The beautiful fall weather in Ohio has ushered in a wonderful seasonal pattern. Halloween this weekend, reminds me that brown trout also wear a costume this time of year. Colors along scales get bolder, brown and yellow, a kype gets more pronounced, and aggressive behaviors barely resemble what is normal. October and November is the breeding season and even though the Mad River is a stocked river, holdovers grow to sexual maturity and at least try the evolutionary trait of reproduction. I am grateful for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, ODNR, for all the conservation projects that impact our lands and waterways each year. The brown trout program throughout the years, I believe though ODNR research, data and surveys are making the Mad River a regional destination worthy of articles in the latest fly fishing magazines. Certainly, over the many years the program has changed and the fish are different. If in discussion, I note how wonderful it was to catch very large brood stock browns, however in the recent years landing a 20 inch brown is in my mind a native brown. Native in the sense that brown is a resident and has been for 5+ years. All this to say, the browns are active, bug activity is hatching during the warmer days, and you should try to find some solitude in the turning of the seasons on a GEM of a stream locally. 

October Mad River Trout Fishing Report 

Leaves and shadows… your only barrier of hooking fish. The ODNR just stocked the browns on the Mad River from the West Liberty area down to the St. Rt. 41 in Springfield. Many miles, many bridges and plenty of water to find solitude. Avoid the windy days dropping leaves in the water column reducing visibility of your flies. Little rains in the past weeks make the water low and clear making browns skittish and skeptical. Lately in guiding and personal time on the water, I am fishing the early morning rises, mid afternoon shadows underneath the leaves, and the later afternoon before dark hatch. 

Tactics & Rigging:

  • Dry/Nymph Rig: Hatches are in the early morning, around 1pm, and then later in the afternoon. Hopper droppers, skating caddis, and tight lining nymphs in pools and runs are highly productive if you are find a small hatch on the surface. A trout splashing the water is your sign.

  • Evening Emergence: The caddis hatch is a early to mid afternoon hatch all the way to dark. Certainly there are other flies on the surface, but if you see a sputtering caddis, get your box out, find a elk caddis or CDC caddis, and dead drift or skate across a trout’s feeding lane.

  • Streamer/Swing Backup: The best play when leaves are in the water column. Forget the nymphs, tie on a olive, black, or white streamer and swing in the familiar pockets. This time of year, the browns are aggressive in the morning and evening and will take a streamer with a fast strip/pause technique.

Recommended Fly Patterns:

  • Terrestrials & Dries: Size 16 Foam Beetle, Size 16-18 Black and Cinnamon Ant, Size 18-20 Adams (skated),  Dave’s Hopper, Size 16–18 Elk Hair Caddis, or a smaller 18-20 October Caddis in the brown/amber colors

  • Nymphs: Size 18–20 Tungsten Frenchies, Pheasant Tails, and Zebra Midges. Add some color to your nymphs like orange, yellow, or pink to attract fish during leafy days.

October Smallmouth Fishing Report

As I transition my guiding schedule toward trout, I’m still hitting the warmer, larger rivers like the Stillwater and Great Miami for smallmouth bass.

To be completely transparent, this is primarily spin fishing using Rapalas, Ned rigs, and flukes. Smallies are feeding heavily ahead of winter, making for action-packed outings just 5 to 10 minutes from home. My good buddy Newport has been texting me daily with reports of smallies and pike along the Great Miami—and keeping me thoroughly jealous whenever I’m off the water

Let’s Get on the Water

As October wraps up, my November guide calendar is now open. Fall offers some of the most dynamic trout fishing of the year on the Mad River. Whether you want to hone your nymphing, target aggressive browns on streamers, or learn the subtle nuances of reading low, clear water, I’d love to get you out there.

If you spot the Pescado Chevy parked along the banks of the Mad, stop by and say hello!

Tight lines and enjoy the gorgeous fall weather,

— Parker