As we move further into summer, highlight species targeted around Cleveland Metroparks include walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, channel catfish, and common carp. 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>. Please note: the Fishing Blog is updated once a month in June, July, and August and back to weekly in September.
Summer means family fishing time for many folks, and panfish fit the bill perfectly for a leisurely picnic and fishing outing. Bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed and other sunfish species can be taken with a number of offerings, but a waxworm or redworm on a small hook (or tiny jig) suspended under a stick float and fished around a weedbed or shoreline brush is always a good choice. Wallace Lake, Shadow Lake, Strawberry Pond and Lakefront Reservation are just a few of many places in the Park to wet a line for various panfish species. Early mornings and dusk are typically better times to fish during the heat of summer. Largemouth bass fishing is often best in Wallace and Hinckley lakes, although bass can be found in most park waters.
Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the river during the day in early 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 3-4" length, other lures/fliesd that imitate minnows or crayfish, and live bait are all offerings that can catch smallmouth. Rock bass are also present in the same river areas as smallmouth, and can be caught using the same offerings.
Channel catfish and large carp are also present in some of these same areas in the river, and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water. On June 16 & 17 a total of 1,600 lbs of farm raised channel catfish were stocked between Shadow Lake (500 lbs), Ledge Lake (400 lbs), Ranger Lake (250lbs) , Oxbow Lagoon (150 lbs), and Strawberry Pond (300 lbs). Channel catfish stocked in late May also remain to be caught at Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area. Catfishing is usually best during lower light conditions using baits such as nightcrawlers, minnows, chicken liver, and processed dough baits. A good number of larger catfish are moving into the river from Lake Erie on their spawning run. Resident channel catfish are available in the river all summer.
Carp will be found throughout local rivers in summer, as well. Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails. The key to fishing for either carp or catfish is fishing on (or very near) the river/lake bottom. In addition, freshwater drum (sheepshead), white perch, and bullhead catfish are also abundant in the northern river reaches (north of Morley Ford) in early summer. 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.
The walleye bite has been good in the nearshore waters of Cleveland, especially after dark. Casting p10, Husky Jerk or shallow Bandit crankbaits at Edgewater Park, E55th breakwall, Wendy Park at the old Coast Guard station pier or Wildwood Park are all good bets. Rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, catfish, freshwater drum and sunfish species are biting along the Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie on offerings such as tube jigs and live minnows, as well.
Wallace Lake Fish Diversity Video. We recently offered a video exploring fish diversity at Wallace Lake on the Cleveland Metroparks Facebook page. That video may be viewed <here>.
Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Study (CHEERS) Survey. Your input is desired! The Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Study is a community-focused resiliency plan for the eastern Cleveland lakeshore that will embrace the lake as an asset for future generations. The year-long study will focus on leveraging nature-based solutions to improve the environment, reconnect communities to the lake, enhance public health and wellness, bolster the economy, and improve aquatic and terrestrial habitats. We want to hear from you. The survey can be completed <here>. Help shape the future of the Lake!
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
Ella was fishing with her dad at Oxbow Lagoon in Rocky River Reservation on July 2nd when she caught this channel catfish on a nightcrawler (photo courtesy of Todd Murphy).
Pat and his son caught 8 channel catfish (keeping 4) at Strawberry Pond in North Chagrin Reservation recently (photo courtesy of Pat Elliot).
Dan shared "My niece Emma caught her first walleye and it was a doozy. We were drifting spinner rigs off of the Rocky River. It measured 30” (photo courtesy of Dan Zukie).
Congratulations to Rob on recently catching his first walleye at E55th (photo courtesy of Rob Thomas).
Jared and his fishing buddy had a great outing on the Rocky River- catching some quality smallmouth bass as well as longnose gar (photos courtesy of Jared Kassouf).
Dexter and his dad Corey caught these nice largemouth bass from their kayaks (photos courtesy of Corey Butram).
Chris shows off a trophy smallmouth bass he landed at Wildwood Park (photo courtesy of Chris Clements).
Zach and his dad Brian display some fine Ranger Lake channel catfish.
