October 27, 2022

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***   Anglers on the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers have been pursuing steelhead trout.  Streams got a small bump in flow with the rain yesterday but water levels will be relatively low for the weekend based on the dry forecast. 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 targeting walleye, yellow perch and steelhead and anglers are targeting recently stocked rainbow trout and channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area (off E49th Street down the trail from Canalway Visitor Center).

Local streams recieved a slight bump in flow yesterday from rainfall, but overall stream levels look like they'll remain low this weekend based on the otherwise dry weather forecast.  The best steelhead fishing prospects on the Rocky River willl be in the deeper holes throughout the main branch of the river as well as in the lower rivers from the first riffle at Scenic Park (just upstream of the public boat ramps) to Lake Erie.  Fallen leaves are heavy in the river at this time, especially in the slower water, making fishing these areas more challenging.  Anglers are hooking steelhead using smaller dime spawn sacks (salmon or trout eggs) in colored mesh, 1/16-1/64 oz marabou or hair jigs tipped with a waxworm or a few maggots, live minnows, and salmon egg mimmicking beads drifted near the bottom under a float.  In low and clear stream conditions downsizing to a lighter 6 lb flourocarbon leader and smaller float can help elicit more bites.  Steelhead contine to also be caught off the breakwall at E55th Marina and off the rocks at Edgewater Park, as well as Wildwood Park, all on Lake Erie.  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 a steelhead trout, as is suspending a whole nightcrawler on a plain hook or jigs tipped with minnow or maggots a few feet below a bobber.

Lakefront areas like E55th breakwall are producing an increasing number of walleye after dark, as well, with Perfect 10 and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits working well.  Walleye trolling off Cleveland has been excellent this week.  For anglers with access to a boat, the yellow perch bite is picking up off the east end of the Cleveland outer breakwall and by the Cuyahoga River lighthouse in about 30 foot of water, as well.  Spotty catches of perch are also being made from shore at E55th breakwall and the old Coast Guard Station at Wendy Park.  Emerald shiners fished near the bottom on a crappie rig or spreader can both be effective.

In mid October Cleveland Metroparks stocked 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout and 600 lbs of channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street and many of those fish remain to be caught, as evidenced by the images that follow this report.  The trout average 1.5 lb each and the catfish average 1-2 lbs, but we included a handful of bigger fish and quite a few golden rainbow trout to spice things up.  For basic tips and techniques on fishing for these fish check out a past  <Facebook Live> segment offered by my colleague Faruq from Cleveland Metroparks Youth Outdoors program.  If you are happy catching either species you can try a nightcrawler worm or piece of shrimp fished on the canal bottom.

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO ASSIST!!!  The Ohio Division of Wildlife is asking Perch Anglers for Your Help.  Are you a perch angler who wants to play a role in assisting biologists in better understanding Central Basin yellow perch in Lake Erie? Well, here's your chance!  The Ohio Division of Wildlife Fairport Fish Research Station is looking for filleted perch carcasses with the spine/head/tail still intact (they will be taking lengths and removing otolith bones from heads for aging) until the end of October.  The fish need to be from the Central Basin between Huron to Conneaut, not from the Western Basin.  The carcasses should be frozen and have general location and depth where caught included.  They can be dropped off at the Fairport Fish Research Station M-F between 9 and 5, or if 20 or more carcasses are available they can arrange pick up (within reason).  For Cleveland area anglers I am also able to accept carcasses to retain and deliver to the researchers (arrange details using my contact info below).  This is an ideal situation because it is making use of perch already harvested by anglers.

2022 International Fly Fishing Film Festival November 4th.  The Trout Club of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is pleased to host a showing of the International Fly Fishing Film Festival on Friday, November 4, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.  Sponsored by it will be a series of short films features a look at fly fishing destinations around the world.  The showing will take place at the Cleveland Metropark’s Emerald Necklace Marina in Rocky River Reservation, 1500 Scenic Park Dr., Lakewood, OH 44107.  Tickets are $25.00 per person and include all films, refreshments, door prizes and raffles, and a cash bar.  You can purchase tickets <here>.  (Please note this is a different event than the traditional Fly Fishing Film Tour held in spring).

