December 25, 2025

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  After being high and muddy over the weekend the Rocky River is offering good fishing conditions for steelhead anglers. Prospects this weekend will depend on how much rain we receive and 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 that were stocked between 5 Cleveland Metroparks lakes and ponds (details below).

After receiving quite a bit more rain than forecasted late last week the Rocky River was high and muddy this past weekend. The river is in good shape for steelhead anglers at the moment but weekend prospects will depend on how much of the forecasted rain we receive. Fortunately the river is free of ice again which should continue to be the case for much of the foreseeable forecast. In cold and clearing water (as is now the case) 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.

There will be lots of trout available for folks with some time off over the holidays. Late last week Cleveland Metroparks stocked 3,500 pounds of mixed trout 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 blueback 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.

The warmer weather has put a damper on the ice fishing, which is discouraged at this time. 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 about 2 dozen of a rare blue backed variant of rainbow trout for something different.  Genetically they are still a rainbow trout, so I am calling them blueback 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

Vinny shows off a rainbow trout he caught at Wallace Lake (photo courtesy of Brian DiGioia).

Joe displays a beautiful blueback rainbow trout at Shadow Lake. This is the first time these have ever been stocked in Ohio.

Jimmy scored a golden rainbow trout through the ice (photo courtesy of Jimmy Miranda).

Brian headed out with a new challenge- to catch one of the handful of blueback rainbow trout we just stocked. He thought it could be a winter long quest but got one on his first outing of the winter at Wallace Lake! He also caught several standard rainbow trout (not pictured) and a largemouth bass (photos courtesy of Brian Kich).

On Thursday and Friday last week we stocked 3,500 lbs of mixed trout between five Cleveland Metroparks lakes. Details are in the report above.

#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.