October 25, 2018

In fall anglers along the Rocky River and other area streams are pursuing steelhead trout, as well as a surprise number of walleye in the northernmost river reaches.  The Rocky River is currently low in level and clear, but that could change into the weekend with rain in the forecast.  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>.  Nearshore Lake Erie anglers are targeting walleye, steelhead, bass (largemouth and smallmouth), and yellow perch.  Anglers at Ohio & Erie Canal are catching recently stocked rainbow trout and channel catfish. 

The Rocky River is flowing low and fairly clear, but that could well change into the weekend as rain is forecasted.  Anglers should check the flow gage links above before planning a trip.  Steelhead fishing really perked up this week with many steelhead (and walleye after dark) caught off the rocks/breakwalls at Edgewater, E55th/E72nd, Wildwood Park, and in the northernmost river sections by the lake (especially around the Rocky River boat ramps).  The hot lakefront steelhead bait this week has been a whole nightcrawler on a plain hook dangled between 4-6 feet under a bobber.  Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail), or suspending a minnow on a jig under a bobber, at these locations are also good bets for connecting with steelhead trout.  Steelhead are also being caught in fair numbers in the northern reaches of the rivers.  Quite a few steelhead are poised to move in with the next rain,as well.

Anglers at our inland lakes and ponds are catching catfish, largemouth bass, and panfish. A highlight this week has been the rainbow trout (1,000 lbs) and farm raised channel catfish (600 lbs) that were stocked in the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area earlier this month.  Trout are biting well on a dime sized ball of colorful PowerBait fished near the canal bottom with a sinker.  The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked 1,000 yearling (juvenile) channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal a few weeks ago, as well.  Our lakes/ponds are scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout around mid December.

Walleye fishing was good along the Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie after dark this week.  Anglers are connecting by casting Husky Jerk or Perfect 10 stickbaits.  A few yellow perch are being caught at E55th breakwall, as well.  Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, northern pike, and panfish species can also be found along the Cleveland shoreline.  The ODNR Division of Wildlife weekly Lake Erie fishing report can be viewed <here>.

Notes from the Desk of the Rocky River Park Manager.   Rocky River Park Manager Rick Ditch wanted to let anglers know that we are down to one courtesy launch dock at the Rocky River Marina.  He hopes to leave this in place until approximately Thanksgiving, but weather will dicate timing of pulling it in the end.  Also, he wanted to let folks know that the burn barrel is back in place at Morely Ford.  But please keep fires reasonable in size.  Earlier this week anglers were approached by a Ranger when they practically had a bonfire going!  Let's not ruin the fun for everyone by overdoing it.

Jeff Liskay Steelhead Fishing Class on October 28.  This Sunday nationally noted fly fisher Jeff Liskay will be offering a steelhead fly fishing class through Cleveland Metroparks.  The class is capped at 30 and there are just a few spots left, so don't miss out if learning to fly fish for steelhead is on your list!  RSVP deadline is tomorrow at noon.  More info and registration <here>.

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

A young lad caught his first steelhead this week at Wildwood Park breakwall.  So the obsession begins... (photo courtesy of Craig Kitts).




Dorel shared "Nathan landed a 22" and Joshua a 24" steelie at Marina on wax worm on Oct 19." (photos courtesy of Dorel Stefan).




Adam and his dad caught 6 golden rainbow trout at the Ohio & Erie Canal on an outing this week.  Please note: the trout limit at this particular location is 5 per angler daily (photos courtesy of Mike Flachbart).





Cole reports "My name is Cole Jaskiewicz and I️ have lived in the greater Cleveland area my whole life. I️ am a student at John Carroll university as well. I️ have something crazy to share with you and to have posted to next weeks fishing report. I️ wish fishing this morning at a smaller Metroparks creek and  had the great fortune to catch a salmon. To my belief it is a coho (Mike's note: it is indeed a nice coho salmon!). I️ was fly fishing and I️t bit, I️ was shocked. I️ got a nice chrome steelhead as well. Thank you very much" (photos courtesy of Cole Jaskiewicz).
 


Jerry caught an released a lake trout at E55th breakwall last Friday! It is very important that anglers report their lake trout catches/those observed caught by other so ODNR can track success of this program (photo courtesy of Bob Wogelmuth).




David and a buddy were fishing the Cleveland shoreline last night and had some success (photos courtesy of David Wagner).




Tudor shared photos of a few of several steelhead he caught this week casting small crankbaits from his kayak on the lower Rocky River (photos courtesy of Tudor St Stephen).



Randy caught this fine walleye casting from the shore at E72nd last night.  He reported fishing was "on fire" with betwee 30-40 walleye landed that he observed (photo courtesy of Randy Zimmerman).




Bill shared photos of Marcus and Tony with steelhead caught at E55th breakwall this week (photo courtesy of Bill Mantle).






Just to show that you never know what you're going to catch along the CLE shoreline in fall, Brad set out this week one evening to try for walleye using a glow spoon.  Instead he got a steelhead and smallmouth bass.  Hard to complain about that!  And a curious "trash panda" (raccoon) was checking out hs hear (photos courtesy of Brad Gardner).



Mike typically does well on spoons, but switched it up to a jointed Rapala at Edgewater Park this week and scored some chrome (photo courtesy of Mike Reed).



Jason caught a trophy walleye casting the Lake Erie shoreline (photo courtesy of Jason Blackeney).






Shaun sent in his "highlight reel" from his Wallace Lake catches this season.  He is our undisputed "Catfish King"! (photos courtesy of Shaun Cassidy).







E55th was producing steelhead by day and walleye by night this week.  The hot steelhead offering this week was simply a whole nightcrawler on a plain hook suspended about 5 feet under a bobber.



Mark was fishing the Chagrin River and caught his first steelhead of the season (photo courtesy of Mark Warren).





Warren and pals had a great week for night walleye fishing along the Lake Erie shoreline (photos courtesy of Warren Feucht).








On Tuesday afternoon we had a fish collection outing with a Baldwin Wallace University biology class by the Rocky River Nature Center.  Among our catch of many non-game species we turned up about a half dozen steelhead and a surprise brown trout.  All were returned to the river.  We also got a young walleye- the furthest upstream I've ever observed one in the river.




The Rocky River Watershed Council quarterly meeting will be held at the Rocky River Nature Center tonight at 7:00pm.  All are welcome to hear our guest speaker and socialize with other folks who appreciate the river.  Also the Watershed Volunteer of the Year (Chris Levicki of Earnest Machine) and Watershed Partner of the Year (Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders) will be honored with plaques.




Sadly the Linda Mae party boat at Wildwood Park was swamped while tied to the dock during strong north winds over the weekend.  It will be out of commission until a yet to be determined date (photos courtesy of Michael Ruffo).



My buddy Bill Mantle tied up some spooooky jigs with skull beads just in time for Halloween!




I just wanted to share two very cool images I thought folks would appreciate that fisheries program supporter (and dear friend) Moe Slyman shared this week.  One is of a Niagara River king salmon with amazing clouds in the sky and the other was taken of Lake Erie by his daughter Nadia this week.  (photos courtesy of Moe ansd Nadia Slyman).



The Hank Patterson event hosted by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club on Saturday night was a hoot!