November 21, 2018

The Rocky River and other area streams are currently exhibiting good flow for steelhead fishing, although leaves can cause difficulties drifting in some areas.  The darker tea stain the rivers have right now are caused by tannins released from fallen leaves and many anglers suspect elevated tannin levels can make the steelhead bite a bit sour.  Wise anglers will monitor the most recent river water level and temperature at the following link prior to making a trip: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  Nearshore Lake Erie anglers are targeting walleye, steelhead, and yellow perch, although abundant gizzard shad have made the walleye bite notably tougher this week.  Anglers at Ohio & Erie Canal are catching recently stocked rainbow trout. 

The Rocky River and other area streams are offering good flow, but the bite has been more challenging this week.  Many anglers (myself included) suspect that tannins from fallen leaves, which give the river a darker tea stain, make the steelhead bite a bit sour.  These will be flushed from the river over the next few rains and the bite will improve.  But steelhead are still being caught, so don't let this deter you from giving the river a look in the meantime.  As is typical this time of year, the greatest concentration of steelhead are in the northernmost river stretches, although fish are well spread at at this time.  The big trout, averaging 5-7 lbs as of late, have been biting especially well on marabou jigs under floats, brightly colored dime to nickel size spawn sacks, beads that mimic salmon eggs, flies (egg patterns and baitfish streamers), and lures such as Little Cleo spoons and Vibrax spinners.  Fly anglers who enjoy swinging flies appreciate the stronger flows we've had, too.  The fall run is going strong, overall, and more steelhead will continue to migrate up area streams into the late fall and early winter seasons.

Fishing along the Cleveland lakefront has been hampered by a great abundance of gizzard shad having moved into nearshore waters.  In this case what is great for the fish is bad for the angler-  there is a hyperabundance of bait for anglers to compete with.  Still, fair catches of walleye are being made day and night from the E55th/E72nd breakwall areas.  Lakefront steelhead will bite on a whole nightcrawler on a plain hook or small jig tipped with minnow suspended between 4-6 feet under a bobber, as well as for anglers casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail).

In mid-October rainbow trout (1,000 lbs) and farm raised channel catfish (600 lbs) that were stocked in the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area off E49th Street and a decent number of these fish remain.  Trout often bite well on a dime sized ball of colorful PowerBait fished near the canal bottom with a sinker.  Our lakes/ponds are scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout around mid December (stay tuned to the fishing report for updateson that).

ODNR Needs Angler Assistance on Reporting Lake Trout Catches   If you or anyone you know/see catches a lake trout in Ohio waters of Lake Erie or a tributary please remember the following. If the fish is kept, the head would be extremely appreciated for the information that can be obtained from the implanted coded wire tag (which you will not see because it is internal).  If the angler chooses not to keep the fish, a picture (or even call/email) with information would be a much appreciated second option to taking the head. Any information would be good: date, location, size, was the fish flowing any milt or eggs, what was it caught with, name, email contact, etc. This information is CRUCIAL to tracking the success of this program in Ohio.  Please report to: John Deller, ODNR Fairport Fish Station at [email protected] or (440) 352-4199 and/or Mike Durkalec, Aquatic Biologist at [email protected] or (216) 701-7634.  Thank you!

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

 

Mike caught a chrome beauty on the Rocky River recently (photo courtesy of Mike Dentkos).



Matt reported "Mike caught his first steelhead since the last time over 20 years ago.  It was caught in the Cuyahoga River on a white Rooster Tail" (photo courtesy of Matt Dunst).




On Monday Greg caught a surprise coho salmon in theRocky River while drifting a soft bead (photos courtesy of Greg Palka).



On Monday Joe caught a 21" steelhead at Emerald Necklace Marina on the lower Rocky River (photo courtesy of Joe Stephenson).





Dana and husband Mike caught some fine walleye off Cleveland this week despite tougher fishing conditions (photos courtesy of Dana Klonowski-Daugherty).



Max reported "Caught a couple on Tuesday on the Rocky on eggs and beads.  Fish are scattered throughout the whole main branch" (photo courtesy of Max Madden).



Larry broke his slump on the Rocky River on Monday with this fish (photo courtesy of Larry Koncar).







Carl and his buddy Tim (pictured) managed 5 walleye and a bonus steelhead off Cleveland Sunday despite challenging conditions due to very abundant gizzard shad (photos courtesy of Carl Bachtel).



Brad always manages to find some nice steelhead on the Rocky (photo courtesy of Brad Gardener).



Tyler reports that he enjoyed his first season pursuing steelhead (photo courtesy of Tyler Daniel).



Strawberry Pond in North Chagrin Reservation was drained, dredged, and restored two years ago.  A fish community assessment on Monday indicates the fish population, supplemented by stocking, is coming along nicely.





Cleveland Metroparks CanalWay Center naturalists discovered 15 bald eagles roosting in the Cuyahoga River Valley on Monday afternoon! While many were congregating in trees along the river's edge, one eagle was particularly active, carrying new branches to add on to last year's nest (photos courtesy of Naturalist Jake Kudrna).