- President’s Message
- Testing the Waters: An Interview with a Young Angler
- Conservation Corner – A Big Year for the TU Mad River Work Crew
- Mad River Cleanup
- Water Quality Monitoring
- A Promising Start for the New Crawford Brown Strain
- Upcoming Events
President’s Message
Winter in Ohio usually means your car is packed to the roof with holiday goods—gifts, groceries, and maybe the occasional runaway ornament. But don’t forget to leave just a little room for your waders and your fly rod. Because while the temperatures drop, the fly fishing absolutely does not. In fact, winter might just be the most rewarding time of year to be on the water.
There’s something special—almost magical—about those cold-weather trout. Sure, they hunker down in the deeper pools and make you work for every take. Sure, your hands are half-frozen while you try to tie the smallest fly you own. But when that indicator finally twitches or your line suddenly comes tight? That moment feels earned. Every winter trout is a tiny celebration, a warm victory pulled from cold water.
Looking back at my 2025 calendar recently, I was struck by how many Trout Unlimited entries filled those pages. It’s been a full, productive, and meaningful year for our chapter. Thank you—truly—to everyone who showed up, pitched in, gave time, lent gear, or supported our work in any way. It all matters, and it all adds up.
And looking ahead? Well, our 2026 calendar is already filling up with new TU events, programs, and volunteer opportunities. If conservation, coldwater fisheries, or education speak to you, there will be no shortage of ways to be part of what we’re doing. If you’re curious about any of our programs, just reach out—we’re always happy to answer questions or help find the right spot for your schedule and interests.
Tight Lines, Steve Moore, President
Testing the Waters: An Interview with a Young Angler
by Jenny Adkins, Contributor
I’m Jenny Adkins, a mother of two great kids, and a wetland scientist at MAD Scientist Associates. I ran across the Ohio Women on the Fly account on Instagram and quickly followed them. I saw they had a meetup planned for October on the Mad River hosted by the TU Mad River Chapter; I was excited to connect with a group of (clearly) awesome women, and introduce my daughter to a new experience. Let me tell you, if you are looking for a group of fun, intelligent, accepting and adventurous women, look no further. We showed up not knowing what to expect, and without any formal gear beyond waders, and were readily welcomed. Pam Allen took my daughter aside and let her practice holding and casting her rod on land to see if she’d be comfortable trying it in the river. She was a little apprehensive, but willing to give it a go. Here’s what she had to say about the day…
What made you want to come to the outing on the Mad River?
I wanted to come to the outing because I’ve never done anything like it before.
What did you think when you saw everyone getting ready to fish?
I was a little bit nervous because there were a lot of people and I didn’t know what to expect, but
everyone was really nice!
Was there anything that surprised you about fly fishing?
I thought that it was going to be hard, but after practicing a bit, I got the hang of it. I learned how to cast, where to put the lure in the stream, and how to reel in a fish once it bites. It’s different from a regular pole because you gently pull the line in with your hand. It’s important not to let too much line out because then the fish can swim away with it.
What was it like meeting all the women anglers?
It was kind of intense. I didn’t know what they were going to be like, but they were all really nice and fun! I liked hearing about their experiences with their kids and grandkids, and they gave me good advice on what gear to get and how to fish. I especially enjoyed learning from Pam.
What made you decide to come to lunch with everyone afterward?
I love going out to eat! But I also wanted to spend time with the rest of the group. While we were
fishing, we were all spread out, so I didn’t get to talk to them.
How did being in the river make you feel?
It was cold! The waders didn’t keep my legs and feet warm, so next time I’ll wear warmer clothes underneath. My Mom made me wear my winter coat and stuffed it inside my waders. I was interested to learn that trout like the cold, clear water. I thought it was really kind that we released the trout too. We were careful about how we took out the lure, how we held them, and how we let them swim back in the river.
What was your favorite part of the day?
