January 12, 2023

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  The Rocky and Chagrin rivers have been offering excellent conditions and steelhead fishing this week, although rain in the forecast today is likely to lead to elevated and muddy flows.  To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River flow gauge data><Chagrin River flow gauge data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  Trout were stocked at five locations in mid December and ice is gone from our local lakes and ponds.

Steelhead fishing has been excellent this week, with the biggest run of fish yet this season pushing upstream with the increase in flows.  The size of the larger fish continues to be outstanding this year, with quite a few steelhead exceeding 30 inches in length in the mix.  The rain forecasted today will likely lead to elevated and muddy river conditions, though, so wise anglers will check the flow gauge link above before heading out. The increase in flows over the past week has lead to a great number of steelhead migrating well upstream in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers, with fish now being well distributed throughout the watersheds.  Brightly colored dime to nickel size spawn sacks (hot pink and chartreuse are good in stained water) have reigned in the stained water this week, and with 1/64  and 1/32 oz jigs (marabou and plastic tubes) tipped with maggots, salmon egg mimmicking beads (same colors as noted with spawn sacks) and live or salted minnows drifted under floats also producing well as the streams began to clear.

As lake conditions permit some steelhead may still be founds off the breakwall at E55th Marina and off the rocks at Edgewater Park, as well as Wildwood Park.  In the colder water, baits drifted under floats, such as marabou jig tipped with a minnow or a nightcrawlers, have the edge over casting hardware.  These same areas may also produce a walleye after dark, although the majority of the walleye move west on their seasonal migration in winter.  Perfect 10, Husky Jerk and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits work well for shore casting anglers.

In mid December our first round scheduled winter trout stockings took place.  This stockings consisted of a total of 3,000 lbs of trout distributed as follows: Wallace Lake (1,400 lbs), Shadow Lake (750 lbs), ledge Lake (650 lbs), Ranger Lake (100 lbs) and Judge's Lake (100 lbs).  The majority of the fish are 1 lb rainbow trout, but a good  number of brook, brown, golden rainbow and even some trophy tiger trout (more on this below) are in the mix.  A fair number of trout remain at Ohio & Erie Canal from stocking in October.  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.  The trout can bite well on colorful dime size balls of Power Bait dough, a waxworm ot two on a small marabou or tube jig and jigging spoons. Our lakes are again offerings open water fishing opportunities after being ice covered only a week ago.  The second (and final) round of winter trout stocking is scheduled to take place towards the end of January or beginning of February.

OCBS Steelhead Workshop on January 26 (FREE).  On Thursday January 26 the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders will be hosting the popular annual Steelhead Workshop at the Emerald Necklace Marina Cafe on the Rocky River (1400 Scenic Park Dr. in Lakewood) from 7:30-9:30 PM.  All are welcome to this free event and the format will be a variety of self-paced info stations with steelhead focused topics such as fly tying, spawn bag tying, various technique focused tables, and even ice fishing for steelhead (I'll personally be hosting this one).  There is something for anglers of all skill levels and food and drinks will be available for purchase.  Come join us after work or to warm up after a winter day on the river.

CMNH Trout Club "Fly Master of Cleveland" Event on January 28 (FREE).  The Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club is hosting a fly tying event Saturday, January 28 from 7-9 PM at Gormley's Pub (19500 Center Ridge Rd., Rocky River 44116).  Participants will receive a bag of mystery tying materials and need to create a fly of their own design.  Flies will be judged and 3 top creations selected will receive prizes.  The tier of what is judged the best fly will be named the "Fly Master of Cleveland"!  No charge and open to everyone, and spectators are welcome.  Tiers need to bring vise and tools.  Registration is required to participate as a tier and can be done  <here>.

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] .

Mike
 

Aubrey had a successful outing steelhead fishing with her dad this week (photo courtesy of Joe Ward).





David and his father had a great outing on Sunday, highlighted by some big fish as well as a doubleheader (photos courtesy of John Russell).



James caught this beautiful buck brown trout in the Rocky River at Rockcliff Springs on Monday.  Up to this point all the stray brown trout I've been seeing have been hens (photo courtesy of James Yang).



Late last week dan reported "Got this 21 inch 3 pound rainbow as well as a golden and tiger at Ledge Lake today.  A trifecta!  Threw the tiger back in" (photo courtesy of Dan K).



This past Friday, while the main rivers were up and muddy, "Santa" caught this big steelhead in smaller Euclid Creek (photo courtesy of Joe "Santa" Tonich).





Burke and Christian caught these beautiful steelhead in the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Jimmy Pease).






Brian caught and released the tiger trout in the top image at Wallace Lake this week (he reports he was lucky enough to catch 3 tiger trout last year, too).  He also shared some photos of the fine fish he caught ice fishing a few weeks ago (photos courtesy of Brian Kich).




On Tuesday I had a nice opportunity to meet up with Ty Smith and his son David for a morning of steelhead fishing on the Rocky River.  Ty is the Project Director at the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio.  More on this organization here:  <NAICCO>



Brandon caught his forst Rocky River steelhead on Sunday at Morley Ford (photo courtesy of Joshua Sommers).




Nick had a great outing well upstream on the Chagrin River, getting good quality fish as well as a doubleheader with his buddy (photos courtesy of Nick Kosiba).



Kumbo caught this big buck steelhead on the Rock this week (photo courtesy of Kumbo Leng).



They don't get much chromer than this hen (photo courtesy of Bill Wahl).



Vinny is the poster boy of persistence here fly fishing the muddy river in the rain last week (photo courtesy of Brain DiGioia).