December 6, 2018

The Rocky River and other area streams are currently exhibiting good flow and stain and anglers have caught lots of steelhead the past two days.  Anglers can monitor the most recent river water level and temperature at the following link prior to making a trip: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  Nearshore Lake Erie anglers are targeting walleye, steelhead, and yellow perch.  Anglers at Ohio & Erie Canal are still catching some rainbow trout stocked back in mid October. 

The Rocky River and other area streams are offering good flow and stain for steelhead fishing, and anglers reported some of the best fishing of the year over the past two days.  Wise anglers will check the trend from the flow gage data before making a trip to the river.  Fish are spread throughout the system at this time, with anglers reporting some better size fish (25-29") in the mix this week.  Steelhead have been caught on marabou jigs under floats, brightly colored dime to nickel size spawn sacks, beads that mimic salmon eggs, flies (egg patterns and baitfish streamers), and lures such as Little Cleo spoons and Vibrax spinners.  Anglers by the marina reported the best luck on emerald shiners this morning, which can be found in the river in that stretch at the present time.

Fishing along the Cleveland lakefront was good this week with some catches of walleye reported day and night from the E55th/E72nd breakwall areas.  Lakefront steelhead have been biting on small jigs tipped with minnow suspended between 4-6 feet under a bobber, as well as for anglers casting spoons (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail).  Some jumbo yellow perch are being caught on the west side of the E55th north facing breakwall on emerald shiners near the lake bottom.

In mid-October rainbow trout (1,000 lbs) and farm raised channel catfish (600 lbs) that were stocked in the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area off E49th Street and a fairnumber of these fish remain.  Trout often bite well on a dime sized ball of colorful PowerBait fished near the canal bottom with a sinker.  Our lakes/ponds are scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout around mid December (stay tuned to the fishing report for updateson that).

Updates on Launch Ramp Docks.   The wooden courtesy docks at launch ramps at Edgewater and Gordon parks were pulled this week.  But both sites have a permanent dock (concrete and steel) to make winter use possible with larger vessels.  The last remaining courtesy dock at Rocky River launch ramp will be pulled on or after December 12 for the convenience of late season boaters.

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
 

Ken caught some quality steelhead in the Rocky River this morning (photos courtesy of Ken Harper)




Steelhead were biting well on emerald shiners by the marina today.







Anglers were catching some jumbo perch and steelhead at E55th breakwall today.





Tim caught some fresh steelhead swinging white streamers in the Rocky this week (photos courtesy of Tim Maher).





Brion got some dime bright steelhead on the Rocky River the past two days (photos courtesy of Brion McCutcheon).






Dana and Mike are still catching some fine Cleveland area walleye (photos courteasy of Dana Daugherty-Klonowski).



Tony notes that a lot of the steelhead he's seen caught lately have been on minnows (photo courtesy of Tony Cilluffo).



Congratulations to Clarence Mitchell Jr. on winning the top honors in the Fall Brawl with a 13.7 lb walleye caught off Cleveland Metroparks Edgewater Park.  Read the story <here> (photo courtesy of Erie Outfitters).



The Cuyahoga River lighthouse was recently coated in ice from wave spray during freezing temperatures (photo courtesy of Michael Ruffo).