Flyfisher's Letterboxes
Mad Brown Trout
(Missing)

Mad Brown Trout
Difficulty: 2 (Hard not to fish on the way to the letterbox)
Near: Urbana, Champaign County, OH
Placed 28 December 2001 by Flyfisher ([email protected])

There are only two rivers in Ohio that support trout populations. The spring fed Mad River is one's choice in southern Ohio.  The section of the river you walk along for this letterbox is a very nice trout environment.  This is where I caught my first ever brown trout.

I have never been here when I did not see someone fishing.  Today, it was 20°  and snowing.  There were 3 other cars in the lot.  I saw one other fisherman wading the stream, one other besides me!  Water temperature was in the mid 40s, and the waders kept me snug as a bug in a rug.

Parking is on the Northwest side of the US 36 bridge across the Mad River about 3 miles west of Urbana.  Walk under the bridge and along the path on the west side of the river.  Keeping your eyes open, you are very likely to see flyfisherfolk regardless of weather or
darkness.  Walking down stream, south, about a half mile, you reach an abandoned railroad bridge.  Just before the bridge, several improvements have been made in the stream to make it easier for the river to support our local trout population.

Feel free to dip your line.  Remember your fishing license (they check) and the legal limits.  Even better, just release the purty lil' feller you catch and I'll catch him too. 

Abandon the path under the bridge and work your way to the northwest corner of the bridge.  On the top of the stone headwall, under a circular steel disk and 3 rocks, lies the maddest trout you will ever see. 

Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

Flyfisher Letterboxes LbNA Home Ohio map