Photo Release Waivers for Fishing Blog Photos (fast and easy to complete online).  Photo release waivers for photos sent in for the fishing report can easily be completed online through Smart Waiver (takes only about 30 seconds to complete) at the following link: <Smart Waiver link>. You only need to do this one time and any future additional photos submitted are already covered.

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] .

Bill shared "Here's a pic of my son Cole catching a rainbow trout on his 4th birthday at the Ohio and Erie canal a few days after the family fishing day.  I asked him what he wanted to do on his birthday and he said he wanted to go fishing. Catching the fish really made his birthday special." (photo courtesy of Bill Millard).




Chris shared "My daughter Maisy and I got on a hot streak along the canal on Saturday, 10/21.  Lots of fun and my daughter was extremely pumped when we landed this palomino she named 'Mr. Shimmer.' The fish were all leaping fighters which made each catch quite a thrill for us." (photos courtesy of Chris Lewis).




Father and son John and Carter made a nice catch of rainbow trout at the Ohio & Erie Canal on Sunday (photos courtesy of John Lusnek).



Cole shared "Thanks for the awesome fishing report and news. I've been following for years and just caught my first steelhead today swinging a conehead muddler on Euclid Creek after these heavy rains. Just wanted to share! " (photo courtesy of Cole Pickney).



Steve landed this trophy walleye at E55th breakwall (photo courtesy of Steve Farley).



Paul from West Virginia made his annual pilgrimage to the Rocky River and shared "Pulled the trigger early this year couldn’t wait too come to the Rock.  Brought 2 friends and they are hooked now.  Also coming back this weekend already.  Gotta love the Rocky nothing like that here! Great Lakes is where it at." (photo courtesy of Paul Goodman).
 


Aaron shared "Everything lined up for this one; perfect cast into the perfect lane, perfect float drop, fight, land, pic, super strong release on this full hen! Overall perfect bday present on this awesome morning. Nothing better than some Cuyahoga Chrome.  I get more excitement out of catching one steelhead on the Cuyahoga than 10 steelhead on the Rocky, Chagrin, Grand, etc, especially when it’s in Akron like 2 min from my house." (photo courtesy of Aaron James).



Ted caught this beautiful golden rainbow trout, also commonly called a palomino trout, at the Ohio & Erie Canal on E49th Street (photo courtesy of Ted Choukalas).





Sam shared "Anna and Joe visiting from Seattle, WA, had an excellent visit to Gordon Park.  Including Anna's first walleye". (photos courtesy of Sam Horn).




AJ is on a hot streak and broke his personal best record for steelhead 3 weeks in a row at E55th breakwall, with his latest being an 8 lb 3 oz chromer (photos courtesy of AJ Woolen).



Danny displays a fine golden rainbow trout caught at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area.




Roxanne not only catches the big steelhead, she let's them know that she appreciates them before the release, too! (photos courtesy of Roxanne Schultheis).



Striking yellow and pink coloration on a male golden rainbow trout (photo courtesy of Javed Alam).




Phred had a successful evening outing for walleye kayaking off Cleveland, and also enjoyed a beautiful sunset (photos courtesy of Phred Carey).



Nick caught several steelhead at Euclid Creek at Wildwood Park this past Friday (photo courtesy of Nick Kosiba).





Friends and I rounded up a 3 person limit of yellow perch (10 per person) off Cleveland on Sunday.  We were fishing crappie rigs with emerald shiners in 30 foot of water.  The bite was pretty slow overall so we had to put in just over a half day of work to get them.  Please note this is the last week to retain perch carcasses from the central basin of Lake Erie to assist the Ohio Division of Wildlife with a study (see info in report above).