had a few more reports and guides out over the past few weeks. Brown Trout fishing in the upper river has been very slim with the very low and clear water. Those that have had success have permission to fish close to the feeder creeks. The public fishing sections have produced a few fish, but mostly late in the day on small nymphs or very small dries. Again, the water is very low so approach has been the most challenging factor in success. Small dries like BWOs, Parachute Adams, Henryville Specials, Elk Hair Caddis, and RS2’s have produced. Nymphs that have provided results are Nitro Caddis, TB Jig Pheasant tails and Hares Ear, Purple Hot spots, Spanish Bullets, Swing Nymphs and Peacock Hares Ear. Reports from the lower river has continued to be a mixed bag of warmwater fish for the most part. Streamers have been the most productive for these fish.
Forecast:
No relief from the low and clear is in sight. There is a slight chance of some rain late next week, but that can change from day to day. Look for a continuation of very small dries late with a few caddis sporadically in the mix. Euro nymphing, very small yarn indicators, or a beetle with a dropper will be your best bet. We will keep you updated if conditions change.
Seasonal:
Like on the Mad the past few years we have had prolonged low and clear water in the Fall. In the lower river Rainbows are easily caught by small streamers, bright egg patterns and nymphs. Once the fishing pressure picks up or we get a few rain events these fish will spread out and get selective. If you are targeting Brown Trout then nymphing is a great choice during low water conditions for numbers of fish. Euro nymphing is big talk around the shop and industry. There is a little learning curve, but we can get you into the game with the basics. We have the rods, nymphs, leaders, and lines to get you started. Typically jig style nymphs are the flies of choice but fall nymphing is not just a bug game though. Nymphing Sculpin colored streamers like the Peacock Bugger, Strawberry Blonde, Autumn Splendor, Trick or Treat, Orange Blossom Special, T.B. Jig Bugger, Teds Swimming Hex, and Conehead Muddlers are great choices. Drop a Soft Hackle, Nitro Caddis, or Swing Nymph off the streamer and you are set. If you do decide to try a small streamer during low water, then you should focus on small white or natural colored flies with a little weight. No need to pack the sink tip and 8wt here. A 4-5wt rod matched with a size 6-12 streamer is all you need for this small creek at this point.
***Rainbows are scheduled to be stocked this fall. Once fish do get stocked these fish are the future of our fishery and need extreme care when handling. They are easy to catch, but take a beating from the pressure. These fish are totally legal to keep, but we always encourage catch and release so we have productive fishing through Spring.***
The creek continues to be low and clear. Success has been diverse along with the species. There are some Brown Trout still around and the cool temps have them more active. There also have been reports of some Smallmouth bass being caught. Most of these bass are small, but we still have a few weeks left before they slow down for the season. We have also seen a few reports of other species being caught. Most have been nymphing, but those fishing small streamers have been catching the most diversity.
Forecast:
We really need some rain. The creek is slightly higher than normal, but is still very low and clear. We had some serious wind this past weekend so expect a few new trees to have found their way into the creek. Cold temps and very little rain is forecasted. Next weekend will give us some of that needed rain, but so far does not look like very much. So as usual for the past few years Fall has been dry so let’s hope this pattern ends soon.
Fall trout fishing in Ohio means prolonged low and clear water. Rainbow Trout are slotted to be stocked starting this year. Rainbows are easily caught by small streamers, bright egg patterns and nymphs. Once the fishing pressure picks up or we get a few rain events these fish will spread out and get selective. Nymphing is a great choice during low water conditions for numbers of fish. Euro nymphing is big talk around the shop and industry. There is a little learning curve, but we can get you into the game with the basics. We have the rods, nymphs, leaders, and lines to get you started. Typically jig style nymphs are the flies of choice, but fall nymphing is not just a bug game though. Nymphing Sculpin colored streamers like the Peacock Bugger, Strawberry Blonde, Autumn Splendor, Trick or Treat, Orange Blossom Special, T.B. Jig Bugger, Teds Swimming Hex, and Conehead Muddlers are great choices. Drop a Soft Hackle, Nitro Caddis, or Swing Nymph off the streamer and you are set. If you do decide to try a small streamer during low water, then you should focus on small white or natural colored flies with a little weight. No need to pack the sink tip and 8wt here. A 4-5wt rod matched with a size 6-12 streamer is all you need for this small creek.
