November 20, 2025

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  Local streams are flowing pretty low and clear conditions and that looks to be the case for the weekend, as well. To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity><Rocky River Main Branch live feed camera>. Walleye fishing after dark along the Lake Erie shoreline of Cleveland continues to be very good when the lake conditions permit. Additionally, anglers at the Ohio & Erie Canal are pursuing recently stocked rainbow trout and Lake Erie anglers are also catching yellow perch and steelhead.

Walleye fishing along the Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie has remained very good when lake conditions permit. Anglers may find the <live feed beach camera at Edgewater Park> helpful for determining lake conditions (just go to that link an scroll down). Anglers have been lining up at dusk after dark at E55th breakwall as well as Edgewater, Wildwood, and Gordon parks to cast Perfect 10, Husky Jerk, Bandit, Ripfish, and other crankbaits. A slow and steady retrieve is often best after dark. Boating anglers are also doing very well when wave conditions permit. Anglers were catching yellow perch on the north facing breakwall at E55th and boating anglers are scoring nice catches of perch at the east end of the outer city breakwall and by the Cuyahoga River lighthouse. Please note that Wendy Park at the old Coast Guard station is still closed for repairs and I will update folks here when it reopens. 

Rivers are flowing on the low and clear side and basedon the forecast those conditions will likely persist through the weekend.  Most of the reports of success this week have been from the deeper, slower stretches of the Rocky and Chagrin rivers closer to Lake Erie. Euclid Creek at Wildwood Park is also giving up some stray steelhead. Large quantities of leaves are accumulated in the streams, especially in the slower flow areas, adding another layer of challenge for river anglers. Steelhead are also being caught along the Lake Erie shoreline at Edgewater, Gordon and Wildwood parks. Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) in the early morning or evening at these locations are as good a bet as any for connecting with a steelhead trout. A small marabou jig tipped with a few maggots or a Gulp minnow as well as tube jigs drifted under floats and salmon egg mimicking beads can also be productive. At the Lakefront locations a nightcrawler suspended 4-5 feet under a bobber on a hook with a split shot or two has been producing steelhead, as well. 

On October 17, we stocked 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout and 600 lbs of channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street for Fall Family Fishing Fest. The trout average 1.5 lbs each and the catfish average 2-3 lbs, but we included a handful of bigger fish and a few golden rainbow trout to keep things interesting. Trout bite good on a dime size ball of PowerBait about a foot from a sinker on the bottom, small marabou or hair jigs tipped with a few maggots about 2 feet under a small bobber and on smaller spinners. Either species can be caught on a piece of nightcrawler or shrimp fished on the canal bottom.

Salmon Surprise Anglers in Local Steams. Although quite a few anglers have lamented that the steelhead run has been sub-par so far this season, a number of salmon catches in local streams have surprised some lucky anglers. Up until now, it was primarily coho salmon and at least one pink salmon. I’ve seen photos of around a dozen locally caught cohos so far this season and surely more have been taken. Then, just over the last week, it has transitioned to be king salmon, aka chinook salmon, that have turned up (see two in photos below and one in this report last week). None of these salmon species are currently stocked in the Lake Erie drainage and they are most likely straying south from Michigan stockings in Lake Huron.

E72nd Fish Cleaning Station and Rocky River Boat Ramps Courtesy Dock. We are planning to leave the fish cleaning station at the E72nd boat ramp area operational through the end of November for the convenience of all the fall tournament walleye anglers out there. If winter weather hits early and looks like it will be staying, though, the station may be winterized and closed earlier than that to avoid damage. 

Also, be aware that one courtesy dock is being left in at the public boats ramps at Emerald Necklace Marina on the Rocky River. The other docks and kayak ramp were removed for the season this week. We hope to leave the remaining dock through the month of November. We try to keep the aforementioned amenities available as late in the season as possible which means the closure dates are subject to change based on weather.

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 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

Congratulations to Miranda on catching her first steelhead, a 27.5” fish from the Rocky river that hit and orange and black fly (photo courtesy of jim).

Pete submitted “I would like to share the two photos of my son Blake's catch last weekend. We were fishing for the walleye tournament near E. 72^nd Street and Blake caught these 2 beauties instead on a P-10. He said his arm is still sore from fighting the steelhead!” (photos courtesy of Pete Bower).

Jako wrote “Sunday was pretty special. Caught my first steelhead and then 3 more and got my grandma on her first fish ever! Amazing day out on the water.” (photos courtesy of Jako).

Corey rode his scooter 5 miles to E55th to catch a limit of walleyes, but I think the better catch was this epic photo! I’m looking forward to seeing him tow home a new boat with the scooter when he wins the Fall Brawl! (photo courtesy of Corey Reed).

Rick caught this colorful buck steelhead on a blue and white jig tipped with maggots (photo courtesy of Rick Bower).

Kumbo caught this surprise king salmon (aka chinook salmon) in the Rocky River. Note the teeth set in gums with gray/black. A coho salmon has teeth set in white gums and a steelhead is all white inside the mouth (photo courtesy of Kumbo Leng).

Up until recently it was stray coho salmon and now the stray king salmon are showing up! Brian has a big surprise when walleye fishing at E55th when this big salmon hit his lure! These fish are most likely straying down from lake Huron (photos courtesy of Brian Kich).

Laszlo shared “I had a great time today fly fishing for steelhead in the Chagrin River. I wanted share photos with you and the fishing blog to use as you like. I landed three fish, all hens between 1pm-4:30pm. I caught a 24" hen on a white Sucker Spawn (size #12), a 20" hen on a White Death fly (hook size #10), and a 22" hen on a fluorescent pink Glo Egg (size #12).” (photos courtesy of Laszlo Ilyes).

John shared “Fishing has been great this weekend on the Rocky! … I figured I’d send some photos over for the fishing report of some beautiful steelhead I caught on Saturday. 3 were caught all within 10 minutes of each other.. I also wanted to thank the young angler for helping me with his net!” (photos courtesy of John Zupan).

Jon shared “Had both of my sons Jack and Theo with me attempting for their first Steelhead on the Rocky last week. I was lucky enough to have my net man Jack help with this beautiful chrome Hen. Sent her back to fight another day. The Plan is to have both boys get their first Steelhead in 2025-2026 season” (photos courtesy of Jon Sarkissian).

Steve had a great week fishing around Cleveland Metroparks- scoring steelhead in the Rocky River and rainbow trout, crappie, and largemouth bass at the Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street (photos courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

Jimmy always seems to find those Rocky River steelhead (photos courtesy of Jimmy Miranda).

#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.