As we transition into early 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.
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 is one of the best producers of bass in the river. "Smallies" also bite well on live bait (ie: minnow, crayfish, and leeches), lures (ie: spinners and minnow plugs), and flies (ie: crayfish patterns, Clouser minnows, dark brown or olive sculpin or muddler minnow patterns). Bass of all sizes are abundant bass in the river, with a healthy number of trophy lake-run fish available through at least early June. It has been very encouraging to see most anglers releasing the larger bass recently so that these fine gamefish can be caught again. Rock bass are also present in the same river areas as smallmouth, and can be caught using the same offerings listed above.
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. Lots of channel catfish stocked in late May also remain to be caught at Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area. More catfish are scheduled to be stocked at various locations in mid June, as well. These will include Shadow Lake, Ledge Lake, Ranger Lake, Oxbow Lagoon, Judge's Lake and Strawberry Pond. 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.
Some large carp will be found in the northern river reaches throughout the month, as well. Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails. A growing contingent of fly anglers looking for a challenge are targeting carp with nymphs and crayfish imitations, as well. 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.
Summer means family fishing time for many folks, and panfish fit the bill perfectly for a leisurely picnic and fishing outing. Anglers seeking panfish have experienced action at most of the ponds and lakes in the Park District in the past week. 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, and Lakefront Reservation are just a few of many places in the Park to wet a line for various panfish species. Largemouth bass fishing is often best in Wallace and Hinckley lakes, although bass can be found in most park waters.
The walleye bite has been excellent 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, northern pike, 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. The ODNR Division of Wildlife weekly Lake Erie fishing report can be viewed <here>.
OCBS Support of the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund. We've had a generous recent donation to our Fishing Fund that I'd like to acknowledge. Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders acquired $6,600 in grant funds from the Ohio Division of Wildlife to support our Spring Children's Fishing Derbies and kids' fishing opportunities in general. We were unable to hold the event this year due to the pandemic, but thankfully the state was flexible due to the circumstances and will still allow the funds to be used to stco fish for general public fishing. On that note, I encourage folks to take your family fishing in the near future at one of our stocked locations in the spirit of the children's fishing derbies that we couldn't host this year.
A Summer of Dam Removals and River Recovery. In an event over a decade and a half in the making the Cuyahoga River diversion dam in Brecksville is being removed as I write this. See photos below. Although the work will remove an immediate fishing hotspot for anglers, this is a huge step in the big picture of the recovery of the river that catalyzed the federal Clean Water Act fifty years ago. For a very long time the area upstream of the dam has been a lagging point in the recovery of the river with lower fish biodiversity due to the limitations of habitat caused by the stagnant dam pool. This project will not only diversify the habitat for a distance upstream of the former dam but it will open up miles of prime spawning area for valued native species like walleye and smallmouth bass coming up from Lake Erie. This could also open the door for future projects like stocking the Cuyahoga River with steelhead and possibly stocking the river with state endangered lake sturgeon (which haven’t been seen in the river for the better part of a century). For people that appreciate conservation of our waterways this truly is a “watershed event”- literally and figuratively!
Another exciting project currently underway is removal of the Bonnie Park dam on the East Branch Rocky River. This stretch is home to many native fish species, including one of only 3 populations of state threatened central bigmouth shiners in Ohio, as well as a popular spring fishery for stocked rainbow trout. This project has a unique interactive website where park visitors can help chronicle the removal of the dam at the following link: <Bonnie Park Dam Removal Chronolog>. More on this project here: <Bonnie Park Restoration Project>.
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
Tuan wrote "Here are few photos of my son and I fishing over the last few days that I would like to share for your fishing report. Jayden was so excited when he caught these smallmouth bass. We are grateful for all the fishing resources available around Cleveland Metroparks and are big fans of your fishing report." (photos courtesy of Tuan Truong).
John proudly reports that his grandsons are an equal threat to largemouth bass in local ponds and walleye in Lake Erie! (photos courtesy of John Hall).
Anthony and his buddies have the Rocky River smallmouth dialed in. Ned rigs and small football jigs are producing best for them (photos courtesy of Anthony Lombardo).
Congratulations to Sean on catching his first walleyes ever along the Cleveland shoreline (photos courtesy of Sean Johnson).
Branden shows off a chunky largemouth bass caught on a topwater frog lure (photo courtesy of John Burkhart).
James reports that the walleye bite has been hot at E55th breakwall (photo courtesy of James Lilly).
Andrew has been enjoying some great largemouth bass fishing off the rocks at the east end of E55th Marina (photos courtesy of Andrew Sowinski).
Carl caught a rainbow trout and channel catfish at Wallace Lake (photo courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).
Jarred and Kenny caught some trophy walleye at Edgewater Park over the past few evening using P10 and shallow Bandit crakbaits (photos courtesy of Jerred Bugg).
Buddies John (pictured) and Jeff caught some healthy smallmouth and largemouth bass along the CLE harbors on Lake Erie (photos courtesy of Jeff Shaw).
Ben caught this beautiful smallmouth bass using a white spinnerbait with triple copper blades and a paddle tail at Morley Ford on the Rocky River yesterday (photo courtesy of Ben Mott).
Kevin caught this fine walleye off Rocky River on Tuesday evening (photo courtesy of Kevin Allen).
Bill shared "I read your report every week! Here is a resident Chagrin River smallmouth I caught on a Meppes minnow on June 3, 2020. Thanks for your great work!" (photo courtesy of Bill Mills).
Daniel has been tearing up those Cleveland walleyes and scored a bonus northern pike, too (photos courtesy of Daniel Coon).
Al caught a gorgeous CLE shoreline smallmouth bass and a hard fighting freshwater drum, aka sheepshead (photos courtesy of Al Reinke).
The Cleveland shoreline is giving up LOTS of walleye after dark (photo courtesy of Benjamin Dingledine).
Steve caught this walleye casting a Redeye Shad at E55th on Saturday (photo courtesy of Steve Farley).
Ross has those Rocky River smallmouth bass all figured out! (photos courtesy of Ross Bailey).
David and friends are among those enjoying the after dark walleye bounty at Edgewater Park (photos courtesy of David Wagner).
Dustin reports "Report from the boat Lake Erie. June 4th fishing 49 to 53 FOW pulling Bandits with 1oz weight 60 back and #30 Jet Divers with Spoons 90 back at 1.6 to 2.0 mph. The spoon bite is on!!! 15 fish in 90 minutes home by 9am. Good colors for Bandits have been Blue Chrome and Daydream. Spoon Colors Natural Born Killer, Chicken Wing, and Perch. Other reports earlier in the week fishing has been good with Bandits 30 to 120 1.7 to 2.2 mph. Notably Mary McDaniel got her first walleye in addition to 18 more on the same day she purchased her first fishing license." (photos courtesy of Dustin Carneal).
When the water is too muddy for walleye and bass, the hard pulling channel catfish and freshwater drum don't mind a bit and are tons of fun!
It is a very exciting spring transitioning to summer for dam removal projects on local streams! Above are images of work being done just today on the Cuyahoga River diversion dam (below Rt 82 in Brecksville) and Bonnie Park dam on the East Branch Rocky River in Strongsville, in that order. See the info highlight in the report above for details.
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>
Learn how you can support recreation opportunities through a donation to the Cleveland Metroparks
Fishing Fund.