President’s Message
Hello! I am your newly elected President and I am thrilled to advance our watershed initiatives alongside you.
I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our former Chapter President, Rick Hurni, who has agreed to stay on as our Secretary. Rick has been at the helm since the inception of the Mad River Drift Newsletter back in June 2019. Rick, your dedication over the years has been invaluable, and we’re grateful for your continued commitment to our chapter!
My connection to our Chapter’s cause runs deep; my earliest fishing memories are from my childhood, and the Mad River holds a special place in my heart—it was my first “real” fishing expedition. Like some of you, I joined Trout Unlimited during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that places like the Mad River remain a healthy river for future generations. I also wanted to be part of a community of individuals dedicated to making a difference.
I wholeheartedly embrace Trout Unlimited’s conservation principles of protect, reconnect, restore, and sustain. I am continually inspired by the impactful work of our chapter, which motivated me to volunteer for a leadership role. My goal is to support and elevate our existing efforts, fostering deeper collaborations among landowners, agencies, non-profits, municipalities, and other stakeholders. Together, we can leave a lasting legacy.
I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and look forward to working with you all.
Look for the article about the Annual Meeting below.
Stephen Moore, President
Tightlines Everyone!
p.s. Articles Always Needed!! Pam could use your help with future newsletters. If you’ve been on a fishing trip, or have something else you’d like to share, like a fly recipe, we’d love to hear about it. Write an article and send pictures to her at pamallen@tumadriver.org; it’s that easy 🙂
Annual Meeting and Accomplishments Report
On April 20th the TU Mad River Chapter came together for our Annual Meeting. We’re thrilled to introduce our officers and board members who are ready to lead us towards even greater accomplishments.
Officers
President, Stephen Moore (New)
Vice President, Pam Allen (New)
Treasurer, Mark Beckdahl
Secretary, Rick Hurni
Board of Directors
Webmaster, Jeremy Reger (New)
Women’s Outreach Coordinator, Theresa Casey (New)
Stream Clean Up Coordinator, Paul Cicconetti (New)
Conservation Chair, Tom Allen
Stream Projects Coordinators, Mike Palatas and Dave Dailey
Membership and Newsletter, Pam Allen
Legal, Chuck Dyas
Stream Monitoring Director, Tyler Wright
Veterans Programs, Mitch Tucker
Member at Large, Sam Brown
Member at Large, John Davis
Trout in the Classroom, Scott Shane (New)
TU Teens, Shannon Mayes
Thanks to our amazing members who generously supported our cause at the meeting by purchasing raffle tickets and rocking our merchandise! And a huge shoutout to our generous sponsors— Mad River Outfitters, Orvis Worthington, and Kevin Ramsey—for donating fantastic prizes. As mentioned in the treasurer’s report below, the generous donation from the Donald A. Antrim Charitable Trust will propel us towards our mission with even greater impact!
As shared during the Annual Meeting, our Chapter has made significant strides in protecting, reconnecting, and restoring the Mad River. A special shout-out is in order for all the incredible members of the TU Mad River Chapter and our dedicated volunteers, who collectively contributed almost 2300 hours of their time over the past year. Read the full report here. Here’s a summary of our key accomplishments:
Protecting Our Watershed
- Trail Clearings and Honeysuckle Removal: Conducted at Pimtown Rd., Watson’s, 29/296, and US 36 in Champaign County, improving access and habitat.
- Logjam and Tree Removal: Cleared three logjams and downed trees to enhance flow and reduce bank erosion.
- Water Quality Monitoring: Carried out three monitoring events at six locations within the Mad River Watershed.
- Adopt-A-Bridge/Stream Watch Program: Continued efforts to establish this program, aiming to address litter at 18 bridge areas on the Mad River. Additional volunteers are still needed. Look for announcements about an upcoming cleanup in late summer/early fall.
Restoration Initiatives
- In-stream Habitat Improvements: Conducted repairs and planned additional projects on the Mad River downstream of the Pimtown Road bridge.
Sustaining Efforts and Community Engagement
- Trout in the Classroom (TIC): Continued the TIC program in 12 schools and supported similar programs in other areas.
- TU Teens Program: Engaged local youth in fishing, conservation activities, and community cleanups.
- Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF): Supported disabled veterans with over 300 volunteer hours.
- Community Outreach: Participated in various events and improved communication through social media and electronic newsletters.
