December 21, 2023

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May*** Anglers on the Rocky River and other area streams are targeting steelhead trout. 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 catching walleye and at inland locations they are pursuing trout stocked this week (details below).
 
River conditions are very good following a good bump in flow and steelhead fishing prospects are excellent. Rain is in the forecast for this weekend, though, so anglers should check the latest trend in flow before embarking on a trip to the rivers. Steelhead are available in the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers, as well as a number of smaller streams. Fish are being caught on a variety of offerings including dime to nickel size spawn sacks (colored mesh bags containing trout or salmon eggs), live minnows, 1/64 or 1/32 oz jigs tipped with maggots, and salmon egg mimmicking beads drifted under floats in holes and deeper runs.  
 
Cleveland shoreline areas are also producing some outstanding catches of walleye after dark, although the bite can be extremely hit or miss from day to day. Perfect 10, Husky Jerk 14 and other shallow running larger stick-style crankbaits are working well. Anglers should make note that the fish cleaning station at Gordon Park/E72nd St boat ramp has been winterized and will be closed until spring.
 
For anglers interested in trout, we just stocked 3,000 pounds of mixed trout this past Monday and Tuesday between Wallace (1,400 lbs), Shadow (750 lbs), Ledge (600 lbs), Judge’s (150 lbs) and Ranger (100 lbs) lakes.  Most were rainbow trout averaging a pound each Although there were plenty of bonus brook, brown, golden rainbow, and even rare tiger (brook x brown hybrid) trout to keep things interesting. A few of the fish were truly of trophy proportions (see a few examples below in the photos). Small marabou or hair jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm, a dime sized ball of Power Bait, and smallish to medium size jigging spoons are all great offerings to try for trout. Although it may well be gone by the weekend, a thin crust of ice formed on our lakes and ponds mid week. When this is the case anglers can use a net of stick to break ice around fishing docks or ledges where the shore drops quickly into water several feet deep and target trout from the safety of shore.
 
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] .

Tight Lines,

Mike

Griffin caught a rainbow trout while fishing at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation with his dad (photo courtesy of Christopher Champion).







Matt caught a limit of delicious yellow perch vertical jigging from his kayak near the mouth of the rocky river. Check out his great video from the outing <here> (photos courtesy of Matt Gunn).




Nick caught this colorful brook trout at Ledge Lake. See the report above for details on trout stockings this week (photo courtesy of Nick Zarzeczny).





Andrew has been catching some nice walleye casting from the Lake Erie shoreline (photos courtesy of Andrew Smith).




Dale shared his catch from last week as well as a good reminder about river etiquette “Just wanted to share for this week’s fishing report. Caught a nice buck steelie on a hand-tied pink jig on the rocky on Tuesday morning. No one else was catching fish that morning, but I kept at it for a while. Just drift after unyielding drift with the water quick and muddy. But it is a satisfaction beyond expression to finally bring one of these beautiful creatures to hand with a presentation of one’s own making. Especially when everyone else is drifting bait. But hey, we’re all just anglers looking for a thrill.

On a separate note, I have to say there are a lot of young anglers out there who do not practice the river etiquette that I was taught. I hope we can all make a concerted effort to make the experience of fishing our glorious waters as pleasant for as many people as possible. Let’s not spot jump and cast our lines in other angler’s general area nor ‘hero drift’ into another fisher’s stretch of water. Practice patience, wait your turn and mother nature’s grace will find you. Thanks for all that you and your community do to educate and provide for our fishing folk.” (photo courtesy of Dale Novotny).






Jim and a buddy had a great late season walleye outing on Lake Erie and were treated to the Cleveland skyline lights while out there (photos courtesy of Jim Rieke).






John shared “Fishing on the Rocky has been a blast lately, here are a few fish I’ve caught this week. I also added a fish from earlier in November I wanted to show in the fishing report because of the amazing color on him” (photos courtesy of John Zupan).






Karl and his buddy had an amazing day casting for walleye all night from the Cleveland shoreline this week. They both got a limit then caught and released lots more. Their two man total was 108 walleye!  For anyone doubting this, here is part 1 of a <video> detailing their evening. He is still processing video for part 2 but just be aware how hit or miss this fishery can be. Just the night prior a whole line of anglers in the same general area went home largely empty handed. You just need to be there to find out (photos courtesy of Karl Wolf).






Noah and a buddy caught a limit of Wallace Lake trout highlighted by these colorful brook trout. He also cleaned up a netful of trash left in the area by less conscientious people. Thanks Noah! (photos courtesy of Noah Koscho).





Chris found some big steelhead in a small creek this week (photos courtesy of Chris Ligan).




An angler shows off a nice steelhead caught at the Rocky River marina area (photo courtesy of Jimmy Miranda).





We stocked 3,000 pounds of trout this week! See report above for details. Here my trout supplier’s daughters show off a huge 9.5 lb tiger trout and giant golden rainbow trout that were in the mix to make some lucky anglers very happy!