September 18, 2025

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***   With the return of warmer weather and lack of rsin the early season steelhead fishing has sputtered this week. 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>.  Lake Erie anglers are primarily targeting walleye and inland lake/pond anglers are primarily pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish.

With with warmer weather and lack of rain reports of early season steelhead in the northern reaches of local streams have tapered off.  Early mornings and evenings, including in the dark, are best bets for finding early steelhead until we get some rain and colling weather again.  In addition to stream segments closer to Lake Erie, early steelhead also show up around off the rocks at Edgewater, E55th, and Wildwood parks. Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are as good a bet as any for connecting with an early steelhead trout. These same areas may also produce a few walleye after dark, as well, with Perfect 10 and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits working well.

Rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, freshwater drum and sunfish species can be found along the Cleveland shoreline in late summer and can be caught on offerings such as tube jigs, dropshot rigs and live bait. When the weather cools, white perch and yellow perch can make appearances at the shoreline at spots like E55th breakwall. The best bite is often in the morning and late afternoon. 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.

In addition to anxiously anticipating some early returning steelhead anglers are pursuing a mix of warmwater species in the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers.  Smallmouth bass are the most sought after among them and bite best at the heads of deeper pools. A dark olive or brown tube jig 3-4" length, or Ned rig with similar size/color offering, are proven producers of bass in the river. "Smallies" also bite well on live bait (ie: minnow, crayfish, and leeches), lures (ie: spinners and minnow plugs), and flies (ie: crayfish patterns, Clouser minnows, dark brown or olive sculpin or muddler minnow patterns).  Channel catfish, sheepshead, common carp and panfish are among a host of other species also available in local streams. 

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.

Steelhead Expo at the Rocky River Nature Center Saturday, September 27.  The Steelhead Expo is a great way to kick off the steelhead season and will be held at the Rocky River Nature Center on Saturday September 27. This event is a collaborative effort between the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders and Cleveland Metroparks and will offer a full day of expert speakers and seminars, vendors, and other related information to usher in the fall steelhead season. There is no charge for the event but OCBS, a non-profit sportman's group which is very active in the local fishing and conservation communities, is offering a raffle as a fundraiser so donations or participation in the raffle is encouraged. Location info here: <Rocky River Nature Center>.

Cuyahoga River Sturgeon Fest will be held Saturday, October 4!  Come out and join us for the inaugural Sturgeon Fest at Merwin’s Wharf on Saturday October 4. There will be a ton of activities on hand for the celebration and attendees can even release a juvenile sturgeon! This will be a momentous occasion in the celebration of the recovery of the Cuyahoga River. More information here:  <Sturgeon 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

Congratulations to Carlos on catching his personal best smallmouth bass in the Rocky River this week. What makes it even more impressive is that the 22” bronze bruiser is a river resident vs lake-run specimen (photo courtesy of Carlos Velez Serrano).

Kylie is a very skilled multi-species angler who catches just about everything and she still appreciates the unheralded sheepshead, aka freshwater drum.  They grow big, hit artificial lures aggressively in the middle of the day, and put up a spirited battle so what’s not to like? The first photo depicts a 31” giant she scored recently. She has also caught a nice smallmouth bass this week (photos courtesy of Kylie Kwon).

RJ has been making some good walleye catches off Cleveland punctuated with some fine smallmouth bass (photos courtesy of RJ Dean).

Cane and his uncle Corey had a fun week on the water. On Saturday Cane was “killing it on the baby fish” (Corey’s words) at Edgewater Park despite having a cast on his arm. In the evenings Corey got some nice walleye and white bass from his kayak out of the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Corey Reed).

Come out and join us for the inaugural Sturgeon Fest at Merwin’s Wharf on Saturday, October 4^. There will be a ton of activities on hand for the celebration and attendees can even release a juvenile sturgeon! This will be a momentous occasion in the celebration of the recovery of the Cuyahoga River. More information here:  <Sturgeon Fest>

#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