September 14, 2017

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***   As we begin our approach to fall, highlight species targeted by anglers along the Rocky River and other area streams include smallmouth bass, carp, panfish, and channel catfish-  with a watchful eye looking for early returning steelhead trout. On the morning of this report the Rocky River was on the low and clear side.  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, steelhead, white bass, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass and panfish, and inland lake/pond anglers are primarily pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish. 

A few early steelhead are showing up around the Rocky River marina, off the rocks at Edgewater and E55th, anf off the breakwall at Wildwood Park.  Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are as good a bet as any for connecting with an early steelhead trout, as is drifing a small jig tipped with minnow or maggots under a bobber.  Any cool rain in the coming weeks should serve to entice a more early steelhead into the streams.

Anglers are also pursuing a mix of warmwater species in the streams.  Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the river during the day in summer, and often move to the heads of such pools in the early morning and evening hours to feed actively.  A dark olive or brown tube jig of about 4" length is one of the best producers of bass in the river.  "Smallies" also bite well on live bait (ie: minnow, crayfish, and leeches), lures (ie: spinners and minnow plugs), and flies (ie: crayfish patterns, Clouser minnows, dark brown or olive sculpin or muddler minnow patterns). 

Channel catfish, carp, sheepshead and several sucker species are also present in some of these same areas in the river, especially around the marina on the Rocky, and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water.  Catfishing is usually best during lower light conditions using baits such as nightcrawlers, minnows, chicken liver, and processed dough baits.   Catfish often bite best following a rain when the water is a bit murky.  Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails.  For the angling generalist, any of the species thus far can be effectively targeted by fishing a nightcrawler worm right on the river bottom with a sinker.

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 a few spots worth poking around in late summer and early fall.

Rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, freshwater drum and sunfish species can be found along the Cleveland shoreline in summer and can be caught on offerings such as tube jigs, dropshot rigs and live bait.  Some good eater size walleye (15-20 inches) have been found in water from only 16-24 feet deep by Cleveland area boating and even shoreline anglers.  White bass fishing, which is typically good in late summer, has been slow lately.  Yellow perch fishing off Cleveland has also been mostly slow.  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>.

Steelhead Expo at the Rocky River Nature Center Saturday September 30th.    A great way to kick off the steelhead season is to attend the annual Steelhead Expo, which will be held at the Rocky River Nature Center on Saturday September 30th.  This event is a collaborative effort between the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders and Cleveland Metroparks and will offer a full day of expert speakers and seminars, vendors, and other related information to kick off the fall steelhead season. There is no charge for the event but OCBS, a non-profit sportman's group which is very active in the local fishing and conservation communities, is offering a raffle as a fundraiser so donations or participation in the raffle is encouraged.  You can check out the OCBS website or find out details regarding the event at this link: <2017 Steelhead Expo>.

Coho Salmon Pilot Project    We have an exciting project on the horizon.  Due to the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund doing so well I am coordinating the purchase of coho salmon (1-2 pounds each) to be released for a put-and-take fishery at Wallace Lake.  The fish, which are raised by a private Ohio fish farm (Homestead Farms), bite well, fight great, and are delicious.  There will be a clearly posted limit of one salmon per angler daily at the lake.  I hope to stock these fish later this month or in early October- stay posted to the weekly fishing report for updates.  

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

 

Wesley and a friend each caught a nice steelhead casting Little Cleo spoons off the breakwall at Wildwood Park this week (photos courtesy of Wesley Crowie).






Three generations of the Butram family- Danny (grandfather), Corey (father) and Dexter (youngster)- love fishing together.  They've been catching some nice largemouth bass lately, topped by Danny's personal best (top photo)- a 4 lbs 11 oz trophy (photos courtesy of Corey Butram).



Pat caught his first steelhead of the year just south of the "Black Wall" by the Rocky River Marina.  He caught the fish on a pink tube jig (photo courtesy of Pat Cramer).




One angler off Cleveland caught 20 yellow perch in 30 feet of water this week.  Perch reports have been scarce off Cleveland lately (photos courtesy of John Burkhart).




Cody and a friend were casting Rattle Trap crankbaits from their kayaks by the Rocky River marina on Tuesday and scored an early steelhead and a sheepshead (photos courtesy of Corey Lewis).



Greg caught two steelies along the Lake erie shoreline on jigs tipped with maggots (photo courtesy of Greg Young).





Ed shared a photo of his girls and himself with a big grass carp caught in a local lake, as well as a nice snook and tarpon caught fishing live shrimp off the beach on a vacation to Sanibel Island, FLA, recently- just before the hurricane (photos courtesy of Ed Shmitt).



If you catch a trout this size in the local streams this time of year odds are that it was stream bred (photo courtesy of Charles Burns).





Tony recently rescued a cormorant tangled in fishing line at Edgewater Park.  It is unfortunate how often this happens.  Local animal rehab centers recieve all kinds of birds tangled in discarded fishing line every year.  Please make a point of properly disposing of your own fishing line and that left behind by others.  The wildlife thank you! (photos courtesy of Tony Cilluffo).




During stream surveys around the parks we recently turned up these two cool minnow species.  For this installment of Know Your Fish, can you name either or both species in the comments section below?




During carp removal in a Metroparks lake this week we turned up these fine largemouth bass, which were released unharmed.




Also during routine stream sampling we turned up this giant red crayfish in Big Creek.  It turns out it is a non-native <Louisiana Red Swamp Crayfish>, a potentially problematic species.  If you see any like this please report them to me. 




Local Lakewood artist Rob Beningo is designing an Ohio steelhead shirt for sale at the upcoming Steelhead Expo.  He wants to know which color folks like best since he can only run one color.  If you wish to share your preference you can do so in the comments section (photos courtesy of Rob Beningo at lakesriversstreams.com).