August 2023

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May and monthly from June-August*** As we move into 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.  

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 worth a look at Wallace and Hinckley lakes, as well at in Lake Erie harbors, although they are present in all 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/flies 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.  In mid June 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 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.  Leads 60-110’ back unassisted or 50-80’ back with divers or 4-ounce snap weights have been working well at speeds of 1.5-2.0 mph.  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.
 
Orvis Fly Fishing 101 Class on August 5th.  On Saturday August 5^th our local Cleveland Orvis shop will be offering free Flyfishing 101 program that includes all equipment.  Register for this family friendly program <here>. Cleveland Metroparks appreciates our two local Orvis locations (Woodmere and Westlake) in raising $18K for our Fishing Fund over the past 2 years via their Giveback Days program.
 
Kayak Fishing Program on August 10th.  On Thursday August 10^th expert fishing guide Jeff Liskay will be leading a kayak fishing program from 6-9:00pm at Wallace Lake.  Kayak are provided, as well as fishing gear if needed and the program does have a fee.  More info or register <here>.

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.

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 [email protected] .

Tight Lines,
Mike

 

Ava crosses off sheepsheasd, which was another fish species on her bucket list. Next up for her and dad-  walleye! (photos courtesy of Adam Wachtel).





The Wolf family had a great fishing outing at Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area, highlighted by a big largemouth bass that was caught and released (photos courtesy of Mike Wolf).



A young angler caught this nice bass while on an Esperanza group outing with our Youth Outdoors team (photo courtesy of Jesus Sanchez).



Tyler shared “I’ve worked with you before at Environmental Heroes. Here’s a bass I caught on a salamander rig North end of Wallace Lake earlier in the am! Beautiful hog I’d say!” (photo courtesy of Tyler Jolley).







The Butram family (including dog) and friends had some successful fishing excursions to Wallace Lake (photos courtesy of Corey Butram).



It's nice to see John Rode, who started and managed our Youth Outdoors program and recently retired from Cleveland Metroparks, enjoying his newfound free time. John caught and released this quality largemouth bass on a topwater fly on a smaller Metroparks fishing pond (photo courtesy of John Rode).





Tyler and his buddy have been catching some fine channel catfish by the Rocky River Marina using raw shrimp on a circle hook and sinker (photos courtesy of Tyler Saad).




Chris caught this bruiser Fish Ohio award qualifying smallmouth bass in the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Chris Ligan).







Carl and friends have been enjoying the diverse bounty of Lake Erie this summer (photos courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).













The Ligan family won the door prize at our 2022 Fall Family Fishing Fest, which was a charter trip for walleye on Lake Erie with dog Pound Charters. Captain Gary Norman generously made the donation and I served as first mate and filleted their fish at the end. Gary has generously offered to donate another trip for our fall 2023 event, as well (thanks Gary!).





Ted and friends show off some recent Cleveland area walleye catches (photos courtesy of Ted Choukalas).



Alex scored a nice catfish dinner at Shadow Lake.  Several Metroparks lakes and ponds were stocked with farm raised channel catfish earlier this summer. See the report for details (photo courtesy of Alex Nagel).