Bass
fishing has picked up big time around the city and throughout the
state. We have BIG Lake run Smallmouth heading into the tributaries as
the Steelhead are leaving, pond Largemouth bass are starting to head
shallow, local Smallmouth bass are being caught as the flows drop and
clear, and we are seeing White Bass and Hybrid Stripers pushing into
feeder creeks of the reservoirs. The Bass techniques are very
consistent focusing on sink tip lines and rods in the 6-8wt range and
lightly weighted to neutrally buoyant flies.
Mad River
Here is what we CAN tell you:
There
continues to be sporadic Hendrickson throughout the river, but the
Sulphurs have started showing up, and that usually signals the end of
the Hendricksons. It seems that the Hendricksons have hatched
sporadically throughout April and we really never saw a “peak”. Light
Cahills are also around along with March Browns and some various
caddis. But yet…..few rising fish.
Right
now is the time to have a diverse box of Pheasant Tails and Hares Ear
nymphs in 12-16, Soft hackles in green, yellow and natural pheasant also
in the same sizes, and plenty of Sulphur dries in 16-18 and various
colors. Right now the trout are not as finicky as they will be in a
couple weeks, but that does not mean you can just slap a dry out there
and catch a fish. Now is the time to perfect your reach casts and
aerial mending. Match your 3-5wt rods with a Rio Gold, SA Trout, or
Triangle taper and a Rio Supple Flex leader and you are set. If you
need some help with these cast make sure to schedule a private casting
class and we will help you change your dry fly game. If wet flies are
more of your game nymphing and swinging Soft Hackles continues to
produce. Mastering these techniques will produce just about any day of
the year. The growing popularity with Euro nymphing offers a very
productive tactic for those times when a hatch does not appear to be
active above water. The TFO Drift rod or the Redington Hydrogen coupled
with the Rio Euro Nymph line and leader are great options. Flows
continue to be slightly elevated providing some good streamer
opportunities for those willing to adapt to the clear conditions.
Smaller streamers in natural colors is a good place to start.
Forecast:
We
will continue to see great dry fly weather through next week. Look for
caddis and midges to be the main morning action and mayflies to focus
on the evenings. This is a great time of the year to fish the Mad as
there is plenty of bug activity. All stretches of the river will be
producing fish for those who come prepared and willing to change
tactics.
The
Clear Fork has been a great choice for those wanting a change from
Steelhead fishing up north. The upper river continues to offer good
hatches in the afternoon and into the evenings. Most people are
nymphing late mornings and then switching to dries as they find feeding
fish. Hendrickson and Sulphurs are the main bugs right now, but we are
starting to see a few caddis, March Browns and a few Cahills in the
evenings. March Browns and Cahills are a must for the next few weeks and
even into June.
Hatches of small caddis, a few Hendricksons, and some Sulphurs have been showing up.
Probably our last Steelhead report
of the season. Although there are certainly still a few fish to be had,
it is mostly winding down. The warm weather the past week has any remaining steelhead moving back into the lake.
Our thoughts are now turning to Lake Run Smallmouth!
Forecast:
As stated, you can still find some steelhead around but we are in the final stages of the Spring 2018 season. Good numbers of huge smallmouth are showing up and man are they aggressive. We should see good smallie fishing in the tribs up into the 2nd week of June or so. Big white streamers are just about all you need on a sink tip or Titan Clear Tip line. Stop in the shop or give us a call and we can help you out.
614-451-0363
Forecast:
Looking into the weekend and next week there will be limited windows, but still worth hitting the local ponds for a quick trip. Plan ahead to be out for the peak high temps of the day targeting those shallow protected bays. The predicted weather looks like things are heading the right direction, but it is still March.
