September 10, 2020

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog will not be updated next week but will resume weekly updates on September 24th***   As we begin our approach to fall, highlight species targeted by anglers along the Rocky River and other area streams include smallmouth bass, carp, panfish, and channel catfish-  with a watchful eye looking for the first returning steelhead trout as temperatures cool. Area streams are receding following massive flooding earlier this week.  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 anglers are primarily targeting walleye and inland lake/pond anglers are primarily pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish. 

As the weather cools, early steelhead first show up around off the rocks at Edgewater and E55th, Wildwood Park and in the northernmost river sections by the lake.  Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are as good a bet as any for connecting with an early steelhead trout.  These same areas are beginning to produce a few walleye after dark, as well, with Perfect 10 and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits working well.

Rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, freshwater drum and sunfish species can be found along the Cleveland shoreline in late summer and can be caught on offerings such as tube jigs, dropshot rigs and live bait.  Decent catches of white perch and yellow perch have been made here and there at the E55th breakwall in recent weeks and have been biting on bits of worms or small minnow fished on the bottom on a crappie rig.  The best bite has been in the afternoon lately.

Anglers are pursuing a mix of warmwater species in the streams  Smallmouth bass are the most sought after among them and bite best at the heads of deeper pools in the mornings and evenings.  A dark olive or brown tube jig 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). 

Channel catfish, carp, sheepshead and several sucker species are also present in some of these same areas in the river, especially around the marina on the Rocky, and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water.  Catfishing is usually best during lower light conditions using baits such as nightcrawlers, minnows, chicken liver, and processed dough baits.   Catfish often bite best following a rain when the water is a bit murky.  Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails.  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.

Anglers at our inland lakes and ponds are catching catfish, largemouth bass, and panfish.  Wallace Lake, Ledge Lake, Shadow Lake, and Beyer's Pond are just a few other spots worth poking around in late summer and early fall.

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

 

Yesterday some folks were making mixed catches of yellow perch, bluegill, white perch, channel catfish and freshwater drum (sheepshead) while bottom fishing with worms at the E55th north facing breakwall (area highlighted in red on map above).




Ray shared regarding his smallmouth catch  "Couple of nice ones today (Sunday 9/06) using soft crawdads and jigs on the Rocky" (photos courtesy of Ray Porter).




Sean caught a nice walleye and bonus sheepshead while fishing at dusk at E72nd breakwall (photos courtesy of Sean Johnson).



John enjoyed flyfishing for colorful bluegill at Judge's Lake, catching his fish on a floating cricket fly with a small beadhead nymph dropper (photo courtesy of John Rode).





Dana caught a juvenile flathead catfish on a local stream. This species can attain over 50 pounds in Ohio and seems to be naturally expanding along the Lake Erie shoreline and connected streams (photo courtesy of Dana Daugherty-Klonowski).



There is a clearly marked designated kayak staging area by the Rocky River marina to minimize congestion of watercraft launching at the ramps.



Flooding around the region was intense on Monday.  This was a view of Big Creek spilling into the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.  Fortunately all the animal were OK (photo Cleveland Metroparks Police Dept).






Elizabeth and I are still chasing muskies between Ohio and Michigan, but are also making time for other species, such as the big pumpkinseed sunfish caught while drop shotting for bass.