May 6, 2021

The Rocky River and other area streams are offering good fishing conditions today, but more rain is in the forecast over the next 24 hours and weekend conditions will depends on how much of that we receive.  Anglers can monitor the most recent river water level, turbidity and temperature at the following links: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  The East Branch Rocky River in Strongsville, Hinckley Lake, Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street were stocked with rainbow trout recently (details below).

The Rocky River and other area streams are offerfing good fishing conditions today, but weekend prospects will depend on how much rain we recieve over the next 24 hours.  Anglers should check in on the flow trends at the links above before heading out to fish the rivers.  The steelhead run has ramped down rapidly with the warmer temperatures and most remaining  post-spawn fish likely returned to Lake Erie during the high flows this week. On the other hand, lake-run smallmouth bass fishing is going strong when river conditions are amenable. Smallmouth bass anglers do well on 3-4" olive tube jigs, small marabou jigs and live baits such as leeches or crayfish.

Many of our lakes and ponds are offering stocked trout and farm raised catfish.  Today we are stocking 800 lbs of trout and 700 lbs of farm raised catfish at Wallace Lake and 500 lbs of trout and 700 lbs of catfish at Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street.  Additionally, this spring we stocked a total of 3,600 lbs of rainbow trout in the east Branch Rocky River in Strongsville and the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked trout at Shadow Lake, Hinckley Lake and Ohio & Erie canal off E49th.  Note: the daily limit at Wallace, Ledge, Ranger and Judge's lakes is 3 trout/angler, the limit at Shadow Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal is 5 trout/angler and the limit in the Rocky river is 2 trout/angler (the latter with a minimum size of 12")..  Trout often bite well on small to medium size spinners/spoons/crankbaits, a small marabou or tube jig tipped with a waxworm or a few maggots, canned corn kernals fished on the lake bottom or a dime size ball of colorful PowerBait. 

The fish cleaning station at Gordon Park boat ramps is back online for the fishing season (it had been winterized previously).  The walleye bite at Edgewater Park and E72nd Street access has been hot this week for anglers trolling Bandits and similar crankbaits and casting stickbaits like P-10s and Husky Jerks from the shoreline (the latter option after dark).   In spring, sunfish, largemouth bass and northern pike can be found prowling the Lake Erie shoreline harbors and marinas.  The launch ramp kiosks have been installed at all Lake Erie access locations in Cleveland Metroparks and either a daily pass (purchased with credit card at kiosk) or annual pass (see how to obtain one below) are required.

Cleveland Metroparks Virtual Children’s Fishing Derby May 7-16, 2021.  To encourage children and families to enjoy a day of fishing in Cleveland Metroparks this spring, Cleveland Metroparks is hosting a Virtual Children’s Fishing Derby.  The derby is open to children ages 15 years and younger. To enter, your child must go fishing with their family anywhere in Cleveland Metroparks between May 7th and May 16th.   Wallace Lake in Berea and Ohio and Erie Canal Fishing Area will be stocked with rainbow trout and channel catfish just prior to the start of the virtual derby. Additionally, many other ponds, lakes or streams in Cleveland Metroparks offer great opportunities for an enjoyable family fishing outing.

To enter: No purchase necessary to enter.  Take a photo from your outing and email it to us between 6 a.m. on May 7th and 11:59 p.m. on May 16th.  Only a child’s parent or legal guardian may email the picture of their child. This may be a picture of a child with a fish, your child fishing, or just a nice photo from your family outing.  You will need to digitally sign a photo release on behalf of yourself and your child. Your photo may be posted on the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Report the week following the virtual derby. All children, whether they catch a fish or not, will be entered in a drawing for a Cleveland Metroparks gift card provided you have submitted a photograph. (Cleveland Metroparks employees, board members and/or their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.) You may send as many photos as you like, but each child will be entered only once for the drawing.  By entering any sweepstakes, you (on behalf of your child) agree to waive any and all claims against Cleveland Metroparks for personal injury, damage or loss of any kind which may result from participation in the Fishing Derby or from the receipt, enjoyment, ownership or use of any prize.  If your child is a winner, we will contact you by email to get your mailing address.  Email entries to: [email protected]. Please provide the name of who to contact and the first name of each child. To sign the photo release follow the link: <Smart Waiver photo release>. It is quick and easy!  Note: People ages 16 years and older require a valid Ohio Fishing License to fish in Cleveland Metroparks waters.  More info <here>.

 

Cleveland Metroparks Annual Boat Launch Passes are Now Available.    2021 season Cleveland Metroparks Boat Launch Pass can be puchased online at this time at the following link:  <2021 Boat Launch Pass>.  The base price (there are certain discounts) is $30.  Note: this applies only to motorized watercraft that are trailered.

Photo Release Waivers for Fishing Blog Photos (fast and easy to complete online).  Photo release waivers can easily be completed online through Smart Waiver (takes only about 30 seconds to complete) at the following link: <Smart Waiver link>. 

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

 

Deborah caught this chunky yellow bullhead at the Ohio & Erie Canal on Sunday (photo courtesy of Deborah Palmentera).



Christain caught and released a northern pike at E55th Marina (photo courtesy of Christian Samodell).



Brad and a friend caught their 2 limits of walleye off CLE on Monday.  He was fishing Bandit crankbaits 70-80 feet back in 40 foot of water (photo courtesy of Brad Gardner).



Steve landed this beauty of a largemouth bass on a spinnerbait (photo courtesy of Steve Farley).



Jarred caught this bruiser walleye casting off the Edgewater Park shoreline after dark (photo courtesy of Jarred Bugg).






Walt and friends put the smackdown on the walleye this week (photos courtesy of Walt Gedeon).





Gary from Dawg Pound Charters has been doing great on walleye out of CLE (photos courtesy of Gary Norman).















Above are a smattering of fish species we sampled with a Case western Reserve University Ichthology class in field outings to wallace Lake, Rocky River and Baldwin Creek over the past week.  How many can you identify?