September 3, 2020

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***   As we begin our approach to fall, highlight species targeted by anglers along the Rocky River and other area streams include smallmouth bass, carp, panfish, and channel catfish-  with a watchful eye looking for the first returning steelhead trout as temperatures cool. Area rivers are exhibiting low flow at the beginning of September.  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 anglers are primarily targeting walleye and inland lake/pond anglers are primarily pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish. 

As the weather cools, early steelhead first show up around off the rocks at Edgewater and E55th, Wildwood Park and in the northernmost river sections by the lake.  Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are as good a bet as any for connecting with an early steelhead trout.  These same areas are beginning to produce a few walleye after dark, as well, with Perfect 10 and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits working well.

Rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, freshwater drum and sunfish species can be found along the Cleveland shoreline in late summer and can be caught on offerings such as tube jigs, dropshot rigs and live bait.  Although not consistent from day to day, white perch and even a few yellow perch have made appearances at the E55th breakwall the past two weeks, at times in good numbers, and have been biting on bits of worms or small minnow fished on the bottom on a crappie rig.  The best bite has been in the afternoon lately.

Anglers are pursuing a mix of warmwater species in the streams  Smallmouth bass are the most sought after among them and bite best at the heads of deeper pools in the mornings and evenings.  A dark olive or brown tube jig 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). 

Channel catfish, carp, sheepshead and several sucker species are also present in some of these same areas in the river, especially around the marina on the Rocky, and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water.  Catfishing is usually best during lower light conditions using baits such as nightcrawlers, minnows, chicken liver, and processed dough baits.   Catfish often bite best following a rain when the water is a bit murky.  Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails.  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.

Anglers at our inland lakes and ponds are catching catfish, largemouth bass, and panfish.  Wallace Lake, Ledge Lake, Shadow Lake, and Beyer's Pond are just a few other spots worth poking around in late summer.

Virtual Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) event.  The popular Fly Fishing Film Tour was cancelled back in March due to Covid.  Fortunately, it was rescheduled as a virtual event which will run through September 7th.  If you purchase tickets through the following link you will also support the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club- which gives back to local conservation efforts: <Virtual F3T tickets>.

Sean caught a pair of nice walleye casting from shore at E72nd on Tuesday evening (photo courtesy of Sean Johnson).




Min displays a big bluegill caught at E55th breakwall, and Alan and Min caught the bluegill and bonus crappie in the bottom photo at Wallace Lake.  They have been doing well using maggots on a small hook (photos courtesy of Alan Tomko).



A young angler proudly displays his "trophy" bass from Wallace Lake (photo courtesy of Tracy Orzeck).



Jack shows off a nice steelhead caught off Cleveland (photo courtesy of Michael Mochan).



John shared regarding this bruiser channel catfish "I would like to have this pic if possible the next time you do the report. I caught it at 55th park in Cleveland. It was 31 inches long and 13 pounds." (photo courtesy of John Schmidt).



"Captain T" catches some really nice bluegill at E55th using a few maggots on a small hook dangled  srraight down on the bottom on a sensitive ultralight spinning rod.





Dustin shared "Here's a catfish from the Oxbow Lagoon and some walleye from 60' of water off Edgewater suspended between 25' and 35'. The walleye are biting a copper spoon off the good old Dipsy Diver.  The great blue heron was on the river at the bottom of Hogsback Lane" (photos courtesy of Dustin F).



Joey shared in late August "I saw an unfortunate lack of yellow perch in this month's report so I just wanted to show that they're still here. Fished yesterday evening for 2 and a half hours at E55th and pulled up 5 yellows, biggest being just shy of 12 inches, along with 24 white perch. Other than my own, I saw two others pull up a single yellow perch each. They're randomly in and out, but they were definitely in last night." (photo courtesy of Joey).



Bill Shields caught this big channel catfish while targeting Lake Erie walleye (photo courtesy of Daniel Zukie).






Dan also caught some bruiser catfish while seeking walleye (photos courtesy of Monte Casey).



Reilly shared "Thought you may find this interesting. While fishing the Chagrin south of the polo fields, I caught a small walleye. Crazy to see how many juvenile walleye are in the lake/area rivers! Cheers for the good work." (photo courtesy of Reilly Monroe).



Some of you may remember Tyler Lawson, who formerly taught biology at Baldwin Wallace University.  He sent me this photo this week of a pair of fresh coho salmon from Alska, where his is working as a fisheries biologist for Alaska Department of Fish and Game (photo courtesy of Tyler Lawson).



John captured a nice image of a wayward brown pelican that was hanging out along the CLE shoreline recently (photo courtesy of John Winters).