February 1, 2018

In winter, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include stocked trout, steelhead trout, panfish, and yellow perch.  The Rocky River and other area streams were producing steelhead during fishable windows this past week and weekend conditions will be dependent upon how much precipitation we receive in the coming days.  To keep a handle on stream conditions anglers can check 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: the NEORSD station sustained some ice damage during the thaw and is being repaired).  A combined 3,000 lbs of rainbow trout were stocked at Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Judge's, and Ranger lakes last week, although ice conditions have degraded significantly over the past week and should not be considered safe at the time of this writing.  The Lake Erie shoreline ice has broken up although marina and harbor areas are still largely ice covered.

Area streams were producing decent catche of steelhead during windows of fishable conditions this week, and weekend prospects will depend on how much precipitation we receive into the weekend.   In stained water a brightly colored spawn sack about the size of a nickel has been a top producer, although bright or contrasting colored fly patterns also catch muddy steelhead under such conditions.  There has been a mix of fresh steelhead and darker fish that have already been in the river.  Some of the best steelhead fishing of the season is ahead of us.  Although the lakefront shoreline proper ice has largely broken up, the protected marina and harbor areas are still ice covered.  Ice fishing for steelhead and yellow perch had been very good, but the ice has degraded significantly this week and should not be considered safe.  No fish is worth falling through the ice!

A total of 3,000 pound of trout were stocked in five Cleveland Metroparks locations la week (see highlight below for details).  These fish complement the 3,000 pounds stocked back in mid-December at the same locations.  This concludes our scheduled winter trout stocking.  Ice conditions have degraded significantly this week and were not safe to venture onto at the time of this writing.  Good news is that anglers can fish through questionable ice from the safety of fishing platforms, docks, and areas where the water drops off immediately near shore (especially on the formerly quarried northwest end of Wallace Lake).  Some trout also remain from an October stocking at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area down the hill from CanalWay Visitor Center off E49th Street. 

Trout through the ice typically bite well 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. 

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 would like to coordinate an ice fishing fundraiser derby, possibly later in February, although that is looking less promising given the recent rollercoaster weather.  Stay tuned for details on that. 

An Amazing Bunch of Trout.  We stocked 3,000 pounds of trout last week, as follows.  On January 22nd we stocked Shadow (750 lbs), Ledge (600 lbs) and Judge's (150 lbs) lakes and on January 24th we stocked Wallace (1,400 lbs) and Ranger (100 lbs) lakes.  Most impressive were the Wallace Lake batch- these fish were hands down the best bunch of trout that I've ever had the privilege of stocking is terms of size and species diversity.  The average rainbow trout was between 1-2 lbs, but there were many trophy fish in the 5-10 lb range in the mix.  And there were plenty of brook and brown trout up to 2 lbs, and even a peppering of foot long golden rainbow trout!  Here is a great <album> detailing the stocking from local fishing photographer Bill Britt.  Please send in your photos of some of these fine fish for the report and, most importantly, ENJOY!

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

A young lady caught her first trout through the ice at Wallace Lake late last week.  PLEASE NOTE:  ice should not be considered safe to venture onto at the time of this writing (photo courtesy of Randy Smith).



Jake and his father Bill had a great day on the Rocky on Saturday, landing over a dozen steelhead between them on homemade jigs and seeing many others caught.  Jake just signed on to attend Baldwin Wallace University where he will play football, too (photo courtesy of Bill Mantle).




Steve caught his limit of Judge's Lake trout (photos courtesy of Steve).





Kyle shares "Got to wallace at 4 pm on 1/29/18 and caught two largemouth bass within 15 mins of getting there!!  Also caught 3 trout and had a 10 pounder out of the water and then lost it!!! 100% trophy fish wow!!! Still got my limit but sad I lost a monster!! All on a gold Swedish Pimple spoon" (photos courtesy of Kyle McDonald).





A lucky angler caught a trophy rainbow trout and bonus brook trout on Friday morning.  PLEASE NOTE:  ice should not be considered safe to venture onto at the time of this writing, but there are places to fish through the ice from shore around the lake (photos courtesy of Brian Kich).
 










Although the ice along the Cleveland Lakefront is not safe to walk on at the time of this writing, Adam and his father were doing great with multi-species action there late last week.  As evidenced above they caught lots of yellow perch with a smattering of steelhead, largemouth bass, and northern pike mixed in.  They primarily use small live minnows on light line (photos courtesy of Mike Flachbart).



I suspect that "Alabama Jim" is smiling on the inside due to his gorgeous brook trout caught at Wallace Lake on Monday (photo courtesy of Mark Fascione).



Dominic (who like Jim above is smiling on the inside) caught a fresh chromer in the river this week (photo courtesy of Dominic Charlot).





Tim had a great day steelhead fishing on the Chagrin River on Saturday.  He caught his fresh chromers on spawn sacks (photos courtesy of Tim Daley).



Bob has been catching his limit of trout daily from the safety of the Wallace Lake lifeguard dock.  Just look at that spectacular male brook trout! (photo courtesy of Bob Hoboda).



Mark caught this fine buck steelie on his lunch break this week (photo courtesy of Mark Warren).




Congratulations to David Dorko on catching his first steelhead through the ice along the Cleveland lakefront  late last week!   And Mark caught a surprise northern pike that took revenge on the rod that wronged him.  PLEASE NOTE:  ice should not be considered safe to venture onto at the time of this writing.





What a roller coaster this weather has been!  Folks were successfully ice fishing around Cleveland Metroparks late last week, but now the ice is unsafe.  The extended forecast is looking promising that the ice could return.