***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May*** Steelhead prospects are excellent in local streams as levels have dropped and are clearing following the thaw. Anglers can monitor the most recent river conditions at the following links:
<Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. Cleveland Metroparks stocked 500 pounds of mixed trout at Wallace Lake this week (details in report below).
Ice fishing should not be considered safe at this time.
The Rocky River and other area streams are thawed and have dropped to fishable levels. Given the weather forecast, steelhead fishing prospects are looking excellent going into the weekend. Dime to nickel size spawn sacks (trout or salmon eggs in hot pink, chartreuse, orange or white mesh), live minnows, 1/64 or 1/32 oz jigs tipped with maggots, and salmon egg mimicking beads drifted under floats will all catch plenty of fish.
On Tuesday this week 500 pounds of mixed trout we stocked at Wallace Lake. This is the final winter trout stocking, with a combined 6,000 lbs having already gone into Wallace (1,800 lbs), Shadow (1,500 lbs), Ledge (1,300 lbs), Judge’s (200 lbs) and Ranger (200 lbs) lakes. The majority were rainbow trout averaging a pound each although there were plenty of bonus brook, brown, golden rainbow, and even rare tiger (brook x brown hybrid) trout to keep things interesting. Small marabou or hair jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm, a dime sized ball of Power Bait, and smallish to medium size jigging spoons are all great offerings to try for trout this time of year. Spring stocking of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River will commence around mid March. Keep posted to this report for details on that.
Any remaining ice should no longer be considered safe to venture onto. Anglers can still pursue newly stocked trout by drilling or spudding holes the ice along shore and fishing from the safety of docks and areas where the shore slopes rapidly into deeper water, such as is common at Wallace Lake which was a former sandstone quarry.
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] .
Tight Lines,
Mike
Note: The fishing report is updated monthly in June, July, and August and weekly every other month
***Note: All photo submissions must first complete the Cleveland Metroparks photo waiver.***
2024 Cleveland Metroparks Registered Fishing Guides
(name, company, contact)
- #24-001 Gareth Thomas, Alley Grabs Guide Service, [email protected] (216) 235-5056
- #24-002 Jeff Liskay, Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC, [email protected] (440) 781-7536
- #24-003 Monte Casey, The Steelhead Guide, (440) 773-8064 www.steelheadguide.com
- #24-004 Anthony Montagnese, Covered Bridge Outfitters, [email protected] (440) 320-105
- #24-005 Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do LLC, [email protected] (724) 841-1564
- #24-006 Nicholas DelVecchio, Wildwood Outfitters, [email protected] (724) 433-2315
- #24-007 Nate Miller, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com (440) 796-6105
- #24-008 Jim Lampros, [email protected] (216) 513-6011
More information on Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Guide Permit requirements, including the permit application, you may check the following link:
<Fishing Guide Permit Program>
Learn how you can support recreation opportunities through a donation to the Cleveland Metroparks
Fishing Fund.