President’s Message
Greetings Friends of the Mad River!
Summer is nearly upon us. With Summer comes promises of consistent nice weather, and ample opportunities to get outdoors to enjoy the world. Personally, I subscribe that a bad day fishing is better than a good day at the office (or wherever one may work) so I plan to be out wetting a line as much as possible. At this point in the year, I’m ready to go with fly boxes loaded in preparation for the many future donations I will be making to trees and bushes around the state. This year I have had the pleasure of adding some new cicada patterns in anticipation of Brood XIV this summer as well.
Speaking of cicadas, I wanted to thank all those who took part in our biannual Gala in April. It was a phenomenal evening and truly was a celebration of the hard work our Chapter volunteers put in each year, as well as a tribute to all of you reading this. Our speaker, Dave Zielinski, was both delightful and incredibly informative. Given the upcoming cicada emergence I referenced above, the timing of his presentation was impeccable for those who may be interested in taking advantage of this “hatch” in southern Ohio and elsewhere. I wanted to thank all those who put time and effort into the planning and execution of the event, particularly Pam Allen who spearheaded just about everything to do with the evening. I also would be remiss if I didn’t thank our partners and friends that donated both time and goods to raffle/fundraising efforts. I already sincerely look forward to the next iteration of the Gala in 2027!
I also wanted to take a moment to recognize Pam Allen for her efforts beyond the Gala. It is with great pleasure that I can share that Pam – our very own Mad River Chapter Vice President, Membership Director, and Newsletter Editor-has been named the 2025 Ohio Outdoor News Person of the Year. As many of you may already know, Pam’s leadership extends far beyond our chapter. In addition to TU, she serves as a lead mentor with The Mayfly Project, helping youth in foster care discover confidence and healing through fly fishing. She also coordinates Trout in the Classroom efforts across Ohio with her husband, Tom, and plays an active role in organizations like Ohio Women on the Fly, Casting for Recovery, and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. Whether she’s delivering trout eggs, mentoring new anglers, or building inclusive communities on the water, Pam brings energy, heart, and humility to everything she does. As she puts it, “It’s not about me-it’s about all of the people making things happen.” Please join us in congratulating Pam on this well-deserved recognition! (Link for further reading https://www.outdoornews.com/2025/04/26/pam-allen-a-mover-and-shaker-earns-ohio-outdoor-news-person-of-the-year-honor/)
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention another of the chapter’s successes over the last year–our capacity for volunteering. At the Gala, we gave special recognition to Mike Palatas for his dedication to working on the river doing any and all jobs and Don Dean for his many years leading the Trout in the Classroom program and our Stream Monitoring efforts. I am proud to announce that in our most recent Chapter Accomplishment Report we logged almost 2300 volunteer hours across the categories tracked by Trout Unlimited! That figure is truly a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm that our chapter has for service. To that end, it is with no surprise that since our last update in March, our chapter has worked tirelessly on even more stream quality initiatives. Special thanks to Tom Allen and Mike Palatas, along with their teams, who seemingly are out weekly working on a litany of stream projects up and down the Mad River. I also wanted to thank Tyler Wright for kicking off another successful stream water quality monitoring event earlier in May. We are always in need of volunteers to assist our various projects, including our next water quality monitoring event on June 14th. All of these events are both fun and educational, as well as rewarding to know one is taking part in the greater good of the Mad. Come out and join us!
As always, if you ever have anything you would like to contribute to future newsletters, please feel free to reach out to Pam Allen at pamallen@tumadriver.org. She is always looking for fun stories, experiences, fly recipes, or just photographs that can be shared for the greater good.
If I can stress anything for the coming months, it would be to get out and make some memories that will last longer than the suntan you develop. Hopefully I see some of you during that process!
Tight Lines, Steve Moore, President
Mad River Outfitters madriveroutfitters.com
Orvis-Worthington orvis.com
International Game Fish Association igfa.org
Fishing the Waters of Pointe North
by Pam Allen, TU Mad River Chapter and Lead Mentor, The Mayfly Project-Columbus
When the Mad River ran chocolate milk brown during our Mayfly Project outing, we had to pivot fast—and Pointe North Nature Park in Urbana proved to be the perfect backup.
