Central Ohio
Mad River
Live Conditions
Mad River — Mad River at West Liberty OH
7-Day Flow
↓ Falling
24-Hr Pressure
28.94 inHg · → High/stable
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
☁️Overcast
74° / 54°
Tomorrow
🌤️Mainly clear
74° / 53°
Wed
☁️Overcast
78° / 50°
Thu
☁️Overcast
76° / 55°
Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.
Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min
What should I fish today?
One call. Specific to today's exact conditions on the Mad River.
Time of Day
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Mad River conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Mad River · June · Early Summer
Showing typical dates — water temperature data unavailable for live hatch predictions.
Select month
Sulphurs at peak (size 16-18) evenings. Caddis. Light Cahills (size 14-16). Midges.
River Map
About Mad River
The Mad River is Ohio's most celebrated inland trout stream — a spring-fed freestone river that originates from cold limestone springs near Zanesfield in Logan County. Unlike virtually every other central Ohio river, the Mad's groundwater-fed source keeps it cold enough for wild brown trout year-round despite sitting in the agricultural flatlands. Ohio DNR stocks 10,000–15,000 brown trout fingerlings annually; holdover fish regularly reach 14–16 inches, with occasional larger specimens. The West Liberty gauge captures the prime fishing stretch from Zanesfield downstream through Logan County. Flows are remarkably stable (typical spring-fed baseline around 20–60 CFS) — rain events can push it to 100–150 CFS temporarily but it drops fast. Year-round trout season; no special C&R regulations as of 2026 regs. Best hatches: Sulphurs, Cahills, caddis (March–November).
Regulations
Ohio fishing license required (resident $25/year). Year-round trout season; no special catch-and-release regulations on the Mad River as of 2026–27 regs. 2026–27 regulation cycle effective March 1, 2026. Verify at wildohio.gov.