December 26, 2019

In winter steelhead trout are the highlight in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  The warm weather has melted ice in local streams, opening up opportunities for steelhead anglers.  There is some rain late in the weekend forecast but stream conditions can be expected to drop and clear until then.  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>.  A total of 3,000 lbs of trout were stocked at five Metroparks lakes last week, as well, to expand winter fishing options (see details below).

Local streams are largely clear of ice following a string of unseasonably warm days, offering abundant opportunities for anglers to pursue steelhead.  There is no precipitation forecasted until late into the weekend so anglers can expect stream conditions to continue to drop in level and clear until that point.  Overall, there are lots of anglers with time off around the holidays out enjoying the weather, but the steelhead bite has been slower than it is traditionally at this time of year.  This morning the marina area is loaded with minnows, hampering the steelhead bite due to abundant natural forage.  Still, a few nice steelhead were caught there this moning on live minnows (easily netted from the river) and small marabou jigs tipped with a few maggots suspended below a casting bobber with lead peg.  The entire main branch of the Rocky River (from Cedar Point Road bridge north) is worth exploring at this time.  Steelhead can be caught on 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.  Another surprise brown trout was caught by a steelhead angler in the Rocky River this week(photos are offered below).

Lake Erie is in nice shape today and steelhead are an option for 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.  Overall, the shore bite for steelhead has slowed substantially over the past week. 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 or simply a nightcrawler on a bare hook suspended 3-6 feet below is also a good producer in the aforementioned areas.  A longer noodle rod is best for fishing floats and a long handle net is required to land fish safely along the lakefront.  The big schools of walleye off Cleveland have largely moved to deeper water and west of the city at this time.

Winter Trout Stocking Update.   On Monday December 16 we stocked 1,500 lbs of trout at Shadow (750 lbs), Ledge (600 lbs), and Judge's (150 lbs) lakes and on Tuesday the 17th we stocked Wallace (1,400 lbs) and Ranger (100 lbs) lakes.  The size of the trout averages about a pound and a half each, although there are a few trophy fish between 3-6 pounds mixed in.  Along with the predominantly standard rainbow trout are fair number of colorful golden rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout (see photos below).  The second (and final) round of winter trout will go into the same lakes around mid to late January or early February.  These trout bite well on jigging spoons, brightly colored PowerBait, and small jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm.  NOTE: the limits on these trout at 3/day at Wallace, Ledge, Judge's and Ranger lakes and 5/day at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area (there is no size limit, unlike the river where trout ned to be minimum length of 12" and you can harvest 2/day).  The ice is rapidly melting on our inland lakes and ponds at this time, so anglers are fishing for trout from the safety of shore after breaking the ice around areas where the shoreline depth drops off more quickly.  Examples of such spots would be from fishing docks and former stone quarrying ledges at Wallace Lake.  These is open water where melt-off is draining into the lakes, as well.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club Fly Tying Free-for-All.  The Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club is hosting a Fly Tying Free-for-All on Wednesday, January 8, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Museum.  There will be several stations set up with a variety of fly tying demonstrations going on.  You can come and observe or feel free to bring tools and materials and tie your own favorite patterns. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is requested.  This can be done from the Trout Club webpage: www.cmnh.org/troutclub

Wallace Lake Lifeguard Dock has been closed to Fishing until Further Notice.  The Millstream Run Reservation Park Manager closed the lifeguard dock to winter fishing due to litter issues.  This is a very sad situation, having caught my own first trout at Wallace Lake from this very dock in my teens over 3 decades ago.  The spot was very popular with seniors and was the best spot on the lake to fish safely in deeper water from the safety of shore when the ice is thin.  Hopefully this goes without saying for most folks, but please pick up your litter when you are done fishing.

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

 

Dave caught this gorgeous 29.5" buck steelhead in the Rocky River (photo courtesy of Dave "Bo" Bowser).



Taylor shared "Chase caught this fish in the Chagrin River on 12/23 fishing with his dad. Hoping to get in the weekly fishing report photos.  Happy fishing (and happy holidays)!" (photo courtesy of Taylor DiPasquale).



Andy caught this fine buck steelhead at the Rocky River boat launch on a jig tipped with maggots drifted about 6 foot under a bobber.  There were a few fish caught there by shore anglers this morning, but it was a pretty slow bite overall.  I talked to an angler who was coming in from fishing the river in a small boat and he caught one, as well.   The good news is the ice is gone!






Brian fished through the thin ice at Wallace Lake (from shore) and caught a nice mixed catch of rainbow, golden rainbow and brook trout.  He used a waxworm on a white jig and jigging a 1/8 oz silver/blue Little Cleo spoon (photops courtesy of Brian Ailor).





John took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather on Monday and went walleye fishing from his kayak off Cleveland.  As the photos depict, his efforts were rewarded (photos courtesy of John Proch).





Brad caught (and released) a surprise brown trout from the Rocky River on Saturday (photos courtesy of Zachary Rohaley).



Danny caught a nice Wallace Lake rainbow trout on Sunday while fishing with his son Corey (photo courtesy of Corey Butram).



Brandon caught his first steelhead on the season in the Rocky River on Christmas Eve.  The colorful steelhead bit a black and red jig tipped with eggs (photo courtesy of John Burkhart).







Tom and buddies are getting some nice catches of late season walleye in CLE this week (photos courtesy of Thomas Balcer).




Ted and a friend scored some rainbow trout at Judge's Lake on Monday using cheese (photos courtesy of Ted).






Mike landed three fine steelhead on the Rocky River on the morning of Christmas Eve (photos courtesy of Mike Sekerak).







Do any of these look familiar?  If so you've probably been fishing the area a long time!  I remember these from my childhood in the mid 70's.  They may be crudely drawn, but they got the job done! (courtesy of Judy Mackeigan, Park Historian).



Millstream Run Reservation Park Manager Ken Morgan closed the lifeguard dock to winter fishing due to litter.  This is a very sad situation, having caught my own first trout at Wallace Lake from this very dock in my teens over 3 decades ago.  The spot was very popular with seniors and was the best spot on the lake to fish safely in deeper water from the safety of shore when the ice is thin.  Hopefully this goes without saying for most folks, but please pick up your litter when you are done fishing! (photo courtesy of Bob Hoboda).