This 225-acre city-owned park features six spring-fed ponds, wooded trails, and a surprisingly productive fishing lake. No license is required, and catch-and-release is required for bass, while other species like bluegill, perch, and catfish can be released or kept. Fishing is limited to the ponds south of the main drive.
Our mentors taught macroinvertebrate sampling at the creek, then wrapped up the day with some fun fishing on the lake. Several mentors were so impressed they stayed afterward to try their luck themselves.
Pointe North had been closed since May 2020 due to overfishing, littering, and ATV damage. Thanks to a dedicated volunteer committee, it reopened on weekends starting January 4, 2025. The park is now open Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to sunset, with volunteers monitoring activity and plans to expand hours as more help becomes available.
Whether you’re an angler or simply seeking a peaceful retreat into nature, Pointe North Nature Park offers a rejuvenating experience in the heart of Champaign County—especially when the Mad isn’t cooperating. While you’re there, check out Freshwater Farms of Ohio just north of the park and some of the other local eateries.
Chapter Launches 2025 Monitoring Program
by Tyler Wright, Monitoring Director, TU Mad River Chapter
The 2025 stream quality monitoring season officially kicked off on May 10th with our first sampling outing. Special thanks to all of our volunteers who came out to assist. Unfortunately, high water prevented the monitoring of Route 36 and the Kings Creek confluence.
With the start of a new year comes a few changes to how our stream quality monitoring outings will operate. First, we will now meet at West Liberty Park rather than Route 36. Second, we are updating our monitoring sheets to follow the method published by ODNR. More information on the updated method will be included in the next stream quality monitoring report.
Due to the higher flows, we observed lower-than-usual macroinvertebrate diversity. Even so, three of the four sites still registered a “Good” score, with the last ranking as “Fair.”
Our findings from May are shown below.
US-36 ……………….. N/A
OH-29/Kings Creek … N/A
Watson Property …….. 19 – Good
Pimtown ………………… 17 – Good
Mac-O-Chee ………….. 13 – Fair
West Liberty …………… 16 – Good
(The above numbers are values for a Pollution Tolerance Index rating. The higher the number, the better. Though the particular scale we use gives an “Excellent” rating for any value that is 23 or above, we believe this scale is probably low.)
Our next stream quality monitoring event is scheduled for June 14th. We hope to see everyone there!
Conservation Update: Clearing the Way for Healthier Water
by Tom Allen, Conservation Chair, TU Mad River Chapter
Our volunteer conservation team has been hard at work this spring tackling some much-needed habitat and access improvements along the Mad River. While there’s still plenty to do—especially in terms of in-stream habitat and log jam removal—we’ve made steady progress on a few key fronts.
Our primary focus has been the removal of invasive honeysuckle on the east side of the river, just downstream of the SR 29 bridge. This dense brush not only chokes out native vegetation, but also limits access for anglers and hinders the natural function of the riparian zone. Clearing efforts here have already opened up the landscape and set the stage for future restoration.
We also put in time mowing and maintaining trails at several access points including Pimtown, Watson’s, the SR 29/296 junction, and the US 36 area. These improvements help keep paths passable for anglers, volunteers, and monitoring teams alike.
Looking ahead, we aim to finish clearing work at SR 29 in the coming months and begin construction of new access stairs near the bridge and downstream. These enhancements will improve safety and sustainability for those who love and steward the Mad.
Info: ODNR stocked two different strains of brown trout—Crawford and Plymouth—into the river last fall. We’d love to see how they’re doing! If you’ve caught one, send us a photo.
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.
Respect the River
by Paul Cicconetti, TU Mad River Chapter
As we approach summer, I wanted to let you know about the 2025 Mad River Cleanup. We will be hosting the event on September 20, 2025 from 9am to Noon.
Please share this information with your friends and family. It is my goal to have a higher attendance than last year’s cleanup, which was 30 people. As we enjoy the beautiful weather of spring and summer, it is good practice to keep a keen eye out for litter along the river while we enjoy the water. Personally, I keep an old onion bag in my pack to stuff found litter into, let’s keep the Mad clean outside of the annual cleanup!
Additionally, as we approach the September cleanup, if you notice or hear of any rumors of large items of trash in or around the river (tires, furniture, etc.), please let me know so that we can organize to get those items removed.