Catching fish! I was able to use the rod by myself after practicing and I hooked 12 trout and got 6 in the net! I liked casting with the fly rod too. I learned to cast vertically and horizontally to avoid getting the lures and line stuck in the trees. I also liked seeing the lures they made by hand. I’d like to learn how to make them.
What did you like about hanging out with the group?
I had fun with Pam because she taught me how to fish. I also had a lot of fun at lunch. It was fun to joke around with them and learn about what they do for jobs. One of them is an electrical engineer and she ordered fried pickles!
Would you want to come to another outing sometime?
Yes. Definitely.
If you could tell your friends one thing about fly fishing, what would it be?
It’s fun! You learn a lot about fish and where they spend time in the river. They like runs and pools and like to keep to shadows where they can hide from herons. Also, when you’re walking in a stream, it’s best to shuffle your feet so you don’t trip or slip.
What kind of fish would you like to catch on a fly rod?
I had a lot of fun catching trout. If I had to choose something else, it would be a bass, salmon, or
muskie.
A Big Year for the TU Mad River Work Crew
by Tom Allen, Conservation Chair, TU Mad River Chapter
2025 has been one of the busiest and most productive years we’ve seen from the TU Mad River Chapter work crew. Thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers — Mike Palatas, Lee Southern, Randy Kirchner, Scott Shane, Steve Price, Nate Ferris, Jeremy Reger, John Davis, Noah Ganson and others — we made major strides in improving access, stabilizing banks, and enhancing in-stream habitat across our watershed.
Mike, Lee, and Randy have become our go-to experts for operating the come-along, running chainsaws safely, and refining our techniques for cabling logs in-stream. In true TU ingenuity, they even put inflatable kids’ swimming pools to use for moving cobble into place. Whatever gets the job done — and done well.
A significant portion of this year’s progress was made possible by a generous donation from Don Antrim, whose support helped us acquire the materials, equipment time, and resources needed to complete several of these projects. Don’s commitment to coldwater conservation continues to make a lasting impact on the Mad River.
We also benefited greatly from the expertise of our contractor, Bo Ward Excavating. Bo’s skill with the track skid-loader and its attachments helped speed up log placement, cobble movement, and mulching invasive plants. His efficiency has saved us countless hours in the field.
2025 Projects Completed
This year’s work included clearing invasive plants, opening access, and improving bank stability at:
- US-36 Access
- State Routes 29 & 296 Access Area
- Watson’s
- Pimtown Road
- Mac-O-Chee Creek on the Piatt Castle property (in partnership with Logan County Pheasants Forever)
We also repaired in-stream habitat and stabilized banks in Sections 1 and 2 at Pimtown Rd, and began preparing for Section 3. The plan and permit application for Section 3 — completed by the consulting firm MAD Scientist Associates— has been submitted to Ohio EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Funding for this next phase has already been approved by the TU Ohio State Council and our chapter.
What’s Ahead in 2026
Pending weather and regulatory approval, we’ll resume work on Pimtown Section 3 and continue other priority projects. Potential 2026 efforts include:
- Habitat and riparian improvements in Heffelfinger Run (West Liberty/Lions Club Park)
- Additional work on the mainstem of Mad River through West Liberty Lions Club Park, in collaboration with the Village of West Liberty and the Lions Club
- Continued improvements at US-36, 29 & 296 Access, and Mac-O-Chee Creek
Please keep in mind, our OVERALL GOAL for in-stream habitat and riparian area improvements along with, bank stabilization, is to improve water quality and native aquatic life. If this goal is achieved, the trout fishery quality should also improve.
Want to lend a hand? We’re always looking for more boots on the ground—and in the water. To get involved with upcoming workdays or trail projects, reach out to Tom Allen at ptallen111@insight.rr.com.
by Paul Cicconetti, TU Mad River Chapter
30+ amazing volunteers showed up to care for the Mad River on September 20th — hauling trash, pulling debris, and making a difference. It was awesome seeing such a mix of people united for the river!
