March 4, 2021

The Rocky River and other area streams are ice free and in good shape for steelhead anglers going into the weekend.  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>.  Note: river flow readings can show inconsistencies due to ice and slush interference.  Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Ranger and Judge's lakes have been stocked with a combined 3,000 lbs of trout in recent weeks (see details below) and anglers can contine pursuing them through the degrading ice from the safety of docks and from shore where there are drop-offs.
 
Great news for stream anglers!  The Rocky, Chagrin and other area streams are free of ice and offering very good conditions for steelhead anglers heading into the weekend.  Expect streams to offer a mix of chrome bright fresh run steelhead and more colored, darker fish that have been in the streams for awhile already.  Steelhead are well distributed throughout our area watersheds, although greater concentrations of fresher fish are available closer to the lake.  Steelhead in stained water bite best on dime to nickel size spawn sacks in bright colors (hot pink and chartreuse are favorites), and as the water clears small marabou jigs (1/32 and 1/64 ounce are most popular) tipped with maggots, live or salted minnows, 3" rubber worms (pink and white have been good) and salmon egg mimmicking beads drifted near the river bottom under a float will take a greater share of the fish. The best steelhead fishing of the year is right around the corner.

With the warming trend ice is degrading rapidly and anglers should stay off the remaining ice.  On January 27 we stocked 1,500 lbs of trout at Shadow (750 lbs), Ledge (600 lbs) and Judge's (150 lbs) lakes.  These complement the 1,400 lbs stocked on January 21 in Wallace Lake and 100 lbs in Ranger Lake.  These add to the total of 6,000 lbs of trout stocked in these 5 lakes since mid December and concludes our winter trout stocking.  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.  A few trout remain at Ohio & Erie Canal from stocking in October, as well.  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 can be pursued through the remaining ice from the safety of shore off fishing docks or where there are sharp drop offs near shore (the NW side of Wallace Lake has areas like the latter being a former sandstone quarry).  Trout often bite well on small to medium size jigging spoons, a small marabou or tube jig tipped with a waxworm or a few maggots, salmon eggs and live minnows.. 

Ice in Lake Erie harbors at Edgewater and E72nd boat ramps, E55th Marina and Wildwood Marina is breaking up quickly this week.  The Edgewater boat launch should be accessible soon to early season boaters, and boating anglers can currently access the lake from the Rocky River boat launch at Emerald Necklace Marina (be aware. courtesy docks at the launch ramp are not installed currently so waders or at least rubber boots would make launching easier).  On the lake side, anglers at Lakefront parks can look for steelhead, northern pike, yellow perch and sunfish. 

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
 

Last week before the ice on Shadow Lake began to rapidly degrade, Christian caught this bruiser 5.5 lb rainbow trout (along with 4 others) through the ice (photos courtesy of Walt Gedeon).



On Tuesday Sean hit a small creek while the rivers were still stained and was rewarded with this fine steelhead (photo courtesy of Sean Johnson).



The Rocky River boat ramp area is clear of any ice.  It's crazy to think people were ice fishing right here only a week ago!



Mark shows off a chrome beauty from the Chagrin River (photo courtesy of Mark Warren).




Brad always manages to sniff out some quality steelhead.  He possesses the important quality of adaptability during transitional conditions and it clearly pays off (photos courtesy of Brad Grdner).



The ice at our Lake Erie boat launches, such as at Edgewater Park pictured, is quickly disappearing (photo courtesy of Michael Ruffo).



Ted jumped in on the last of the ice fishing opportunities at Ledge Lake over this past weekend (photios courtesy of Ted Choukalas).




The ice is disappearing rapidly in CLE Lake Erie harbors (these were caught late last week at E55th Marina), but the yellow perch, northern pike, steelhead and largemouth bass will still be around and feeding in these same areas as they open up.