May 29, 2025

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated weekly on Thursdays from September-May***  The Rocky River and other area streams are in good shape after being elevated and muddy for several days and should 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 in good shape after being elevated and muddy for several days.  Based on the weather forecast, streams should offer good fishing conditions for the weekend. The lake-run smallmouth bass fishing continues to be an opportunity, although that is tapering off now. 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.

In mid-May 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. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, steelhead, yellow perch, and sunfish can all be found in area harbors and breakwalls. Live minnows or small jigs (hair or rubber) worked along the shoreline will catch a variety of species. 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

Keith and a buddy had a good time catching big lake-run channel catfish on the Rocky River just upstream of the boat ramps (photos courtesy of Keith Crawford).

Nick is one of the last anglers out there specifically targeting steelhead and he reports that he’s doing surprisingly well (photo courtesy of Nick Kosiba).

Taylor displays a Rocky River channel catfish (photo courtesy of Taylor DiBlasi).

#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