May 7, 2020

In late-spring steelhead trout and lake-run smallmouth bass are the highlight in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  Area streams are in good shape now and will remain so into the weekend.  Anglers can check river conditions at the following links: <Rocky River flow gauge data><Chagrin River flow gauge data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.

Area streams are in good shape today and weekend fishing conditions will be good.  Steelhead are still around but their numbers will continue to dwindle into the month. On the other hand, numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass are strong in the Rocky and Chagrin numbers.  Smallmouth bass hit well on a 3-4" dark olive or brown tube jig, lures that imitate minnows (like a white and silver Rooster Tail spinner, Rapala or white rubber fluke) and live bait (minnows and crayfish).  This time of year anglers can pursue the "Silver and Bronze Challenge"- catching a steelhead and smallmouth bass from a local stream in the same day.

Last week 800 lbs of trout (originally scheduled for the now cancelled spring childrens fishing derbies) were stocked in Wallace Lake and the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked 1,500 trout in the Ohio & Erie Canal.  The Wallace Lake bunch included some trophy size rainbow trout, as well as a good mix of bonus brook, brown and golden rainbow trout (see a few examples of these fine fish in the images below).  A total of 4,400 lbs of trout have been released since March 17 between the East Branch Rocky River and Wallace, Ledge and Ranger lakes and the Ohio Division of Wildlife recently stocked Hinckley and Shadow lakes, as well.  Stocked trout bite on brightly colored PowerBait shaped into dime size balls, 3" rubber trout worms (pink, orange and white), small jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm and small to medium size spinners.  NOTE: the limits on these trout at 3/day at Wallace, Ledge, Judge's and Ranger lakes and 5/day at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area (there is no size limit, unlike the river where trout need to be minimum length of 12" and you can harvest 2/day until May 16th at which time the river limit increases to 5/day).

The breakwall at E55th, pier at Wendy Park (old Coast Guard station) and rocks/pier at Edgewater Park and E72nd offer a chance at steelhead, walleye, bass (largemouth and smallmouth) and a variety of other species in early spring.  The boat launch ramps at Emerald Necklace (Rocky River), Edgewater, Gordon Park, and Wildwood park are all usable at this time, with courtesy docks having been installed at all locations.  In spring, these harbor areas are good locations to find pre-spawn northern pike and largemouth bass, as well as a variety of panfish species.  A white spinnerbait with silver blades worked slowly is a good early season choice for both bass and pike. The post-spawn shoreline bite for walleye in Cleveland typically picks up around now. 

Boat Launch Pay Kiosks Are Installed.  Launch ramp pay kiosks have been re-installed for the boating season at Emerald Necklace (Rocky River), Edgewater, Gordon Park (E72nd St) and Wildwpood Park boat launches.  Boaters can pay daily onsite with a credit card or order an annual pass at the following <link> (Note: allow 2-4 weeks for delivery but printed confirmation at time of purchase can serve as interim launch pass until recieved).  Applies to all powered, trailered watercraft (kayaks and other hand powered watercraft are exempt from launch fees).

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

 

Tiffany shared "Hi there.  My son, Geoffrey, and I had a whole lot of fun catching the stocked trout at the Ohio Erie Canal reservation this past Sunday.  They were the perfect size and put up a great fight.  So different than the little bluegill we usually catch. He caught 5 and I caught two. Lost several.  Only there a couple of hours.  He was great at catching them but afraid to hold them. He said it was 'the best day ever' and he 'has a new skill'.   Just wanted to share.  Thank you for all that you do." (photo courtesy of Tiffany Lovett).




James and his daughter made great fishing memories at Wallace Lake this week topped by this beautiful brown trout (photos courtesy of James Rider).






Mordy, Chani, Eli and Binny (above in that order) had a great week fishing for trout at Ohio & Erie Canal (photos courtesy of Jay D.).






Brandon, Jacob and Justin (the latter not pictured above) had great luck at Wallace Lake casting small Little Cleo spoons.  They landed several rainbow trout and a big bonus brook trout- and wasted no time cooking them over a campfire (photos courtesy of John Burkhart).



Naveen had a great day of smallmouth fishing on the Cuyahoga River yesterday, going 8 for 11 on chunky bass in only a few hours.  He caught most of his fish on tube jigs (photos courtesy of Naveen Gopal).



Diana landed 2 rainbow trout on a trip to Wallace Lake (photo courtesy of Diana Reiland).



Thomas shared that he caught this smallmouth bass in the Rocky River on a "green-yellow-silver Rooster Tail. I also had a big hit from a steelhead using a red-green-gold Rooster Tail but I only had 6# line and it broke off right before I bagged it. Grrrrr I swallowed a big lesson there!!! Steelheads are a big fish so please advise others!!!" (photos courtesy of Thomas Mignery).



Ray reported on Monday that the steelhead are still hitting in the Rocky River (photo courtesy of Ray Porter).



Steve caught this fat walleye fishing out of Emerald Necklace Marina (photo courtesy of Steve Crowe).




Billy and Jimmy caught this brown trout and brook trout, respectively, at Wallace Lake this week (photos courtesy of Ted).






Robert shared "Here are some pictures from the end of the season on the Rocky Chagrin and Cuyahoga! The buck at the end measured at 30.5 inches!" (photos courtesy of RJ Dean).




Dan caught this huge 20.5" smallmouth bass in the Rocky River on a rubber fluke while targeting steelhead (photo courtesy of Dan Zukie).





Laurie, Ashley, Jose and Carl had sunfish and trout success at Wallace Lake.  Carl even caught a limit of trout there this morning  (photos courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).




AJ caught a chunky Rocky River smallmouth bass on a white and silver spinnerbait (photos courtesy of AJ Wallace).



Jose shows off a Wallace Lake rainbow trout caught this week (photo courtesy of Jose Leal).



Sean took the family fish at Ohio & Erie Canal and they made a great catch of rainbow trout using nuggets of PowerBait and spinners (photos courtesy of sean Johnson).



Tony has been catching sone feisty smallmouth bass in the Cuyahoga River (photo courtesy of Tony Cilluffo).





Ross scored the "Silver and Bronze) (steelhead and smallmouth bass) in the Rocky River this week (photos courtesy of Ross Baily).



This limit of trout was caught in the Ohio & Erie Canal.  Note: trout limit varies by location, as indicated in the fishing report above (photo courtesy of Mike Cline).