As we move into mid-summer, highlight species targeted around Cleveland Metroparks include largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, panfish, channel catfish, and common carp. And if the record number of photos sent in this month are any indicator, then fishing has been good! Although fishing has been good overall, river fishing has been a challenge due to high water so far this summer. To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River flow gage data> <Chagrin River flow gage data>.
Channel catfish and large carp are available throughout area rivers and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water. A total of 1,500 pounds of farm raised channel catfish stocked were stocked between Shadow, Ledge, Ranger, Judge's lakes, Beyer's Pond, and Oxbow Lagoon. Additionally, lots of catfish stocked in May remain to be caught at Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area. Catfishing is usually best during lower light conditions using baits such as nightcrawlers, shrimp, minnows, chicken liver, and processed dough baits.
Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails. A growing contingent of fly anglers looking for a challenge are targeting carp with nymphs and crayfish imitations, as well. The key to fishing for either carp or catfish is fishing on (or very near) the river/lake bottom. In addition, freshwater drum (sheepshead), white perch, and bullhead catfish are also abundant in the northern river reaches (north of Morley Ford on the Rocky) in summer. For the angling generalist, any of the species thus far can be effectively targeted by fishing a nightcrawler worm right on the river bottom with a sinker.
Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the river during the day in summer, and often move to the heads of such pools in the early morning and evening hours to feed actively. A dark olive or brown tube jig of about 4?�� length is one of the best producers of bass in the river. ?��Smallies?�� also bite well on live bait (ie: minnow, crayfish, and leeches), lures (ie: spinners and minnow plugs), and flies (ie: crayfish patterns, Clouser minnows, dark brown or olive sculpin or muddler minnow patterns). Bass of all sizes are abundant bass in the river, with some trophy fish up to (and over) 20 inches in length available. It has been very encouraging to see most anglers releasing the larger bass recently so that these fine gamefish can be caught again. Rock bass are also present in the same river areas as smallmouth, and can be caught using the same offerings listed above.
Summer means family fishing time for many folks, and panfish fit the bill perfectly for a leisurely picnic and fishing outing. Anglers seeking panfish have experienced decent fishing at most of the ponds and lakes in the Park District in the past week. Crappie, bluegill, and other sunfish species can be taken with a number of offerings, but a waxworm or redworm on a small hook (or tiny jig) suspended under a stick float and fished around a weedbed or shoreline brush is always a good choice. Wallace Lake, Shadow Lake, and Lakefront Reservation are just a few of many places in the Park to wet a line for various panfish species. Largemouth bass fishing is often best in Wallace and Hinckley lakes, although bass can be found in most park waters. Lots of bass and panfish have been stocked around the park in spring and summer this year.
Rock bass, largemouth bass, white 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 biting off of Cleveland, as well. The yellow perch bite has been challenging so far this summer. The ODNR Division of Wildlife weekly Lake Erie fishing report can be viewed <here>. Anglers/boaters can view current lake conditions off Cleveland at the following link: <City Of Cleveland Water Intake Crib Cam>.
Lost and Found on the Rocky River. Our maintenance staff found some fishing gear at the parking lot by North Mastick on the rocky River. If you contact me and correctly describe the items, I can re-unite you with your lost gear.
Fly Fishing 101 Classes at Orvis Cleveland. Lee DeAngelo, the Fishing Manager at Orvis Cleveland, would like to inform folks that their free Fly Fishing 101 series will be ongoing through August. To learn more, or sign up, check <here>.
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
Andrea Ryder caught this bruiser Fish Ohio walleye boating out of Edgewater Park this summer (photo courtesy of Dave McCloskey).
Don has been fishing from shore and reports "The largemouth bass fishing at Hinckley Lake has been outstanding!! Every time I go, once or twice a week, I catch 4-10 bass of all sizes. I have some really nice ones break me off in the lay downs around the shoreline. I have been using Chigger Craws and Creature Baits in pumpkin green and watermelon. Also I have been using black and black/blue Yum Dingers with some kind of rattle when water is stained, not chocolate milk looking you get the idea. All dragged across the bottom or hopped wherever there is wood, weeds, cattails etc. I have also done well on Strike King's Dream Shot with a 1 or 1/O worm hook fished like a worm when they are holding tight to cover. I have tried other baits but with little or no success." (photos courtesy of Don).
