July 2022

As we move into 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.  

Summer means family fishing time for many folks, and panfish fit the bill perfectly for a leisurely picnic and fishing outing.  Bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed and other sunfish species can be taken with a number of offerings, but a waxworm or redworm on a small hook (or tiny jig) suspended under a stick float and fished around a weedbed or shoreline brush is always a good choice.  Wallace Lake, Shadow Lake, Strawberry Pond and Lakefront Reservation are just a few of many places in the parks to wet a line for various panfish species.  Early mornings and dusk are typically better times to fish during the heat of summer.  Largemouth bass fishing is often best in Wallace and Hinckley lakes, as well at in Lake Erie harbors, although bass can be found in most park waters.

Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the Rocky and Chagrin rivers 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, other lures/fliesd that imitate minnows or crayfish, and live bait are all offerings that can catch smallmouth.  Rock bass are also present in the same river areas as smallmouth, and can be caught using the same offerings.

Channel catfish and large carp are also present in some of these same areas in the river, and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water.  On June 24th, a total of 1,600 lbs of farm raised channel catfish were stocked between Shadow Lake (500 lbs), Ledge Lake (300 lbs), Strawberry Pond (300 lbs), Oxbow Lagoon (300 lbs) and Ranger Lake (200lbs).  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.  Resident channel catfish are available in the Rocky, Cuyahoga and Chagrin rivers all summer.

Carp can be found throughout local rivers in summer, as well.  Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as 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 abundant 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.

The walleye bite has been good less than 3 miles offshore in anywhere from 25-50 feet of water out of Gordon (E72nd) and Edgewater parks. Trolling deep diving crankbaits and spoons behind dipsy divers has been the most common presentations. Anglers also doing well casting harnesses and weight forward spinners.  Additionally, diverse fishing opportunities including (but not limited to) rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, catfish, freshwater drum and sunfish species can be found along the Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie and bite on offerings such as tube jigs and live minnows.

Photo Release Waivers for Fishing Blog Photos (fast and easy to complete online).  Photo release waivers for photos sent in for the fishing report can easily be completed online through Smart Waiver (takes only about 30 seconds to complete) at the following link: <Smart Waiver link>. You only need to do this one time and any future additional photos submitted are already covered.

Alex shared recently "My 4-year-old daughter Hazel went fishing for the first time today and caught 6 bluegill at Wallace Lake on dough balls and red worms. Here’s a photo of us showing off one of her prized catches!" (photo courtesy of Alex Garrote).



Rick and his little fishing buddy made a nice catch of Shadow Lake channel catfish on June 24th (photo courtesy of Rick Howard).




Expert fly fisher and author Jerry Darkes teaches Lydia the basics of fly fishing during a recent Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club fly fishing outing in Cleveland Metroparks.  Lydia quickly caught her first fish ever, followed by a bunch more.






Vinny and his buddy have been catching largemouth bass and trout at Wallace Lake and other area ponds (photos courtesy of Brian DiGioia).



Sam shared "Sharing a pic of a nice Smallie I caught fly fishing the Rocky last week. Went to the same spot 3 times sight casting to this beast in the low clear water, the fish just wouldn’t take anything. Finally got the bite on a white popper. It was a really fun catch!" (photo courtesy of Sam Rapnicki).




The Hockman family made a nice catch of walleye in 50 foot of water straight out from E72nd boat ramp in Cleveland.  Above are a few from their catch (photos courtesy of Christine Hockman).






Matt shared recently "Sharing a few from Sunday morning. This freshwater drum is a new PB for me at 29". He took me for a Lake Erie sleigh ride! Walleye, perch, and drum caught in 20 feet of water off Rocky River jigging with a Bass Pro Shops XPS Lazer Blade in chartreuse. Have a great week!" (photos courtesy of Matt Gunn).




Gary paddled his kayak a short way up the Rocky River and tangled with this bruiser channel catfish (photos courtesy of Gary Brandt).



Pat recently caught (and released) this 30 pound grass carp in Ledge Lake.  It was his largest fish ever (photo courtesy of Pat Thauvette).


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Hunter scored some tackle buster smallmouth bass in the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Hunter Ryan).



John caught his personal best walleye at 30 inches just north of Cleveland (photo courtesy of John Burkhart).



Kali displays a fine largemouth bass from Hinckley Lake.






Carl and friends have been catching a variety of fish between Lake Erie, the Rocky River and Wallace Lake (photos courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).




Above are just a few of the fine largemouth and smallmouth bass that Phillip has caught along the Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie this summer (photos courtesy of Phillip Shevchenko).



Scott shows off a perfect size Lake Erie walleye to take home for dinner (photo courtesy of Scott D.).





Roger and family have scored some fine Cleveland harbor largemouth bass (photos courtesy of Roger Berglund).



A Lake Erie angler targeting walleye caught this 9.4 lb brown trout (photo courtesy of Capt. George Uhl).




The fish touch pool has been a big hit at public events this summer.



The fish cleaning station at E72nd public boat launch now has a roof and overhead fan for those hot summer days.




Thank you to the 66 dedicated volunteers that came out for the rocky river Clean-Up last month.  We removed a heaping full size pick-up bed of trash in a few hours work!




A huge thank you goes out to our two local Orvis shops- one in Cleveland (Woodmere) and Westlake (Crocker Park)- for raising a total of $12.3K for the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing und during their May Giveback Days campaign.  Please consider spending your money locally at establishments that give back to the community!