November 29, 2018

The Rocky River and other area streams are currently exhibiting good flow and stain for steelhead fishing, but rain is on the way into the weekend.  Wise anglers will 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, and the bite perked up a bit this week.  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, but rain is on the way into the weekend.  Wise anglers will check the trend from the flow gage data before making a trip to the river.  The bite was overall reported as being on the slopw side this morning, but if the river continues to drop in level and clear that could likely improve by tomorrow.  Fish are spread throughout the system at this time.  Many anglers have reported mcatching more skipper size (15-20") steelhead versus larger adult fish, and steelhead over 25" and 7 pounds have not been very common this year so far.  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.  Fly anglers who enjoy swinging flies appreciate the stronger flows we've had, too.  More steelhead will continue to migrate up area streams into the late fall and early winter seasons as the lake temperature continues to cool.

Fishing along the Cleveland lakefront has perked up a bit this week, although a great abundance of gizzard shad in nearshore waters has made things challenging lately.  Decent catches of walleye are being reported day and night from the E55th/E72nd breakwall areas.  Lakefront steelhead will bite on a whole nightcrawler on a plain hook or small jig tipped with minnow suspended between 4-6 feet under a bobber, as well as for anglers casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail).

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).

ODNR Needs Angler Assistance on Reporting Lake Trout Catches   If you or anyone you know/see catches a lake trout in Ohio waters of Lake Erie or a tributary please remember the following. If the fish is kept, the head would be extremely appreciated for the information that can be obtained from the implanted coded wire tag (which you will not see because it is internal).  If the angler chooses not to keep the fish, a picture (or even call/email) with information would be a much appreciated second option to taking the head. Any information would be good: date, location, size, was the fish flowing any milt or eggs, what was it caught with, name, email contact, etc. This information is CRUCIAL to tracking the success of this program in Ohio.  Please report to: John Deller, ODNR Fairport Fish Station at John.Deller@dnr.state.oh.us or (440) 352-4199 and/or Mike Durkalec, Aquatic Biologist at md@clevelandmetroparks.com or (216) 701-7634.  Thank you!

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
 

Congratulations to Bruce on catching his first steelhead ever this week (photo courtesy of Bruce Drago).




Dave of North Royalton shared "Though the fish bite was soft this week, my son Jacob landed this steelhead on an inline spinner in the Rocky River on Saturday the 24th.  His first catch of the season.  Dad is O-fer.  The only thing I caught was my finger!  Hoping it's the tannin thing and not my skills! Thanks for the reports!" (photos courtesy of Dave Nose).



Tom shared "Mike I got this beauty at the Rocky River marina....my first one of the season and the very first one out of the river.  I can say I got the fever lol.  I got him on a Little Cleo spoon" (photo courtesy of Tom Banker).



Christopher reported decent fishing at E55th on Tuesday night.  He noted that all the bigger walleye came on deep diving crankbaits (photo courtesy of Christopher Parks).



Corey caught a surprise coho salmon from a local creek on Sunday (photo courtesy of Rich Svoboda).



Jason caught this quality walleye trolling a purple Bandit crankbait at 1.7 mph and 60 feet back in 46 feet of water at the west end of the CLE breakwall (photo courtesy of Jason Huntington).




On Sunday Wes reported getting a limit of big yellow perch out of E72nd in 38 FOW.  He got them an especially fun way-  by jigging blade baits, Raps, and spoons (photos courtesy of Wes Janke).



Ken reported this morning "Hope all is well.  I caught this handsome 24” buck steelie on pink spawn sac (salmon eggs) shortly after 8 this morning.  I have to admit that it was the 'fightingest fish' of the year despite the cool water, 38.5 degrees.  I only saw one other fish caught between the riffles and black wall during an hour and one-half period.  Shout out to Dan McCutcheon and Ken Harper who both suggested the Cabelas Spring Run waders - Wow!  I was so warm I didn’t need my gloves.  Thanks for all that you do for us and the fishery." (photo courtesy of Ken Stein).



JP got a Rocky River steelie on an inline spinner (photo courtesyu of JP Webb).



Ervin caught a fine lake trout at Fairport on Sunday.  Please continue to report your lake trout catches! (photo courtesy of Ervin Miller).



Jon caught a bruiser walleye off Cleveland on Sunday (photo courtesy of Jon Jonela).









Danny at Midtown Fishing Charters in Cleveland reports "The walleye were caught one mile NW of 72nd in 41-45' trolling P-10's 50' behind the planer board. We were going 1.7-2mph. Water was 44F. Steelhead are hitting 1/2oz K.O. Wobblers nearshore to a half mile out around 55th and 72nd. Chrome with orange stripe has been producing the best" (photos courtesy of Danny at Midtown Fishing Charters).



Greg is yet another angler who caught a Rocky River steelhead on an inline spinner this week (photo courtesy of Greg Palka).





David has been catching some nice steelhead in local streams lately (photos courtesy of David Dorko).





Dana and friiends boated some more big Cleveland walleyes this week (photos courtesy of Dana Daugherty-Klonowski).



There has been no shortage of bite size gizzard shad along the Cleveland shoreline lately.  What's great for the fish is not always great for the angler- at least in the short term (photo courtesy of Owen Lockhart).




I fished the Niagara River in New York with my buddy Moe Slyman on Saturday, and Moe put on a clinic showing how to catch the big brown trout!  Above he shows off one of quite a few that we landed.  I display a nice lake trout in the bottom image.  All fish were released. 



Pete came across a "modern dinosaur", aka big snapping turtle, while steelhead fishing a local stream this week.  Note:  Pete is holding this animal properly by the rear of its shell.  It is not good for the turtle's spine to hold it by the tail.  The turtle was released.  Another note: you cannot keep reptiles or amphibians in Cleveland Metroparks.  Note #3: Pete has great taste in shirts! (photo courtesy of Pete Sekerak).