May 25, 2017

As late spring transitions into summer, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include steelhead trout, stocked trout, panfish, catfish, walleye, yellow perch, and largemouth and smallmouth bass.  The rivers are elevated and muddy at the moment.  To monitor the most recent river water level, temperature, and clarity (turbidity) you can check the following links: <Rocky River USGS flow gage data> <Chagrin River USGS flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. 

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are elevated and muddy at the moment.  Anglers can keep an eye on the flow gage to determine when water levels are dropping and leading to fishable conditions.  Taking the spotlight this time of year are lake-run smallmouth bass and channel catfish.  These species are present in deeper, rocky holes throughout the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  For bass, good bets are 3-4" dark olive or brown tube jigs bumped along the bottom.  Catfish like shrimp, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers.  A live crayfish or minnow will catch either species.  Note:  smallmouth bass may not be kept in Lake Erie or the Rocky River downstream of the Detroit Road bridge between May 1 and June 24.  Freshwater drum (sheepshead), white suckers, white perch, sunfish species, and a lagging steelhead are all other possible river catches at this time.

Last week we stocked channel catfish (1,400 pounds split evenly) and rainbow trout (1,300 pounds) in Wallace Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area in anticipation of the Childrens' Spring Fishing Derbies we just hosted.  Ohio Division of Wildlife also stocked 3,000 trout at the canal this past Friday.  Lots of these fish remain and offer an outstanding fishing opportunity.  Trout hit well on PowerBait fished near the bottom, jigs tipped with a few maggots/waxworms suspended below a bobber, minnows, and smaller spoons and spinners. Catfish hit well on chicken liver and shrimp.  Either species can be caught on a worm fished on the bottom.  Please note the current seasonal trout regulations:  Lake Erie and all streams 5/day minimum size 12" (post May 15, it was 2/day prior to that date), 3/day no size limit at Wallace, Ledge, Judge's and Ranger lakes, and 5/day no size limit at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal. 

Rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, freshwater drum and sunfish species are biting along the Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie on offerings such as tube jigs and live minnows.  Walleye are also biting along the Cleveland shoreline after dark on Husky Jerk and Perfect 10 style stickbaits.  Yellow perch are being caught from shore intermittently at E55th on emerald shiners fished on crappie rigs on the bottom, as well.  Various panfish are being caught around laklefront marina areas.  The ODNR Division of Wildlife weekly Lake Erie fishing report can be viewed <here>.

Handicapped Fishing Outing This Saturday May 27.  This Saturday May 27 from 9-1:00 we are hosting a collaborative handicapped fishing outing at Ledge Lake in Hinckley Reservation with the assistance of City of Middleburg Heights and the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders.  All bait and gear is provided free of charge and 200 pounds of trout are being stocked for the event.  Although the focus will be assisting people with physical and/or mental disabilities, anyone is welcome.

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  md@clevelandmetroparks.com.

Tight Lines,

Mike

On Sunday Alec caught this Wallace Lake largemouth bass on a Gulp minnow (photo courtesy of Marc Bullard).




This young angler caught a few nice Rocky River smallmouth bass this week (photos courtesy of Eric Tancak).



Troy caught a nice smallmouth bass in the Rockcliff Springs area (photo courtesy of Troy Shirley).



My brother Mark caught a fine mixed bag of panfish-  including yellow perch, bluegill, and rock bass- fishing with worms by Edgewater Marina (photo courtesy of Mark Durkalec).



Sam hooked a E55th channel catfish using raw shrimp for bait (photo courtesy of Sam Johnson).







Joe and his buddy Curtis hooked some great smallmouth bass and channel catfish on Saturday (photos courtesy of Joe Vidovic).



Markeys caught a mixed bag of panfish at E55th Marina (photo courtesy of Markeys Hines.








Matt has been catching some great smallmouth and largemouth bass on tube jigs along the Lake erie shoreline (photos courtesy of Matt Arroyo).



A big THANK YOU to the West Suburban Optimist Club not only for providing food for sale at our recent Wallace Lake Childrens' Fishing Derby but also for donating $500 to the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund!


The following images are from our Childrens' Spring Fishing Derbies held on Saturday May 20 and Sunday May 21.
















































As you can see, lots of happy kids caught fish!