April 17, 2025

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May***  Local rivers are in good shape and will continue to offer excellent fish opportunities into the weekend. Anglers can expect excellent numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass and a modest number of steelhead. To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River Main Branch flow gage data> <Rocky River East Branch flow gage data> <Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. (Note: The flow gage on the Rocky River Main Branch is temporarily down due to an upcoming bridge project and Cleveland Metroparks and USGS are in ongoing communication seeking a workable interim solution. The East Branch flow data above will still give anglers a good idea of the trend in river flow in the meantime). Anglers are pursuing rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River as well as Wallace and Shadow lakes, all of which were recently stocked.

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are offering very good fishing conditions this week and it appears that can be expected to continue into the weekend. The real highlight this week has been the excellent lake-run smallmouth bass fish as corroborated by all the photos below. Smallmouth bite medium size minnow or shad crankbaits, spinners, tube jigs (3” olive colored is great), and Ned rigs, as well as streamer flies that mimic a minnow or goby. There are still a decent number of steelhead around, including a few fresh fish, although that will continue to taper off. This is a great time of year to score the “silver and bronze”, which is catching a steelhead and a big smallmouth bass on the same outing (and often from the same spots). 

On Tuesday, we stocked 900 lbs of rainbow trout in the east Branch Rocky River. Fish were released at the parking area off the parkway just north of Rt 82/Royalton road, as well as off the bridges to the Strongsville Wildlife Area and The Chalet, at the covered bridge, and at the low ford that crosses the river just south of Wallace Lake. We plan to stock the final bunch of trout in the river on Tuesday next week. Also, on March 18, the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked just over 1,000 rainbow trout in Shadow Lake but note that these trout average a half pound each (versus the Metroparks stocked fish that are at least twice that size). These smaller trout are perfect for children and for fish fries. Additionally, throughout winter a total of 6,500 lbs of mixed trout were stocked between Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Judge’s, and Ranger lakes and a fair number of those trout are still around. Small to medium size spoons and spinners, a dime size ball of PowerBait on a bare hook and fished about 18” from a sinker on the bottom, and small jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm below a float/bobber are just a few proven offerings for stocked trout.

To clarify trout limit by location (all trout species combined), the daily limit is 3 trout at Wallace, Ranger, Ledge and Judge’s lakes. The daily limit is 5 trout at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal.  For steelhead/rainbow trout in the rivers, harbors and Lake Erie this time of year the daily limit is 2 with minimum size of 12”.

In spring, there are a variety of fishing opportunities along the Cleveland shoreline. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, steelhead, yellow perch, and sunfish can all be found in area harbors and breakwalls. This fishery is heating up nicely and will get even better in the coming weeks. The courtesy docks have been installed at both E72nd/Gordon Park and Edgewater public launch ramps for the convenience of early season boaters. The docks at Emerald Necklace ramps on the Rocky River will not be installed until the river is dredged - likely in early May.

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

The smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent this week!  Tom reported on Tuesday “Caught this 5.56 lb smallmouth on the Rocky River on a chartreuse Clouser minnow.  I’d like to say thank you to the Backpackers Shop fly shop guy who helped out with the net, weigh-in, and pic” (photo courtesy of Tom Sarko).

Josh caught a trophy brown trout at Wallace Lake on Friday (photo courtesy of Josh Tomasi).

Roger has been catching some nice largemouth bass at E55th marina (just a few of them above) as well as a surprise 32” northern pike. He has been doing well on Steel Shad blade baits (photos courtesy of Roger Berglund).

Pat reported that he had a fun week of chasing the “silver and bronze’ of the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Pat Cramer).

Kevin Lukehart caught this trophy 15” yellow perch weighing in at 2.09 lbs at Edgewater Park (photo courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

Brandon scored some fine smallies in the Rocky River in Lakewood (photos courtesy of Brandon Aspery).

Congratulations to Carlos on catching his personal best smallmouth bass this week (photo courtesy of Carlos Velez Serrano).

Chuck has been catching bass along the Cleveland shoreline using jerkbaits and caught this bonus chunky pike too (photo courtesy of Chuck Naujoks).

Chris was yet another angler who got in on the hot smallmouth bite on the Rocky River this week (he caught 6 total on Sunday). The Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers also offer good lake-run smallmouth bass fishing (photo courtesy of Chris Balser).

Captain Sam of Angry Floater Charters reported on Tuesday that the got their 2 person limit of walleye in the muddy waters of Cleveland (photo courtesy of captain Sam Horn).

Wes reported and inquired on Monday “Ended with 3 within 30 minutes at the Rocky River on a small vibric Rooster Tail spinner.  Also wearing my favorite sweater.  My question is, the one photo smallmouth has a lot more color, line etc than the other one. Does that mean it is more likely a lake run smallmouth and the other is resident to the river?”. Mike’s response:  Great question, Wes.  You can’t say based on coloration as fish color/pattern can vary greatly between specimens.  But, based on the good size and chunky nature of both fish I am betting they are both lake-runs (photos courtesy of Wes Bombik).

Between the Rocky River and Lake Erie at Edgewater pPark Mike scored the “Gold, Silver, and Bronze” which mean catching a walleye, steelhead, and smallmouth bass in the same day.  And this is the best time of year to accomplish that hefty feat!  Furthermore, he shared yesterday regarding the last photo from the Rocky “The fishing has been so excellent it makes me wanna cry! I was getting bit on every cast yesterday. Landed several 18in+ smallies but this one just towered over the rest. Little over 20in and I’m confident it was 5lb but I didn’t weigh it.” (photos courtesy of Mike Simon).

#25-001 Jeff Liskay, Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC, [email protected] (440) 781-7536

#25-002 Gareth Thomas, Alley Grabs Guide Service, [email protected] (216) 235-5056

#25-003 Jim Lingenfelter, Wild Ohio Outdoors Guide Service, [email protected], (440) 731-9160

#25-004 Monte Casey, Steelhead Guide, (440) 773-8064 www.steelheadguide.com

#25-005 Nicholas DelVecchio, Wildwood Outfitters, [email protected] (724) 433-2315

#25-006 Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do LLC, [email protected] (724) 841-1564

#25-007 Nate Miller, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com (440) 796-6105