March 26, 2020

In early spring steelhead trout are the highlight in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  Area streams are offering great fishing conditions today but there rain in the weekend forecast that could change that.  Anglers should keep an eye on the flow data (as well as updated weather forecasts) at the following link to determine conditions: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  PLEASE NOTE: The Rocky River flow gage is malfunctioning for unknown reasons and has been reading much higher than the actual flow the past several days. A total of 1,200 lbs of trout were stocked in the East Branch Rocky River on Wednesady and we hope to stock again next week.

Area streams are offering very good steelhead fishing conditions and opportunities today, but there is rain in the forecast this weekend that could lead to elevated and muddy conditions so the best advice is to get out and enjoy the great weather as soon as you can.  Streams are offering a good mix of chrome bright fresh run steelhead and more colored, darker fish that have been in the streams for awhile.  Steelhead are well distributed throughout our area watersheds, although it seems like the bulk of the fish are currently further upstream.  I have had reports this week of some spawning steelhead in the East Branch Rocky River between Cedar Point Road and Berea Falls.  Steelhead in stained water have been biting best on dime to nickel size spawn sacks in bright colors (hot pink and chartreuse are favorites), and as the water clears small marabou jigs (1/32 and 1/64 ounce are most popular) tipped with maggots, live or salted minnows, 3" rubber worms (pink and white have been good) and salmon egg mimmicking beads drifted near the river bottom under a float will take a greater share of the fish. The quality (size) of better steelhead has been excellent lately.  Lake-run white suckers are intermixed with steelhead in area streams, as well.

Yesterday we stocked 1,200 lbs of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River in Millstream Run Reservation, which complement the 600 pounds we stocked last week.  We stock the river near the intersection of the Metroparks parkway and Royalton Road (Rt 82), off the bridges to the Strongville Wildlife Area and The Chalet, at Bonnie park on the upstream and downstream side of the dam and conclude at the Whitney Road covered bridge.  As the spring progresses trout will be well distributed all throughout that entire section of the river.  The river is offering excellent fishing conditions at this time but rain over the weekend may foul up conditions.  Throughout winter we stocked trout at Wallace (2,800 lbs), Shadow (1,500 lbs), Ledge (1,200 lbs), Judge's (300 lbs) and Ranger (200 lbs) lakes and a fair number of these fish remain.  Stocked trout bite on brightly colored PowerBait shaped into dime size balls, 3" rubber trout worms (pink, orange and white), small jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm and small to medium size spinners.  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 need to be minimum length of 12" and you can harvest 2/day this time of year).   The East Branch Rocky River is scheduled to be stocked again next week and we hope to stock through the end of April.

The breakwall at E55th, pier at Wendy Park (old Coast Guard station) and rocks/pier at Edgewater Park and E72nd offer a chance at steelhead, walleye and variety of other species in early spring.  The boat launch ramps at Edgewater, Gordon Park, and Wildwood park are all usable at this time, and the courtesy docks were installed at Edgewater and Gordon park boat launches last week (the docks at the Rocky River Emerald Necklace Marina boat launch have not been installed yet).  In spring, these harbor areas are good locations to find pre-spawn northern pike and largemouth bass, as well as a variety of panfish species.  A white spinnerbait with silver blades worked slowly is a good early season choice for both bass and pike. The post-spawn shoreline bite for walleye typically picks around Cleveland in April. 

Wallace Lake Temporary Drawdown.   Folks may have noticed that the Wallace Lake water level is down around 3 feet.  The park manager needed to perform some repairs to swimming area infrastructure and the lake will be back to normal after the next good rain.  In the meantime, anglers can still fish the lake and if anything fish should be a bit more concentrated.

7th Annual Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby Fundraiser on March 28.  NOTE: this event has been cancelled for 2020 due to COVID-19 health concerns.  Although the derby was cancelled, we are encouraging folks to keep with the fun spirit and go steelhead fishing with their kiddie rods on Saturday and share photos of their effort!  And we look forward to bringing the event back next year stronger than ever!

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
 

Joe took his daughter to a small creek on Sunday when the main rivers were muddy and it paid off with this nice steelhead (photo courtesy of Joe Miller).



Connor caught this gorgeous steelhead fishing the Rocky River with his dad on Sunday (photo courtesy of Phill Hansen).



Otto scored a chunky rainbow trout yesterday (photo courtesy of Kevin Grieser).




Brad took his son out on the Rocky yesterday and the lad caught his first steelhead (photos courtesy of Brad Gardner).




The Eiblings (Bryce, Alexis and dad Adam) enjoyed some family time outdoors trout fishing at Bonnie Park yesterday.  Adam reports that yellow corn flavored PowerBait dough was the hot bait (photos courtesy of Adam Eibling).




Taylor reported from the Rocky yesterday "My mom and I went out and she caught her first steelhead! Safe to say she's addicted now." (photos courtesy of Taylor Neumann).




Adam caught two steelhead on a tiny tributary of the Rocky River on Tuesday (photos courtesy of Adam Oren).



Steve, owner of RMS Aquaculture, went fishing with his son Nick on the East Branch Rocky River in Millstream Run Reservation yesterday and caught 3 rainbow trout on PowerBait (photo courtesy of Nick Zarzeczny).



Vanessa caught two big rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River yesterday on pink PowerBait trout worms (photo courtesy of Allen Reinke).




Crosby caught these steelhead in the Rocky River this week (photos courtesy of Crosby Hill).






Henry, father and son Wayne and Travis, Charles and "Alabama Jim" (in that order) all caught some rainbow trout at Bonnie Park yesterday (photo courtesy of Henry Stanley).



Nadia caught this bruiser steelhead in the Rocky River this week while fishing with her dad Moe (photo courtesy of Moe Slyman).




John rose to the challenge and caught a pretty Rocky River steelhead on a swung fly yesterday (photos courtesy of John Brochue).






Ted and friends caught some beautiful rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River yesterday on pink trout worms (photos courtesy of Ted).



Ross perservered and landed a steelhead by the Rocky River marina on Tuesday despite muddy river conditions (photo courtesy of Ross Bailey).





Mike appreciates those Rocky River suckers, and I appreciate a guy who can appreciate a sucker! (photos courtesy of Mike Sekerak).





Victor and John are having a great time on the East Branch Rocky River chasing trout using powerBait and orange rubber trout worms.  Victor earned his day off yesterday after working seven 12 hours days in a row as a Strongsville police officer.  John has it a bit easier, being retired from that same department (photos courtesy of John Hall).







Joe shared a bunch of photos of Rocky River "silver bullets" caught by the maina recently (photos courtesy of John Janowski).



I was honored that Governor DeWine tweeted a photo that I snapped while trout stocking on St Patrick's Day.  It's nice to see him promoting fishing as an activity that meets social distancing requirements.