September 22, 2022

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***   As we approach fall, anglers on the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers look forward to smallmouth bass and the first returning steelhead trout from Lake Erie. 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 targeting walleye and inland lake/pond anglers are primarily pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish. 

With the cooler weather and rain this week, early running steelhead will continue to trickle in to the lower portions of the Rocky River, Chagrin River and other area streams closer to Lake Erie.  Early fall steelhead also show up around off the rocks at Edgewater and E55th, as well as Wildwood Park on Lake Erie.  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 can 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 shoreline at spots like E55t breakwall and Wendy Park at the old Coast Guard station recently.  They have been biting on bits of worms or small minnows fished on the bottom on a crappie rig.  The best bite is often in the morning and late afternoon.

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 and early fall.

Steelhead Expo at the Rocky River Nature Center this Saturday September 24th.    The Steelhead Expo is a great way to kick off the steelhead season and will be held at the Rocky River Nature Center this Saturday September 24th.  This event is a collaborative effort between the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders and Cleveland Metroparks and will offer a full day of expert speakers and seminars, vendors, and other related information to usher in the fall steelhead season. There is no charge for the event but OCBS, a non-profit sportman's group which is very active in the local fishing and conservation communities, is offering a raffle as a fundraiser so donations or participation in the raffle is encouraged.  Location info here: <Rocky River Nature Center>.

Fall Family Fishing Fest will be held Saturday October 15.    Come out and join us for Fall Family Fishing Fest at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation on Saturday October 15th from 10-2:00pm  This event is free and we will have a limited number of fishing poles to loan out, as well as bait.  We will be stocking 600 lbs of channel catfish and 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout at the Ohio & Erie Canal in anticipation of the event.  Although anglers of any age can participate, prizes in several categories will be reserved for kids 15 years old and under.  And all attendees will be eligible for the grand drawing of a walleye fishing trip with Captain Gary Norman and Dog Pound Charters (must be present to win).  Thank you to Ohio Division of Wildlife and Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders for supporting this great event with grant funds.  More details here:  <Fall Family Fishing Fest>.

Attention Perch Anglers!  The Ohio Division of Wildlife Can Use Your Help.  Are you a perch angler who wants to play a role in assisting biologists in better understanding Central Basin yellow perch in Lake Erie? Well, here's your chance!  The Ohio Division of Wildlife Fairport Fish Research Station is looking for filleted perch carcasses with the spine/head/tail still intact (they will be taking lengths and removing otolith bones from heads for aging) until the end of October.  The fish need to be from the Central Basin between Huron to Conneaut, not from the Western Basin.  The carcasses should be frozen and have general location and depth where caught included.  They can be dropped off at the Fairport Fish Research Station M-F between 9 and 5, or if 20 or more carcasses are available they can arrange pick up (within reason).  For Cleveland area anglers I am also able to accept carcasses to retain and deliver to the researchers (arrange details using my contact info below).  This is an ideal situation because it is making use of perch already harvested by anglers.

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 already covered.

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] .

Brent shared on Saturday from the Rocky River "Got this guy out streamer fishing for smallmouth and he SMASHED my streamer!" (photo courtesy of Brent ONeill).



Anna's grandfather sent in this photo of her walleye catch (photo courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).




Phillip shared his recent smallmouth bass and steelhead catches from the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Phillip Shevchenko).




These are two different steelhead that Ken caught in the Rocky River.  I always appreciate Ken's detailed reports, which always contains a few helpful hints for anglers.  Regarding his first of the year from late last week in the top image he shared "I worked an entire run drifting with a float, and didn’t have any takers. I worked the Rapala in the faster water and was surprised when it hit like a hammer!"  Regarding the second fish "I was fishing Sunday morning at one of the fords and the water was low and clear. I worked a crankbait in the current, switching lures a couple of times. On one of the retrieves, I decided to speed up the retrieve, and then snap/pause it with each crank. I could see the lure in the water as it passed over a whirling eddy. I saw a fish bolt from below and hit the lure!  That was a first as I have never seen a steelie smash a lure." (photos courtesy of Ken Stein).



Although not in Cleveland Metroaprks, I figured anglers would appreciate hearing about this nearby catch.  From Captain Nick "Wanted to let you know a nice brown was caught outside Fairport Harbor by Kurt Princic aboard Carol Ann, Chagrin Valley Charters.  We were fishing 73 FOW and brown hit a bloody nose spoon on #3 dipsey diver 140 back.  Was a great fight. Measured 27” and 7 lbs." (photo courtesy of Captain Nick Korenowski).



Tony caught this fine largemouth bass in a local pond (photo courtesy of Tony Cilluffo).



Ken shared this beautiful buck steelhead specimen he caught in the Rocky River before work (photo courtesy of Ken Harper).




Quite a few nice steelhead and this surprise pink salmon turned up during sampling for a fish training for our naturalists late last week.  All were released unharmed to be caught by some lucky anglers.




Since we are a bit light on photos this week I figured I'd share my biggest muskie of the season so far caught on Lake St Clair on Saturday.  I almost exclusively cast and jig (versus troll) for muskies, but let me tell you that casting and ripping an 11 ounce bait all day is a work out!