May 15, 2025

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May***  The Rocky River and other area streams are offering good fishing conditions which should continue into this weekend. To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River Main Branch flow gage data> <Rocky River East Branch flow gage data> <Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. (Note: The flow gage on the Rocky River Main Branch is unavailable due to an upcoming bridge project but the East Branch flow data above will still give anglers a good idea of the trend in river flow). Anglers are pursuing smallmouth bass in the Rocky River and a variety of species along the lakefront (including walleye and smallmouth bass).

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are offering good fishing conditions and based on the forecast that should continue through this weekend. The lake-run smallmouth bass fishing continues to be a highlight opportunity. Smallmouth bite medium size minnow or shad crankbaits, spinners, tube jigs (3” olive colored is great), and Ned rigs, as well as streamer flies that mimic a minnow or goby.  There are still a few steelhead around, although that is tapering off quickly. 

One big surprise this week has been a number of good sized walleye reported caught in the lower Rocky and Chagrin rivers.  Most folks are catching them as happy accidents when targeting smallmouth bass with jigs, spoons, spinners and crankbaits. The odds of scoring the “Gold, Silver and Bronze” (walleye, steelhead and smallmouth bass) in a single day have never been better (two anglers who submitted photos below accomplished the feat this week).

Throughout spring we stocked 2,700 lbs of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River. Fish have been released at the parking area off the parkway just north of Rt 82/Royalton road, as well as off the bridges to the Strongsville Wildlife Area and The Chalet, at Bonnie Park, at the covered bridge, and at the low ford that crosses the river just south of Wallace Lake. The trout are well dispersed throughout the stocking zone at this time so don’t feel the need to stick to the more heavily fished stocking locations.  This concludes spring trout stocking in the river.

A good number of trout are still available at Wallace Lake and back in mid March the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked just over 1,000 rainbow trout in Shadow Lake. Small to medium size spoons and spinners, a dime size ball of PowerBait on a bare hook and fished about 18” from a sinker on the bottom, and small jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm below a float/bobber are just a few proven offerings for stocked trout. To clarify trout limit by location (all trout species combined), the daily limit is 3 trout at Wallace, Ranger, Ledge and Judge’s lakes. The daily limit is 5 trout at Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal. For steelhead/rainbow trout in the rivers, harbors and Lake Erie this time of year the daily limit is 2 with minimum size of 12”.

In spring there are a variety of fishing opportunities along the Cleveland shoreline. Post-spawn walleye fishing after dark has been slow overall but persistent anglers are hooking into a few fish. Casting larger Perfect 10 or Husky Jerk shallow diving stickbaits are a good option. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, steelhead, yellow perch, and sunfish can all be found in area harbors and breakwalls. The courtesy docks have been installed at all Metroparks public boat launches and the E72nd fish cleaning station is open (as a reminder, please follow the clearly posted use instructions and be conscientious and keep the latter clean). 

Children’s Spring Fishing Derbies are coming May 17 & 18.  Our Cleveland Metroparks Spring Chidren’s Fishing Derbies are a multi-generation old tradition and will be held at Wallace Lake on Saturday, May 17 and Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation on Sunday, May 18.  More info on the events <here>. Note: Wallace Lake to the north of the swimming area and Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area are clearly posted as closed to fishing until after the events on Saturday and Sunday.

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

Noah shared on Saturday “I fly fished Tinkers Creek in the Bedford Reservation for a little bit this evening and managed to get this decent smallie, my first of the season so far! Love the report, keep up the great work!” (photo courtesy of Noah Doak).

Chris shared regarding his catch “Caught this big n chunky smallie in Rocky River Saturday morning on a Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnow. Thought I had a snag until it started moving.” (photo courtesy of Chris Balser).

Nick shared regarding a Friday evening outing with his buddy “Tom Robatin and I went down to Rocky River Marina yesterday evening and got a 23", 24", and a 25" walleye, and Tom got this 19 3/4" 5lb 1 oz smallie! 2 walleyes on a silver spinner and the smallie and the big walleye on a small silver and green spoon. We were a couple hundred yards south of the boat ramp. It was 1 1/2 hours of boredom, then 45 mins of elation! Thought you might want to know.  It was a fun evening.” (photos courtesy of Nick Zarlinga).

Dexter, his buddy Luke, and father Corey (in that order above) all caught surprise walleye in the Rocky River by the marina on Friday evening (as well as a bonus sheepshead). The walleyes bit on a crankbait, swimbait and large Rooster Tail spinner (photos courtesy of Corey Butram).

Brian has caught all his walleye lately casting Husky Jerk lures after dark along the Cleveland shoreline (photo courtesy of Brian Kich).

A few yellow perch are being caught from shore at e55th breakwall.

Rocco scored the Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Chagrin River this week (photos courtesy of Rocco Serio).

Samuel also scored the Gold, Silver and Bronze this week. He was fishing the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Samuel Kaminski).

#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