January 31, 2019

The Rocky River and other area streams are largely slush and ice filled and offer very limited fishing opportunities.  When the rivers next thaw anglers can monitor the most recent river water level and temperature at the following links (Note: flow gage data can be erroneous during cold periods due to ice formation on the sensors) : <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  On the other hand, anglers have successfully be ice fishing Metroparks lakes for rainbow trout, and are beginning to venture onto the frozen harbor areas along the Cleveland Lake Erie shoreline.

Area streams are largely filled with ice and slush and are offering very limited steelhead fishing opportunities.  The Cuyahoga River is among the last streams to freeze, especially near the Rt 82 area dam in Brecksville.  In a typical year steelhead numbers can be expected to peak into March-April, although a thaw prior to that can offer windows of good fishing in winter.

A highlight this week has been ice fishing for trout on various Metroparks lakes.  Throughout the winter a total of 6,000 lbs of rainbow trout were stocked in Metroparks lakes, as follows:  Wallace (2,800 lbs), Shadow (1,500 lbs), Ledge (1,200 lbs), Judge's (300 lbs) and Ranger (200 lbs) lakes.  In addition to rainbow trout averaging between 1-2 lbs, quite a few bonus brown, brook trout, and golden rainbow trout were included (especially in Wallace Lake).  Trout are also available at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area down the hill from CanalWay Visitor Center off E49th Street.  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.  Trout through the ice bite well on small to medium size (1/8-1/4 oz) jigging spoons with silver or gold colors, small marabou jijs tipped with grubs, PowerBait in bright colors, live minnows, and salmon eggs/small spawn sacks. 

Anglers are just beginning to venture onto Cleveland area harbors of Lake Erie to seek steelhead, yellow perch, northern pike, and panfish.  Fishing for these species was very good last year at spots like Edgewater and Gordon Park boat ramps, as well as Wildwood Marina.  One big difference already apparent versus last year is that smaller gizzard shad are extremely abundant this year.  This is great for the fish, but makes things tough for the angler to make his/her offering stand out.  One friend out today with an underwater camera hasn't caught anything but has watched lots of shad with the occasional walleye and yellow perch swimming by.

Regarding ice fishing I offer the following safety advice, which is very important.  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.  Other safety tips are to always carry a set of safety picks at the ready around your neck (see guys in the first two images below setting a great example), fish with a friend, let someone know where you'll be, and focus on areas near where other anglers are already fishing.

Jeff Liskay Fly Tying Offering.   Noted fly fisherman Jeff Liskay will be offering an upcoming fly tying class.  On January February 27 from 6-9:00pm will be <Fly Tying 1: Introduction (Steelhead)>.  This popular classes will have capped attendance so register ASAP at the links to ensure your spots.

Fishing Guide Permit Renewals.    Please note that Fishing Guide Permits expired on December 31, 2018.  Folks interested in renewing or beginning guiding on Cleveland Metroparks waters this year may find a link to the application materials following the photos at the end of this report.  Thank you and may all your clients have fish filled trips in the New Year!

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

A few trout were caught during a Baldwin Wallace University class outing at wallace Lake on Saturday.  The course is Biology of Sportfish.  Where was that class when I went to school there!?












Adam and dad had a great outing on Wallace Lake this week, catching a limit of trout, including a golden rainbow, as well as a mix on sunfish and a largemouth bass (photos courtesy of Mike Flachbart). 



Adan caught his limit of trout on a Metroparks lake on saturday morning, including this bruiser.  He maintains a nice blog that can be viewed <here> (photo courtesy of adam Eibling).






So what do Mike and Dana do in winter when the boat is put away and they're not catching trophy walleye?  They go ice fishing at Wallace Lake!  And Dana even shows some love to the little sunfish (photos courtesy of Dana Daugherty-Klonowski).



Jim caught a nice rainbow trout jigging a KastMaster spoon by the Wallace Lake lifeguard platform on Saturday morning (photo courtesy of Bob Hoboda).



JP caught a pretty golden rainbow trout at Wallace Lake using a Swedish Pimple lure tipped with maggots (photo courtesy of JP Webb).






Above are some fine catches from allace Lake this week.  In the bottom photo is Metroparks employee Mark Warman with not only his first trout, but also his first ever fish through the ice.  And making it even more special it happened to be a gorgeous brook trout!




When the Shadow Lake bite gets tough and the trout are not biting the usual PowerBait dough, Walt shares that a small jig tipped with a pink Gulp worm has enticed some fish (photos courtesy of Walt).




Brian was targeting trout at Wallace Lake but caught a pair of largemouth bass instead (photos courtesy of Brian Ailor).




On Sunday Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Captain Sean Flanigan caught a pair of rainbow trout at Ledge Lake.  The bite was slow and very light, and he discovered that jigging a small silver and chartreuse spoon very slow just off the botton is what they wanted.



Ray was on the ice at E72nd by the boat ramps this morning and reports LOTS of gizzard shad, sometimes so thick he could see his lure 4 feet away from his underwater camera.  He also saw several walleye he estimated at 16-18" and several yellow perchy swim by the camera (photo courtesy of Ray Lancaster).