As we move into late fall, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include steelhead trout, walleye, and panfish. The theme as we move into the holiday weekend is a promising one with conditions shaping up to be very good all around. Local streams are dropping and clearing following several days of high water and steelhead fishing prospects are excellent. Anglers can check the latest river flows and temperature at the following links: <Rocky River flow gage data> <Chagrin River flow gage data>. After rough waters earlier this week, Lake Erie is calming and clearing with E55th and E72nd breakwalls offering a very good chance at steelhead and night walleye.
After several days of elevated and muddy conditions, the Rocky River looks to offer very good fishing conditions in the coming days. The Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers, as well as smaller streams like Euclid Creek, are also worth a look. The streams are now ice free and leaves are greatly diminished, and this is the time of year that steelhead fishing traditionally kicks up a notch. A nickel size bright pink or chartreuse egg sack is hard to beat in stained conditions, but as the waters continue to clear minnows (live or salted), small jigs tipped with maggots, white tube jigs, and various fly patterns (small eggs, streamers, and nymphs) will account for a share of the steelhead. Steelhead are well distributed throughout the watershed at this time, with the freshest fish concentrated in the river north of Morley Ford/Lorain Road bridge. There is a healthy mix of skippers (smaller 15-18" steelhead) and adult steelhead in the river at this time, and stray brown trout (from PA and NY programs) continue to turn up on a weekly basis. The river by the marina is full of emerald shiners and I witnessed several steelhead roll in that area this morning.
The shoreline fishing at E55th and E72nd accesses are offering great prospects again as the lake calms and clears following rough waters earlier this week. Anglers have been primarily targeting steelhead and walleye, although a few anglers are still trying for yellow perch and white bass. Small jigs tipped with emerald shiner minnows and a few maggots 2-4 feet under a bobber accounted for many of the steelhead caught there recently, although a spawn sack, minnow (on a small hook, not a jig), or nightcrawler dangled a few feet under a bobber can also be productive. Spoons can also be worth trying when the fish are aggressive The night walleye bite casting from shore at E72nd has been good as lake conditions permit, with Husky Jerks, Rattlin' Rogues/Perfect Tens, and rattle type shad crankbaits being among the top producers. Similar opportunities are also present off the rocks at Edgewater and Wildwood parks. Wise anglers bring a long handed net when fishing these sites, and be very careful on those slippery shoreline rocks.
In early October 600 pounds of farm raised channel catfish and 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout were stocked at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area and a fair share of these fish remain to be caught. The trout limit at this site is 5 fish per angler per day. The first round of winter trout stocking in Metroparks lakes and ponds is currently scheduled for mid-December. Stay tuned to the fishing report for updates on that.
Interested in a Fish Biology Course? Dr. Ron Oldfield at Case Western Reserve University will be offering an Ichthyology (Fish Biology) course this spring, one of the only such offerings in northern Ohio. The class will offer a number of fish collection outings with local agencies, including Cleveland Metroparks. He wanted to inform students at Cleveland State and John Carroll universities and Tri-C that they can also easily enroll in this highly rated course through the <Cross-Registration Program>. For more information you can contact Dr. Oldfield at [email protected].
Thank You to Frank Filippelli! Frank Filippelli recently donated a vintage restored split cane (bamboo) fly rod, reel, and display stand as a raffle fundraiser for the upcoming Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders Christmas party. If you're interested in purchasing such a rod you can reach Frank at [email protected]. Thanks Frank!
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] .
Happy Holidays,
Mike
Lenney shared on Monday "Got out this morning at 8am and had to leave because of the frozen road down on the rock & treacherous frozen rain. Came home then decided to give it another shot around 11am. It was WELL worth it! My nephew Melvin hooked up to his first fish of the season and got a double bonus! A BROWN TROUT on the PIN!!! I must say he fought WELL!!!! GOTTA LOVE THE ROCK! TIGHT LINES TO ALL AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!" The fish bit a salted minnow (photo courtesy of Lenney S.).
Gil caught this 32", 13 pound, trophy buck steelhead at E55th this week (photo Ranger Chelsea McLellan).
Craig Lewis, owner of <Erie Outfitters>, caught this bruiser steelie in the Rocky River by the marina this fall. Wow! (photo courtesy of Craig Lewis).
Dorel (dad), Bethany, Nathan, and Joshua (kids) had a great afternoon of trout fishing on Saturday. Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area was stocked with trout back in October, and winter trout stocking is scheduled for five Metroparks lakes in mid December (photo courtesy of Dorel Stefan).
Lisa caught her first walleye trolling a Reff Runner crankbait. Nice job! (photo courtesy of Dave McCloskey).
Jake caught some Rocky River tackle testing steelies this week (photo courtesy of Jake Powers).
A number of Lakefront fishing locations offer excellent fishing and access, with E55th at the top of that list.
Gavin jokingl calls these "mini steelhead", and enjoys catching them on his fly rod. Can you name the species for this installment of the Know Your Fish challenge? (photo courtesy of Gavin Nupp).
Anglers in the Cleveland area have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. This image was taken this morning at E55th Marina.
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.