April 15, 2021

The Rocky River and other area streams dropping in level and clearing and will offer good fishing conditions into the weekend if additional rainfall is minimal.  Anglers would be wise to monitor the most recent river water level, turbidity and temperature at the following links: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  The East Branch Rocky River in Strongsville and Shadow Lake were stocked with rainbow trout recently (details below).

Locals streams are are dropping in level and cleraring and offering good fishing conditions, and should continue to do so as long as any rain today is minimal.  This will bring in at least some remaining fresh steelhead, as well as plenty of lake run smallmouth bass.  The cooler temperatures forecasted will also be good for the steelhead.  As the water begins to clear it will be hard to beat a brightly colored dime to nickel size spawn sack with trout or salmon eggs.  As the water clears finesse rules, with small marabou jigs (1/32 and 1/64 ounce are most popular) tipped with maggots, live minnows, 3" rubber worms (pink and white have been good) and salmon egg mimmicking beads and soft rubber eggs drifted near the river bottom under a float will take a greater share of the fish.  Fly anglers in spring do well on a variety of egg, nymph and baitfish patterns.

Many of our lakes and ponds are offering stocked trout.  Over the past week, the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked rainbow trout at Shadow Lake (last week), Hinckley Lake and Ohio & Erie canal off E49th (the latter two this week).  in addition to that, this past winter a total of 6,000 lbs of trout were stocked between Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Judge's and Ranger lakes (Wallace recieved almost half of the total fish) and a fair number of these trout remain.  The majority of the fish were 1-1.5 lb rainbow trout, but a good  number of brook, brown, golden rainbow and trophy rainbow trout were in the mix.  Note: the daily limit at Wallace, Ledge, Ranger and Judge's lakes is 3 trout/angler and the limit at Shadow Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal is 5 trout/angler.  Trout often bite well on small to medium size spinners/spoons/crankbaits, a small marabou or tube jig tipped with a waxworm or a few maggots, canned corn kernals fished on the lake bottom or a dime size ball of colorful PowerBait. 

Today rainbow trout will be stocked in the East Branch Rocky River, complementing the 2,000 lbs of mostly 14-16" rainbow trout already stocked since March 15.  The stocking zone is largely in Strongsville and extend from Royalton Road (Rt. 82) heading north to across the parkway from Wallace Lake.  Note: traditional stocking spot at Bonnie Park WILL NOT be stocked this year.  Vegetation and ground at the site is still stabilizing from a large restoration project to remove a dam and interconnect a wetland complex to the floodplain.  The area will be stocked one additional TBD time this spring.  Stocked trout in the river bite the same types of offerings mentioned in the paragraph above.

Docks have been installed at Edgewater and E72nd boat ramps, and a single dock is installed at Emerald Necklace Marina boat launch on the Rocky River (more will be added in about a week once annual dredging near the boat ramps is completed).   In spring, sunfish, largemouth bass and northern pike can be found prowling the Lake Erie shoreline harbors and marinas.  On the lake side, anglers at Lakefront parks can try their hand at steelhead and yellow perch. The launch ramp kiosks have been installed at all Lake erie access locations in Cleveland Metroparks and either a daily pass (purchased with crdit card at kiosk) or annual pass (see how to obtain one below) are required.

Cleveland Metroparks Annual Boat Launch Passes are Now Available.    2021 season Cleveland Metroparks Boat Launch Pass can be puchased online at this time at the following link:  <2021 Boat Launch Pass>.  The base price (there are certain discounts) is $30.  Note: this applies only to motorized watercraft that are trailered.

Photo Release Waivers for Fishing Blog Photos (fast and easy to complete online).  Photo release waivers can easily be completed online through Smart Waiver (takes only about 30 seconds to complete) at the following link: <Smart Waiver link>. 

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
 

Ray had a great day on the river, catching some excellent diversity on jigs (photos courtesy of Ray Porter).












We are easing back into small fishing outings.  These photos are from one that was on Saturday and several attendees were first time ever anglers (photo releases completed through Youth Outdoors/Doan Brook Watershed Partners).



Steve caught a beautiful rainbow trout this week (photo courtesy of Steve Farley).






Mike accomplished the tall feat of catching a walleye, steelhead and smallmouth bass on the same day (and same spoon) and earned the coveted "Gold, Silver and Bronze Challenge" decal (photos courtesy of Mike Reed).