Ohio Spring, a March full of chaotic straight line winds, swampy rain, scattered snow, and flower popping 70 degree weather – Ohioans are just built different. 

The start of April brings the rebirth of our natural areas. Plants are anchoring their roots,  birds are looking for love at 5:00 am, and rivers are swollen with what most would call “chocolate milk”. While stormy weather sidelined us in the Southwest, up North along the  Lake Erie shoreline, many anglers are experiencing the fresh chrome run. If you haven’t felt the tug of a lake-run Steelhead, its a must. Check out local shops like the Backpackers Shop, Great Lakes Fly Fishing, Covered Bridge Outfitters, Chagrin River Outfitters.

The opportunities right now are endless : Trout are rising to dries, smallmouth are waking up,  steelhead running the tributaries, musky in the upper creeks of Caesar Creek, white bass itching to spawn, and the local pond species are eager to the bite. A great time of year in Ohio.

Late March/April Fishing Report

The Mad River Trout

The Mad River last week hit its highest level at 2000+cfs since last fall. We are finally swinging back down to prime fishing opportunity.  I eager for the Hendricksons

  • Tactics: The water is warming up slowly activating the amount of food the trout needs to keep the energy. Mid morning could have small midge hatches, BWO, or ever the little black stones. Afternoons may see hatches of caddis and the anticipated Hendrickson hatch. My technique is soft hackle swing, nymphing with a dry/dropper (no indicator), and dry fly or emerger fishing when I see “splash rises”. 
  • The Hatch: Midges are still the primary game, but the Little Black Stoneflies are rising on the long deeper runs. An Adams size 20-22 is great fly to match the Little Black Stones. I am partial to Kelly Galloup’s BWO both nymphs and emergers. I really like olive soft hackles with a partridge collar for the soft hackle swings. Double the flies with a two-fly leader for more strikes. 
  • Streamer Junkies: The middle to lower stretch will be prime this weekend. I would strip on an intermediate line with a (white, white/olive, tan/yellow, or black) streamer tied 2-4 inches. Keep the streamer stripping along the bottom, or try an aggressive jerk strip along major cover.
  • My good friend Father Greg writes a great post from April 2023 about his take on the Mad this time of year. A great read. https://morrettflyfishing.com/a-year-in-the-life-part-two/
Smallmouth Bass

After several cabin fever weeks of the rivers chocolate milk, the smallies are finally cooperating. While the Great Miami and Stillwater are still high and brown, the lower Mad River is in prime shape for some larger streamers along the shoreline. 

  • Newport’s Hot Tip: Fish are close to swift water near ambush areas. Boulders and aquatic vegetation are key. If you have read previous posts, Newport fishes smallmouth, I think every single day.
  • The Rig: Tie and fish the heavier jig patterns that get the flies near the bottom. I like simple flies that have a jig head that is flattened and stands the fibers/feathers/rabbit tails up in the water ( a Ned-rig setup).  On a second rod, I have an intermediate line with a articulated olive/white, white, chartreuse/white fly that I present very close to the shoreline and strip through faster currents. 
Let’s Get on the Water

Happy Easter weekend. My books for April are nearly full, but I have a few dates left. May is slowly filling up and can be a peak for the dry fly action for trout. Smallmouth will be water level dependent, but the bite will be aggressive.

— Parker