Adam caught this huge freshwater drum while kayak fishing by the marina on the Rocky. Check out his blog at coolwaterfish.com (photos courtesy of Adam Eibling).
Dale has been catching some big walleye boating out of Whiskey Island Marina (photos courtesy of Dale Sante).
Mike caught a surprise northern pike on a Stinger spoon while fishing the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation (photo courtesy of Mike Reed).
Kenji caught a sheepshead while out on a party boat at the Boating & Fishing Fest (photo courtesy of Ken Sakaie).
John, Amber, and company have been making some fine catches of channel catfish at the Ohio &Erie Canal fishing area (photos courtesy of John Lusnek).
Adam shows off a pair of trophy Edgewater Park walleye (photo courtesy of Adam Zakarowsky).
This angler made a rare double-header catch on a crappie rig at Ledge Lake recently- reeling in a rainbow trout and largemouth bass at the same time! I personally witnessed the feat.
Charlie, who loves fly fishing for Rocky River steelhead, shared this photo of his summer baseball uniform. Cool...I want one of those hats! (photo courtesy of Charlie Seibolt).
This fish, from Acacia Reservation, is known as a "mirror carp". It is a genetic variant of the common carp that has fewer and larger scales.
A grandmother and grandson teamed up to reel in this whopper sheepshead at wildwood Park. They were targeting white bass.
Sean landed some gorgeous Chagrin River smallmouth bass this summer (photos courtesy of Sean Brown).
Former Ohio governor George Voinovich is a passionate angler. Here he displays a big yellow perch caught on a party boat out of Wildwood Marina (photo courtesy of Ron Kellog).
Allen, Jake, Jeff, and little Hunter can all attest to the fantastic early summer bass fishing along the Cleveland shoreline (photos courtesy of Allen Reinke).
Dan reeled in a fine catch of "Lake Erie gold" recently (photos courtesy of Dan McCutcheon).
A good crowd joined us for shore fishing at the recent Boating & Fishing Fest at E55th Marina.
The Gansor family reeled in lots of trout fishing together on the East Branch Rocky River this past spring (photos courtesy of Grace Gansor).
Volunteer Maria explains what a catfish uses its whiskers and spines for to an attentive group of youngsters.
An angler displays a typical Ranger Lake catfish caught on cutbait.
Volunteers have been the backbone of our fish collecting and stocking efforts this summer.
John keeps his float fishing skills sharp all summer by targeting channel catfish in the Rocky River drifting his home-tied jigs (photo courtesy of John Fay).
We had a great turnout for the recent Ken Mantkowski Handicapped Accessible Fishing Outing, with a few photos from the day offered above.
It was my honor and privilege to serve as a fly fishing mentor for several men living with cancer at the inaugural Ohio chapter Reel Recovery (reelrecovery.org) event in mid-June. I lost my own father to cancer a few years ago, so this is something that strikes close to my heart.
We had a great annual Rocky River clean-up in June! Of the small army of volunteers, local business Earnest Machine sent a good crew 9who had event T-shirts made for their staff and family who helped), and the local U-Haul company surprised us with delivery of a bunch of quality work gloves donated for the effort. THANK YOU to all who attended!
The photo is not the best, but for this installment of Know Your Fish can you name the fish being displayed by a student at a recent outing? Guesses can be registered in the comment section below.
Note: The fishing report is updated monthly in June, July, and August and weekly every other month
***Note: All photo submissions must first complete the Cleveland Metroparks photo waiver.***
2024 Cleveland Metroparks Registered Fishing Guides
(name, company, contact)
- #24-001 Gareth Thomas, Alley Grabs Guide Service, [email protected] (216) 235-5056
- #24-002 Jeff Liskay, Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC, [email protected] (440) 781-7536
- #24-003 Monte Casey, The Steelhead Guide, (440) 773-8064 www.steelheadguide.com
- #24-004 Anthony Montagnese, Covered Bridge Outfitters, [email protected] (440) 320-105
- #24-005 Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do LLC, [email protected] (724) 841-1564
- #24-006 Nicholas DelVecchio, Wildwood Outfitters, [email protected] (724) 433-2315
- #24-007 Nate Miller, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com (440) 796-6105
- #24-008 Jim Lampros, [email protected] (216) 513-6011
More information on Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Guide Permit requirements, including the permit application, you may check the following link:
<Fishing Guide Permit Program>
Learn how you can support recreation opportunities through a donation to the Cleveland Metroparks
Fishing Fund.