October 17, 2024

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***   The Rocky River received a good bump in flow this week from rain and coupled with the cool weather the steelhead run in the streams is improving. 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 and yellow perch, and inland anglers are catching freshly stocked rainbow trout and farm raised channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area (details below).
 
The rain and cooler weather this week is just what steelhead anglers needed, with rivers starting to drop into great shape just in time for the weekend. River anglers drifting jigs tipped with a few maggots, spawn sacks and egg mimicking beads through the holes are also catching fish. Trolling spoons and medium size crankbaits (like Flicker Shad) around the river mouths can also produce. The Rocky and Chagrin rivers have both been producing, and the Cuyahoga River and Euclid Creek at Wildwood Park are both also producing some fish. Along the lakefront steelhead are being caught off the rocks at Edgewater Park, E55th breakwall, and Wildwood Park. Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are a good bet for connecting with an early steelhead trout. These same locations may also produce walleye after dark, with Perfect 10 and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits working well.  
 
Along the Cleveland shoreline yellow perch are being caught by boaters near the Cuyahoga River outer lighthouse as well as at the east end of the outer city breakwall. A few perch may also turn up at E55th breakwall, although shore fishing for them is less predictable, and will take minnows fished on the bottom on a crappie rig.  Please note that Wendy Park at the old Coast Guard station is closed for repairs and will reopen to the public in roughly August 2025.
 
On Thursday, October 10 we stocked 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout and 741 lbs of channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street for Fall Family Fishing Fest and many of those fish remain to be caught. The trout average 1.5 lbs each and the catfish average 2-3 lbs, but we included a handful of bigger fish and a few golden rainbow trout to keep things interesting. Trout bite good on a dime size ball of PowerBait about a foot from a sinker on the bottom, small marabou or hair jigs tipps with a few maggots about 2 feet under a small bobber and on smaller spinners. Either species can be caught on a piece of nightcrawler or shrimp fished on the canal bottom.
 
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

Buddies Zach and Vinnie enjoyed what local fishing had to offer this week, from steelhead in the streams to yellow perch along the Lake Erie shoreline (photos courtesy of Brian DiGioia).



Scott shared “Benjamin’s first chromer on his 13h birthday trolling the lower Rocky River” (photo courtesy of Scott Mills).



Matt caught his first steelhead from the Rocky River (photo courtesy of Matt Tibbs).



Phred shows off a healthy pair of walleyes caught casting from the shoreline at Edgewater Park (photo courtesy of Phred Carey).



Caleb shared “I caught a new PB steelhead today on a jig tipped with maggots and boy did he put up a good fight! I took him out of the water for a quick pic and measurements and the fish was released. Measurements were 28in 11.06lb. Shoutout to Ken for helping me with that part!” (photo courtesy of Caleb Tolento).



Grant shared “I caught this small steelhead drifting a size 16 black hare's ear between the Rockcliff Springs Ford and the Horse Ford this morning on the Rocky River. I am guessing it is a "jack" or ‘skipper’ steelhead based on its size” (photo courtesy of Grant Senger).



Doug shared “I would like to share a photo of a nice largemouth bass I caught near Wendy Park from my kayak on a Vibrax spinner for the Fishing Report.” (photo courtesy of Doug Tovissi).



Chris shows off a bruiser steelhead caught by the Rocky River boat ramps on Saturday (photo courtesy of Chris Dietrich).



Rich shared this dime bright steelhead which was one of 3 they caught on the lower Rocky River closer to Lake Erie (photo courtesy of Rich Salvetta).



An angler proudly displays the steelhead he caught from the E55th breakwall on Friday.



An angler shows off his limit of steelhead caught at Wildwood Park while casting a small Rapala crankbait. He released another fish, as well.







Above are a few scenes from our successful Fall Family Fishing Fest held at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation this past Saturday. We had beautiful weather and a good number of rainbow trout, channel catfish and sunfish were caught by attendees.



Dr. Jeff Miner of Bowling Green State University is seeking the assistance of local anglers for a steelhead study.  See the information about and please consider participating.