Mufasa IS THE Word

In total darkness, it took a few seconds to realize my eyes were open and I was now wide awake.  A glance at the bedside clock reveals 0534, which is a cool hour before my scheduled awakening to begin a much anticipated day.  Expecting more rest was now a dream, which was exactly what the day had in store!

For a week, Mike Schmidt of Anglers Choice Flies and I had been mulling over intentions of getting together on the Mad River for a day of Trophy Brown Trout chasing.  Today was to be that day.  Ambient temperatures in the low twenties and clear blue skies foreshadowed a daily high of mid thirties, with ten to fifteen mile an hour winds making things interesting.  Icy guides were to meet up with green tinted 470cfs flows on this Saturday.

With our transportation secured, Mike and I dropped into the Mad’s flow around 0830, destined to make this a day we would each remember.  Having been spoiled for my last few outings with temperatures in the fifties and sixties, and activities beginning in the noon hour, the cold biting at my fingers was distracting to say the least.  Early morning fishing is not in my normal vocabulary.

100 yards in and Mike mesmerizes one of the Mad River’s residents to his offering.  Attached to ten pound fluorocarbon is sixteen or so inches of very angry Brown Trout.  In a flash to the surface and a turn downstream, the fight was over and Mike was left with mere frustration in his hand.  Mistakes were noted and practice was over!

Steelhead Trout are not the only prey entitled to the namesake of “A Fish of A Thousand Casts”.  Add to this list the mighty Mad River Brown.  Cast after cast and throw after throw, Mike and I made our way down a mile of the Mad River.  She had now witnessed the “Mufasa” many times over and gave nothing.  Skill and patience were pressed to their breaking points, and then as Mike says, “strip, strip, BoooooM”!

Mad River Gold

Hanging back under a tree, twenty five inches of Mad River Trophy Brown Trout awaited Mike’s perfectly presented offering.  The fight was on as this beast secured six inches of Mufasa and danced on the surface shaking his head before running and dashing about the river floor.  All the lessons had been learned, and Mike’s experience brought the battle to a swift end, filling my net with his foe.

25" Mad River Brown Safely Released

With the creature graciously handled and safely returned, Mike stood with his body still shaking from an adrenaline rush few have experienced from the Mad River.  An adrenaline rush earned through years of practice and honing skills to near perfection, for nearly every cast.  The well earned victory ritual of a fine cigar hallmarked the event, and signaled the continuation of our journey.

Bent Out Heavy Duty Hook

No other takers were found on this day, but the experience didn’t end on the sand bar where several photos were snapped.  Once again, fly fishing has adorned an opportunity for a friendship based on a common love and respect for a sport that aids in the preservation of our outdoor world.  A sport called fly fishing; a world where few enter, and even fewer leave.

Lessons Are For Learning...

The rivers have finally come into prime conditions after quite a few weeks of teasing us local year round anglers.  At 550cfs and a frosted green, The Mad River was the place to be, and mid 60's with clear blue skies was icing on the cake.  

Roy putting his lessons to work.

My Saturday was spent with Roy McAnear, the highest bidder for the Ohio Trophy Trout package at the MVFF Auction this past week.  I met up with Roy and we embarked upon a marathon-casting lesson that taxed us both with the elevated flows.  After an hour or so Roy was casting with some effectiveness and we began working on some fly control.  Though no fish came to hand, I feel a great base was made and our next trip will hopefully be more fruitful.  Roy has a long way to go but he is a great listener and learns readily.  A better student could not be expected and I doubt he will be missing class anytime soon.  Roy will be leading a twenty plus inch Brown to the net…mark my words!

John working on his presentation skills.

Sunday was just as beautiful and conditions equally impressive on the river.  A club member/fishing friend and I tried out a new stretch of water and did about an 8000 foot walk together.  We talked about fishing theory and fly presentation as we strolled down the river, throwing streamers into every nook and cranny thought to hold our prey.  Two beautifully colored, high twenty inch Browns were rolled, but both fell short of the take.  Gold was struck on two occasions, yielding one eighteen and a solid twenty inch Brown.  Both fought vigorously and were in great shape.  

When it all comes together...18 inches of Mad River Pride!

A big streamer is the way to meet one of these wary creatures under the high flows the valley has been experiencing.  Meat…its what’s for dinner!  That said one must have a plan if you intend to trick a Trophy Mad River Brown to your presentation.  Remember…every cast counts…there are no bad casts…presentation is everything.  Swinging a fly is one way of presenting a streamer, but ask yourself how much time is your presentation in the kill zone.  I’ll bet the answer is not long.  If you have a perfect cast, the fly hits the water and immediately departs the strike zone, where any predator would have to give chase to make it a meal. 

Mr. Twenty

This in mind, try altering your technique making your presentation vulnerable longer.  If done properly, you will yield more strikes from bigger fish.  Your assignment is to get out there and find YOUR way to accomplish the task at hand.  Hint… cast to seventy-110 degrees…mend a lot…hold on!

Me with Mr. Twenty...yes he jumped out of my hands
two seconds prior to the shutter opening...I promise.

Battle Scarred Red Rocket

Finally, please practice catch and release as these fine predators have lived a long life, and are truly rare.  Tend to them gingerly and ensure they are safely returned to fight another day.

Irish Green Water...

700cfs makes for a lot of water.

What a way to spend St. Patties Day...Although high, the Mad River was certainly fishable today.  Irish green in color with perfect fishing clarity, another monster rose from her depths in an all out assault on an Olive Red Rocket. Smashing its prey near the surface boiled the water, and the first run was on.  Being solo, and in high water proved to make landing this beast a difficult task.  Mission accomplished, and Twenty Eight inches of Mad River beast was once again king of its domain.

28 inch Mad River Brown

Big Mouthful of Olive Red Rocket

The Mad's condition is only going to improve over the next few days and should make for prime streamer fishing this weekend.  If you are getting on the water a sinking line and your streamer box is all you should need.  Tight lines out there.

Natures A Mother

Admittingly it has been some time since my last post. Partially due to my busy schedule, but mostly I have had little to write about on the subject of fishing due to the lack of fishable conditions.

The night of my last post the valley rivers blew out and have been unfishable, or in such conditions that fishing was futile to dangerous. For three cycles of rain now we have been within 24 hours of fishable conditions, and then a setback occurs as Mother Nature blows them out again. Perhaps this weekend will prove to be the Ohio Valleys lucky day.

MVFF had it's annual fundraising auction last night and it seemed to be a hit. There was a lot of money thrown around and I was happy to see my annual guided trip went for just under $250. Thanks for those who were in the bidding war and to the winner, Roy McAnear; a picture of you with a trophy trout will be on your wall soon. I look forward to assisting you with The Ohio Trophy Trout Hunter experience.

As I said, I have high hopes for this weekend and there may be plans in the works for a steelhead alley trip Monday or Tuesday, returning Wednesday.

Get out and wet your lines when you can. See you on the water!