April 16, 2020

In spring steelhead trout are the highlight in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  Area streams are in good shape currently and should offer good steelhead fishing opportunities into the weekend.  Anglers can check river conditions at the following links: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>.  A total of 600 lbs of trout were stocked in the East Branch Rocky River on Tuesday, which consludes our spring trout stocking (3,600 lbs total were stocked since March 17)..

Area streams are in very good shape today and look to offer very good fishing prospects into the weekend. Streams have been offering a mix of chrome pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn steelhead.   Steelhead are well distributed throughout our area watersheds, with fresher fish generally downstream closer to the lake and spawning fish further upstream.  An increasing numbers of post-spawn (aka "dropback") steelhead are being observed.  Spring steelhead can be caught using all kinds techniques: drifting bait or jigs under floats, dead drifting or swinging flies and casting hardware like spoons, spinners or crankbaits among them. Folks can learn more about <basic> and <advanced> steelhead fishing in Ohio at the highlighted links.  Steelhead can be expected in our streams through at least late April and the coler weather could extend the season into May.  Lake-run smallmouth bass are also present in the northern few miles of river closer to Lake Erie.

On Tuesday we stocked 600 lbs of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River in Millstrean Run Reservation, which concluded our spring trout stocking in the river.  A portion of the total of 3,600 lbs released since March 17 were stocked in Wallace. Ledge and Ranger lakes and the Ohio Division of Wildlife recently stocked Hinckley and Shadow lakes .  The trout Metroparks stocked fish average 15-17 inches (with some even bigger- offering a quality fishery) and the state stocked trout run 11-12", the latter being perfect for kids.  Stocked trout bite on brightly colored PowerBait shaped into dime size balls, 3" rubber trout worms (pink, orange and white), small jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm and small to medium size spinners.  NOTE: the limits on these trout at 3/day at Wallace, Ledge, Judge's and Ranger lakes and 5/day at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area (there is no size limit, unlike the river where trout need to be minimum length of 12" and you can harvest 2/day this time of year).

The breakwall at E55th, pier at Wendy Park (old Coast Guard station) and rocks/pier at Edgewater Park and E72nd offer a chance at steelhead, walleye and variety of other species in early spring.  The boat launch ramps at Edgewater, Gordon Park, and Wildwood park are all usable at this time, and the courtesy docks were installed at Edgewater and Gordon park boat launches in March (the docks at the Rocky River Emerald Necklace Marina boat launch have not been installed yet because dredging is taking place this week).  In spring, these harbor areas are good locations to find pre-spawn northern pike and largemouth bass, as well as a variety of panfish species.  A white spinnerbait with silver blades worked slowly is a good early season choice for both bass and pike. The post-spawn shoreline bite for walleye typically picks around Cleveland in April. 

Boat Launch Pay Kiosks Are Installed.  Launch ramp pay kiosks have been re-installed for the boating season at Emerald Necklace (Rocky River), Edgewater, Gordon Park (E72nd St) and Wildwpood Park boat launches.  Boaters can pay daily onsite with a credit card or order an annual pass at the following <link> (Note: allow 2-4 weeks for delivery but printed confirmation at time of purchase can serve as interim launch pass until recieved).  Applies to all powered, trailered watercraft (kayaks and other hand powered watercraft are exempt from launch fees).

A Message from Ohio Division of Wildlife.  During the course of the next few weeks (through ~May 1), the Ohio Division of Wildlife will be completing their annual stocking of yearling steelhead in the 6 Lake Erie steelhead program tributaries (Vermilion, Rocky, Chagrin, Grand, Ashtabula rivers and Conneaut Creek).  The fish are coming out of the Castalia State Fish Hatchery, and the DOW will have the assistance of many hatchery personnel and trucks from around the state.  They will be on a tight schedule and will be delivering over 62,000 pounds of fish with over 40 truckloads.  Given current COVID-19 guidance and restrictions, please give hatchery trucks and personnel a wide berth.  Please do not interfere with the stocking operations (ie talking with hatchery personnel), and practice extra social distancing.  We appreciate your understanding during these difficult times.  If you have any questions, please e-mail Kevin Kayle, Hatchery Manager, at kevin.kayle@dnr.state.oh.us. 

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
 

Brian shared from Bonnie Park yesterday "Had a great time today fishing with my son Vinny and just wanted to say thanks for all you do.  We just got done watching your video at Ledge Lake and it was very helpful. Keep up the good work." (photo courtesy of Brian DiGioia).





Proud father Adam shared on Monday "Yesterday, my daughter caught her first fish with no help from dad. She cast it out, set the hook, landed it. I did nothing. So happy to have captured this moment." (photos courtesy Adam Eibling).







Brothers Hunter and Rylan had a great time fishing with dad Andrew and grandpa Al on the East Branch Rocky River this week.  They were using PowerBait (photos courtesy of Andrew Mundt).



Emily Ann caught a pretty East Branch Rocky River rainbow trout (photo courtesy of Emily Ann).






Owen shared "My buddy and I met up at a stocked pond and did a trout 'catch-n-cook'. We caught them all on orange PowerBait except for one which I got on a fly. We caught 7 between the two of us. My friend and I are holding the same stringer in the photos so don't worry, we only kept our limit!" (photos courtesy of Owen Seiler).



Ray was casting spoons in the Cuyahoga River and caught this fine northern pike (photo courtesy of Ray Porter).



Spring is the time for variety of fish in our local rivers.  Jimmy was trying for steelhead on the Rocky River on Saturday and caught a channel catfish on a spawn sack (photo courtesy of Jimmy Pease).




David had a great week for the trophy "silver and gold" (steelhead and walleye) between the Rocky River and Lake erie this week (photos courtesy of David Wagner).



On Friday Carmen caught what he called his "quarantine dinner" at Wallace Lake (photo courtesy of Carmen Colagiovanni).



This steelhead was caught yesterday in West Creek, a tributary of the Cuyahogha River.  He reported observing five other steelhead, all in differenmt holes (photo courtesy of Jason Meadwell).





Mike took a half day off work to fish the Rocky yesterday and was rewarded with some spring steelhead (photos courtesy of Mike Sekerek).