May 11, 2017

In late spring, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include steelhead trout, stocked trout, panfish, and largemouth and smallmouth bass.  The rivers are in good shape after being elevated and muddy much of the past week.  To monitor the most recent river water level, temperature, and clarity (turbidity) you can check the following links: <Rocky River USGS flow gage data> <Chagrin River USGS flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  The last bunch of spring trout were stocked in the East Branch Rocky River on April 24th.

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are in nice shape after running high and muddy most of the past week.  With the water being elevated anglers can expect the majority of the steelhead hightailed it back to Lake Erie.  Edging our steelhead out of the spotlight are good numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass.  These fish are present in deeper, rocky holes throughout the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  Anglers fishing a jig, wooly bugger, live shiner, or other lures/flies that mimic a baitfish have a shot at hooking the "silver and bronze" (a steelhead and smallmouth) in the same day, although this feat will be increasingly difficult to accomplish as we get further into May.  Note:  smallmouth bass may not be kept in Lake Erie or the Rocky River downstream of the Detroit Road bridge between May 1 and June 24.

On April 24th we stocked 600 pounds of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River.  Recently ODNR stocked trout at Hinckley Lake (2,500 fish) and Shadow Lake (500 fish), as well.  These fish will range from 11-14" in length.  Trout also remain at Wallace Lake.  Trout hit well on PowerBait fished near the bottom, jigs tipped with a few maggots/waxworms suspended below a bobber, minnows, and smaller spoons and spinners. The final scheduled trout stocking of the season will be at Wallace Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal for childrens fishing derbies in May.  Please note the current seasonal trout regulations:  Lake Erie and all streams 2/day minimum size 12" (this includes steelhead through May 15, after which point the limit increases to 5/day), 3/day no size limit at Wallace, Ledge, Judge's and Ranger lakes, and 5/day no size limit at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal. 

Spring Childrens Fishing Derbies Are Coming on May 20 & 21.  Our popular annual kids fishing derbies are coming up on Saturday May 20 at Wallace Lake and Sunday May 21 at the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area. The event is free, fish will be stocked for the event, and fishing gear and bait will be provided for those in need at no cost. For more information, you can check the following link: <May 20 Fishing Derby Info>  <May 21 Fishing Derby Info>.

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].

Tight Lines,

Mike

Father and daughter Bob and Rachel have a special fishing bond.  Most recently, they enjoyed some multi-species diversity at Oxbow Lagoon along the Rocky River.  Bob has been hooking some nice bass on buzzbaits (photos courtesy of Bob Brunner).




Brian was fishing Wallace Lake from his kayak on Sunday and caught a trophy largemouth bass on a pink-white-green RoosterTail spinner (photos courtesy of Brian Franko).



Tory Gabriel, a fisheries specialist with Ohio Sea Grant caught this enormous Lake Erie smallmouth bass on a white tube jig this week.  The 21.5" beast was released without getting a weight, but given the girth I'd say it surpasses 7 pounds.  Congratulations on the fish of a lifetime, Tory! (photo courtesy of Tory Gabriel).



Jeff recently caught this trophy 30" walleye off Cleveland on a Bandit crankbait (photo courtesy of Jeff Shaw).



Shore anglers are still picking away at the yellow and white perch at E55th.  On Monday, one angler caught 10 jumbos yellow perch-  which is a great catch from shore.








Matt and a buddy have been enjoying the multi-species spring fish diversity in a local lake (photos courtesy of Matt Arroyo).