Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Fishing Reports- 4/12/16


* 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


The new limited edition MRO "Fly Fish Ohio" Sticker

With the gloomy reports that we have to post today, we thought that we'd take this chance to unveil the new sticker. 

**Send us a fishing report, a picture, and your name, phone number and address and we'll send the sticker out to you! We appreciate the reports and sense of community here and we want to reward the efforts that we all put into "Fly Fishing Ohio"

Send a report and get yours on the way!!!


Mad River

As you can expect, the Mad is pretty well blown out for a few days here. The very upper reaches of the river may fish tomorrow, the middle river maybe by Thursday and the lower river probably going to be more like late Thursday or Friday. Things should be pretty much back to normal by the weekend.

Not a ton of reports this week but did have a few anglers out. Despite the cold and rains, we did have some Hendricksons spotted on Sunday. Frequent contributor Mike Letizia said he saw some mid-river and there were fish feeding on them. He said they were picky though. Had a few other folks encounter rising fish over the weekend and also reports that they were picky and possibly feeding on midges or emergers.

Seems that we are at that point that they Hennys are going to say "screw it" and just go for it. Chances are pretty good that the next few days, with the sun and warmup, that the best dry fly fishing of the season could be upon us. Almost no way that the bugs won't explode!!!

We'll touch base here with a "Weekend Update" and in the meantime, if you get out, send us a report and a pic and we'll get you dialed-in to one of the new stickers. Be sure to fill out your survey card as well and send in to the ODNR.


****Please make note of the ODNR "Creel Survey" that is going on now...runs April 1st- November 1st. It is very important that we help these guys out by completing the Survey Cards and sending them in after outings. You can read more on our Blog from 4/2 and we'll post it again periodically throughout the season.

The Survey cards are available in the shop and we can also send them out to you if you can't make it in the shop. We'll be happy to drop some in the mail to you free of charge. Once completed they are postage paid so all you have to do is drop them in the mail.

This is a great chance for those of us that fish the Mad to help the ODNR to help the river!


Clearfork River



The Clearfork, as with most waters in the state is pretty well blown out. Will probably be a few days here before we get back out on the water.

The Upper may fish on Thursday and for sure will be prime streamer water. If you have been following along here, you know what that means. We will also be up there looking for bugs as the water comes down. We are due for some Hennys and some caddis at any moment.

Hard to say on the lower as to when they will drop the flows. We'll keep our eyes on it and let you know. Should be good to great fishing in the park once they do.

In the meantime, if you do get out, send us reports and pics and we'll get you out one of the new stickers!!!!



Clear Creek


Ckear Creek is way blown out today and will be a few days at least. Most likely Thursday or Friday before we get out again. We'll get a "Weekend Update" posted as we get later in the week.

In the meantime, Ryan did get on the creek before the rains to check out the report from last week from Elliot Cantwell. It does seem that the "slime" he was worried about was simply just algae. The algae had bloomed with the warm temps and then turned brown with the cold weather. Nothing to worry about and this "blowout" should clear the stream pretty well. He also did some bug sampling and we are happy to report that you should see plenty of hatching activity going on once things stabilize!

Thanks again though Elliot for keeping your eyes out!


All is well at Clear Creek! Look for Hendricksons and Caddis once the water drops!



Erie Steelhead

Once again, mother nature throws a wrench into our steelhead engine!

All streams are blown out right now and it will be a few days here before we get back out. It is possible that the tribs to some of the streams may fish but we have been hearing mediocre reports from most of these. Seems that most fish are in the main rivers and thinking about spawning. The good news, again, is that this water will bring loads of fresh fish into the rivers. We should see a great mix of fresh and drop-back fish over the next few weeks at least!!!

In the meantime, here's a report and pic from our good friend Yukitada Onitsuka:


Hello MRO people.

Just want to let you know that I Caught 6 (5 nymphing 1 swinging) on Conneaut on Sunday. I also fished small tribs from Thursday through Saturday, but I didn't see much activities going on.

Thank you for your info and advise every time I make a trip up there!!

Yukitada Onitsuka


We'll for sure get a "Weekend Update" posted for what is likely to be a banner weekend of steelhead fishing. Plenty yet to come! Get Ready!


We'll let you know what we do and always feel free to call the shop for an "up-to-the-minute" report!

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

813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214

614-451-0363