January 4, 2018

In winter, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include stocked trout, steelhead trout, panfish, and walleye.  The Rocky River and other area streams are largely covered in ice following a sustained cold snap.  When the streams are not frozen anglers can monitor the most recent river water level, temperature, and clarity (turbidity) at the following links: <Rocky River USGS flow gage data> <Chagrin River USGS flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. (Note: ice can interfere with reliable flow gage readings).  A combined 3,000 lbs of rainbow trout were stocked at Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Judge's, and Ranger lakes in mid to late December and ice fishers have been out in full force pursuing them.  The Lake Erie shoreline is now locked in by ice.

Area streams are ice covered following a sustained cold snap.  The Lake Erie shoreline is also now locked in by ice.  Don't expect much of a chance in this regard until we experience a significant thaw.  Cleveland area marinas on Lake Erie, such as E55th, Gordon Park, and Edgewater all offer decent ice fishing opportunities for steelhead, panfish, walleye, and a shot at a northern pike.

Ice fishers are out in full force this week pursuing rainbow trout on our lakes and ponds.  On Wednesday December 13th we stocked rainbow trout in Wallace (1,400 lbs) and Ranger (100 lbs) lakes and on Tuesday December 19th we stocked Shadow (750 lbs), Ledge (600lbs), and Judge's (150 lbs) lakes.  The size of the trout averages from 1-2 pounds, with a few larger.  The second (and final) round of winter trout will go into the same lakes around late January/early February.  Trout are also available at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area down the hill from CanalWay Visitor Center off E49th Street. 

Trout have been biting on PowerBait, jigs tipped with a few maggots/waxworms, and smallish jigging spoons (such as Forage Minnow and Swedish Pimple).  Please note the current seasonal trout regulations:  Lake Erie and all streams 2/day minimum size 12" (this includes steelhead), 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.  A second (and final) round of winter trout will be released in about a month.

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.  If the spud bar goes through in one hard strike it is a red flag that you need to get out of that area immediately.  Other safety tips are to carry a set of ice spikes on a cord around your neck, fish with a friend, let someone know where you'll be, and focus on areas near where other anglers are already fishing.  If we continue to get good ice this winter I plan to coordinate an ice fishing fundraiser derby, likely in February.  Stay tuned for details on that. 

Winteriffic Ice Fishing Offering This Sunday.   Cleveland Metroparks annual Winteriffic event will be held on Sunday January 7th and we will be hosting two ice fishing sessions associated with the event.  All gear, bait, and instruction is provided free.  The two offerings are from 1:30-2:30pm and again from 3:00-4:00pm.  You may find more info here: <Winteriffic Ice 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  md@clevelandmetroparks.com .

Tight Lines,

Mike

This young lady caught her first trout ever at Wallace Lake this week, and through the ice no less! (photo courtesy Trevor Corbett).




John caught some trout at Wallace Lake this week, but most impressive is the Fish Ohio bluegill he also caught.  He noted "I caught the rainbows on a jigging spoon tipped with waxworms and the bluegill on a number 10 hook with a waxworm." (photos courtesy og John-Paul Duff).




Davis shared from wallace Lake last Friday "We fished Wallace Lake for a few hours today, between three guys we landed 7, lost a few more. Definitely had to work for them, but it was a fun time. Most fish came on minnows or Powerbait. " (photos courtesy of Davis Fray).



Ryan caught a slab 12.5" white crappie in a smaller Cleveland Metroparks lake yesterday (photo courtesy of Pat Campbell).



Gus caught a pretty Shadow Lake rainbow trout (photo courtesy of Gus White).







Mike had a successful outing at Ledge Lake jigging the Swedish Pimple spoon pictured (photos courtesy of Mike Sekerak).






David and friends have been making limit catches of rainbow trout using jigging spoons at Wallace Lake (photos courtesy of David Wagner).








Max shared "I have been catching trout at Shadow Lake on my custom handmade white marabou with polar flash jig and maggots being deadsticked and jigging a orange Swedish Pimple with maggots.  Have also had a few hits on a small tube jig" (photos courtesy of Max Madden). 



Faruq was ice fishing a small Metroparks lake in style yesterday-  cooking hotdogs in his shanty! (photo courtesy of Pat Campbell).




Fishing pressure has been heavy at Wallace Lake and lots of trout have been caught.  Consequently, fishing success rates have dropped there a bit this week, but trout are still being caught daily.





Some scenes from Shadow Lake this week (photos courtesy of Walt K.).





My friend Tim and I fished Wallace Lake Sunday afternoon and the bite was very slow.  So we picked up and moved to Ledge Lake for the last few hours of the day and it paid off for us.  Moral of the story:  if something is not working don't be afraid to change things up.



Some neat ice lillies at Lagoon Dam on the Rocky River.  This is some of the more open water on the river at the moment! (photo courtesy of Owen Lockhart).