Mad River (Ohio)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Mad River flows nearly 96.56 km (60 mi) from Logan County, Ohio (USA) to Downtown Dayton, Ohio, where it meets the Great Miami River. The river flows southwest from its source near Campbell Hill through West Liberty, Ohio, along U.S. Route 68 west of Urbana, Ohio, past Springfield, Ohio where it meets up with Buck Creek, then along Ohio route 4 into Dayton. It makes its confluence with the Great Miami at Deeds park. The first road between Cincinnati and Dayton that opened up the "Mad River Country" to European settlement was Mad River Road cut in 1797.

The river is named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. A ski resort named Mad River Mountain is located near the Mad River's source.

The mad river is classified as the only sizeable coldwater fishery in Ohio, harboring non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta). The first salmonids stocked in the river were brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) back in the late 1800's. Soon thereafter rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stocking began in 1884, and continued for about 100 years until the mid 1980's. At that time the Ohio Division of Wildlife began stocking brown trout rather than rainbows. Today annual stockings of 6-8" brown trout supplement minimal natural reproduction that exists in the river due to sedimentation from channelization, extensive agricultural runoff, and diminishing riparian habitat. Some of these fish have reached impressive sizes (~10lb), as the fishery continues to gain popularity from local anglers. Anglers who enjoy fly fishing need not travel north or east to enjoy tackling the challenge of selective brown trout for an afternoon. Decent hatches occur on the Mad during the spring and early summer, comprised mostly of hendricksons, sulfurs, brown drakes, green drakes, and of course, midges and blue-winged olives (spring and fall).

For more information, go to the article on Ohio Trout Streams.