May 16, 2024

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May***  Fishing has been very good for lake-run smallmouth bass and a few straggler steelheads are still available. We have rain in the weekend forecast so anglers should 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>.  The walleye bite is hot along the Cleveland shoreline after dark and trout are available in the East Branch Rocky River and Wallace Lake.
 
The runs of Lake Erie smallmouth bass in our streams are still going strong. “Smallies” migrate up the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers on their spawning runs in spring, although smaller year around resident bass are found in the rivers, too. The lake-run bass reach trophy proportions with bass over 20” and 5 pounds caught with some regularity. Smallmouth bass will strike artificial lures similar to steelhead- such as medium size crankbaits, spinners, tube jigs (dark brown and olive are good) as well as marabou jigs under floats and streamer flies that imitate gobies, minnows and crayfish. Late spring offers an opportunity to score the "silver and bronze", which is catching a steelhead and lake-run smallmouth bass in the same day, often from the same pool on the same offering. Lake-run bass are typically available in the streams until early June. There are still a few straggler steelhead around but that will be over very soon with the warmer weather.
 
Back in mid April we stocked the final scheduled 900 lbs of rainbow trout into Wallace Lake and previously this spring we had stocked 2,250 lbs of trout in the East Branch rocky river and an additional 450 lbs in Wallace Lake. In the river the fish were stocked at five locations between Rt 82 (Royalton Road) and Wallace Lake.
 
The Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie is offering great fishing post-spawn walleye and anglers are casting shallow running stickbaits (among other crankbaits) from shore after dark. Edgewater Park, Wendy Park (at the old Coast Guard station) and E55th wall are good spots. Harbor areas at Edgewater, Wildwood and E72nd boat ramp offer mixed catch opportunities in late spring for largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass, northern pike, and sunfish species. The breakwall area at E55th is offering a good opportunity to catch yellow perch from shore using minnows on a crappie spreader rig on the bottom.
 
Children’s Spring Fishing Derbies are coming May 18 & 19.  We have a change this year with our spring fishing derby at the Wallace Lake location.  Due to ongoing construction on the new concession at the lake the site will not be suitable for a big event in May.  So we are switching gears at this location and offering a Photo Submission Fishing Derby where kids under 16 years old can fish the lake anytime that weekend and parents or guardian can submit their best photos from the day ([email protected]) to be considered for 3 prizes for “Best Photo” (we will have several judges making the decisions)! Note: they can be fun photos of fishing from the day and do not necessarily need to include fish. Parents must fill out the online photo release to be eligible (see link below). Winners will be announced in the May 23 fishing report.  
 
The May 19 location at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation will be our traditional organized fishing derby format.  Rainbow trout and farm raised channel catfish will be stocked at both locations this week. Details on the May 19 event here:  <Ohio & Erie Canal Fishing Derby>.
 
Rocky River Volunteer Clean-Up is Saturday June 1. Please join us on Saturday June 1 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Scenic Park/Rocky River Marina picnic shelter for the family-friendly volunteer river clean-up! Cleveland Metroparks is partnering with Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District and Rocky River Watershed Council to host the event. We will break up into groups and clean up trash from along the river banks, then re-convene at the picnic shelter starting around 11:30 a.m. to host a thank you cookout. Trash bags will be provided and long pants and boots are recommended. Please pre-register here as an <adult> or for <youth> if you are parent or guardian.
 
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

 

Lydia shows off a beautiful smallmouth bass caught inside E55th Marina (photo courtesy of Lydia Tate).




Lee shared “I Caught a 12lb 27inches long Channel Catfish on Thursday night right after the rain at Wallace Lake using a nightcrawler.” (photo courtesy of Lee Barker).




 
Victor went walleye fishing for the first time off the shoreline at E72nd and made a nice catch, including a bonus smallmouth bass (photos courtesy of Victor).




 
Chris shared on Saturday “Caught a 25" walleye and 26" freshwater drum today in Rocky River. Got them on Zman Trick Shotz in Goby Bryant nose hooked on a #1 drop shot hook and one split shot about 3' from hook.” (photos courtesy of Chris Balser).



 

Steve caught a bucket full of tasty bluegill at E55th marina, as well as a bonus largemouth bass (photos courtesy of Steve Farley).




 
Wes caught a limit of yellow perch off Cleveland on Monday morning along with a few bonus white perch and a walleye (photos courtesy of Wes Janke).



 
DeAngelo shows off a healthy smallmouth bass from Lakefront Reservation (photo courtesy of DeAngelo Williams).





Henry shared “Caught this Steelie back in April, on my birthday, and forgot to share it until now. This is technically my first unassisted Steelhead catch I have ever made! Almost lost it attempting to ‘walk’ it over to shore since I forgot the net on the other side of the dam, but it was worth it! Caught it on a Bass Pros Shop Tourney Special Crankbait, at Morley ford. Made for a good birthday dinner!” (photos courtesy of Henry French).






Noah and friends experienced a rare treat- a northern lights show while fishing for walleye from the Cleveland shoreline (photos courtesy of Noak Koscho).




 
Mike enjoyed some multi-species diversity at Edgewater Park (photos courtesy of Mike Simon).



 

Yellow perch fishing has been good at E55th breakwall for most of this week. Stop by Shine’s Bait and Tackle just down the road for emerald shiners and perch rigs.