Conclusion
Our Chapter remains committed to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of Ohio’s cold water fisheries. We look forward to building on these accomplishments in the coming year and continuing to engage our community in these vital conservation efforts. Look for a new and improved website soon. Jeremy Reger has volunteered to help us and he hopes to have something up and running later this summer!!
Mad River Chapter Financial Update
by Mark Beckdahl, Treasurer, TU Mad River Chapter
The Mad River Chapter of Trout Unlimited ended our fiscal year on March 31, 2024. The Chapter ended the year in a solid financial position. The Cash balance at the end of the fiscal year was $23,644. This is an increase over last year’s balance of $14,758.
Revenues for the fiscal year were $21,653. There were several items of particular note on the revenue side. The chapter received a very generous contribution of $10,000. from Mr. Don Antrim. Don is a longtime supporter of Trout Unlimited and a founding member of the Mad River Chapter. Don lives in Michigan now but still keeps tabs on the work the chapter is doing in Ohio. Thank you, Don. Here is the note he sent along with the donation.
Trout in the Classroom also received a nice contribution of $2,000 from the Miami Conservancy District to support our work in specific schools in the Dayton area.
The chapter held two major fundraisers during the year. The first was the Gala/Annual Meeting which was held in April 2023 at the Simon Kenton Inn in Springfield. The second was the International Fly Fishing Film Festival screening in October 2023 at Nocterra Brewing Co. in Powell. The two events grossed more than $6,800 for the Chapter.
Expenses for the year were $11,914. They included spending almost $5,000 on Trout in the Classroom and $1,500 on stream restoration efforts at Pimtown Road. It should be pointed out that through the volunteer efforts of our chapter members, we keep administrative expenses to a minimum. For the year administrative expenses for the chapter were $273.
Lastly, as I wrap up this report, I would like to refer back to former President Rick Hurni’s appeal in his annual President’s message to support our chapter and its mission. Your financial support is crucial to supporting our efforts here in Southwest/Central Ohio. Please feel free to contact me at mbeckdahl@icloud.com if you have questions about donating to our chapter.
Fishing the Restored Eagle City Area: Embracing New Challenges
by Andrew Dafler, Member, TU Mad River Chapter
As with any river or stream, making consistent trips out to fish it will only make your chances of success go up, and I must admit, it took me a while to “learn” the Mad River to the point of having consistent success each trip I made out. I learned that certain features of the river perhaps played a bigger part in increasing my success rate than certain spots did, and so I often would look for these features when checking out a spot that I’ve never fished. This would be no surprise to an avid trout angler as these are ideal spots for trout to hold, but the features I would look for would be sections that contained downed structure and deeper holes, often along the banks where there would also be tree cover above.
One spot on the Mad that proved to have these features is the Eagle City area near Springfield. Those familiar with this section know that you could find both structure and deeper holes at multiple spots in the area. However, that has since changed, due to a large amount of bank restoration work done by the city of Springfield in March.
Citing concerns of continuous bank erosion within the section south of the bridge at Eagle City, the city of Springfield took steps to remove downed structure and fortify both sides of the river, using both rip rap and tree revetment techniques. By doing so, the makeup of this area is certainly more “open” now than it was previously.
But, what about the fishing? Well, due to these changes, that has certainly changed also. In the couple trips I’ve made to this area since the bank restoration work was complete, I found that I needed to switch up my approach to cater to the new look of this area. Gone are the days of being able to target hiding trout with nymphs and streamers that are holding close to the downed structure that was so prevalent in this area.
However, on a positive note, due to the openness I now find it much easier to make full back casts without having to worry about donating my fly to anything behind me, and therefore have found more success with dry flies in this area than I ever have before.
As the old saying goes, “the only constant in life is change”, and none can be truer when applying these words to fishing. We must always be willing to adapt to things out of our control to improve our chances of success. If the changes at Eagle City have done anything for me, they’ve taught me that with change comes an opportunity to switch things up and learn, and for that I am looking forward to future days of fishing on the Mad in this area.
Chapter Launches 2024 Monitoring Program
by Tyler Wright, Monitoring Director, TU Mad River Chapter
April 20th marked the commencement of the Mad River Chapter’s 2024 monitoring program. For those unfamiliar with our efforts, each year the Mad River Chapter conducts four monitoring events to provide a snapshot of the river’s water quality. These outings are important for understanding the health of the Mad River ecosystem.
During each event, our team samples for macroinvertebrates, the small organisms living in the river that trout eat. These macroinvertebrates are essential indicators of water quality because different species have varying levels of tolerance to pollution. By identifying which macroinvertebrates are present, we can estimate the river’s overall health.
