September 26, 2019

***PLEASE NOTE: The Fishing Report will not be updated next week.  It will be updated again on October 10.***

As we begin our approach to fall, highlight species targeted by anglers along the Rocky River and other area streams include smallmouth bass, carp, panfish, and channel catfish-  with a watchful eye looking out for early returning steelhead trout. Local streams are low and clear on the date of this report.  To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  Lake Erie anglers are primarily targeting walleye and inland lake/pond anglers are primarily pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish. 

Early steelhead first show up around off the rocks at Edgewater and E55th, Wildwood Park, and in the northernmost river sections by the lake.  Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are as good a bet as any for connecting with an early steelhead trout.  On the afternoon of friday September 20th we electrofished by the Rocky River marina to acquire a few live steelhead to display at the recent Steelhead Expo and observed about a dozen steelhead by the boat ramps during that sampling effort.  But, overall, the steelhead run is stalled due to low water and hot temperatures.  Upon the return of cooler weather and more rain greater numbers of steelhead will be enticed to enter the streams.

Anglers are pursuing a mix of warmwater species in the streams.  Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the river during the day in summer, and often move to the heads of such pools in the early morning and evening hours to feed actively.  A dark olive or brown tube jig 3-4" length is one of the best producers of bass in the river, although a white and silver spinner or minnow plug has a shot a hooking an early steelhead, too.

Anglers at our inland lakes and ponds are catching catfish, largemouth bass, and panfish.  Wallace Lake is a top prospect as it was just stocked with 224 largemouth bass (1-2 lbs) and big bluegill last week.  See photos below for some examples of these fish.  Hinckley Lake, Shadow Lake, and Beyer's Pond are just a few other spots worth poking around in late summer/early fall. 

Some walleye are lurking the shallows around Cleveland in 10-15 feet of water, although the big schools are in around 65-70 foot of water off the city.  Yellow perch fishing off Cleveland continues to be slow.  The ODNR Division of Wildlife weekly Lake Erie fishing report can be viewed <here>.

Orvis Fall Days on October 5 & 6.    The Orvis shop in Woodmere will be offering a weekend of steelhead seminars, food and free beer on October Saturday and Sunday October 5 & 6.  They are located at 28839 Chagrin Boulevard on Woodmere.  For more info folks can call (216) 591-1681.

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

 

Mike shared "Went fishing Sunday out of Wildwood.  I took Ryan Leasure and his son Reilly.  Fishing was great in 64-68 feet of water.  Large schools of shad out there and plenty of walleye, steelhead and white bass too.  Reilly got his first steelhead" (photos courtesy of Mike Daugherty).



Beverly caught this big bluegill off the Edgewater Park fishing pier (photo courtesy of Jerred Bugg).






Father and son Danny and Corey took their kayaks to Wallace Lake on Sunday and scored some fine largemouth bass (photos courtesy of Corey Butram).



On Friday afternoon I met this couple at the boat launch on the Rocky River.  They made a nice catch of walleye (a few pictured here) trolling Hot-n-Tots in only 11 feet of water.



Greg shared "Wanted to share a picture of a largemouth bass me and my son caught at Beyer's pond in the morning this past week on a buzzbait" (photo courtesy of Greg Stronsick).



On Friday afternoon we electrofished by the marina on the Rocky River to acquire a few live steelhead to display at the Steelhead Expo this past Saturday.  In a short sampling period we saw about a dozen steelhead, lots of small walleye, and a smattering of largemouth and smallmouth bass, suckers, sheepshead, panfish and channel catfish.  Jeremy displays one of the steelhead above.





Dane and his buddy Ken had to sort through a pile of channel catfish to get a 2-man limit a walleye this week.  They were casting weight forward spinners and crawler harnesses in shallower water out of Rocky River (photos courtesy of Dane Albright).



Luther shows off a nice channel catfish caught this week while walleye fishing off Cleveland (photo courtesy of Luther Williams).



Chris caught this modest size walleye fishing the Rocky River by the marina this week.  There have been tons of small walleye in the northern river sections the past few years, which is a great sign for the future (photo courtesy of Chris Balser).




On September 19th Platform Beer Co., in collaboation with Cleveland Fishing Co., had a release party for their new Walleye Whistle brew.  $1 from each of this beer sold goes to the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund and they sold out of it that night (netting $485 for local public fishing in the process)!  Keep an eye out for Walleye Whistle and know that each purchase supports local fishing oportunities (photos courtesy of Cleveland Fishing Co.).



John Brochue, the Orvis Fishing Manager at their local Woodmere shop, shows off a fresh hen caught on the fly.  See the highlight above for upcoming Orvis Falls Days on Octiber 5 & 6 (photo courtesy of John Borochue).



Chargin River Outfitters is having a free fly fishing weekend of seminars on October 5 & 6 (photo courtesy of Dan Pribanic at CRO).




And here are my own gratuitous fishing pics.  Liz and I went musky fishing in Michigan over the weekend and she landed  a huge channel catfish casting a musky lure.  Persistence paid off and I landed a nice musky casting a 2 oz white and silver spinnerbait along a weedy break.  We had some pike action, too.