Just as a reminder, if you are interested in joining our Adopt-A-Bridge program, please also let me know. For those that are unfamiliar with the program, this is simply you, or an individual, “adopting” a bridge location along the Mad River to just keep an eye out for trash when you are out fishing or passing by and cleaning the general area up. The more people that adopt a location, the cleaner the location will be.
We will send an email later this summer asking for volunteers to sign up for the cleanup in advance.
On May 9, 2025, Graham Elementary students and staff celebrated the culmination of their Trout in the Classroom experience with a special trout release event at Lions Club Park in West Liberty, Ohio. This marked the twelfth year of this enriching program at Graham Elementary.
This year’s participants included first graders and fourth graders who spent the academic year learning about trout, observing their growth, and documenting their progress. The hands-on experience provided invaluable lessons in biology, ecology, and environmental stewardship.
The release event was a day filled with engaging activities and learning opportunities. Volunteers from the Mad River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (Tom Allen, Pam Allen, Kevin Ramsey, Scott Shane) provided fly casting demonstrations, sparking interest and enthusiasm among the students.
Shenandoah 4th Graders Celebrate Rainbow Trout Release
by Tina Michel, Noble Local Schools
The project began in early January when students received trout eggs, which they carefully hatched and raised in their classroom. Throughout the winter and spring, the young scientists closely monitored the trout’s development, collecting and testing water daily from the Little Buffalo Creek, which flows through the school campus. Their efforts ensured the classroom habitat stayed clean, safe, and as natural as possible.
This year, Mr. Legats and his students provided valuable support by helping collect buckets of creek water for the trout tank, making the effort a school-wide collaboration and emphasizing the importance of teamwork in science and stewardship.
The culmination of this project took place at Wolf Run State Park, where students had the opportunity to release their trout into a natural habitat. The day was packed with activities including hiking, creeking, and learning to fly fish—a skill taught by expert volunteers Tom and Pam Allen from Trout Unlimited, Mad River Chapter. Their hands-on lessons helped students connect classroom science with real-world outdoor experiences.
The highlight of the day was the fishing derby, where students tested their luck and skills with a rod and reel. Prizes for the event were generously donated by several outdoor-focused businesses and organizations, including Foxbites Baits of Zanesville, Big Joshy Baits of Columbus, Deerassic Education Center of Cambridge, and The Ohio Outdoor News Magazine. MPLX provided the food for the cookout. A special shout-out to John Bates of Sarahsville. John donates his time every year to the event. John officially measures each fish caught and helps untangle line, bait hooks, and so much more! Thanks to the efforts of many parent volunteers and community supporters, the event was a huge success.
This project brings science to life for the students in Mrs. Michel’s class. It teaches responsibility, environmental stewardship, and the scientific process in a way that’s engaging and unforgettable. Our students don’t just read about ecosystems—they become part of one.
Through this multi-month experience, students practiced water testing and data collection, learned about aquatic habitats, and took part in problem-solving and the design process—all while developing an appreciation for Ohio’s natural resources. The Rainbow Trout Release and Fishing Derby is more than just a day in nature; it’s a celebration of curiosity, community, and the power of experiential learning.
Science with a Splash: Benjamin Logan Schools
by Bruce Smith, Benjamin Local Schools
For more than a dozen years, Benjamin Logan students have been hatching trout from eggs and raising the resulting alevin to a stage where they can be released into the wild. While raising the trout, students learn to maintain proper water chemistry to meet the requirements for cold, clean water essential for the fish’s survival.
The Trout in the Classroom program is sponsored by Trout Unlimited(TU). Trout eggs from Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) hatchery in London, Ohio, are delivered by the TU Mad River Chapter, and the release location for the fingerlings is authorized by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Benjamin Logan’s participation has been supported by Ohio EPA grant funding, secured by Spencer Reames and Bruce Smith.This year, all three school buildings participated in the program. On April 29, students from the high school, middle school, and elementary school traveled to Lions Club Park in West Liberty to release this year’s crop of brown trout into Onion Run, a tributary of the Mad River. The Mad River, one of Ohio’s few cold-water ecosystems supports both brown trout and rainbow trout.
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!