April 27, 2017

In late spring, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include steelhead trout, stocked trout, panfish, and largemouth and smallmouth bass.  The rivers are running clear at the moment, but weekend conditions will depend on how much rain we receive into the weekend.  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>.  The last bunch of spring trout were stocked in the East Branch Rocky River on Monday.

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers have been running clear this week with moderate flow.  The tide is turning with the steelhead run, and athough quite a few fish are around the majority are spawning and post-spawn (dropback) fish.  The Main and East branches of the Rocky River and Chagrin River up to South Chagrin Reservation are all producing fish.  A good flush of water following the next hard rain will send quite a few of the  dropback steelies back to Lake Erie.  Spawning steelhead can be found in shallower riffle and tailout areas, while pre and post spawn fish can be found in holes and runs, especially just downstream of spawning fish.  Fly fishers, bait anglers, and hardware chuckers have all been taking a share of the fish. 

Complementing the steelhead are great numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass.  These fish are present in deeper, rocky holes throughout the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  Anglers fishing a jig, wooly bugger, live shiner, or other lures/flies that mimic a baitfish have a shot at hooking the "silver and bronze" (a smallmouth or steelhead) in the same day for the next few weeks.  Note:  smallmouth bass may not be kept in Lake Erie or the Rocky River downstream of the Detroit Road bridge between May 1 and June 24.

On Monday we stocked 600 pounds of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River.  Recently ODNR stocked trout at Hinckley Lake (2,500 fish) and Shadow Lake (500 fish), as well.  These fish will range from 11-14" in length.  Plenty of trout also remain at Wallace Lake.  Trout hit well on PowerBait fished near the bottom, jigs tipped with a few maggots/waxworms suspended below a bobber, minnows, and smaller spoons and spinners. 

Spring stocking of trout in the East Branch Rocky River began in mid March and concluded this week.  These fish are stocked at about a half dozen locations in Millstream Run Reservation between Royalton Road (Route 82) and the river ford (low bridge crossing) just south of Wallace Lake.  The final scheduled trout stocking of the season will be at Wallace Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal for childrens fishing derbies in May.

Please note the current seasonal trout regulations:  Lake Erie and all streams 2/day minimum size 12" (this includes steelhead through May 15, after which point the limit increases to 5/day), 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. 

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

Caleb caught his first trout at Wallace Lake (photo courtesy of C. Meeker).



Chris shares "Brian wanted to catch his first smallmouth this season.  Two visits to the Rocky River landed him some medium-sized ones and then this bruiser." (photo courtesy of Chris Rossman).



Riley Sullivan with a gorgeous Ledge Lake rainbow trout (photo courtesy of Bill Mantle).



A young lady proudly displays her first big fish catch-  a sheepshead from the Rocky River (photo courtesy of Zach Hernandez).



Congratulations to Charles on this Rocky River steelie exceeding 30 inches (photo courtesy of Charles Gardner).





Christopher reports "What a lovely week on the river before the storms rolled in. Caught my first steel. What a rush. Met a Nice gentleman named Dennis (white beard) who was showing me the ropes and even let me try out his center pin. Lots of white suckers in there too!" (photos courtesy of Christopher Donlon).



Brad shares "Another Hinckley Lake pig largemouth bass measuring 20 inches 5 pounds on a Live Target field mouse topwater lure.  Smashed it a foot from shore as it went over a log.  3rd Fish Ohio bass in the past 3 times out." (photo courtesy of Brad Gardner).





David relays "Thanks for putting this report out love reading it each week. Here a few pics from 4/25 rocky river. All were caught on a tungsten hares ear and orange egg pattern." (photos courtesy of David Given).



Matt caught this Rocky River steelie on an all silver RoosterTail spinner (photo courtesy of Mat Hendricks).









Registered fishing guide Monte Casey has been busy getting his clients on some great Rocky and Chagrin river steelhead this spring (photos courtesy of Monte Casey).



Steve loves fly fishing the Rocky River this time of year (photo courtesy of Owen Lockhart).



Thank you to the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders for supporting our spring childrens fishing drbies to the tune of $4,200 this year!  The events are at Wallace Lake on Saturday May 20 and at Ohio & Erie Canal on Sunday May 21.  OCBS also enlists many great volunteers to assist with the event.