Mad River
Fishing continues to be great with the good flows. We have not seen the river take this slow of a drop in a long time. Conditions are clear as expected this far from the last rain. Although there have not been any reports of large fish caught the numbers have been very good and will continue to improve as the temps creep up. We did see a 25″ caught last week on a streamer so they are out there.
Forecast:
Once we see some stable weather, well as stable as an Ohio Spring will give us, look for more Blue Quills to show up. Now is the time to stock up your dry fly box with Blue Quills, Bear’s Para Hendrickson, Sparkle Dun, Red Quill, Becks Hendrickson, Borchers, BWOs, and Adams. You do not want to be out on the river anytime in the next couple months without a diverse dry fly box. Until you see hatching bugs focus on nymphing typical mayfly patterns like the Trophy, Guides Choice, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Copper John, Hendrickson, and Hares Ear. Also swinging a B.H. Soft hackle, Swing Nymph, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Holographic Wet can help you productively cover plenty of water. Fishing small streamers can still produce as long as you fish them very close to the bottom tight to cover. There is not much precipitation in the forecast so expect clear falling water into next week.
Streamer fishing into the Spring will consist of timing flows that are on the fall…..as usual. This window is very small, but well worth the wait. Without the crops in the fields look for the water to take a bit longer to clear out, but that just means a few more hours for us streamer junkies.
Rigs for streamer fishing consist of 6-8wts and a sink tip line. Fill your fly boxes with a vast array of fly colors and designs. Galloup’s Dungeons, Bottoms Up, and Articulated Fatheads flies are a good start. Also take a look at Kelly Galloup’s book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout to help you sort things out. As always shoot us a call if you want a guided streamer trip. We run these all season and typically produce some of our biggest fish of the year.
Gearing up for dry fly season means adding some proper leaders and flies to your arsenal. Rio Suppleflex are of course our favorite dry fly leaders along with the MRO Brand Furled Leaders. These will enhance your dead drift presentation which is so critical on the Mad. Have a look at our website for our “Hatches” offerings when it comes to the right flies for the job. You will need some Blue Winged Olives (16-18) which will work for the Blue Quills as well and then some #14 Hendricksons. Be sure to check out the new line of Dry Fly Floatants from our friends at High-N-Dry as well. These are truly superior products that will keep your flies floating higher and longer.
Despite the clear falling flows there has not been much to report. Most of the fish have been of the fall stocked size. Nymphing continues to produce with Trophy Nymphs, Hendrickson Nymphs, Pheasant tails, and Hares Ear being the top producers. There has not been any reports from the lower river mostly being that the flows have just now dropped to safe levels. Gear guys have caught Saugeye and a few Trout right below the dam when conditions allowed.
Forecast:
The water is in great shape with only a little snow melt causing slight issues. Nymph typical mayfly patterns like the Trophy, Guides Choice, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Copper John, Hendrickson, and Hares Ear. Keep your dry fly box handy as you never know when you might find a few Blue Quills sneaking out early. With the forecasted up and down temps nymphing and swinging B.H. Soft hackle, Swing Nymph, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Holographic Wet should be your focus though.
Streamer fishing into the Spring will consist of timing flows that are on the fall…..as usual. This window is very small, but well worth the wait. Without the crops in the fields look for the water to take a bit longer to clear out, but that just means a few more hours for us streamer junkies.
Rigs for streamer fishing consist of 6-8wts and a sink tip line. Fill your fly boxes with a vast array of fly colors and designs. Galloup’s Dungeons, Bottoms Up, and Articulated Fatheads flies are a good start. Also take a look at Kelly Galloup’s book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout to help you sort things out. As always shoot us a call if you want a guided streamer trip. We run these all season and typically produce some of our biggest fish of the year.
Gearing up for dry fly season means adding some proper leaders and flies to your arsenal. Rio Suppleflex are of course our favorite dry fly leaders along with the MRO Brand Furled Leaders. These will enhance your dead drift presentation which is so critical on the Mad. Have a look at our website for our “Hatches” offerings when it comes to the right flies for the job. You will need some Blue Winged Olives (16-18) which will work for the Blue Quills as well and then some #14 Hendricksons. Be sure to check out the new line of Dry Fly Floatants from our friends at High-N-Dry as well. These are truly superior products that will keep your flies floating higher and longer.
