In late-summer, highlight species targeted around Cleveland Metroparks include walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, channel catfish, and common carp. 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>. Please note: the Fishing Blog is updated once a month in June, July, and August and back to weekly in September.
The walleye fishing off Cleveland has slowed somewhat this month. Still, persistent anglers are still catching limits trolling spoons, crawler harnesses and crankbaits. Also effective is casting and slowly retrieving a weight forward spinner like an Erie Dearie tipped with a whole or half nightcrawler. Some anglers have reported finding schools of fish off Cleveland in approximately 50-55 foot of water with fish often suspended around 30 feet down. But that's not to say folks aren't still catching some fish in shallower water off Lakewood and Bratenahl. With the great walleye hatch from last year factored in, we can expect great walleye fishing for at least the next decade, if not longer.
On any given outing in summer the Cleveland Harbor behind the breakwall can produce a mixed bag of largemouth bass, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, catfish, freshwater drum and sunfish species, as well as walleye. Offerings such as tube jigs and live minnows appeal to the widest variety of species. Yellow perch reports have been all but non-existent lately in the Cleveland area.
Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the river during the day in summer, and often move to the heads of such pools in the early morning and evening hours to feed actively. A dark olive or brown tube jig of 3-4" length is one of the best producers of bass in the river. "Smallies" also bite well on live bait (ie: minnow, crayfish, and leeches), lures (ie: spinners and minnow plugs), and flies (ie: crayfish patterns, Clouser minnows, dark brown or olive sculpin or muddler minnow patterns). Rock bass are also present in the same river areas as smallmouth, and can be caught using the same offerings listed above.
Channel catfish can be found in deeper holes along the Rocky, Cuyahoga and Chagrin rivers too. On June 16 & 17 a total of 1,600 lbs of farm raised channel catfish were stocked between Shadow Lake (500 lbs), Ledge Lake (400 lbs), Ranger Lake (250lbs) , Oxbow Lagoon (150 lbs), and Strawberry Pond (300 lbs). Channel catfish stocked in late May also remain to be caught at Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area. Catfishing is usually best during lower light conditions using baits such as nightcrawlers, minnows, chicken liver, and processed dough baits.
Common carp are found in all of our rivers and are among the most willing biters during the heat of summer. Carp can be caught on canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails. The key to fishing for either carp or catfish is fishing on (or very near) the river/lake bottom. In addition, freshwater drum (sheepshead), white perch, and bullhead catfish are also common catches in the northern river reaches (north of Morley Ford) in summer. For the angling generalist, any of the species thus far can be effectively targeted by fishing a nightcrawler worm right on the river bottom with a sinker.
Summer is a great time for family fishing, and panfish are perfect for a leisurely picnic and fishing outing. Buegill, crappie and various other other sunfish species can be taken with a number of offerings, with a waxworm or redworm on a small hook (or tiny jig) suspended under a stick float and fished around a weedbed or shoreline brush always a top choice. Wallace Lake, Shadow Lake, Strawberry Pond and Lakefront Reservation marinas/harbors are just a few of many places in the Park to wet a line for various panfish species. Largemouth bass fishing is often best in Wallace and Hinckley lakes, although bass can be found in most park waters.
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