November 7, 2019

In fall steelhead trout are the highlight in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  The Rocky River has not raised in level yet despite the precipitation today.  Steelhead remain the most concentrated in the northern portion of the river closer to Lake Erie. To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  Lake Erie nearshore anglers have been targeting steelhead and walleye.

Good catches of steelhead have taken place this week off the rocks at Edgewater Park, E55th breakwall, Wendy Park and Wildwood Park. Casting a spoon (such as a 2/5 oz Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are as good a bet as any for connecting with fall lakefront steelhead trout.  A bobber with a 1/32 oz jig tipped with minnow or maggots suspend 3-6 feet below is also a good producer in the aforementioned areas.  Since an angler can use two rods in Ohio (note: this will increase to three rods on Lake Erie starting on January 1, 2020), one strategy is to cast out a bobber rod with bait and watch it while working a spoon or spinner with the other rod.  But be sure to keep a close eye on the bobber rod, as steelhead have been known to pull unattended rods into the lake!

Steelhead are also being caught in the northern river sections by the lake and the rain today has not yet affected the river flow.  Still, wise anglers should check the flow data (link above) before embarking on an outing to the river.  Expect lots of fallen leaves in the rivers, though, as well as an abundance of emerald shiner by the marina.  The Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers, as well as Euclid Creek, have all produced some steelhead this week.  River steelhead will hit spoons and spinners, as in the lake, as well as dime to nickel sized brightly colored spawn sacks or small marabou jigs tipped with maggots drifted near the river bottom under a float.  Fly fishers use egg patterns, stremers (Clouser minnows and wooly buggers) and nymphs as the water clears.  Steelhead fishing in the rivers will continue to improve later into fall, especially following any significant rain that raises water levels. 

Anglers at our inland fishing can catch catfish, largemouth bass, and panfish.  On October 9th and 10th the Ohio & Erie canal fishing area (off E49th Street) was stocked with 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout (including a few dozen golden rainbow trout) and 600 lbs of farm raised channel catfish.  Additionally, Wallace Lake was stocked with 224 largemouth bass and big bluegill and Beyer's Pond was stocked with 848 bass, sunfish and channel catfish over the past month.

The walleye bite has been very good after dark along the Cleveland shoreline this week.  Anglers have been connecting by casting lures like Husky Jerk, Bandit, Rattle Trap, and Perfect 10 stickbaits at dusk and after dark along the Cleveland shoreline.  Wendy Park pier and E55th breakwall are more protected from wind than Edgewater and wildwood park shorelines.  Some yellow perch were caught at E55th breakwall this week on emerald shiners fished on crappie rigs on the bottom.  The ODNR Division of Wildlife weekly Lake Erie fishing report can be viewed <here>.

Emerald Necklace and E55th Marina Shops Extended Hours for the Convenience of Fall Anglers and Boaters *NOTE NEW THIS WEEK EXPANDED EXTENDED HOURS AT E55TH ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS*    For the first time we are offering extended fall hours at our marina shops, as follows:

 

E.55th Marina Store will be holding extended winter hours in 2019! Continuing until November 16th, the marina store will be open on Thursdays 9 AM - 3 PM and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 AM - 6 PM. The store will be selling marine fuel, minnows, nightcrawlers, tackle and hot coffee for those looking to hook into a trophy walleye or jumbo perch. Call the marina office with any questions (216) 431-3280

 

At the Emerald Necklace Marina on the Rocky River, starting now and continuing until December 19th, the marina store will be open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 9 AM - 3 PM. The store is expanding stock with minnows, maggots and other great products to assist in your quest for a chrome steelhead! The shop also has hot coffee and snacks but WILL NOT offer fuel.  Call the marina office directly with any questions (216) 226-3030.

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

 

Philip shared "I caught a few steelhead on a little creek near my house, I have in photo, fish caught on egg sacks, 11-3-19" (photo courtesy of Philip Dokovski).




Joe shared on Saturday that the walleye at Wendy Park were biting on Smithwick Perfect 10 crankbaits with hot colors of Wonderbread ,Floyd , and Lemon Lime Crush (photos courtesy of Joe Kroetz).




Ken shared on wednesday "Went out for a little bit this morning.   Dave caught this chromer on a blue jig; I caught mine on a purple lead head with a pink trout worm.  What a blistering fight! " (photos courtesy of Ken Stein).




Yellpw perch fishing is hit or miss around Cleveland, but a few catches of good sized fish have come from E55th recently.



Jason was shocked when this 31.25" channel catfish chomped his slowly reeled Bandit Generator crankbait along the Lake Erie shoreline.  He used a minnow umbrella net to land it (photo courtesy of Jason Atkinson).
  


Pat shared yesterday "Finally!  landed my first catch of the 2019-20 steelhead season down at Rockcliff.  Looking forward to another season of fishing with all of the great guys that I have met over the years at Rocky River" (photo courtesy of Pat Cramer).



Phred made a nice catch of walleye at E55th this week (photo courtesy of Phred Carey).



On Tuesday Michael caught a fine buck steelhead by the Rocky River Marina with some assistance from his buddy Bll Mantle (photo courtesy of Michael Williams).



Tim caught a quality Rocky River steelead on Sunday (photo courtesy of Tim Daley).



Chris voted on Tuesday and was then rewarded with a Rocky River steelhead (photo courtesy of Christopher Donlon).




Tom made a nice catch of Lake Erie shoreline walleye on Saturday (photos courtesy of Tom Nock).






On Tuesday John experienced steelhead success kayaking the Rocky River by the Marina (photos courtesy of John Proch).



A local angler sent in this photo of a piebald deer spotted at West Creek Reservation (photo courtesy of Ross Bailey).