Water levels and temps have been favorable the past few weeks and fishing has been good to great. We’ve been getting some really excellent and almost surprising reports from “down South”.
Most fish have been caught nymphing close to the bottom with mayfly and caddis patterns. Keep the typical Trophy Nymphs, Hendrickson Nymphs, Pheasant tails, Hares Ear, Psycho Prince, Holy Grail, Flashabou Caddis, and soft hackles at hand for the most success.
Small streamers have also produced a few fish. There have not been much insect activity, but it is very early for this creek.
As with our other trout streams, we will be watching for dry fly activity to pick up here over the next few weeks. BWOs and Hendricksons will be on the menu soon.
Forecast:
If you find yourself down in the Hocking Hills this weekend you should take advantage for the warmer weather and spend a couple hours on the creek. Next week looks unstable, but would probably still produce a few fish. Rain is predicted Tuesday so keep an eye or call the shop if you have plans for mid-week down there.
What a crazy week this has been. High water falling and clearing mixed with heavy Lake-Effect snow and fresh fish. For those that have been able to make it out there have been plenty of opportunities to catch fish. The Grand is still high as usual, but most of the other streams are heading to the low side. Lets hope for enough snow melt to stabilize flows into the weekend.
Expect heavy crowds this weekend and into next week. There are plenty of fish in the systems so now is the time to plan those days off. Make sure to call the shop with your dates as our calendar is filling fast.
Water temps are still in the 30’s with fish, although willing to bite, currently in winter mode. Focus on the deeper runs making sure your flies are very close to the bottom is key. Wooly Buggers and a Glo Bug or double eggs have been the most productive. A few fish have been taken on the swing, but with the cold water and low visibility the swing game has been hard play.
Our go to rods are 10′ single handers or a switch rod in the 6-8wt range. On this rig we will usually fish tandem fly rigs of two eggs, an egg and a nymph or a Wooly Bugger and an egg. Actual patterns for this type of fishing will include various colors of Wooly Buggers, Glo Bugs, Crystal Meth and Scrambled Egg also in various colors, Bloody Mary nymphs, Steelhead Candy, Chicken Littles, Steelhead and Wiggle Stones. Do not overlook having a box of Trout Beads and Daiichi X510s or Tiemco 105s especially for those low clear flows. Tippet sizes will range from 0x-3x fluorocarbon.
The typical rig for swinging flies will consist of a switch rod in the 10’6″-11’9″ 6-8wt range. The new Jerry French Pieroway Renegade rods are the big talk in the shop as they are effortless to cast and light weight making them a dream to fish all day. We have a great assortment of rods in the shop to meet your specific needs so make sure to stop by or shoot us a call. Matching your switch rod with the right line can be intimidating if you do not have the proper guidance so make sure to also give us a call for advice! For swinging either a Skagit or Scandi line with a Rio or SA sink tip that meets your needs will get the job done. Add a short piece of 12-20lb tippet and a Flow Ryder, A.I Intruder or others and you will be ready to find those “grabby” fish fresh out of the “Big Lake.”
As conditions hover around or below the freezing point learning some spey casts with mid to long belly lines keep the ice in the guides to a minimum. These casts can be done with any fishing tactic not just swinging. The most versatile lines for this are the Rio Switch and SA Anadro lines. Keep in mind that swinging flies can be done at any flow or condition, but a couple grabs will be a great day this time of the year.
Forecast:
Mad River
There
were a couple times that the lower river had slush and even reports of a
few spots of anchor ice forming, but the Mad as usual, produced through
the cold. The river is dropping from the snow melt and looks to be a decent weekend.
Streamers have also been a
choice for those finding those small windows of ideal conditions. It
seems that all of us streamer junkies have been itching to get out.
Individuals who have kept an eye out for dropping flows after some rain
have been rewarded. Mini Dungeons, full sized Dungeons, Bottom Up,
Cougars, and other have been very productive. This past week has also
produced some nice fish on streamers and will continue into the
weekend.
