May 24, 2018

In late spring, highlight species targeted by anglers in Cleveland Metroparks include smallmouth/largemouth bass, stocked rainbow trout, walleye, catfish, panfish, and steelhead trout.  The river is currently muddy and elevated in level from recent rain.  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>.  Wallace Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal were both stocked with rainbow trout and farm raised channel catfish last week.  The Lake Erie marina and harbor areas also offer walleye, northern pike, panfish, and largemouth and smallmoth bass in spring.

Area streams are elevated and muddy at the moment.  When the rivers clear lake-run smallmouth bass will be availavle for anglers in deeper, rocky holes.  A 3" brown or olive tube jig, wooly bugger fly, live shiner, or other lures/flies that mimic a baitfish are good bets.  Note:  smallmouth/largemouth bass may not be kept in Lake Erie or the Rocky River north of the Detroit Road bridge, Chagrin River north of the SR 283 bridge, or Cuyahoga River north of the Harvard Avenue bridge  between May 1 and June 29.   Lake-run channel catfish and common carp are also showing up in the streams.  Other than the oddball stray, late fish the steelhead are gone from the streams until fall.

Cleveland shoreline breakwalls are offering a hot post-spawn night bite for walleye right now.  Perfect 10s, Husky Jerks, and glow swimbaits are a few of the offerings that produce. Additionally, marinas and harbors on Lake Erie in spring also offer anglers a shot at catching smallmouth/largemouth bass (see prohibited possesion regs above), northern pike, freshwater drum (sheepshead), rock bass, and other panfish.  Productive spots include Edgewater, Wildwood, and East 72nd/Gordon Park boat ramp areas.  For almost any of these species a medium size silvery spoon or spinner is a good all-around choice.  Note to boaters:  the launch ramp docks are in at all Cleveland Metroparks locations at this time.

Over the course of this spring we stocked 3,000 pounds of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River between Route 82 (Royalton Road) and the river crossing ford about a mile south of Wallace Lake.  Of the six spots we routinely stock, Bonnie Park (on both the upstream and downstream side of the dam) recieves the lion's share of these fish.  Spring river stocking has concluded as of this time.

Our inland lakes are offering very good fishing opportunities at this time.  Last week Wallace Lake was stocked with 800 lbs of rainbow trout and 700 lbs of catfish, and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area was stocked with 500 lbs of larger trout, 700 lbs of catfish, and 3,000 pan-sized rainbopw trout (the latter by Ohio Division of Wildlife).  Wallace Lake is also producing largemouth bass, panfish, and a few remaining coho salmon on live bait and smaller lures.  On March 29th the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked 816 rainbow trout at Shadow Lake and 2,759 rainbow trout at Hinckley Lake (these fish avarage about 3/4 lbs each).  Trout typically bite well on PowerBait, jigs tipped with a few maggots/waxworms, and smaller spinners (such as Rooster Tail).  Please note the current seasonal trout/salmon regulations:  Lake Erie and all streams 5/day minimum size 12" as of May 16 (this includes steelhead), 3/day no size limit at Wallace, Judge's and Ranger lakes, and 5/day no size limit at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal.  Please note:  Ledge Lake is posted as catch and release fishing only until further notice.

Rocky River Clean-Up Saturday June 2.   The annual Rocky River volunteer clean-up will be held Saturday June 2 from 9:00-noon, to be followed immediately by a cookout to thank our valued volunteers (thank you to local business Earnest Machine for sponsoring this year's cookout with a $500 donation).  This is a collaborative effort between caring citizens, Rocky River Watershed Council, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Earnest Machine, local groups (such as Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders and Boy Scouts) and Cleveland Metroparks.  We will be meeting at 9:00am sharp at the picnic shelter at Scenic Park (near the marina) to form into groups and discuss our plan of attack to clean-up the river.   All are welcome at this family/kid friendly event, and please come dressed to possibly get a bit wet and muddy.

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
 

Olivia shows off a nice Wallace Lake trout (photo courtesy of John Hall).



Ed reported "Got a great pic with my youngest, Emily, on Saturday, taken by her older sister Madelyn.  It's always great when the girls are there for a nice catch!" (photo courtesy of Ed Schmitt).



A nice chennel catfish from Ranger Lake (photo courtesy of Dustin Forgac).



George caught a big crappie in Wallace Lake recently (photo courtesy of Owen Lockhart).




Mike and a buddy display a few Wallace Lake largemouth bass caught at dusk (photos courtesy of Mike Brady).




Shaun scored a Wallace Lake brown trout from his kayak (photos courtesy of Shaun Cassidy).



Adrian with a gorgeous Cuyahoga River smallmouth bass (photo courtesy of Adrian Zachary).









Another great Children's Spring Fishing Derby is in the books!  A few photos from the day are offered above and more in an album at this <link>.




Galen caught some fine walleye at Edgewater Park (photos courtesy of Galen Bizzell).



Jeff caught a northern pike while fishing nearshore Lake Erie in Cleveland (photo courtesy of Jeff Deluca).





Brad caught among the last of the river steelhead for the season while scoring the "silver and bronze" (steelhead and smallmouth bass in the same day) while casting crankbaits on his baitcaster rig (photos courtesy of Brad Gardner).



Corey made an AMAZING save when his rson's rod got pulled in at Wallace Lake recently!  Watch the video <here> (video courtesy of Corey Butram).




Tony caught a rainbow trout and white crappie at the Ohio & Erie Canal (photos courtesy of Tony Modic).








Greg, his dad Andy, and buddy Dominic had some good action for largemouth and smallmouth bass along the Lake Erie shoreline (photos courtesy of Greg Young).



Jason reported "Alita and Khaavren had fun Saturday" (photo courtesy of Jason Atkinson).





Matt caught some largemouth and smallmouth bass along the Lake Erie shoreline (photos courtesy of Matt Arroyo).



Thank you to Adam Eibling of coolwaterfish.com for the nice write-up about our fishing derbies as well as donating this pristine walleye mount to display at our Rocky River Emerald Necklace Marina store.



Thank you to the Optimist Club for supplying food for sale at our children's fishing derbies and for donating $1,000 to our Fishing Fund to support children's fishing events!