The Rocky River is approaching fishable conditions this morning?��just in time for more rain. Weekend fishing conditions will be fully dependent upon how much more rain we receive. Anglers would be wise to check the trend in river flow before departing for the river, which can be found at the following link (along with water temperature): <river flow gage data>
Prior to the rain earlier this week the steelhead fishing on the Rocky and Chagrin rivers was the best it has been all season. Lots of steelhead of all sizes (smaller 14-18?�� skippers up to bruisers exceeding 30?��) were caught all along the two rivers by anglers drifting bait, flies, and lures. Another brown trout and a very late king (Chinook) salmon also turned up in the Rock this week (photos below). Unfortunately, today?�+s projected rain will likely put a kink in anglers?�+ hopes of good fishing in the coming few days, but on a positive note should also serve to draw in even more fresh steelhead from the lake. If the river flow gets down below 400 cfs at any point over the weekend anglers can expect very good fishing prospects, with most anglers considering a flow between 200-300 cfs to be in the ?��prime?�� range for this time of year. I have caught steelhead (and witnessed others caught) this year at flows as high as 500 cfs, though, and last year hooked a few at muddy flows up to 600 cfs.
When the river is stained and flowing hard, as it is this morning, anglers fishing bait catch the most fish. A nickel to quarter size spawn sack in brightly colored mesh (hot pink and chartreuse are always good bets) works well in stained water. Adding brightly colored float beads (small Styrofoam balls) to the spawn sacks can attract more attention in muddy water, as can adding some colorful yarn, a bead, or a Corkie/Spin-N-Glo ahead of your hook, especially in a contrasting color. Make sure to upsize your float size and other terminal tackle when the water is flowing strong, as well. Fly fishers often do best in stained water using densely tied, brightly colored egg patterns and streamers with contrasting colors, like a black/orange head or purple/pink head Egg Sucking Leech patterns in larger sizes. Barriers to fish migration (fords, dams, and waterfalls), current breaks (including near the banks of the stream), tailouts and near funnels in flow are among the most reliable places to find migrating steelhead resting in higher flows. As the water clears successively downgrade offerings and gear to smaller sizes and begin to look for steelhead in deeper pools, as well as the aforementioned spots.
If fishing the elevated river is not to your liking options for pursuing stocked trout in or lakes and ponds remains very good this week. A total of 2,000 pounds of rainbow trout were stocked between Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Judge?�+s and Ranger lakes early last week. About half the trout went into Wallace, being the largest of these lakes. The trout averaged about a pound and a quarter, although they ranged from ?? up to 4 pounds. A handful of golden rainbow trout and a few trophy brown trout were also released to add some diversity to the mix. The fish bite well on thumbnail sized nuggets of brightly colored PowerBait fished near the lake bottom with a small sinker, small jigs tipped with maggots or other bait suspended 2-3 feet below a small bobber (some anglers have been doing especially well jigging the bobber with their rod tip), and small spinners. Stripping streamer flies would also be a good bet for fly anglers. Trout in Wallace this week have been biting best in the northern section where the lake narrows.
Be aware that trout limits vary by location. In the rivers this time of year it is two per angler per/day with a 12?�� minimum size. In our lakes and ponds that ODNR also seasonally stocks (Shadow and Hinckley lakes and Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area) it is 5 per angler/day with no size limit. In all other stocked Metroparks waters (Wallace, Ledge, Ranger, and Judge?�+s lakes) it is three per angler/day with no size limit.
Anglers are still catching late season largemouth bass and bluegill in Cleveland Metroparks lakes and ponds, many of which have been stocked with pond fish in recent months. A small jig tipped with maggots will catch any of these species, as well as trout.
First Steelhead. I still clearly remember the details of the first steelhead I ever caught, which was at Lagoon Dam on the East Branch of the Rocky River in Cleveland Metroparks back in the mid-1980s. I was targeting steelhead with a high school buddy and although neither of us knew much about catching them he was the designated ?��expert?�� since he had caught one or two previously. We somehow got the idea in our heads that we should be using a floating jighead tipped with a minnow weighted down and drifted with a big, fiberglass yellow downrigger rod (we had read that steelhead anglers used long flexible rods, and this is the closest thing we could find). I recall that I had caught a carp earlier that day on this peculiar rig, a big disappointment when it came to the surface to reveal it wasn?�+t one of the big trout we were seeking. When I later hooked a second fish my heart raced as I pleaded under my breath ?��Please don?�+t be a carp! Please don?�+t be a sucker!?�� and, sure enough, my wish was granted when a 24?�� spawned out female steelie revealed itself by rolling on the surface and served to ignite my lifelong love affair with this fish. I am sure those of you who have caught a steelhead vividly remember your first one just as clearly, whether it was a month ago or twenty year ago.
I am pleased to report that a good number of anglers this past week were fortunate enough to form their own memorable first steelhead experience. You can see some of those happy anglers in the photos below. I had the pleasure of assisting two anglers catch their first ones last Friday morning when I was on the water before going to work, and I must say that was much more rewarding than the fish I hooked myself that day. Several anglers in the photos below noted they were thankful for those who helped them along the way. So this holiday season I encourage you to take a moment to reflect back on the experience of catching your first steelhead and how that made you feel, and if you feel like spreading that happiness take a moment on the stream to assist a ?��newbie?�� in need. And for those of you who haven?�+t hooked (or landed) your first steelhead yet but are still trying, let some of the photos below be your inspiration and have hope it could happen any time you are on the water this holiday season.
More than just a new look for the fishing report. At first glance, it may appear the fishing report simply received a facelift this week. But it is much more than that. The report has been transitioned from a blog service directly to the completely redesigned Cleveland Metroparks website. In addition to the report, there is a wealth of information about the Park District and the services we offer now accessible at your fingertips. I encourage you to take a moment after reading the fishing report to navigate around the new site to check out the various resources made available for your convenience. You can check out the new general fishing information page, compete with interactive map, <here>.
If you have a photo that you would like to contribute to the fishing report, or if you have any further questions regarding fishing in the Cleveland Metroparks, you may contact Aquatic Biologist Mike Durkalec at (440) 331-8017 or [email protected] .
Happy Holidays,
Mike
Do you have any advice for a new steelheader?". I checked his bait, and he had purchased some quality spawn sacks, so he was good there. His rig was a standard 6 foot spinning rod with a Carlisle float and some split shot. I advised him to continuously adjust his float depth in about six inch increments until he either hooked a fish or the bottom and directed him to a great hole just downstream of us that we had not fished yet. So Dane wandered off downstream and within 10 minutes came back with this chrome 24" buck writhing in his landing net with hook still in mouth...his first steelie! Nice job, Dane, I'm sure it will be the first of many for you.
"I want to thank all the steelheaders who helped me land my first two steelhead ever. Everyone was very helpful and even lent hooks and spawn sacks in order to assist me. I am now hooked for life. Also, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful fishing report -- it was spot on. If you include this picture in the fishing report, please send a general thank you to the Rocky River steelhead community". (photo courtesy of Pete Soldato).
Yay Scotty!" at the news. He lost a larger one the same day, as well, and vows to be back on the river again soon (photo courtesy of Scotty Denham).
