March 14, 2024

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May***  Rivers are just dropping into nice shape for steelhead anglers but more rain is on the way and will likely foul up conditions for the weekend. Anglers should monitor the most recent river conditions at the following links: <Rocky River flow gage data> <Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  Cleveland Metroparks has stocked 900 pounds of rainbow trout on Monday split equally between the East Branch Rocky River and Wallace Lake (details below).
 
The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are just offering good conditions for steelhead anglers but additional rain in the forecast will likely foul up conditions for the weekend. Wise anglers will stay tuned to the flow data at the links above before making a visit to fish the rivers. Anglers were finding some steelhead in smaller creeks, such as Euclid Creek, when the main rivers were muddy this week. Small unstocked streams are usually hit or miss, with Porter Creek in Huntington Reservation and Tinkers Creek in Bedford Reservation being just a few of the others that can be worth exploring during high water on the main rivers. Dime to nickel size spawn sacks (trout or salmon eggs in chartreuse, hot pink, orange and white mesh), live minnows, 1/64 or 1/32 oz marabou jigs tipped with maggots, soft plastic minnows/nymphs/tubes on a small jig, and salmon egg mimicking beads can all work well. Fly fishers are dead drifting egg patterns, beadhead nymph and streamer patterns under strike indicators. There are a mix of pre-spawn, spawning and post spawn fish present in the streams, and they are well distributed throughout the watersheds.
 
On Monday morning we stocked 900 pounds of rainbow trout, and the fish were split between the East Branch Rocky River and Wallace Lake (the latter so that there would still be an opportunity to pursue the fish if the rivers get muddy from rain). The river fish were stocked at four locations between Rt 82 (Royalton Road) and Wallace Lake. Unfortunately, the popular covered bridge spot will not be stocked this spring due to an ongoing major bridge project. We plan to stock again early next week. Additionally, some trout stocked throughout the winter remain at Ledge and Shadow lakes. The Ohio Division of Wildlife plans to stock rainbow trout (traditionally around 500 fish) at Shadow Lake on Friday, March 22, as well.
 
Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby is back on Saturday March 30th and ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!  The always popular Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby is back this year and scheduled for Saturday March 30th. Cleveland Metroparks will be leading the event and Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders (a non-profit) will be hosting the raffle. Trophies for three largest steelhead, raffles, and a cookout are all part of the day's festivities for this fun event where anglers must fish for steelhead with a kiddie fishing pole! 100% of proceeds from the fundraiser event go to support the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund (this event has raised $49K since 2015).  The event headquarters will be at South Mastic Woods Picnic Area (immediately south of the Putritas Road bridge), a central location on the Rocky River that offers lots of space. Mark your calendars for this fun event for a great cause!  You can save $5 versus the day of the event ($30 vs $35) by registering for the Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby online. More info and register online here:  <Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby>.
 
This event is rain or shine and if river fishing conditions are poor at the time of the event then the competition will also be opened up to trout at Wallace Lake. Registration includes a tasty hot lunch but if you choose not to participate in the event we still welcome you to the OCBS raffle (you do not need to be registered to take part in the raffle). If you are not registered but still want lunch, you can do that for a $10 onsite donation.  Raffle tickets will be sold onsite and is cash only. The raffle will have an amazing array of around 35 packages (most, but not all, are a diversity of fishing related items) totaling close to $10K in value so don’t miss out!
 
A big thank you to our current event supporters, as follows. Westside Toyota is a Supporting Sponsor and repeat sponsors Jason’s Automotive Inc, Point Blank Hunts, Erie Outfitters Dog Pound Charters, EnviroScience and Kevin Kilbane. Joining us as a first time sponsor is M3 Technologies. Contributors to the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders raffle include Shine’s Bait & Tackle, Erie Outfitters, River Roe Tackle, VooDoo Custom Tackle, Cuyahoga Falls Parks & Recreation Department, ASG Custom Rods, Majestic Reels, Furball Custom Baits, Lake Erie Kayak Fishing with Chuck Earls, Cast Cray Outdoors, Olmsted Laser Wash, Cleveland Fishing Company, Ohio Fishing Adventures, Church of Perch, Capt. Jeff Liskay, Jerry Darkes and Richard Angelone.  Please consider patronizing these businesses that support local fishing!
 
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

 
Patrick shared on Saturday “I caught this tiger trout today at Wallace Lake. I released it back into the water.  I caught it on a Rooster Tail.” (photos courtesy of Patrick Halaburda).




Joe and Zach were adaptable and it paid off.  Joe shared "Zach Moran is a Doctoral Candidate at Baylor University studying population genetics and ecology of Longnose and Alligator Gar on the Brazos River. He flew in from Texas to meet his fellow fish biologist buddy Joe and fish for steelhead this weekend, but was limited to small creeks due to high water conditions on most rivers. He still had a blast and managed to catch several, including this beautiful male" (photo courtesy of Joe Schmitt).





Brad shared “My son Mitch caught his first golden rainbow on a jig at Wallace Lake today (3/10) and I got a rainbow off of Power Bait while fishing in a blizzard. Really enjoy reading your Thursday reports. Keep up the good work.” (photos courtesy of Brad Geduldig).




Zakery caught and released this gorgeous 31” hen steelhead in the Cuyahoga River. The river gets a respectable run of stray fish already but additionally the river will be stocked with juvenile steelhead for the first time ever this spring (photo courtesy of Zakery Taylor).




Devin and his father Mark (from Steelville, Missouri) are in town to fish for steelhead through Satuday. Rivers were elevated and muddy on Tuesday so I suggested they check out Euclid Creek, which clears quicker, and it paid off with this nice steelhead for Devin. Mark runs Adventure Outdoors- a campground and canoe/raft rental on the Maramec River and guides part time for trout and smallmouth bass there (photo courtesy of Mark Dessieux).




Brian was using a Kastmaster spoon when he caught this pretty brown trout at Wallace Lake on Sunday during a blizzard with 40 mph wind gusts! We’ve had everything from snow to temperatures exceeding 75 deg F this week-  welcome to spring in Ohio! (photo courtesy of Brian Kich).





Rocco scored a gorgeous fresh steelhead this week as well as a bonus quillback carpsucker- and I swear that’s the real species name! (photos courtesy of Rocco Serio).




Nick scored this fresh buck steelhead in a smaller stream while the main rivers were elevated and muddy (photo courtesy of Nick Kosiba).




Chris shared “I coach Pee Wee basketball and two of my hardest working players Lucy and Rosie Bevilacqua gave me a gift card after an undefeated season. I used the gift to buy fly tying hooks and materials and landed this beautiful steelhead. Thank you Lucy and Rosie!” (photo courtesy of Chris Ligan).




Can you name the species? Kevin shared “I caught this little guy at Oxbow Lagoon while I was using ultra light gear & glowing lures with a maggot/waxworm tipped a few inches above the bottom on a bobber. This was when the weather was warmer about 4 or 5 weeks weeks ago. I doubt many people even know what this fish is”. Answer: it’s a golden shiner (photo courtesy of Kevin Erbs).





 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!  The Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby fundraiser is coming back on Saturday March 30^th.  Thank you to Supporting Sponsor Westside Toyota as well as multi-year supporters Jason’s Automotive Inc, Point Blank Hunts, Erie Outfitters, EnviroScience, Dog Pound Charters and Kevin Kilbane, as well as first time sponsor M3 Technologies! Also a big thank you to our list of Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders raffle donors listed above!  More info and register online here:  <Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby>.