February 15, 2018

In winter, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include stocked trout, steelhead trout, and panfish.  The Rocky River and other area streams were producing good catches of steelhead before the rivers levels rised and muddied, as they are now.  Weekend conditions will be dependent upon how much precipitation we receive in the coming days.  To keep a handle on stream conditions anglers can check the most recent river water level, temperature, and clarity (turbidity) at the following links: <Rocky River USGS flow gage data> <Chagrin River USGS flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. (Note: the NEORSD station sustained some ice damage during the thaw and is being repaired).  A combined 3,000 lbs of rainbow trout were stocked at Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Judge's, and Ranger lakes in late January, and anglers can fish through the ice from the safety of shore in areas of Wallace and Shadow lakes this week, among others.  The Lake Erie marina and harbor areas are ice covered at this time.  PLEASE NOTE: ice conditions on our inland lakes and Lake Erie marinas degraded significantly this week and do not offer safe conditions for ice fishing at this time.

Area streams were producing good catches of steelhead prior to water levels becoming elevated and muddy overnight.  Weekend prospects will depend on how much precipitation we receive into the weekend.   In slightly stained water a brightly colored spawn sack about the size of a nickel has been the top producer, although bright or contrasting colored jig and fly patterns also catch muddy steelhead under such conditions.  There has been a mix of fresh steelhead and darker fish that have already been in the river, and some of the largest steelheadof the year are making a showing (see photos of several 30" class steelhead as evidence below).  The best steelhead fishing of the season is traditionally just around the corner, too. 

Anglers were cautiously ice fishing Cleveland shoreline marinas and harbors on Lake Erie this week and making good catches of steelhead.  Ice conditions have deteriorated rapidly this week with the warming temperatures and rain.  Places producing included E72nd/Gordon Park, Wildwood Marina, and Edgewater Marina.  Live minnows, ice jigs tipped with waxworms, and spawn sacks under small bobber or on tip-ups were catching fish, as were actively working a small to medium size jigging spoon with silver or gold in the finish (1/8 oz Kastmaster and Swedish Pimple are among the more popular). The yellow perch have largely vacated the same areas they were being caught earlier this winter.  Several northern pike were caught this week at the aforementioned locations, as well (see photos below).  Overall, we had <outstanding ice fishing opportunities> in the shoreline areas of Lake Erie around Cleveland this year.

We stocked 3,000 pounds of trout in late January, as follows.  On January 22nd we stocked Shadow (750 lbs), Ledge (600 lbs) and Judge's (150 lbs) lakes and on January 24th we stocked Wallace (1,400 lbs) and Ranger (100 lbs) lakes.  Most impressive were the Wallace Lake batch- these fish were hands down the best bunch of trout that I've ever had the privilege of stocking is terms of size and species diversity.  The average rainbow trout was between 1-2 lbs, but there were many trophy fish in the 5-10 lb range in the mix.  And there were plenty of brook and brown trout up to 2 lbs, and even a peppering of foot long golden rainbow trout. These fish complement the 3,000 pounds stocked back in mid-December at the same locations.  This concludes our scheduled winter trout stocking.  Anglers should not ice fish at this time but are fishing through thinning ice from the safety of shore at Wallace, Ledge, and Shadow lakes this week.  Some trout also remain from an October stocking at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area down the hill from CanalWay Visitor Center off E49th Street. 

Trout through the ice typically bite well on PowerBait, jigs tipped with a few maggots/waxworms, and smaller jigging spoons (such as Forage Minnow and Swedish Pimple).  Please note the current seasonal trout regulations:  Lake Erie and all streams 2/day minimum size 12" (this includes steelhead), 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. 

With the rapidly deteriorating ice conditions around the region this week, please re-review and heed the following safety tips!  Most state conservation agencies recommend at least 4" of solid ice before anglers should venture out to ice fish, and in Cleveland Metroparks it is the angler's responsibility to check that.  One method is to use a spud bar near shore and check the ice thickness, and if it is > 4 inches then walk out a little further and check again.  Ice is often thinnest right at the water's edge and around inlets and outlets of the waterbody.  If the spud bar goes through in one hard strike it is a red flag that you need to get out of that area immediately.  Other safety tips are to carry a set of ice spikes on a cord around your neck, carry a length of rope, fish with a friend (but venture into untraveled areas with some distance between you), let someone know where you'll be, and focus on areas near where other anglers are already fishing.

Ledge Lake is Temporarily Catch & Release Fishing Only.  Please note that Ledge Lake in Hinckley Reservation will be catch and release only fishing until further notice.  Signs will be posted at the lake indicating this in the near future.

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

John and his son Brandon had a great day on the Rocky River on Saturday (photos courtesy of John Burkhart).




This fine largemouth bass hit a jigging spoon through the ice at E72nd this week (photos courtesy of Sam Horn).



This quality northern pike bit a small jigging spoon on 3 pound test line along the Cleveland lakefront on Saturday.





Brad had a great day on the ice at Edgewater Park on Saturday, topped by his personal best 30" steelhead (photos courtesy of Brad Gardner).



Chuck caught this 28.25" steelhead at Edgewater boat ramp area on Tuesday (photo courtesy of Chuck Naujoks).



Adam caught a nice northern pike along the Cleveland Lakefront on a minnow (photo courtesy of Mike Flachbart).



Congratulations to John who caught a 29.75", 10.5lb steelhead in the Chagrin River on Sunday (photo courtesy of John Russell).



Joe caught a bruiser 30" steelhead on the Cleveland ice this week (photo courtesy of Joe Becker).



A colorful brook trout caught at Wallace Lake this week (photo courtesy of David Wagner).



Keith caught a northern pike on a jigging spoon while ice fishing the Cleveland shoreline (photo courtesy of Keith Knerem).




Nick caught a bruiser 15" yellow perch that was not far off the state record! (photos courtesy of Nick Kosiba).




The Rocky River was flowing hard and muddy today with more rain on the way.



Max noted late last week "Caught a few skippers and this nice buck the past few days at Rockcliff Springs on the Rocky River on a homemade jig with pink head, white marabou, and Krystal Flash" (photo courtesy of Maximus Madden).



Pat caught a rainbow trout at Ledge Lake this week (photo courtesy of Pat Campbell).



Ralph and a buddy (pictured) hooked a few steelhead at Edgewater boat ramp area on Saturday (photo courtesy of Ralph Stock).




Mark caught two steelhead at Edgewater boat ramps on Saturday, one of which was a 30" hen.  He was using a small ice jig tipped with maggots (photos courtesy of Mark Kox).




A few steelies caught at the Gordon Park/E72nd boat ramps area on Saturday (photos courtesy of Mark Fascione).





Ray and Dominic caught steelhead through the ice and in the Rocky River this week (photos courtesy of Ray Lancaster).



A colorful buck steelhead caught at Morley Ford on the Rocky River this week.







David took his buddy, who was in town from Minnesota on work, to Edgewater Park by the boat ramps this week for some successful steelhead ice fishing (photos courtesy of David Wagner).





A few nice steelhead from the Cleveland lakefront this past weekend.



This fresh skipper hit a brightly colored jig.



An old friend who introduced me to steelhead in the mid 1980s sent me a photo from our teenage years.  Two things are apparent: 1) his mom was not the best fishing photographer (cut off half the trout!) and 2) I was a typical teenager too cool to smile for the camera (photos courtesy of Shawn Loomis).