Flies to have right now are
nymphs like Double Stones, Cranefly Larva, Guides Choice Hares Ear,
Trophy Nymphs, Psycho Prince and your typical trout nymphs like the
Prince, Copper John, and Hares Ear. As we move further into winter
conditions have some Phlamin Pheasants, Steelhead Candy, Formerly Known
as Prince, and Shop Dips to name a few.
Streamer fishing into the
winter will consist of timing flows that are on the fall. This window
is very small, but well worth the wait. Without the crops in the fields
look for the water to take a bit longer to clear out, but that just
means a few more hours for us streamer junkies. When the conditions
hover around freezing ice in the guides is just something that we deal
with. Stanley’s Ice off Paste helps along with tapping the grip of the
rod to shake off the excess water.
Rigs for streamer fishing
consist of 6-8wts and a sink tip line. Fill your fly boxes with a vast
array of fly colors and designs. Galloup’s Dungeons, Bottoms Up, and
Articulated Fatheads flies are a good start. Also take a look at Kelly
Galloup’s book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout to help you sort things
out. As always shoot us a call if you want a guided streamer trip. We
run these all winter and typically produce some of our biggest fish of
the year.
Adding some spey casts to your arsenal can help keep
the ice in the guides to a minimum. This is specifically helpful when
nymphing. The 9’6″ 5wt or 10’6″ 6wt Pieroway Renegade combined with the
appropriate SA Anadro or Spey Lite Scandi are the top choices. Also
bring along your tenkara rods as this is a great option for the winter.
Combine these with the 4.5 Tenkara USA Level line and a yarn indicator
if needed and your set.
The
upper river is currently high and off color. If you are local keep an
eye on the conditions as there will be some good streamer water later
into the weekend and early next week. Nymphing too will be a good
choice as long as you know the river well and target undercuts and other
structure. If you are nymphing keep an eye out for Winter Stones.
These aquatic nymphs climb out on the banks to split their exoskeletons
and emerge as adults. The nymph stage is the most productive pattern to
match here. The upper river is mostly private so make sure you are
following all of the state’s regulations for obtaining access
permission. Just entering at the bridges like on the Mad does not make
it okay.
The lower river has also been producing. A mixed bag
is always possible down there. This time of the year Saugeye have a
tendency to stack up below the dams across the state. Here they are
gorging themselves on dead or crippled shad that pass through the dam.
Fishing shad streamers or the above nymph rigs have been producing.
Flies
to have right now are nymphs like Double Stones, Cranefly Larva, Guides
Choice Hares Ear, Trophy Nymphs, Psycho Prince and your typical trout
nymphs like the Prince, Copper John, and Hares Ear. As we move further
into winter conditions have some Phlamin Pheasants, Steelhead Candy,
Formerly Known as Prince, and Shop Dips to name a few.
Streamer
fishing into the winter will consist of timing flows that are on the
fall. This window is very small, but well worth the wait. Without the
crops in the fields look for the water to take a bit longer to clear
out, but that just means a few more hours for us streamer junkies. When
the conditions hover around freezing ice in the guides is just
something that we deal with. Stanley’s Ice off Paste helps along with
tapping the grip of the rod to shake off the excess water.
Rigs
for streamer fishing consist of 6-8wts and a sink tip line. We have
some of the new Kelly Galloup’s AirFlo lines in the shop that will be
perfect for this type of fishing. These are what we have been waiting
for a long time! Fill your fly boxes with a vast array of fly colors
and designs. Galloup’s Dungeons, Bottoms Up, and Articulated Fatheads
flies are a good start. Also take a look at Kelly Galloup’s book Modern
Streamers for Trophy Trout to help you sort things out. As always
shoot us a call if you want a guided streamer trip. We run these all
winter and typically produce some of our biggest fish of the year.
Adding
some spey casts to your arsenal can help keep the ice in the guides to a
minimum. This is specifically helpful when nymphing. The 9’6″ 5wt or
10’6″ 6wt Pieroway Renegade combined with the appropriate SA Anadro or
Spey Lite Scandi are the top choices. Also bring along your tenkara
rods as this is a great option for the winter. Combine these with the
4.5 Tenkara USA Level line and a yarn indicator if needed and your set.
Flows
are currently high and off color. Before the big melt last weekend the
fishing was decent with most fish being taken on the usual caddis
nymphs and small Pheasant Tails. We have not been able to get much
access into the park with the weather.
