December 12, 2019

As fall transitions to winter steelhead trout are the highlight in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  This week the Rocky and Chagrin rivers experienced among the biggest bumps in flow of the season, and the steelhead took note and number of anglers reported good fishing in both streams.  This morning there is some slush and shelf ice along the sides of the Rocky River, but this should disappear throughout the day.  There is precipitation forecasted into the weekend so wise anglers will check the flow data prior to heading to the river.  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 nearshore anglers continued doing well this week targeting steelhead and walleye.

Local stream levels recieved a good bump in flow this week which enticed a significant push of fresh steelhead further up the watersheds.  There is modest slush and shelf ice (ice along the sides of the river) this morning, but this is expected to dissipate throughout the day.  Ice and slush should be expected in the streams in the mornings following colder nights (mid 20s and below) from this point forward, and is most pronounced in the slower areas like the sluggish water by the Rocky River marina.  Ice on the rod guides can also be a cold morning challenge, but ice-off fishing products or even waxy lip balm applied to the guides can help lessen this problem.  There is precipitation forecasted into the weekend so wise anglers will check the flow data prior to heading to the river.  Some of the steelhead formerly stacked up by the marina/river mouth areas have moved further upstream, but fresh fish are still being caught in the lower river too.  The entire main branch of the Rocky River (from Cedar Point Road bridge north) is worth exploring at this time.  Steelhead are hitting dime to nickel size spawn sacks, live (or salted frozen) minnows and small marabou jigs tipped with maggots drifted near the river bottom under a float, as well as spoons like Little Cleos and spinners like Vibrax and RoosterTail.

Steelhead are available to anglers from the rocks and breakwalls along the Cleveland shoreline at E55th breakwall, Edgewater Park, Gordon Park at E72nd, Wendy Park pier at the old Coast Guard station and Wildwood Park breakwall/pier.  Of these spots, Edgewater Park breakwalls by the boat launch, Wendy Park and E55th breakwall are most protected by the outer city breakwall during wavier conditions. Casting a spoon (such as a 2/5 oz Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are a good for connecting with fall lakefront steelhead trout that requires no more than a medium action spinning rig spooled with 8-10 lb monofilament line.  A bobber with a 1/32 or 1/16 oz jig tipped with minnow or maggots suspend 3-6 feet below is also a good producer in the aforementioned areas.  A nightcrawler suspended under a bobber on a bare hook has also been working well.  A longer noodle rod is best for fishing floats and a long handle net is required to land fish safely along the lakefront.

In October the Ohio & Erie canal fishing area (off E49th Street) was stocked with 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout (including a few dozen golden rainbow trout) and 600 lbs of farm raised channel catfish.  Additionally, Wallace Lake was stocked with largemouth bass and big bluegill and Beyer's Pond was stocked with bass, sunfish and channel catfish this fall, as well.  Rainbow trout are tentatively scheduled to be stocked in Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Ranger and Judge's lakes the week of December 16 (next week).  Check back with the fishing report early next week for updates on that.

The walleye bite has been good after dark along the Cleveland shoreline, with the E55th breakwall and Wildwood Park being recent hot spots.   Anglers have been connecting by casting lures like Husky Jerk, Bandit, Rattle Trap, and Perfect 10 stickbaits at dusk and after dark.  Wendy Park pier and E55th breakwall are more protected from wind than Edgewater and Wildwood park shorelines, but all produce plenty of walleye after dark in autumn. The ODNR Division of Wildlife weekly Lake Erie fishing report can be viewed <here>.

Project Healing Waters Cleveland Fundraiser on December 13.  This Friday December 13th Project Healing Waters Cleveland Chapter will be having a holiday party fundraiser to benefit disabled military personnel.  The event will be a $20 donation for all you can eat/drink (pizza, wings, pasta, domestic draft beer and wine).  There will be a door prize, 50/50 raffle and raffle baskets.  The event will be from 6-9:00pm at West Park Station located at 17015 Lorain Ave. #5514 in Cleveland.  Come out and celbrate for a great cause!

Courtesy Docks Have Been Removed at Cleveland Metroparks Boat Launches.  The last courtesy docks have been pulled for the winter at Emerald Necklace Marina (on the Rocky River), Edgewater and Gordon Park (E72nd) public boat launches.  The latter two have permanent structures remaining, though, that can serve as a dock in a pinch (waterproof boots are helpful at the Edgewater one).

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

 

Jack reported on Saturday "I would love it if you could add my first steelhead to the weekly report. I caught it this morning on a pink jig tipped with a chunk of night crawler fished under a float under the I-90 bridge in Rocky River and my dad netted it." (photo courtesy of Jack Phillips).



Brent shared "Can you please put this big guy up on the blog? My new PB of 26.5 inches on a black jig and maggot!!" (photo courtesy of Brent ONeill).



Five year old Kingston caught this steelhead while fishing with his dad and grandpa (photo courtesy of Donald Johnson).



Jim's som outfished him on their last outing! (photo courtesy of Jim Gibbs).



Dylan caught his first steelhead ever in the Rocky River this week (photo courtesy of Dylan Fields).




Kelsey caught hewr first steelhead ever fishing with her boyfriend Ross this this week (photos courtesy of Kelsey Armstrong).





James braved the cold and made a great catch of walleye casting along the CLE shoreline of Lake Erie last night.  His top fish was 30" (photos courtesy of James Rider).



Nate caught a good size steelhead in the Rocky River on Saturday (photo courtesy of Nate Szymanski).





Jimmy nd Sam caught some quality walleye and steelhead around Cleveland this week (photos courtesy of Sam Horn).




John has been catching some fine steelhead lately (photos courtesy of John Lane).





Max reports "Not finding any big fish but I did catch good numbers the 3 times I went the past week on the Chagrin River" (photos courtesy of Max Madden).



Dana caught another beautiful walleye this week (photo courtesy of Dana Daugherty-Klonowski).



Ed reported on Sunday "Got this 27 incher at East 55th on the gold 1/3 oz Little Cleo, and saw another guy using jig/maggots catch his first steelhead!  It was great to give him a bunch of tips too" (photo courtesy of Ed Schmitt).





Brion has been catching some quality steelhead during low light conditions (photos courtesy of Brion McMcCutcheon).




On Friday Bill landed 14 of 17 steelhead hooked by the marina for his best day ever.  He was catching them all on a purple and black jig  he ties himself tipped with maggots and drifted about 5 feet below a float. His biggest fish was 27 inches (photos courtesy of Bill Mantle).



Kurtis landed 3 of 3 steelhead hooked on the Chagrin River on Sunday morning (photo courtesy of Kurtis Labarbera).



Matt caught a colorful buck steelhead on the Rocky River at Morley Ford on Sunday (photo courtesy of Matthew Hanlon).



Shawn caught a few steelhead by the Rocky River marina on Saturday (photo courtesy of Shawn Kemp).