Huge thanks to everyone who donated time and resources to make it happen.
Special shout-outs:
– Redbox+ for the dumpster and the porta-john
– Nocterra Brewing for post-cleanup refreshments and
– Miami Conservancy District, Central Ohio Fly Fishers, and National Trail Parks & Recreation District for covering water, gloves, trash bags, and snacks.
The Mad is cleaner, healthier, and still rad — thanks to all of you!
by Tyler Wright, TU Mad River Chapter
As 2025 comes to a close, so does another year of water-quality monitoring on the Mad. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped us this season—we truly couldn’t do this work without you!
In total, we hosted three monitoring events this year (July’s was unfortunately rained out). And since I missed the last newsletter (sorry, Pam!), I’m doubling up and sharing extra updates to close out our 2025 monitoring season strong.
We had 10 volunteers join us for the final sampling this year, which was the highest of 2025! See below for the findings for each of the locations we sampled for both August and October.
August
Hot weather and low amounts of rain kept water warm and low through the second half of the summer. Even with low and clear conditions, we still saw a good number of caddis and mayflies (especially downstream of Kings Creek) with our counts estimating over 100 caddis and mayflies collected at Kings Creek and US 36 sampling locations.
Site Location
Total Count
Ranking
West Liberty/Lions Club Park
11
Poor
Pimtown Rd Bridge
13
Fair
Kings Creek/Mad River Confluence
20
Good
Route 36 Bridge
15
Fair
October
Similar story as August, later season sampling tends to show lower diversity in the sampling. The low diversity does not mean low number of bugs! We found caddis to be the most abundant being found at each site in good numbers, with over 100 being found at US 36. A close second was mayflies, again with over 100 being found at West Liberty/Lions Club Park, and being present at each of the other sites.
Site Location
Total Count
Ranking
West Liberty/Lions Club Park
10
Poor
Pimtown Rd Bridge
11
Fair
Kings Creek/Mad River Confluence
14
Fair
Route 36 Bridge
10
Poor
Thanks to a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife (DOW), we are going to be able to purchase more sampling gear to aid in our efforts next year. If you or someone you know would be interested in joining us for monitoring, please reach out with any questions, and we hope to see you next year!
by Tom Allen, TU Mad River Chapter
This October, ODNR–DOW stocked the Mad River and upper Clearfork with the new Crawford brown trout stain, known for faster growth and strong coldwater performance. At stocking, these fish were already averaging 10–11 inches.
Practicing catch and release, using single barbless hooks, and handling fish carefully will help these trout get the best possible chance to thrive. Responsible angling plays a major role in long-term survival and carryover.
Early Observations
River traffic has been steady, and I’ve regularly seen 8–10 anglers fishing a single stretch — all enjoying these new trout. The fish have dispersed well and are holding in multiple locations, including several of the habitat-improved areas our volunteers worked on this year.
Anglers are having success with a variety of flies, and personally, I’ve enjoyed fishing dries and soft hackles for them. These trout are providing quality angling experiences not just for local fishermen, but for visitors from around Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.
Looking Forward
With continued good practices on the water and steady habitat investment, we expect to see stronger year-round angling and more carryover fish in the years ahead.
A special thank-you goes to Doug Sweet, Manager of the ODNR–DOW London Hatchery, and his team for their excellent work raising and stocking this strain. We encourage anglers to share feedback with ODNR–DOW — your experiences help guide future decisions.
Upcoming Events
Latest News
- 10/16/26 -International Fly Fishing Film Festival at Nocterra Brewing, Powell
- Mad River Drift Newsletter - June 2026
- Cancelled — Saturday’s Stream Water Quality Monitoring
- Reminder: Mad River TU Annual Meeting – April 18
- Mad River Drift Newsletter - March 2026
- Mad River Drift Newsletter - December 2025
- Help our local fly-fishing community!