Flies to have
going into winter will be nymphs like Double Stones, Cranefly Larva,
Guides Choice Hares Ear, Trophy Nymphs, Psycho Prince and your typical
trout nymphs like the Prince, Copper John, and Hares Ear. Streamer
fishing will require Mini Dungeons, Barely Legals, Wooly Buggers, Autumn
Splendor, Clousers, Trick or Treats, Orange Blossoms, Cougars, Wooly
Sculpins, Cactus Wooly, and Near Nuff Sculpin to name a few.
The
past few days have been the first good shots at open water and good
conditions. Those that have dropped everything and headed up have been
finding some fish despite the muddy water. Most people have been
fishing bobbers/floats/indicators and egg patterns like Scrambled Eggs
and Crystal Meth. For those that prefer to swing they have found a few
grabby fish, but until now most of the fresh fish have not been able to
head upstream.
Our
go to rods are 10′ single handers or a switch rod in the 6-8wt range.
On this rig we will usually fish tandem fly rigs of two eggs, an egg and
a nymph or a Wooly Bugger and an egg. Actual patterns for this type of
fishing will include various colors of Wooly Buggers, Glo Bugs, Crystal
Meth and Scrambled Egg also in various colors, Bloody Mary nymphs,
Steelhead Candy, Chicken Littles, Steelhead and Wiggle Stones. Do not
overlook having a box of Trout Beads and Daiichi X510s or Tiemco 105s
especially for those low clear flows. Tippet sizes will range from
0x-3x fluorocarbon.
The typical rig for swinging flies will
consist of a switch rod in the 10’6″-11’9″ 6-8wt range. The new Jerry
French Pieroway Renegade rods are the big talk in the shop as they are
effortless to cast and light weight making them a dream to fish all
day. We have a great assortment of rods in the shop to meet your
specific needs so make sure to stop by or shoot us a call. Matching
your switch rod with the right line can be intimidating if you do not
have the proper guidance so make sure to also give us a call for
advice! For swinging either a Skagit or Scandi line with a Rio or SA
sink tip that meets your needs will get the job done. Add a short piece
of 12-20lb tippet and a Flow Ryder, A.I Intruder or others and you will
be ready to find those “grabby” fish fresh out of the “Big Lake.”
As
conditions hover around or below the freezing point learning some spey
casts with mid to long belly lines keep the ice in the guides to a
minimum. These casts can be done with any fishing tactic not just
swinging. The most versatile lines for this are the Rio Switch and SA
Anadro lines. Keep in mind that swinging flies can be done at any flow
or condition, but a couple grabs will be a great day this time of the
year.
Forecast:
As we go into the weekend and even
early next week look for great steelhead conditions. There is some
usual snow with mixed rain forecasted. With the ice jams cleared out of
the lower rivers fresh fish are able to head into the systems. Keep an
eye on the flows and air temps as things look like they might start
getting slushy by mid-week. If you head up north have a good supply of
split shot, egg patterns in various colors, Crystal Buggers, and Wiggle
Stones. As long as you are prepared for some slush and icy guides you
should be able to fish somewhere next week.
We
are continuing to book guide trips daily so make sure to contact us
with a couple of your date options! We have a few tricks up our sleeve
and are still getting folks into fish despite the tough conditions.
Mad River
The upper river is currently low with a touch of stain in the deeper runs and holes. Fishing has been good for those who put in the effort to get away from the typical locations. Remember that getting access permission is a must so refresh yourself with requirements. Below Pleasant Hill Dam is park property so there are no access issues. Flows have been good below the dam. Individuals have found success fishing streamers and nymphing.
