January 23, 2025

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May***  The arctic blast this week has eliminated most open water and shut down river steelhead fishing for the most part. On the other hand, anglers are getting out on the ice for stocked trout and other species on our inland lakes and ponds as well on the Cleveland lakefront harbors. Please read the ice fishing safety guidelines offered below, especially if you are less experienced on the ice.

With the extreme cold hitting the region this week steelhead fishing in the streams has functionally ended for the time being. In fact, a few anglers are even beginning to ice fish the sluggish and deeper river areas closer to Lake Erie. The area around the Rocky River boat ramps is one such area, although less experienced ice anglers should stick to fishing inland lakes and ponds which is safer. Steelhead through the ice bite medium size jigging spoons as well as the same baits they traditionally hit in the rivers (spawn sacks, small jigs tipped with maggots, and emerald shiners).

There are plenty of trout still available as in December we stocked 3,500 pounds of mixed trout between Wallace (1,900 lbs), Shadow (750 lbs), Ledge (650 lbs), Judge’s (100 lbs) and Ranger (100 lbs) lakes. The bulk 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 in the mix. Given the quality of the trout stocked they have received high fishing pressure and folks are reporting a tough bite overall. Some tips are to fish small baits and jigs under small ice floats and to expect very light hits and set the hook quickly. Another good option through the ice are medium size (2-3”) jigging spoons, which can be worked at various depths of the water column until active fish are encountered. Although jigging spoons do not require bait, they can still be tipped with a few maggots, a waxworm or a small minnow, which can sometimes elicit more bites. A dime size ball of PowerBait on a bare hook or molded on a small jighead can also produce. A second (and final) round of winter trout stocking will occur later this month. Keep posted to this report for details on that.

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 in winter the daily limit is 2 with minimum size of 12” whether fishing the rivers, harbors or Lake Erie.

Ice fishing on the Cleveland harbors can offer a variety of species including steelhead, yellow perch and northern pike among them. The trick is to find areas that are not loaded too thick with schools of gizzard shad (they can get so abundant that at times you can’t avoid snagging bthem while jigging).  Steelhead through the ice will hit similar baits to stocked trout (listed above) as well as offerings they bite in the river. Yellow perch and other panfish bite a small ice jig tipped with a maggot or two or a waxworm and pike bite jigging spoons and live minnows best. Ice in these areas has more variability than inland lakes so be extra cautious. The protected harbors at E55th Marina, Gordon Park/E72nd boat ramps, and Edgewater Park boat ramps are some of the areas traditionally targeted. People should not venture out onto the ice of the open lake or main Cleveland harbor as it takes a long spell of cold weather to form good ice in these areas, which is a rare occurrence anymore.

For those considering ice fishing we offer the following safety advice. Most state conservation agencies recommend at least 4" of solid ice before anglers should venture out to ice fish, and in Cleveland Metroparks it is the angler's responsibility to check that. One method is to use a spud bar near shore and check the ice thickness, and if it is > 4 inches then walk out a little further and check again. Ice is often thinnest right at the water's edge and around inlets and outlets of the waterbody. Heavy snow serves to insulate the water and slow additional ice formation, as well. A pair of emergency ice picks held at the ready on a cord around the neck are a safety must, as is an emergency length of rope. A floating survival suit is something you may consider, as well. Other safety tips are to always fish with a friend, let someone know where you'll be, and focus on areas near where other anglers are already fishing.

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

Nolan went ice fishing for the first time at Wallace Lake and caught this colorful rainbow trout on PowerBait.  The friends he was fishing with have experience ice fishing but Nolan had beginner’s luck on his side and caught the only trout (photo courtesy of Corey Butram).

Gavin shows off a rainbow trout caught fishing with his father and friends at Ledge Lake on Sunday.  The fish bit a spawn sack on a tip up.

Nick and his buddy Mike caught a couple brook trout and a 13.5” crappie ice fishing at Shadow Lake this week.  A chartreuse jig tipped with a few maggots was their hot bait (photos courtesy of Nick Kosiba).

Father and son worked as a team to catch a few panfish at Shadow Lake (photos courtesy of Mike Wolf).

Wes scored a limit of 3 rainbow trout at Wallace Lake.  See the report above for trout limits by location because it varies (photo courtesy of Wes Janke).