In late spring, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include steelhead trout, stocked trout, panfish, and largemouth and smallmouth bass. The rivers are in good shape after being elevated and muddy much of the past week. 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 last bunch of spring trout were stocked in the East Branch Rocky River on April 24th.
The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are in nice shape after running high and muddy most of the past week. With the water being elevated anglers can expect the majority of the steelhead hightailed it back to Lake Erie. Edging our steelhead out of the spotlight are good numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass. These fish are present in deeper, rocky holes throughout the Rocky and Chagrin rivers. Anglers fishing a jig, wooly bugger, live shiner, or other lures/flies that mimic a baitfish have a shot at hooking the "silver and bronze" (a steelhead and smallmouth) in the same day, although this feat will be increasingly difficult to accomplish as we get further into May. 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.
On April 24th we stocked 600 pounds of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River. Recently ODNR stocked trout at Hinckley Lake (2,500 fish) and Shadow Lake (500 fish), as well. These fish will range from 11-14" in length. Trout also remain at Wallace Lake. 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. The final scheduled trout stocking of the season will be at Wallace Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal for childrens fishing derbies in May. Please note the current seasonal trout regulations: Lake Erie and all streams 2/day minimum size 12" (this includes steelhead through May 15, after which point the limit increases to 5/day), 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.
Spring Childrens Fishing Derbies Are Coming on May 20 & 21. Our popular annual kids fishing derbies are coming up on Saturday May 20 at Wallace Lake and Sunday May 21 at the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area. The event is free, fish will be stocked for the event, and fishing gear and bait will be provided for those in need at no cost. For more information, you can check the following link:
<May 20 Fishing Derby Info> <May 21 Fishing Derby Info>.
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
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.***
2023 Cleveland Metroparks Registered Fishing Guides
(name, company, contact)
- #23-001 Jeff Liskay, Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC, jeffliskay@gmail.com (440) 781-7536
- #23-002 Monte Casey, The Steelhead Guide, (440) 773-8064, www.steelheadguide.com
- #23-003 Gareth Thomas, Alley Grabs Guide Service, alleygrabs@gmail.com, (216) 235-5056
- #23-004 Mike Soots, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, mikesootsm@gmail.com, (330) 717-2492
- #23-005 Nate Miller, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com (440) 796-6105
- #23-006 Jon DelVecchio, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, jondelvecchio@gmail.com, (412) 335-4363
- #23-007 Nicholas DelVecchio, Wildwood Outfitters, wildwood16317@gmail.com, (724) 433-2315
- #23-008 Jim Lampros, jlampros2@gmail.com, (216) 513-6011
- #23-009 Justin Pribanic, Chagrin River Outfitters, jpribanic@gmail.com (724) 799-5011
- #23-010 Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do LLC, whatthatvisedo@gmail.com (724) 841-1564
- #23-011 Aaron Chine, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, chinetatt@yahoo.com (330) 610-2574
- #23-012 Rob Pitts, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, robpittsflyfishing@gmail.com (440) 622-8717
- #23-013 Eric Bailey, flyfishingswpa@gmail.com, (724) 554-0839
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.