Seasonal Tactics:
Like on the Mad, nymphing is the key this time of the year. For this we like to fish long rods, indicators, and two flies. The Rio Indicator leaders really help you cast these rigs. The main go to nymphing sticks are the Sage ESN, Redington Hydrogen, TFO BVK and the new Pieroway Renegade 9’6″ 5wt to name a few. Tight line, High Stick, or Euro style tactics are also very productive. Grab a Euro Nymph and Euro Nymph line for that style or the Trout/Steelhead line for indicator/bobber fishing. If you want to build your own leaders then add some Amnesia, Maxima Chameleon, Rio Two Tone Indicator tippet and a pack of tippet rings to your cart. Don’t forget the Fluorocarbon tippet also.
Flies to have right now are nymphs like Double Stones, Cranefly Larva, Guide’s Choice Hares Ear, Trophy Nymphs, Psycho Prince and your typical trout nymphs like the Prince, Copper John, and Hares Ear. As we move further into winter conditions have some Phlamin Pheasants, Steelhead Candy, Formally Known as Prince, Shop Dips, and Chicken Hawks to name a few.
Streamer fishing into the winter will consist of timing flows that are on the fall. This window is very small, but well worth the wait. Without the crops in the fields look for the water to take a bit longer to clear out, but that just means a few more hours for us streamer junkies. When the conditions hover around freezing ice in the guides is just something that we deal with. Stanley’s Ice off Paste helps along with tapping the grip of the rod to shake off the excess water.
Rigs for streamer fishing consist of 6-8wts and a sink tip line. We have some of the new Kelly Galloup’s AirFlo lines in the shop that will be perfect for this type of fishing. These are what we have been waiting for a long time! Fill your fly boxes with a vast array of fly colors and designs. Galloup’s Dungeons, Bottoms Up, and Atriculated Fatheads flies are a good start. Also take a look at Kelly Galloup’s book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout to help you sort things out. As always shoot us a call if you want a guided streamer trip. We run these all winter and typically produce some of our biggest fish of the year.
Adding some spey casts to your arsenal can help keep the ice in the guides to a minimum. This is specifically helpful when nymphing. The 9’6″ 5wt or 10’6″ 6wt Pieroway Renegade combined with the appropriate SA Anadro or Spey Lite Scandi are the top choices. Also bring along your tenkara rods as this is a great option for the winter. Combine these with the 4.5 Tenkara USA Level line and a yarn indicator if needed and your set.
Forecast:
This coming week is going to be tough. The rain has the water high and muddy. Levels will settle down into early week just in time for the cold temps. Daily and night temps in combination with dropping water levels will start to slush up the majority of the upper. Fishing in the lower river will continue to be good as long as you prepare for the cold conditions. Nymphing in both areas will be your best bet.
As conditions hover around or below the freezing point learning some spey casts with mid to long belly lines keep the ice in the guides to a minimum. These casts can be done with any fishing tactic not just swinging. The most versatile lines for this are the Rio Switch and SA Anadro lines. Keep in mind that swinging flies can be done at any flow or condition, but a couple grabs will be a great day this time of the year.
Forecast:
High water falling to slushy conditions will be the main theme of next week. The good thing about the rain is that it will keep the tribs from locking back up as fast. Look for a small window Tuesday – Thursday with fair conditions. Later in the week will be tough as most of the tribs will start to lock up with ice. Make sure to shoot us a call if you are heading up as conditions are going to be changing very quickly. Lets hope for another warm up and some rain to keep the cycle going so we can stay on the water.
We are continuing to book guide trips daily so make sure to contact us with a couple of your date options! We have a few tricks up our sleeve and are still getting folks into fish despite the tough conditions.
The answer is….YES……
Order safely up to December 18th or 19th for standard ground shipping and up to December 22nd for 2-day shipping.
We process most orders the day they are received and they are on the truck and headed to you!
Great ideas for Men!
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Great ideas for Anglers!
Warmwater
Mad River
The upper river is very low, slushy, and locking up in a few places. With these conditions few individuals have been out fishing. The lower river below Pleasant Hill Dam has been the most consistent water in the state. Those that have made it up that way have found good flows with some shelf ice along the banks. Most have been fishing tandem nymph rigs with a Double Stone trailed by a caddis nymph. Ice in the guides has been a problem so those limiting the amount of line stripped through the guides have been the most successful. Streamer fishing below the dam has also been a good choice, but with the air temps and icy guides it has been a challenge.
