October 9, 2025

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  The rain and cooler temperatures this week are welcome to improve fall river fishing conditions. 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 – scroll down at link>. Rivers anglers are pursuing smallmouth bass and steelhead, Lake Erie anglers are targeting walleye and yellow perch, and inland lake/pond anglers are pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish.

The cooler temperatures and rain this week should serve to entice some more steelhead into the local streams. Anglers seeking early steelhead can focus their efforts on the northernmost river stretches near Lake Erie as well as along the Lake Erie shoreline at locations like 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 an early steelhead trout. These same areas are also producing some walleye after dark, as well, with Perfect 10 and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits working well.

In addition to early returning steelhead anglers are pursuing a mix of other species in the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers.  Smallmouth bass are the most sought after among them and bite best in deeper pools with a dark olive or brown tube jig 3-4" length and Ned rigs with similar offering being proven producers.  Anglers equally interested in a smallmouth bass or early steelhead can try casting 3-5” fluke or paddletail jigs or a jerkbait that mimics a shiner by the Rocky River marina. Channel catfish, sheepshead, walleye, common carp and panfish are among a host of other species also available in local streams.

For boating anglers on Lake Erie out of the Cleveland area, crankbaits like Bandits and worm harnessed have been make good catches of walleye, and the yellow perch bite is picking up as the fall weather begins to settle in.  For shore based anglers rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, steelhead, freshwater drum and panfish species can be found around Cleveland and can be caught on offerings such as tube jigs, dropshot rigs and live bait. When the weather cools further, white perch and yellow perch can make appearances at the shoreline at spots like E55th breakwall. Please note that Wendy Park at the old Coast Guard station is closed for repairs and the reopening is running a bit later than expected. Work could be complete and the area reopened as early as November of this year (I will update folks here when that happens). 

Anglers at our inland lakes and ponds are pursuing catfish, largemouth bass, and panfish. Wallace Lake, Ledge Lake, Shadow Lake, and Beyer's Pond are just a few other spots worth checking out in late summer.

Fall Family Fishing Fest is coming on Saturday, October 18!  Come out and join us for Fall Family Fishing Fest at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation on Saturday, October 18 from 10 - 2:00 p.m. This event is free and we will have a limited number of fishing poles to loan out, as well as bait. We will be stocking 600 lbs of channel catfish and 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout at the Ohio & Erie Canal in anticipation of the event. Although anglers of any age can participate, prizes in several categories will be reserved for kids 15 years old and under. Thank you to Ohio Division of Wildlife and Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders for supporting this great event with grant funds. More event info here: <2025 fall Family Fishing Fest> 

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

Brent shared “Found someone else while fly fishing for smallies on the Rock hahah!!” (photo courtesy of Brent O’Neill).

Jeff displays a beautiful 7 pound walleye caught on a Rapala Jigging Rap out of Edgewater Park (photo courtesy of Jeff Deluca).

Steve shows off a buck steelhead he caught all the way upstream at Lagoon Dam on the East Branch Rocky River, which is a bit surprising given the low water we’ve been experiencing (photo courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

Wes made a limit catch of Cleveland yellow perch on Monday and also caught a beautiful sunrise (photos courtesy of Wes Janke).

John scored the “gold and silver” (walleye and steelhead) on a solo trip on Lake Erie this week (photos courtesy of John Burkhart).

On Saturday, October 4 Sturgeon Fest was a smashing success!  A smattering of event photos are offered above. A common theme among the 940 folks who had a chance to release the 750 sturgeon at the Cleveland location (as individuals or as a family) was that they found the experience to be not only fun, but also moving. It was a lot of work to put together, but we are already looking forward to next year!

#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