December 9, 2021

***The Fishing Report Blog is updated every Thursday***   The Rocky and Chagrin rivers have dropped into prime shape this morning and steelhead fishing prospects will continue to be excellent into the weekend.  Based on the weather forecast it appears we have rain in the forecast Saturday so anglers should check the flow data at the following links before heading out this weekend: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  Note: the NEORSD station with turbidity sensor is being calibrated and is scheduled to be back online tomorrow.  Walleye and steelhead have been biting along the Cleveland lakefront and rainbow trout were stocked in mid October at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation. 

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers have dropped into prime shape this morning after being elevateds for several days and steelhead fishing prospects will continue to be excellent into the weekend.  Based on the weather forecast it appears we have rain in the forecast Saturday so anglers can check the flow data at the following links above before heading out.  Many anglers this past weekend reported success throughout both river drifting dime size spawn sacks, 1/64 to 1/16 oz marabou jigs, and salmon egg mimmicking beads under floats. By the marina area, casting spoons (such as Little Cleo) and spinners (such as Vibrax and Roostertail) is always an option. Despite not being stocked directly, steelhead are also available in modest numbers in the Cuyahoga River and various smaller area tributaries.

Anglers casting off the rocks and breakwalls at Edgewater Park, E55th/E72nd, Wildwood Park and Wendy Park continue to have opportunities to catch steelhead during the day and walleye at night.  Casting a spoon (such as a 2/5 oz Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) are a good ways to connect with a 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 oz jig tipped with minnow or maggots suspend 3-6 feet below is also a good producer in the aforementioned areas.  A nightcrawler suspended under a bobber on a bare hook can also work well.  A longer noodle rod is best for fishing floats.  Walleye anglers have been connecting by casting lures like Husky Jerk, Bandit, Rattle Trap, and Perfect 10 stickbaits at dusk and after dark.  On windy days Wendy Park pier and E55th breakwall are more protected than Edgewater and Wildwood park shorelines.  Be especially careful of slick conditions along the shoreline rocks and breakwalls, with ice cleats and a long landing net being good investments.

Winter trout stockings at Metroparks lakes and ponds is scheduled for mid to late month- stay tuned to the fishing report for updates on that.  In mid October Cleveland Metroparks stocked 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout and 600 lbs of channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street and plenty of those fish remain to be caught.  The trout average 1.5 lb each and the catfish average 1-2 lbs, but we included a handful of bigger fish in the mix.    If you are happy catching either species you can try a half a nightcrawler worm or peice of popcorn shrimp fished on the canal bottom.

Fishing Report Experienced a Significant Increase in Readership in 2021.  An interesting offshoot of COVID times has been more folks taking up outdoors pursuits.  As one example, viewing of Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Report has spiked by 25.3% this year.  Year to date the report has had 353K page visits, with almost 60K in October alone to kick off the steelhead season.

Courtesy Ramps at our Boat Launches.  As an FYI to late season boaters, the courtesy docks at Rocky River boat launch have now been pulled for the season, and Edgewater and Gordon Park (E72nd) courtesy docks are scheduled to be pulled early next week. 

Photo Release Waivers for Fishing Blog Photos (fast and easy to complete online).  Photo release waivers for photos sent in for the fishing report can easily be completed online through Smart Waiver (takes only about 30 seconds to complete) at the following link: <Smart Waiver link>. You only need to do this one time and any future additional photos submitted are covered too.

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
 

Proud papa Ben shared "Took my son Ben Jr out Monday night and he got his first walleye ever.  He is 4yrs old.  Plus three more walleyes.  We only had 1 hour to fish and caught them throwing a deep diving Reef Runner crankbaits in wonder bread color" (photos courtesy of Ben Stewart).



Congratulations to Joe on catching his personal best steelhead in the Chagrin River this week- a 32.5" chrome bruiser! (photo courtesy of Joe ward).



Brent has been catching rainbow trout at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation using leach patterns under a strike indicator on his fly rod (photos courtesy of Brent ONeill).




Raleigh shared regarding this catch "Trolled outside the 72nd street candycane wall to the mouth of the river.  Worked 30-38 FOW.  Fish were up high on 15 foot leads with P-10’s, 30 foot leads on Rapala F-10’s and lower on 60 foot leads on bandits.  All unassisted.  Speed was 1.6-1.8mph.  Fish were major acrobats…jumping multiple times.  Went 6 for 9 between 8:30am and 11:30am.  Troll was West down and East back." (photos courtesy of Raleigh Guice).



Ed shared from the Rock on Sunday "If I round up today, he was 30in. Big fight on a Brad's wooly bugger jig, white with orange head" (photocourtesy of Ed Schmitt).




Glen caught some nice walleyes at E55th breakwall over the weekend casting a perch color Husky Jerk crankbait (photos courtesy of Glen Stafford).



Jeff shared of his Sunday morning catch from the Rocky River "Just south of Horse Ford. White voodoo jig under a float tipped with wax worms" (photo courtesy of Jeff Molnar).




Jason and Chris show off a largemouth bass and bluegill (both released) from a small Metroparks pond.



Dennis and Bill show off a steelhead doubleheader landed at Morley Ford on the Rocky River on Sunday morning (photo courtesy of Bill Arensberg).





Many anglers reported having success in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers this past weekend.








Slo-Troll'n Charters has kept clients on a hot late season walleye bite around Cleveland this week (photos courtesy of Slo-Troll'n, LLC).



This stunning colorful male rainbow darter was one of several fish added to the stream exhibit aquariums at our Watershed Stewardship Center this week.