Thursday, February 4, 2016

Fishing Reports- 2/4/16


* 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




Mad River

Although the Mad since our last report has been really low and clear, the fishing has continued to impress. With the warmer temps over the weekend and until today there have been a good number of winter anglers out in pursuit. The Uppper part of the river continues to produce good numbers and we do know of some really nice 20+ fish caught in the lower part of the river.

Numbers are coming on nymphs. If you just want to catch fish, stick with smaller stuff like red or brown midge larva, zebra midges and the like. Fish are still focusing on these. Also have some size 14 black stonefly imitations. The Winter Stoneflies have yet to be spotted but rest assured the nymphs are down there doing their thing and making themselves available to the fish. A black Copper John typically does pretty well. 

The good news here is that the water did come up and we are looking at some good streamer water the next few days. The weekend should be killer for those looking to get out. The upper river should be clearing and super fishable by today and the lower will come into good shape later today and tomorrow. Great time to chuck the big stuff.......especially in honor of Kelly's visit to the shop on Sunday!

Which, by the way, if you are not that interested in the Super Bowl....we have a great option for you. Sunday at 6:00 we are kicking off a "Streamer Party" with special guest Kelly Galloup. Our good friend Jeff Aufdencamp from Mama Mimis pizza is bringing a new pizza cooker and setting up out back and we'll have the Yeti Tanks full of ice and beer. Kelly will get his program going around 7:00 or so and we'll probably be hanging around till 9 or later. If you have never seen one of Kelly's presentations, you really should be here.

Click Here to pick up a ticket for the party. Just $5.00!!!!



Clearfork River




The Clearfork has been super low and clear, especially down in the park. We did have anglers on both stretches this week and both reported pretty tough fishing although the upper seemed to be a bit better.

MRO guide and MWFF Instructor Graham Stokes fished the lower and said it was really low and clear and tough. He said he only saw one other angler and he was looking for a Musky. The deeper lies that held fish in December seemed to be void of fish which means that they have maybe taken up a winter mode here and are pretty dormant. He did say that he caught a few smaller fish on small nymphs under an indicator and also by throwing a small white streamer on a long leader. Stealth was the key to saving the day.

The lower stretch did come up a bit with the precip the past few days and it could be a good weekend up there. Well worth checking out and if you do, please let us know.

The upper stretch has been a nymph game but we have heard that streamers continue to produce well. This water has become a pretty good to great piece of river for "jerk stripping" large streamers and the size of fish we have been seeing this Fall and Winter has been impressive. A slight bump in flows should have this stretch fishing well this weekend.

Want to learn more about "Jerk Stripping"?

If you are not that interested in the Super Bowl....we have a great option for you. Sunday at 6:00 we are kicking off a "Streamer Party" with special guest Kelly Galloup. Our good friend Jeff Aufdencamp from Mama Mimis pizza is bringing a new pizza cooker and setting up out back and we'll have the Yeti Tanks full of ice and beer. Kelly will get his program going around 7:00 or so and we'll probably be hanging around till 9 or later. If you have never seen one of Kelly's presentations, you really should be here.

Click Here to pick up a ticket for the party. Just $5.00!!!!




Clear Creek


Clear Creek did come up the past few days and the ice along the edges and on the slow pools has been pushed out. It is coming down and should be in fishable shape this weekend. Could turn out to be a good streamer weekend down there.

Not much to report as we haven't had any folks on the water due to the "winter mode" but hoping to hear something over the weekend.

If you do get out, nymphs and streamers will most likely be the ticket, although it's a good bet to have some midge dries just in case.

Let us know if you get out on the water. Clear Creek was fishing surprisingly well before it began to ice up so we'd love to hear some good reports here.

In the meantime.....we hope to see you on Sunday....tickets available.....

If you are not that interested in the Super Bowl....we have a great option for you. Sunday at 6:00 we are kicking off a "Streamer Party" with special guest Kelly Galloup. Our good friend Jeff Aufdencamp from Mama Mimis pizza is bringing a new pizza cooker and setting up out back and we'll have the Yeti Tanks full of ice and beer. Kelly will get his program going around 7:00 or so and we'll probably be hanging around till 9 or later. If you have never seen one of Kelly's presentations, you really should be here.

Click Here to pick up a ticket for the party. Just $5.00!!!



Erie Steelhead

Great news up along the Lake!!! The waters have risen here this week and most of the ice has been pushed out and it looks like it could be a good to great weekend of steelhead fishing.

The Rocky has been the hot ticket since last weekend. It was about the only one with open water and a ton of folks were out fishing. Brian and Josh were up in Cleveland for the show last weekend and heard reports of good to great fishing. A good number of brown trout reported as well as nice sized steelhead.

All of the streams are up and dropping right now and most will come into play for the weekend. The Vermilion should fish Saturday or Sunday although it is just now starting to drop. It is time for the V to start producing big time and we know that our guides cannot wait to get the ball rolling on this important piece of water. The Rocky and Chagrin should fish Saturday and could be good "swinging" conditions. 

The Grand and Conneuat are still a bit big and will probably take a bit longer here. The Grand for sure won't fish until mid next week. The Conneaut maybe late Sunday or into Monday, depending on whether we get more precip. 

Regardless, looks like we are getting a bit of a reprieve from Winter here and a welcome and somewhat unexpected window of opportunity for steelhead anglers in the region. Hard to say what the weather will do but we'll try to stay on top of it and let you know.

With the higher water and somewhat warmer temps here it would surely be worth swinging or stripping some flies and see what happens. If not, hanging nymphs and eggs below an indicator will surely be the way to go. Our old pal Kelly Galloup always says that if the water is cold, which it will be, try a Blue Egg. Not that common a choice but is worth trying and you just might be rewarded.

Not doing anything important Sunday night.....now you can!!!!

We have a great option for you. Sunday at 6:00 we are kicking off a "Streamer Party" with special guest Kelly Galloup. Our good friend Jeff Aufdencamp from Mama Mimis pizza is bringing a new pizza cooker and setting up out back and we'll have the Yeti Tanks full of ice and beer. Kelly will get his program going around 7:00 or so and we'll probably be hanging around till 9 or later. If you have never seen one of Kelly's presentations, you really should be here.

Click Here to pick up a ticket for the party. Just $5.00!!!

Regardless, we'll try to touch base early next week with an update from the weekend. If you get out, we always love reports and pics!!!!



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

813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
www.madriveroutfitters.com

614-451-0363