Mad River holds its own with brown trout fishery

Brian Plasters fishes for trout with his trusty rod and reel while wading in the Mad River east of Urbana on Friday, June 5. Brian caught nothing but some rays. Staff photo by Marshall Gorby

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By Brian Plasters, Staff Writer Updated 7:21 PM Sunday, June 7, 2009

The Mad River isn’t angry, but it is cold — and that makes it a great habitat for brown trout.

Only three of Ohio’s waterways can support brown trout — the Mad River, the Clear Fork branch of the Mohegan River and Clear Creek, near Lancaster. The Ohio Division of Wildlife sustains the trout population in those waters with annual stockings.

In Champaign County, the Mad River gets an annual infusion of yearling trout measuring up to 11 inches from the London Fish Hatchery in the fall. Some fry are stocked in the spring, when available.

That makes the Mad River “a very popular fishery,” said Rich Carter, fish management supervisor with the ODOW District 1 office in Columbus.

“There’s a lot of fly fisherman that fish there,” he said. “It’s the best inland trout fishing we have in Ohio. It has a pretty good reputation. It has the ability to support more trout and habitat that allows the trout to grow to decent sizes.”

Trout need a cool water temperature to live and thrive. The Mad River’s water temperature rarely gets above 68 degrees, and even then won’t go over 70, Carter said. That’s even too warm for a rainbow trout, but a brown trout has a higher temperature tolerance.

The river also has suitable cover and plenty of food. Add in the water temperature, and the living conditions are near perfect.

Fly fishing is the most popular way to catch a trout on the Mad River. The best place to find them is in deep pools that have large rocks or downed trees. Another likely spot, but harder to find, is an undercut bank.

If not fly fishing, a small white, yellow or brown rooster tail is a good choice. And just like most fish, a trout will bite on a red worm and a bobber.

Smallmouth bass and sunfish can also be found in the river. By the time the Mad River hits Springfield, the water warms up and the trout disappear.

The trout limit is two, with a minimum length of 12 inches. A 2009 Ohio fishing license is required to fish the Mad River.

The river has five public access areas north of Springfield: Hall-Fawcett Memorial Park between C10 and T153; Lion’s Club Park off state route 245; Pimtown Road, south of West Liberty; wildlife property from Kings Creek to signs south of Ohio 29, north of Urbana; and from US 36 south to the abandoned railroad bridge, west of Urbana.

Because the Mad River flows over mostly privately owned land, the ODOW asks that anglers treat landowners and their property with respect at all times. Don’t fish in areas posted with “No Trespassing” signs, don’t litter or damage property and don’t park in inappropriate locations.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0366 or bplasters@coxohio.com.

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