February 21, 2019

The Rocky River and other area streams were alternating between slushy and fishable this week, but the rain on Wednesday caused the river to flood.  Steelhead fishing was good for many anglers during windows prior to the rain.  The river flow is just cresting this morning and anglers should monitor the most recent river water level trend to determine weekend fishing conditions: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  NOTE: the turbidity meter was damaged and is out for repair.  NEORSD is working to get this service working again ASAP.  Quality of ice has degraded on local lakes over the past two weeks, but anglers can safely fish for trout through thin ice from the safety of shore.  ANGLERS SHOULD BE VERY WARY OF VENTURING ONTO ICE AT THIS TIME!

The Rocky River and other area streams were slush filled most mornings this week and tended to be fishable by mid to late afternoon, but the rain on Wednesday caused local streams to flood.  Prior to that, anglers getting out during the windows of fishable conditions this week reported good steelhead fishing.  The river flow is just cresting this morning and anglers should  keep an eye on the flow gage data at the link above to help determine weekend fishing conditions.  It's hard to beat a brightly colored (hot pink and chartreuse are often best) nickel size bag of salmon or trout eggs when the water is on the stained side.  As the water further clears steelhead have been biting a variety of offerings, including smaller dime size spawn bags, 1/32-1/64 oz marabou jigs under floats (black, pink, and white are top colors), beads that mimic salmon eggs, and flies (egg patterns and baitfish streamers).  In winter a wobbling crankbait worked slowly through a deep hole can also produce well at times.  Steelhead numbers can be expected to peak into March-April.

Lake Erie shoreline harbors still have ice cover (boat launches are not usable).  There is an abundance of gizzard shad in nearshore harbor areas, as well.  With a south wind anglers have a shot at steelhead and yellow perch at the E55th breakwall. Be very careful along ice covered shoreline rocks at places like Edgewater Park.

Anglers have a shot at trout on various Metroparks lakes.  Throughout the winter a total of 6,000 lbs of rainbow trout were stocked in Metroparks lakes, as follows:  Wallace (2,800 lbs), Shadow (1,500 lbs), Ledge (1,200 lbs), Judge's (300 lbs) and Ranger (200 lbs) lakes.  In addition to rainbow trout averaging between 1-2 lbs, quite a few bonus brown, brook trout, and golden rainbow trout were included (especially in Wallace Lake).  Trout are also available at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area down the hill from CanalWay Visitor Center off E49th Street.  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.  Trout through the ice bite well on small to medium size (1/8-1/4 oz) jigging spoons with silver or gold colors, small marabou jijs tipped with grubs, PowerBait in bright colors, live minnows, and salmon eggs/small spawn sacks. 

Ice quality has degraded at our inland lakes and ponds recently and should not be considered safe.  Anglers can still fish from the safety of shore in areas where the water drops off quickly, such as from docks, other platforms, etc.  Since ice fishing is (hopefully) is right around the corner, we offer some advice.  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.  Other safety tips are to always fish with a friend, let someone know where you'll be, and focus on areas near where other anglers are already fishing.  Due to the deterioration of ice conditions we are not planning to have an ice fishing fundraiser derby this year. 

Fly Fishing Film Tour on March 2nd.   On Saturday March 2nd the popular national Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) with be stopping in Cleveland at the Museum of Natural History.  Get your tickets soon as this fun event sells out every year!  Cleveland Metroparks is a Supporting Sponsor again this year.  More here: <F3T CLE>.

6th Annual Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby Fundraiser on March 30.  On Saturday March 30th we will be hosting the sixth annual Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby on the Rocky River.  Trophies, prizes for three largest steelhead, raffles, and a cookout are all part of the day's festivities for this fun event where anglers must fish for steelhead with a kiddie fishing pole!  And new for 2019 we will be adding a children's division.  I didn't think we would be able to top last year in terms of the amazing prize packages, but lead organizer Mark Warren, local angler Greg Young, and the rest of the coordinating team have already rounded up prizes and <sponsors> for the event that exceed last year-  and they are still adding to them weekly!  Proceeds from the fundraiser event go to support the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund.  A <website> has been set up for the event, as well as a Facebook page.  Local angler Andy Wahl put together this outstanding <video> detailing a pastevent.  Don't miss this fun event for a great cause!

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

GT reported from Ledge Lake "My son caught this albino channel catfish through the ice, completely unexpected while fishing for trout"  Note: we stocked a few albino catfish most summers with our regular catfish, and they are always a rare catch-  but a super rare catch in winter (photo courtesy of GT).




On Monday proud father Matt notes Maci caught her first steelhead all on her own.  Congratulations Maci! (photos courtesy of Matt Martin).





Local angler Mike Iglewski took young Logan under his wing to teach him the hopes of steelhead fishing, and their efforts paid off on the Rocky on Saturday (photos courtesy of Mike Iglewski).




Yesterday Pat was way upstream on the Rock and wasn't having any luck with spawn.  So he switched over to a rubber worm jig and was rewarded with this handsome hen and buck pair (photos courtesy of Pat Campbell).



On Sunday Justyn got on the Rocky River before sunrise-  and didn't hook up until afternoon- but it happened to be a gorgeous buck.  Perserverace can pay off, especially in winter!  (photo courtesy of Justyn Robert).



On Tuesday Mikale caught and released a 31" hen steelhead on the Rock at Morley Ford (photo courtesy of Mikale Mosack).



Cary reported on Sunday "Solid buck out of the Rocky.  Munched on my pink and white marabou jig with a pink worm trailer" (photo courtesy of Cary Harris).



Joe hit the Rock after work on Monday and was rewarded with a pair of hen steelies (photo courtesy of Joe Tonich).



Alex took his girlfriend fishing on the Rocky River on Sunday and landed this dandy hen steelhead (photo courtesy of Alex Turner).




AJ did well Saturday morning on the Rock with a new fly pattern he tied (photos courtesy of AJ Leonard).




John sneaked to the Rocky on his lunch break on Tuesday and was handsomely rewarded (photos courtesy of John-Paul Duff).




Edward reports that he managed to pick up a steelie on the Rocky on Saturday afternoon thathit his homemade jig hard (photo courtesy of Edward Dupont).





I am missing the great steelhead ice fishing we had in Cleveland last winter, so I made the drive back up to Wisconsin to do it this week.  We caught steelhead, a few trophy brown trout, and delicious whitefish.