These back-to-back Ohio heatwaves might be driving up your electric bill , but the silver lining is, it’s prime-time smallmouth season. Since my last post in May, I put some incredible hours time on the water chasing the tail-end of the spring dry fly season on the Mad River. While June’s consistent rains cooled the river much longer than previous years, the heat of July has officially shifted my guiding and personal fishing to where it all started, our local smallmouth bass.
This year, I wanted to focus my research on new ways to target smallies, or previous ways I forgot. My favorite way is to target smallies with conventional gear first, analyze what works, then source the flies and stripping movements to mimic these techniques. I even reached out to a couple custom fly tyers to design or replicate flies that is not commercially tied. Getting back on the spin gear with clients this past couple of weeks was a great reminder to never stop evolving. The fish are active, aggressive, and ready to play!
July Mad River Trout Fishing Report
The river is still in great shape, but the water temperatures are rising. To protect the fishery I would encourage you to leave the trout for smallies. If you must target them, stick strictly to the cool, early mornings or late evenings. Play them fast and keep them in the water while releasing.
- Tactics and Hatch: summer is great time to target the beetle and grasshopper hatch. Caddis flies in the late afternoon. Try to play the fish fast and release as quick as possible.
- Patterns: I love a size 16 beetle, a 12 Dave’s Hopper, and a cinnamon and black ant. A elk hair caddis in a 16 and 18 should get the fish excited.
July Smallmouth Fishing Report
The Ohio smallmouth are biting many different ways. Mornings typically are on the bottom. I really like a fly that dives deep, has a floating rabbit tail, and is in black, Oliver, or rusty brown. Slowly working the area of rocks and structure. In the mid to late mornings, I am targeting smallies on a white or olive streamer and drawing them out from the structure where they are holding tight. The mid late afternoon, I retarget along the bottom or mid column slowly working the fly. Once the sun starts to lower along the tree-line, my favorite of favorites I tie on a surface fly like a slider or popper and let the good times roll. Targeting heavy structure and shallower areas near large eddies or islands where abundant baitfish are located. When guiding, I instill into my clients the necessity of the water willow grass as well for increased bites.
Typically I will split the day up into two periods. Morning is 7-11am and evening is 4pm to dark. That middle day is hard as the bass hate the sun and find deeper water. However, there are anglers that can really do good with bottom bouncing flies and baits.
Let’s Get on the Water
July and August offer some of the most exciting, visual fishing of the year. I do have some availability remaining in July and August is open. Need a quick escape, ask me about weekday evening wading options. Good luck out there, stay hydrated, and enjoy the summer.
— Parker
