May 22, 2025

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May***  The Rocky River and other area streams are elevated and muddy but should;d be offering good fishing conditions in time for the 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 and channel catfish in the Rocky River, stocked rainbow trout and catfish at Wallace Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal, and a variety of species along the lakefront (including walleye, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass).

The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are currently elevated and muddy but based on the weather forecast should offer good fishing conditions by 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 is also a strong run of big channel catfish in the lower rivers (on the Rocky mostly north of the Lorain road bridge) to spawn. They bite well on raw shrimp, gizzard shad, or nightcrawlers. Some walleye are still being taken from the marina area on the Rocky river as well.

Last week we stocked 800 lbs of trout and 700 lbs of farm raised catfish at Wallace Lake and 500 lbs of trout and 700 lbs of catfish at Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street. Trout often bite on small to medium size spinners/spoons/crankbaits, a small marabou or tube jig tipped with a waxworm or a few maggots, canned corn kernals fished on the lake bottom or a dime size ball of colorful PowerBait. Trout and catfish will bite a piece of shrimp or worm fished on the bottom for anglers happy to catch either species.  More farm raised catfish will be stocked around Cleveland Metroparks in June so stay tuned for details on that.

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).

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

Mike shared “One week, two rivers, two Fish Ohio smallies. Sean Tobin on the Chagrin (in borrowed waders) and then a few days later on the Upper Cuyahoga.” (photos courtesy of Mike Tobin).

Eric shared “My son Louis and I caught an array of different fish this weekend at Rocky River and Oxbow Lagoon and wanted to share.  I caught the big cat by the marina on a nightcrawler and Louis caught the others using bread, wax worms and crawlers.” (photos courtesy of Eric Pangrace).

Eliot shared “I caught this 24lb 10oz - 31.5" Channel Catfish in the Cuyahoga River off of the Towpath in Scranton Flats.  I caught it using Red Worms off the bottom using a drop-shot type rig.” (photo courtesy of Eliot Standen).

Joey (top photo) and Dexter took part in the Wallace Lake fishing derbies on Saturday and kept fishing after the event ended at 4:00pm.  And later that afternoon they caught a 29” channel catfish (bottom pic), 20” tiger trout, and 19” rainbow trout-  all of which would have taken first place in their respective categories.  Moral of the story:  sometimes fish bite best in the evening! (photos courtesy of Corey Butram).

Kylie reported “Spring bite has been brutal but I finally got back on one. Had a second rod going that I call my "moral booster rod" and caught 3 other species as well. Lake is looking a lot better. I was there probably 15 other people on the rocks, for a good 5 hours and only saw 3 walleye come out counting mine, and mine was the largest.” (photos courtesy of Kylie Kwon).

John shared this photo of him and his sister Marianne with a catch of white suckers from Rockcliff Ford on the Rocky River in spring of 1965 (photo courtesy of John Pajkos).

Above are a handful of photos from our Spring Children’s Fishing Derbies this past Saturday and Sunday where several hundred fish were caught!

#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