The data collected from these monitoring activities help us track changes in water quality over time and guide our conservation efforts. We encourage chapter members and the community as a whole to join us in these educational outings to learn more about the Mad River.
Our findings from April are shown below.
US-36 ……………….. 29
OH-29/Kings Creek … 31
Watson Property …….. 18
Pimtown ………………… 15
Mac-O-Chee ………….. 16
West Liberty …………… 22
(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.)
Overall, scores were lower this monitoring session than sessions in the past. This could be due to the larger rain events that preceded the monitoring. The OH-29/Kings Creek and US-36 locations still showed a good collection of different macroinvertebrates, with mayflies and caddis showing up in good numbers at both.
Upcoming monitoring events are scheduled for June 15, August 10 and October 19. Please plan to join us!! Together, we can ensure the health and sustainability of the Mad River for future generations.
On May 15, 2024, 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 eleventh 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, Sam Hanna, Kevin Ramsey, Scott Shane) provided fly casting demonstrations, sparking interest and enthusiasm among the students. Additionally, Ethan Simmons from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) facilitated a river sampling station, allowing students to explore and understand the local aquatic ecosystem.
Family volunteers played a crucial role in the event, assisting with various trout-related activities and managing the trout release station. Their dedication and support made the day a memorable and educational experience for all involved.
This year, the students successfully released almost 300 trout into Onion Creek, a tributary of the Mad River. The event not only marked the end of their program but also contributed to the local environment and the conservation efforts of the community.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the volunteers from the Mad River Chapter of Trout Unlimited for their continued support and commitment to environmental education.
Volunteers Support Benjamin Logan Schools
by Tom Allen, Conservation Chair, TU Mad River Chapter
In May, a group of dedicated volunteers shared their passion for environmental science and fly fishing with students from the Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club. Tom Allen, Kevin Ramsey, Mitch Tucker, Scott Shane, and Sam Hanna led an engaging session that combined hands-on activities with valuable ecological education.
The students delved into the intricate world of trout, gaining insights into their anatomy and how to properly handle them so they can be released safely. The lesson also highlighted the importance of the riparian zone—a vital area of a river that supports both water quality and wildlife habitat.
In addition to the theoretical knowledge, students were introduced to the practical skills of fly fishing. They learned to cast a fly rod and master the art of tying a wooly bugger.
For more details on this educational event and other Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club activities, visit their blog post, written by Bruce Smith, here.
Preserving Mad River Access: A Call to Action
by Tom Allen, Conservation Chair, TU Mad River Chapter
Mad River is a treasured resource for our chapter and the community as a whole. The northwest corner of the US-36 bridge and the spillway area downstream of the bridge on the west side are key access points that have been enjoyed by many for years. Unfortunately, littering and open dumping have become significant issues, compromising the natural beauty of the river and straining relationships with landowners.
Urbana Materials owns the property downstream of the bridge and there is a conservation easement of 100 feet on each side of the river from the US-36 bridge downstream to the railroad trestle; the trail on the west side of the river is available to make it easier for those who wade fish to access the river. New property owners on the northwest corner of the US-36 bridge have generously agreed to continue allowing the public to park and access the river from their property, but it is not a permanent easement. We need to show our appreciation by keeping the area clean.
To ensure these areas remain open to the public, our chapter is collaborating with landowners to install new signs that discourage littering and dumping and set clear access boundaries.
In addition to these measures, we are planning improvements to the parking area and trails to enhance the experience for all visitors. These initiatives are crucial in maintaining the river’s accessibility and appeal.
We urge you to join us in keeping Mad River clean and inviting. Paul Cicconetti, our new lead for litter control and cleanup efforts, needs your support. By volunteering for the ADOPT-A-BRIDGE/STREAMWATCH Program, you can help protect and preserve this precious natural resource. Stay tuned for details about a Stream Cleanup that is being planned for late summer/early fall.
Your participation is essential in ensuring that Mad River remains litter free and a beautiful destination for everyone. Thank you in advance for your help.
Stream Monitoring – June 15, 2024
US-36 Bridge over the Mad River — 9:00 am
Urbana, OH
Stream Monitoring – August 10, 2024
US-36 Bridge over the Mad River — 9:00 am
Urbana, OH
International Fly Fishing Film Festival – October 4, 2024
Nocterra Brewing Co., Powell, OH – Sunset
Stream Monitoring – October 19, 2024
US-36 Bridge over the Mad River — 9:00 am
Urbana, OH
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!