May 16, 2019

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are offering good fishing conditions today today and should continue to do so through the weekend.  Lake-run smallmouth bass, some walleye (by the marina), and some steelhead are available in local rivers.  Anglers may monitor the most recent river flows (and turbidity on the Rocky) at the following links before planning a trip: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  Rainbow trout are available in the East Branch Rocky River and Ledge Lake and a variety of species, including walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch are being caught along the Lake Erie shoreline.  Our Spring Children's Fishing Derbies are this weekend (see details below).

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are offering good fishing conditions that should continue through the weekend.  ALocal streams are offering good numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass.  These fish are present in deeper, rocky holes throughout the main branch of the river.   For the second year in a row some adult walleye are making a late spring appearance seeking baitfish by the marina (see photos below).  A few post-spawn steelhead were still being caught this week, but as is typical this time of year their numbers in the streams have thinned out as most have headed back to Lake Erie.  Anglers fishing a jig, wooly bugger, live shiner, or other lures/flies that mimic a baitfish by the marina have a rare shot at hooking "the gold, silver and bronze" (a walleye, smallmouth bass and steelhead) in the same day.  Now there is a challenge to set for yourself!  Note: as of May 1 the Lake Erie zone smallmouth/largemouth bass combined bag limit changes to 1 bass/day of 18 inches minimum size.  The zone includes Lake Erie waters and (locally) the Rocky River to Detroit Road bridge, Cuyahoga River to Harvard Road bridge, and Chagrin River to Route 283 bridge.  Lake-run channel catfish and common carp are also showing up in the streams.

The Cleveland shoreline breakwalls are offering a hot post-spawn night bite for walleye.  Perfect 10s, Husky Jerks, and glow swimbaits are a few of the offerings that produce. The breakwall at E55th, pier and breakwall at Wendy Park (old Coast Guard station) and rocks at Edgewater Park and E72nd are good spots for walleye and also offer yellow perch, steelhead and variety of other species.  Harbor areas at Edgewater, Gordon, and Wildwood parks in spring are a good place to find largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, as well as panfish.  Beginning this boating season our public boat launch ramps at Rocky River, Edgewater, Gordon Park, and Wildwood will be charging a fee ($5 daily or season pass for $30 for Cuyahoga county residents and $35 for out of county residents) for trailered watercraft.  Please note that 100% of proceeds will go back into Lakefront improvements projects.  See highlight below for details on obtaining a launch pass online.

Opportunities for catching trout are very good at our stocked inland lakes.  Last Tuesday we stocked 400 pounds of trout at Ledge Lake and on April 29 we stocked 600 pounds of trout in Wallace Lake, which included some brook and golden rainbow trout to add spice to the standard rainbow trout.  The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked pan-sized rainbow trout at Hinckley and Shadow lakes on March 29th.  A few trout are still present at Shadow, Judge's and Ranger lakes, as well as at the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area down the hill from CanalWay Visitor Center off E49th Street.  Most of these fish at the latter locations have seen a good amount of fishing pressure at this point so the most successful anglers have been diverse in their offerings until they find what the fish want on a given day.  PLEASE NOTE:  Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area were stocked with farm raised catfish and rainbow trout in anticipation of the Spring Children's Fishing derbies this weekend and are closed to general angling until after the event.
 
Rainbow trout stocking in the East Branch Rocky River has concluded for the season. There are plenty of trout to go around as we have stocked 2,400 pounds in the river since March 19.  The stocking zone is between Route 82 (Royalton Road) and the river crossing ford about a mile south of Wallace Lake.  We have concluded our river stocking for the spring season.

Trout typically bite well on PowerBait, small jigs (marabou, hair, or rubber) tipped with a few maggots/waxworms, and smaller spinners (such as Rooster Tail).  Please note the current seasonal trout regulations:  Lake Erie and tributary streams 2/day minimum size 12" (this includes steelhead), 3/day no size limit at Wallace, Judge's and Ranger lakes, and 5/day no size limit at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal.  The Lake Erie and tributary streams bag limit will bump up to 5/day starting on May 16.

Cleveland Metroparks Boat Launch Passes Now Available Online!   Due to public feedback, we are now offering an online puchase option for annual boat launch passes.  The passes can be puchased at this link: <Annual Boat Launch Pass>.

Spring Childrens Fishing Derbies This Weekend May 18 & 19.  Our popular annual kids fishing derbies are coming up on Saturday May 18 at Wallace Lake and Sunday May 19 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 18 Fishing Derby Info>  <May 19 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

 

Andrew shared yesterday "I finally have a catch worthy of making the weekly report!  This smallmouth was 20" and 4.7lbs which is Fish Ohio size! I was super stoked.  Caught on my first cast of the day on a squarebill crankbait! also got a 22" steelhead and a giant sheepshead on the same lure today! love the reports by the way! I follow them every week and I really appreciate what you guys do! Tight lines!" (photo courtesy of andrew Amerio).






Chorey has been catching walleye in the Rocky River by the marina on a 3" firetiger Rapala.  This has been a surprise fishery the past two years in late spring and early summer which seems to be getting better.  These fish are slipping into the river seeking baitfish (photos courtesy of Chorey Howell).



Evan shared "Mother’s Day action, Brayden and Colin Palus of Independence had an awesome day. Plenty of big bluegills, catfish, couple of rainbows and some big bass. Here is a double header at the Metroparks." (photo courtesy of Evan Montagne).



James caught a beautiful smallmouth bass on Saturday (photo courtesy of James Lilly).



John caught this walleye by the Rocky River marina on a worm with a simple hook and sinker on the river bottom (photo courtesy of John Ponsford Jr).





Ken and his daughter Elizabeth caught some late running Rocky River steelhead on Kwikfish plugs.  Ken also caught some trophy smallmouth bass in the river this week (photos courtesy of Ken Stein).



Michael displays a walleye caught off the Browns stadium (photo courtesy of Michael Kostur).





Nadia and Riley scored some trophy smallmouth bass this week (photos courtesy of Moe Slyman).





Guys fishing for perch with shiners on crappie rigs at E55th were catching somebonus walleye this week.




Dilan caught a monter smallmouth bass, as well as a good size late season steelhead this week (photos courtesy of Dilan Ekmark).



Shaun displays a CLE walleye (photo courtesy of Shaun em).



David was targeting late season steelhead and got this big smallmouth as a consolation prize (photo courtesy of david Dorko).



Can you identify this odd looking fish?  Answer: this is a male River Chub in spawning mode with tubercule covered forehead bump (photo courtesy of Keith Knerem).