October 3, 2024

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  The cooler weather and rain this week has boosted the early season steelhead fishing along the lakefront and in local streams. 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 inland lake/pond anglers are primarily pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish.
 
Reports of steelhead being caught around Cleveland have been seasonally good this week. With the cooler weather and shorter days steelhead are showing up around the rocks at Edgewater Park, E55th breakwall, and Wildwood Park as well as in the northernmost river sections closer to Lake Erie (the Rocky River marina area is one such spot). The rivers received a boost in flow from rain this week luring a few fish to run further upstream.  Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are a good a bet for connecting with an early steelhead trout. Trolling spoons and medium size crankbaits (like Flicker Shad) around the river mouths can also produce. These same locations can also produce walleye after dark, with Perfect 10 and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits working well.
 
Along the Cleveland shoreline a few yellow perch will turn up at E55th breakwall and will bite minnows fished on the bottom on a crappie rig.  The best bite is often in the morning and late afternoon. 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.
 
Anglers at our inland lakes and ponds are catching catfish, largemouth bass, and panfish. Wallace Lake, Ledge Lake, Shadow Lake, and Beyer's Pond are just a few spots worth poking around in early fall. The Ohio & Erie Canal at E49th Street will be stocked with rainbow trout and channel catfish in mid October. Please note that Hinckley Lake is currently drained for a dam rehabilitation project and will not be refilled until sometime in 2025.
 
Fall Family Fishing Fest will be held Saturday, October 12. Come out and join us for Fall Family Fishing Fest at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation on Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This event is free and we will have a limited number of fishing poles to loan out, as well as bait. We will be stocking 600 lbs of channel catfish and 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout at the Ohio & Erie Canal in anticipation of the event.  Although anglers of any age can participate, prizes in several categories will be reserved for kids 15 years old and under. Thank you to Ohio Division of Wildlife and Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders for supporting this great event with grant fund.
 
Free Fly Tying Offering from the CMNH Trout Club. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club is having their first meet up of the season on Thursday, October 10 at Gormleys' Pub at 19500 Center Ridge Rd., Rocky River 44116. Join them from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. for Steelhead Fly Time. Bring a vise and tie a favorite pattern or just stop in and watch! They'll also discuss how to rig and presentations giving the best chance for success. There is no cost to attend and non-members are welcome!
 
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


 

Carter has been catching some very nice steelhead trolling the Rocky River near Lake Erie with his dad, punctuated by the 32” brute in the first two photos (photos courtesy of John Lusnek).

 

Devonte caught this steelhead casting from the E55th breakwall after dark (photo courtesy of Devonte Jones).


 



Steve had a great day fishing the lower Rocky River (meaning closer to Lake Erie) from his kayak this week (photos courtesy of Steve Crowe).


 

John scored this chrome beauty from the E55th breakwall (photo courtesy of John Winters).


 




Scott has been enjoying a nice mixed catch from the Cleveland shoreline - and scored the “Gold-Silver-Bronze” which is catching a walleye, steelhead and smallmouth bass (photos courtesy of Scott Mills).




This thick buck steelhead from the Rocky never misses a meal! (photo courtesy of Ken Harper).




Rick was casting for steelhead from the breakwall when he caught this big bonus walleye (photo courtesy of Rick Bower).









Mike is another angler who appreciates the diversity of fish species you can catch along the Cleveland shoreline this time of year (photos courtesy of Mike Simon).




Fred shared this photo of a GIANT 36 inch steelhead caught by his father at E55th breakwall on Sunday (photo courtesy of Fred).







Delores and Lana display a few nice fish we caught while electrofishing the Rocky River to get a live fish to display at the Steelhead Expo help this past Saturday. We ended up getting a gorgeous fresh run coho salmon (bottom pic) that got a lot of attention at the event, and then was released afterwards. We had an outstanding attendance of 1,284 at the event.







Pilot stocking of 60 juvenile lake sturgeon fitted with transmitters just happened on the Cuyahoga River yesterday morning. Cleveland Metroparks was stocked at Merwin’s Wharf closer to the lake as well as two locations further upstream. The results of this stocking of transmitter implanted fish will better inform a larger scale stocking of 1,500 sturgeon a year from now (and the plan forward will be to stock 1,500 a year for the next 20 years in an effort to establish a self-sustaining population). This is a monumental milestone in the recovery of the river.