Three Ohio streams are stocked annually with brown trout — Clear Creek in Hocking and Fairfield counties, Clear Fork of the Mohican in Richland and Ashland counties, and the Mad River in Logan, Champaign and Clark counties. Since 1997, the Ohio Division of Wildlife has stocked them with yearling (8 inch) brown trout.
The state is making proposals for changes in brown trout regulations. One change would be to eliminate the 12-inch size limit. They would also change the size of the fish that are stocked.
Nagel said almost all of the members of his club practice catch-and-release on the Mad, so the size and bag limits do not pertain to the Miami Valley Fly Fishers. But since they share the stream with other anglers, he said limits are good, because they protect the fishery and keep plenty of fish in the small area in which they have to fish.
Trout thrive in cold water, so the Mad River is an ideal spot. The water temperature rises in some of the other streams, but the northern part of the Mad stays cold all year.
“The biggest problem is habitat,” Nagel said. “I was part of a program that studied the Mad and we found plenty of food available in the stream. But there isn’t very good habitat – places for them to live.”
He said Trout Unlimited has conducted many projects that improve habitat. There is one ongoing near West Liberty.
The Division of Wildlife is doing a survey on the brown trout stocking program. The survey asks if the anglers would prefer the program to remain as-is at 8-inch fish or change to larger fish (12 inches) or jumbos (16 inches). As the size gets larger, fewer can be stocked.
“It will be interesting to see how it all comes out, especially since there were no non-fly fishers at the meeting. I would like to know what they think, too,” Nagel said. “Personally, I would like to see them stock some rainbows in the Mad.”
The upper Mad River is the oldest trout stream in Ohio, first stocked in the late 1800s.
Carp derby: Next weekend is the annual "Carp Derby" at Grand Lake St. Marys. This event – which is open to the public – was created a couple of years ago to help with the ongoing effort to clean up the polluted lake.
By removing as many carp and other rough fish as possible during the Get the Carp Outta Here tournament, it is believed the water quality will benefit. Of course it also helps merchants around the lake to draw people for the tournament.
More than $5,000 in prizes will be awarded for largest and most fish. For information, visit lakeimprovement.com/get-carp-outta-here-tournament or call (419) 394-5769.
Three chicks: The peregrine falcon nest in the Liberty Bank tower in downtown Dayton has three chicks, hatched about two weeks ago. They will be tested and banded during the week of May 19. You can check them out on the RaptorCam on the Boonshoft Museum website: boonshoftmuseum.org/programs-events/special-events/raptorcam.
About the Author