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    August 2020

    Parks | Recreation | Fishing Report | August 2020

    August 2020

    Posted: August 6, 2020
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    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


     


    A lad shows off a colorful pumpkinseed sunfish from Strawberry Pond.  He caught approximately 40 sunfish that day! (photo courtesy of Sean Johnson).




    A young lady caught this largemouth bass in a local pond recently (photos courtesy of Jeff Deluca).





    The Butram family- Max, Lincoln and Dexter along with mom and dad- enjoy catching carp in summer, which brings back memories of my early angling pursuits when I'd ride my bike to the Rocky River or Wallace Lake in summer and catch carp (photos courtesy of Corey Butram).



    Marquez caught this channel catfish at Shadow Lake (photo courtesy of Lamont).



    Pete shared "Connor's first time walleye fishing, his first walleye. 7.75 lbs 28 inches" (photo courtesy of Pete Franke).




    Molly caught a few nice Cleveland walleye recently fishing with her husband Randy (photos courtesy of Randy Gerrick).



    Ron caught this bruiser channel catfish in a local lake (photo courtesy of Ron Puzzitiello).





    Carl and his bride had fun drifting Erie Dearies and catching a mixed catch off Rocky River- including catfish and sheepshead mixed in with their targeted walleyes (photos courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).






    Tony caught a mixed catch kayaking along the CLE shoreline recently, including sheepshead, white bass and large (and small!) walleye (photos courtesy of Tony Cilluffo).






    Sean has been catching (and releasing) some real nice quality largemouth bass wotking finesse rubber worms in E55th and Gordon Park harbors (photos courtesy of Sean Johnson).







    Gary Norman of Dawg Pound Chaters recently got Cleveland Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger and friends on some nice walleyes (photos courtesy of Gary Norman).





    Mojito caught a nix mixed catcg from his kayak fishing small rubber minnow flukes (photos courtesy of Mojito Bee).









    Jimmy has been having a ball catching carp and goldfish in the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Jimmy Pease).











    Shaun has had a great summer so far targeting CLE area walleye from his kayak and also hooking into some fun bycatch (photos courtesy of Shaun Cassidy).


    Note: The fishing report is updated monthly in June, July, and August and weekly every other month


    ***Note: All photo submissions must first complete the Cleveland Metroparks photo waiver.***


    2023 Cleveland Metroparks Registered Fishing Guides
    (name, company, contact)

    • #23-001 Jeff Liskay, Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC, jeffliskay@gmail.com (440) 781-7536
    • #23-002 Monte Casey, The Steelhead Guide, (440) 773-8064, www.steelheadguide.com
    • #23-003 Gareth Thomas, Alley Grabs Guide Service, alleygrabs@gmail.com, (216) 235-5056
    • #23-004 Mike Soots, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, mikesootsm@gmail.com, (330) 717-2492 
    • #23-005 Nate Miller, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com (440) 796-6105
    • #23-006 Jon DelVecchio, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, jondelvecchio@gmail.com, (412) 335-4363
    • #23-007 Nicholas DelVecchio, Wildwood Outfitters, wildwood16317@gmail.com, (724) 433-2315
    • #23-008 Jim Lampros, jlampros2@gmail.com, (216) 513-6011
    • #23-009 Justin Pribanic, Chagrin River Outfitters, jpribanic@gmail.com (724) 799-5011
    • #23-010 Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do LLC, whatthatvisedo@gmail.com (724) 841-1564
    • #23-011 Aaron Chine, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, chinetatt@yahoo.com (330) 610-2574
    • #23-012 Rob Pitts, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, robpittsflyfishing@gmail.com (440) 622-8717 
    More information on Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Guide Permit requirements, including the permit application, you may check the following link: <Fishing Guide Permit Program>

    Learn how you can support recreation opportunities through a donation to the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund.
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