***The Fishing Report Blog is updated every Thursday*** The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are elevated and and muddy from overnight rain but should offer decent conditions for anglers to pursue fresh migrating steelhead into the weekend. Anglers can check the flow and temperature data at the following links:
<Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. Recently trout were stocked at five locations in Cleveland Metroparks (details below) and anglers were pursuing them through thin ice from the safety of shoreline features like docks.
The Rocky River and other area streams are elevated and muddy at the moment but should be offering good steelhead fishing conditions into the weekend. Anglers should keep an eye on the flow trend at the links above before heading out. Best bets as the waters first begin to clear are brightly colored (neon pink, orange and chartreuse) dime to nickel size spawn bags under a float, with salmon egg mimicking beads and soft rubber eggs (8-12 mm), small (1/32-1/64 oz) jigs tipped with maggots and live minnows under a float gaining an edge once waters clear further. I've already had a few reports of lake-run white suckers beginning to migrate into the rivers and their numbers will only continue to increase in the coming weeks.
Protected Lake Erie harbors, such as Edgewater, Wildwood and E72nd boat ramp area are still largely iced in. The ice on Lake Erie is breaking up and depending on wind conditions could offer shore fishing opportunities at places like E55th breakwall and Edgewater Park. Boat launches will not be ready for use for some time yet but for anglers looking ahead 2022 Boat Launch Annual tags can be purchased online
<here>.
In late January we conducted our second round (and final) scheduled winter trout stockings. This consisted of a total of 3,000 lbs of trout distributed as follows: Wallace Lake (1,400 lbs), Shadow Lake (750 lbs), ledge Lake (650 lbs), Ranger Lake (100 lbs) and Judge's Lake (100 lbs). These complement to 3,000 lbs of trout distirbuted in the same manner back in December. The majority of the fish were 1-1.5 lb rainbow trout, but an impressive number of brook, brown, golden rainbow and even some tiger trout (a brown trout x brook trout hybrid) were in the mix. Note: the daily limit at Wallace, Ledge, Ranger and Judge's lakes is 3 trout/angler and the limit at Shadow Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal is 5 trout/angler. The trout can bite well on colorful dime size balls of Power Bait dough, a waxworm ot two on a small marabou or tube jig and jigging spoons. I would not recommend ice fishing at this time with the ice around lake and pond edges will be soft and risky to step onto. You can pursue trout from the safety of solid ground from fishing docks, lifeguard platforms and and quarry wall shoreline drops-offs at locations such as Wallace Lake.
We are looking at beginning our Spring stocking of rainbow trout in the east Branch Rocky River in mid March. Stay tuned to the fishing report for details.
Fly Fishing Film Tour this Saturday March 5th. This Saturday March 5th the popular national Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) with be stopping in Cleveland at the Museum of Natural History. Get your tickets while they last as this fun event sells out every year! More here:
<F3T CLE>.
The Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby Fundraiser is BACK! After a 2 year hiatus due to Covid, the popular and fun Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby is back this year and scheduled for Saturday April 2nd. The sixth annual event was held in 2019 so we will pick up where we left off and call this our seventh annual event. One big difference this year will be that Cleveland Metroparks will be leading the event and Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders (a non-profit) will be hosting the raffle. A big tip of the hat goes out to past event organizer Mark Warren for 5 years of leading a highly successful event before passing on the reigns. Trophies for three largest steelhead, raffles, and a cookout are all part of the day's festivities for this fun event where anglers must fish for steelhead with a kiddie fishing pole! 100% of proceeds from the fundraiser event go to support the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund. The event headquarters has been moved to South Mastic Woods Picnic Area (immediately south of the Putritas Road bridge), a more central location on the Rocky River that offers almost twice the space as the marina area location. More details coming soon. Mark your calendars for this fun event for a great cause! More on the event here:
<Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby info page>.
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 covered too.
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
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.