Seasonal Tactics:
Like on the Mad, nymphing is the key this time of the year. For this we like to fish long rods, indicators, and two flies. The Rio Indicator leaders really help you cast these rigs. The main go to nymphing sticks are the Sage ESN, Redington Hydrogen, TFO BVK and the new Pieroway Renegade 9’6″ 5wt to name a few. Tight line, High Stick, or Euro style tactics are also very productive. Grab a Euro Nymph and Euro Nymph line for that style or the Trout/Steelhead line for indicator/bobber fishing. If you want to build your own leaders then add some Amnesia, Maxima Chameleon, Rio Two Tone Indicator tippet and a pack of tippet rings to your cart. Don’t forget the Fluorocarbon tippet also.
Flies to have right now are nymphs like Double Stones, Cranefly Larva, Guide’s Choice Hares Ear, Trophy Nymphs, Psycho Prince and your typical trout nymphs like the Prince, Copper John, and Hares Ear. As we move further into winter conditions have some Phlamin Pheasants, Steelhead Candy, Formally Known as Prince, Shop Dips, and Chicken Hawks to name a few.
Streamer fishing into the winter will consist of timing flows that are on the fall. This window is very small, but well worth the wait. Without the crops in the fields look for the water to take a bit longer to clear out, but that just means a few more hours for us streamer junkies. When the conditions hover around freezing ice in the guides is just something that we deal with. Stanley’s Ice off Paste helps along with tapping the grip of the rod to shake off the excess water.
Rigs for streamer fishing consist of 6-8wts and a sink tip line. We have some of the new Kelly Galloup’s AirFlo lines in the shop that will be perfect for this type of fishing. These are what we have been waiting for a long time! Fill your fly boxes with a vast array of fly colors and designs. Galloup’s Dungeons, Bottoms Up, and Atriculated Fatheads flies are a good start. Also take a look at Kelly Galloup’s book Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout to help you sort things out. As always shoot us a call if you want a guided streamer trip. We run these all winter and typically produce some of our biggest fish of the year.
Adding some spey casts to your arsenal can help keep the ice in the guides to a minimum. This is specifically helpful when nymphing. The 9’6″ 5wt or 10’6″ 6wt Pieroway Renegade combined with the appropriate SA Anadro or Spey Lite Scandi are the top choices. Also bring along your tenkara rods as this is a great option for the winter. Combine these with the 4.5 Tenkara USA Level line and a yarn indicator if needed and your set.
Forecast:
We are finally going to get some above freezing air temps. Look for both sections of the river to be fishing well next week. The upper will continue to be very low. Long casts and drifts will be the top technique. Euro nymphing tactics will put numbers to hand as well as slowly swinging small soft hackles. Make sure to have your winter dry fly box handy as we can see some midge activity. The lower river will continue to produce fish both nymphing and stripping streamers. With the flows in the upper river being low look for most people to be heading to the Covered Bridge area below the dam. We need some rain bad, but we will at least have decent conditions going into Christmas weekend.
As conditions hover around or below the freezing point learning some spey casts with mid to long belly lines keep the ice in the guides to a minimum. These casts can be done with any fishing tactic not just swinging. The most versatile lines for this are the Rio Switch and SA Anadro lines. Keep in mind that swinging flies can be done at any flow or condition, but a couple grabs will be a great day this time of the year.
Forecast:
Going into next week we will see warmer temps and more open water. Once the tribs open up, look for fish to be active and feeding. Nymph rigs will put numbers in the net, but do not overlook your switch rod and swinging. It only takes a few degree temperature change to make these fish fire up get grabby. The flows will continue to be low, but will spike slightly due to runoff and the slight chance of rain. Make sure to be prepared for any water condition as things change very quickly up there this time of the year.
We are continuing to book guide trips daily so make sure to contact us with a couple of your date options! We have a few tricks up our sleeve and are still getting folks into fish despite the tough conditions.