Carl found some remaining trout at Ranger Lake recently. These cold water fish disappear as summer temperatures warm our waters (photo courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).
Joe shared "Thanks for all your work on the fishing report, really enjoy it. Caught this 29.75 inch walleye at Wendy Park in June" (photos courtesy of Joe Buckland).
Jacob shared "Love the fishing report and really appreciate the work that’s put into it. Here’s some largemouth and smallmouth I’ve caught along the shore at Edgewater and E55." (photos courtesy of Jacob Zbin).
Tim (pictured) and his father were fishing out of Rocky River recently and scored this trophy 31.5" walleye weighing 11.09 lbs! (photos courtesy of Richard Angelone).
Sean shows off a nice largemouth bass caught from shore at Gordon Park harbor (photo courtesy of Sean Johnson).
Steve displays a trophy white bass from E55th (photo courtesy of Steve Farley).
Andrew hefts a trophy Lake erie smallmouth bass (photo courtesy of Andrew Goedel).
Brian and his brother Al had some great evenings casting for walleye at Edgewater Park this summer (photos courtesy of Brian Katigbak).
Tony has the Rocky River smallmouth bass dialed in (photos courtesy of Tony Cilluffo).
Christopher caught this huge walleye at E55th earlier this summer (photo courtesy of Christopher Parks).
Joey was casting a silver and green Littel Cleo spoon into the Cuyahoga River and was rewarded with a fine white bass (photo courtesy of Joey Rhoda).
Femi shows off a monster CLE walleye caught from share after dark (photo courtesy of Femi Zairi).
William caught this northern pike along the CLE shoreline while targeting walleye (photo courtesy of William Bilski).
An angler displays a Rocky River Marina area channel catfish.
Nick and a buddy have had some successful evening walleye outings along the CLE shoreline (photos courtesy of Nick Kosiba).
Reilly shared "Thank you for the weekly fishing report. Every Thursday I look forward to reading it. Saw that the walleye bite was starting to get hot and had to get out there! Caught drifting an Erie Dearie in 25-30 fow." (photo courtesy of Reilly Monroe).
Elizabeth and John from the Burntwood Tavern in North Olmsted show off some of the fish diversity that can be found along the CLE shoreline in early summer.
Officer Jorge displays a farm raised channel catfish prior to being released in Shadow Lake. See the report above for recent catfish stocking details.
Speaking of catfish, a Northeast Regional Sewer District crew turned up these flathead catfish in the Cuyahoga River during recent sampling (photo courtesy of Mark Matteson).
Also speaking of catfish, can you identify this little fellow? This is a full grown stonecat madtom as found in many of our local streams. This fish is intolerant of pollution so its presence indicates good water quality.
Tom shows off a few trophy largemouth caught in a local pond (photos courtesy of Tom Barnhart).
Owen went prospecting with a fly rod at recently restored Strawberry pond and was rewarded with a black crappie caught on a white Woolly Bugger fly (photo courtesy of Owen Lockhart).
Elizabeth and I have been chasing Ohio muskies as well as Lake Michigan summer run steelhead this summer.
Note: The fishing report is updated monthly in June, July, and August and weekly every other month
***Note: All photo submissions must first complete the Cleveland Metroparks photo waiver.***
2024 Cleveland Metroparks Registered Fishing Guides
(name, company, contact)
- #24-001 Gareth Thomas, Alley Grabs Guide Service, [email protected] (216) 235-5056
- #24-002 Jeff Liskay, Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC, [email protected] (440) 781-7536
- #24-003 Monte Casey, The Steelhead Guide, (440) 773-8064 www.steelheadguide.com
- #24-004 Anthony Montagnese, Covered Bridge Outfitters, [email protected] (440) 320-105
- #24-005 Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do LLC, [email protected] (724) 841-1564
- #24-006 Nicholas DelVecchio, Wildwood Outfitters, [email protected] (724) 433-2315
- #24-007 Nate Miller, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com (440) 796-6105
- #24-008 Jim Lampros, [email protected] (216) 513-6011
More information on Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Guide Permit requirements, including the permit application, you may check the following link:
<Fishing Guide Permit Program>
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Fishing Fund.