May 2, 2024

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May***  Rivers are offering good fishing conditions for lake-run smallmouth bass and a few straggler steelheads are still available. There is some rain in the forecast into the weekend so 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>. The walleye bite has been hot along the Cleveland shoreline after dark and trout are available in the East Branch Rocky River and Wallace Lake.

The runs of Lake Erie smallmouth bass in our streams is going strong. “Smallies” migrate up the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers on their spawning runs in spring, although smaller year around resident bass are found in the rivers, too. The lake-run bass reach trophy prportions with bass over 20” and 5 pounds caught every season. Smallmouth bass will strike artificial lures similar to steelhead- such as medium size crankbaits, spinners, tube jigs (dark brown and olive are good) as well as marabou jigs under floats and streamer flies that imitate gobies, minnows and crayfish. Late spring offers a great opportunity to score the "silver and bronze", which is catching a steelhead and lake-run smallmouth bass in the same day, often from the same pool on the same offering. Lake-run bass are typically available in the streams until early June. There are still a modest number of straggler steelhead around but that will be over very soon with the warmer weather.

On April 10, we stocked the final scheduled 900 lbs of rainbow trout into Wallace Lake due to flooded conditions on the East Branch rocky River. Previously this spring we had stocked 2,250 lbs of trout in the East Branch rocky river and 450 lbs in Wallace Lake. In the river the fish were stocked at five locations between Rt 82 (Royalton Road) and Wallace Lake. Additionally, trout stocked throughout the winter remain at Wallace, Ledge and Shadow lakes (see a photos of some fine trout from Wallace below). The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked rainbow trout (500 fish) at Shadow Lake in late March, as well.

The Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie is hot right now for post-spawn walleye and anglers are casting shallow running stickbaits from shore after dark. Edgewater Park, Wendy Park (at the old Coast Guard station) and E55th wall are good spots. Harbor areas at Edgewater, Wildwood and E72nd boat ramp offer mixed catch opportunities in late spring for largemouth bass, rock bass northern pike, yellow perch and sunfish species. The breakwall area at E55th offers opportunities to catch yellow perch or white perch using minnows or bits of worms on crappie spreaders on the bottom, although that bite is unpredictable from day to day.

Children’s Spring Fishing Derbies are coming May 18 & 19. We have a change this year with our spring fishing derby at the Wallace Lake location. Due to ongoing construction on the new concession at the lake the site will not be suitable for a big event in May. So we are switching gears at this location and offering a Photo Submission Fishing Derby where kids under 16 years old can fish the lake anytime that weekend and parents or guardian can submit their best photos from the day ([email protected]) to be considered for 3 prizes for “Best Photo” (we will have several judges making the decisions)! Note: they can be fun photos of fishing from the day and do not necessarily need to include fish. Parents must fill out the online photo release to be eligible (see link below). Winners will be announced in the May 23 fishing report.

The May 19 location at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation will be our traditional organized fishing derby format.  Rainbow trout and farm raised channel catfish will be stocked at both location. Details on the May 19 event here:  <Ohio & Erie Canal Fishing Derby>.

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

Tiffany shared regarding her exciting surprise catch “Hello, a friend and I were fishing at E.55 Sunday evening.  The fishing was very slow. Beautiful day but Lake Erie was very still and flat. I've heard that the fish bite better when there's a little chop on the water. But there was no chop and no bites. But I lucked up and caught a passing steelhead. It put on quite a show, running this way and that and jumping out of the water a few times.   I was panfishing on a ultralight with 4lb test so it was a whole lot of fun reeling it in.Thankfully a good Samaritan had a net because there was no way I would have been able to land it without it. Thank you and have a wonderful week!” (photo courtesy of Tiffany Lovett).

Congratulations to Nick on accomplishing the “Gold-Silver-Bronze Challenge”, which entails catching a walleye, steelhead and smallmouth bass in the same day. He will be awarded the decal pictured from Cleveland Fishing company to commemorate his feat. More here: <GSB Challenge> (photos courtesy of Nick Mierke).