December 18, 2025

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  With the up and down temperatures local streams are in transition again this week, fluctuating between freezing up to re-opening, although given the forecast weekend prospects are looking pretty good. Anglers would be wise to monitor the most recent river water level and temperature before heading to the streams at the following links: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity><Rocky River Main Branch live feed camera>. The big news this week are the 3,500 ponds of mixed trout being stocked between 5 Cleveland Metroparks lakes and ponds (details below).

Rivers this week have fluctuated between freezing up and thawing with weekend steelhead fishing prospects looking pretty good based on the forecast (although early mornings may be slushy). Currently there are large sections of the main branch of the river opening up with the marina area among the last areas to thaw. In cold water focusing on deeper pools and slowly drifting a small marabou jig tipped with a few maggots or a Gulp minnow, dime size spawn sack, salmon egg mimicking bead, or live (or salted) minnow under a float can all produce well. The Rocky and Chagrin rivers as well as Euclid Creek, all have decent numbers of steelhead present and the larger Cuyahoga River tends to shine in winter when the other stream levels are low. Some steelhead, as well as walleye and yellow perch, may still be found along the Lake Erie shoreline at Edgewater, Gordon and Wildwood parks, as well, but be especially wary of shoreline ice when fishing bthe lakefront in winter.

There will be lots of trout available for folks with some time off over the holidays. By tomorrow afternoon Cleveland Metroparks will have completed stocking 3,500 pounds of mixed trout (the first half were stocked on Tuesday) between Wallace (1,600 lbs, Shadow (850 lbs), Ledge (750 lbs), Judge’s (150 lbs) and Ranger (150 lbs) lakes. The bulk were rainbow trout averaging a pound each although there were plenty of bonus brook, brown, golden rainbow, and even rare tiger (brook x brown hybrid) trout and blue rainbow trout (new this year) to keep things interesting. A few of the fish were of trophy proportions (see examples in the photos below). Small marabou or hair jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm, a dime sized ball of Power Bait, and smallish to medium size jigging spoons are all great offerings to try for trout. A second (and final) trout stocking will occur in late January or early February. 

Inland lakes and ponds are already iced over but with the recent warmer temperatures it is advised against ice fishing quite yet (despite the fact a few folks were already on the ice this week). As the ice (hopefully) improves further into winter, for those considering ice fishing we offer the following safety advice. Most state conservation agencies recommend at least 4" of solid ice before anglers should venture out to ice fish, and in Cleveland Metroparks it is the angler's responsibility to check that. One method is to use a spud bar near shore and check the ice thickness, and if it is > 4 inches then walk out a little further and check again. Ice is often thinnest right at the water's edge and around inlets and outlets of the waterbody. Heavy snow serves to insulate the water and slow additional ice formation, as well. A pair of emergency ice picks held at the ready on a cord around the neck are a safety must, as is an emergency length of rope. A floating "survival suit" is something you may consider, as well. Other safety tips are to always fish with a friend, let someone know where you'll be, and focus on areas near where other anglers are already fishing. Anglers leery about going out on the ice can still pursue these trout by drilling or spudding holes the ice along shore and fishing from the safety of docks and areas where the shore slopes rapidly into deeper water, such as is common at Wallace Lake which was a former sandstone quarry.

Blue Trout?  For the first time ever done locally, our trout supplier mixed in a handful of a rare blue variant of rainbow trout for something different. Genetically they are still just rainbow trout. See a few photos of these interesting fish below. 

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 will 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

Steve has consistently been finding steelhead fishing success on the Rocky River (photo courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

Sean braved the wintery conditions on the Rocky River this week and was rewarded with some colorful steelhead (photos courtesy of Sean Flanigan).

Above are a few of the beautiful trout we stocked in Cleveland Metroparks this week, including some blue rainbow trout (a local stocking first). Details in the report above.

Access to Lake Erie at the former Coast Guard station at Wendy Park has been re-opened to the public following renovations.  The pier at the very end can look wet but actually be ice so be especially careful in that area during freezing temperatures.

A collaboration between Collision Bend Brewing Company and Mad River Outfitters has yielded a custom brew called Steelhead Sippa (Helles Style Lager) and $2 from each beer sold at the brewery is donated to the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund (equally split from the two companies). So check out their Euclid location on Babbitt Road for great food, drink and atmosphere and support local fisheries efforts in the process! In the future the beer may also be offered at their Cleveland location and also canned, and if that happens I’ll update folks in a future report. Also feel free to stop by their Hops and Hooks fly tying night (again, at their Euclid location) which is open to all every Tuesday from 6:30-9:00 p.m. (bring your own tying equipment/materials). More <here>.

#25-001 Jeff Liskay, Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC, [email protected] (440) 781-7536

#25-002 Gareth Thomas, Alley Grabs Guide Service, [email protected] (216) 235-5056

#25-003 Jim Lingenfelter, Wild Ohio Outdoors Guide Service, [email protected], (440) 731-9160

#25-004 Monte Casey, Steelhead Guide, (440) 773-8064 www.steelheadguide.com

#25-005 Nicholas DelVecchio, Wildwood Outfitters, [email protected] (724) 433-2315

#25-006 Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do LLC, [email protected] (724) 841-1564

#25-007 Nate Miller, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com (440) 796-6105

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.