***Friday January 1 evening update: Happy New Year! Many folks reported that the Rocky River fished outstanding for steelhead today.***
In winter, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include steelhead trout, stocked trout, and walleye. The Rocky River is just dropping to a good level and stain, and with no rain in the weekend forecast should offer excellent weekend steelhead fishing opportunities. To monitor the most recent river water level, temperature, and clarity (turbidity) you can check the following links: <Rocky River USGS flow gage data> <Chagrin River USGS flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. Trout were recently stocked at Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Judge's, and Ranger lakes and walleye and steelhead are biting along the Cleveland lakefront.
After several days of high and muddy conditions the Rocky River is just dropping into great shape for the New Year. With no rain in the short term forecast steelhead fishing prospects look to be excellent this weekend. The river has been producing an impressive number of bonus brown trout along with the steelhead. When the water is stained the majority of the steelhead typically bite brightly colored spawn sacks, with jigs tipped with grubs, live or salted minnows, and various flies taking more fish as the water clears. Medium size silvery spoons and spinners are always worth a try, as well, and require less specialized tackle for newer steelhead anglers. The Cuyahoga River is muddy, but the Chagrin River will also offer good fishing prospects in the coming days.
A fair number of steelhead continue to hang out along the Lake Erie shoreline (especially at E55th and Edgewater parks), although their numbers have been decreasing the past few weeks as more fish enter the streams. Popular methods for targeting Lake Erie shoreline steelies include suspending a jig tipped with minnow or nightcrawler 2-5 feet below a bobber, as well as casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail).
A total of 3,000 lbs of trout were stocked in Metroparks lakes earlier this month, as follows: Wallace Lake (1,250 lbs), Shadow Lake (700 lbs), Ledge Lake (550 lbs), Judge's Lake (250 lbs) and Ranger Lake (250 lbs). The size of the trout varies from 3/4 lb to over 3 lbs, and the fish are extra colorful as a result of our supplier changing their diet to include more beta carotene. Along with the predominantly standard rainbow trout are several dozen golden rainbow trout, a few brown trout, and even one cutthroat trout stocked at Wallace. The second (and final) round of winter trout will go into the same lakes around late January/early February 2016. Trout are also available at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area down the hill from CanalWay Visitor Center off E49th Street. Trout bite well on PowerBait, canned corn, small spinners, and jigs tipped with a few maggots/waxworms, and nightcrawlers or shrimp fished right on the bottom. Please note the current seasonal trout regulations: Lake Erie and all streams 2/day minimum size 12" (this includes steelhead), 3/day no size limit at Wallace, Ledge, Judge's and Ranger lakes, and 5/day no size limit at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal.
Night walleye anglers continue to report catches off Edgewater and E72nd/Gordon parks from the shore casting when conditions have allowed, with larger Husky Jerks and Perfect 10 models being top producers. Keep in mind that this fishery can be hit or miss, with one night producing a limit catch in short order and the next, under seemingly identical conditions, not producing a hit, so persistence pays. The ODNR Division of Wildlife weekly Lake Erie fishing report can be viewed <here>. Anglers/boaters can view current lake conditions off Cleveland at the following link: <City Of Cleveland Water Intake Crib Cam>.
NEORSD Monitoring Station Temporarily Out of Commission. The flooding this week damaged the NEORSD water quality monitoring station on the Rocky River. Their staff are working to repair the installation as soon as possible.
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
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We have lots of great photos of kids this week! We'll start it off with Cole's fantastic Wallace Lake rainbow trout (photo courtesy of Jake Yambor).
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Bryce caught a gorgeous Wallace Lake trout this week, too (photo courtesy of Adam Eibling).
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Grayson caught his first trout ever at Wallace Lake this week while fishing with his aunt Rachel and grandfather (photos courtesy of Rachel Kemp).
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A wee lad inspects a Wallace Lake golden rainbow trout (photos courtesy of Eric Phillips).
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Adam and his dad knocked it out of the park again this week! Adam caught a Rocky River brown trout, followed by a bunch of Wallace Lake rainbow trout and even a golden rainbow. This kid is a fishing force to be reckoned with! (photos courtesy of Mike Flachbart).
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Steven caught this bruiser 27" brown trout in the Rocky on a perch color Rapala (photo courtesy of Steven Rogers).
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A few nice yellow perch are being caught from shore at E55th.
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Dale caught this strikingly beautiful golden rainbow trout at Ledge Lake (photo courtesy of Geno).
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Dad Jamie notes "My boy Zach caught his second trout at Wallace Lake while dad got skunked. At least he offered me a bite at dinner. He has been casting spoons and having luck around the south end." (photo courtesy of Jamie Hoessle).
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Can you believe Jon is catch largemouth bass along the Cleveland shoreline IN DECEMBER?! (photos courtesy of Jon Jonela).
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Chuck caught and released a nice hen brown trout in the Rock this week (photos courtesy of Chuck Mechling).
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Everyone is noting how pretty the rainbow trout are this year since our supplier changed their diet (photo courtesy of Nick Zarzeczny).
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A bunch of golden rainbow trout were caught this week (photo courtesy of Chuck).
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Mike caught this fine chrome buck steelie (photo courtesy of Mike Reed).
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Matt notes the shoreline perch have been biting for him on plastic tadpoles! (photo courtesy of Matt Arroyo).
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Ed caught this 20" Wallace Lake rainbow trout (photo courtesy of Ed Schmitt).
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I had the unique opportunity to go burbot fishing "for science" last night. I was enlisted by OSU/ODNR colleagues to catch a live burbot to photograph for the currently being updated Fishes of Ohio book. It was also requested that I deliver two live burbot to an environmental center for feature in a display tank (the fish were going into a temporary quarantine tank in this pic).
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The changing of the guard at the Wendy Park pier?�n. A pair of successful (on steelhead) anglers depart as two new anglers arrive to take their places (photo courtesy of Chuck Slusarczyk Jr).
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.