September 25, 2025

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  Some much needed rain has bumped the super low flow of the Rocky River. This, coupled with slightly cooler weather, should serve to lure some more early steelhead into area streams. 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.

The much needed rain and slightly cooler weather should serve to lure some more early steelhead into area streams including the Rocky and Chagrin rivers and Euclid Creek. Early mornings and evenings are best bets for finding early steelhead. In addition to stream segments closer to Lake Erie, some of the first 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 early fall 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. 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 (I will update here when that happens).

In addition to 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 This 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) Eat 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

Benny sure does have a whale of a birthday tale to tell!  Pictured here are Brian, Benny, and Jack with a monster northern pike Benny caught out of E72nd on September 18^th.  His father Brian shared “Benny’s wish on his 5th birthday was to catch a Walleye big enough to earn a Fish Ohio pin. I took him out last month and he lost probably a 29-30” walleye at the boat (dad forgot the net) He pouted the whole way home. For his 5th birthday he asked me to take him out because he wanted another shot at a big Walleye. On the fourth cast with a 1/2oz gold metal jig, his family thought he had his fish. I hooked the fish and handed him the rod. I thought it was just a nice walleye. He did the rest. The fish swam towards the boat so I had no idea how big it was until I looked down into the water. When I realized what it was I panicked because I knew I’d probably get one shot to get this thing in the boat. But He took his hand off the reel and lifted it right into the net on the first try. (Something we had been working on this summer).  I was very proud.  Mom and brother Jack cheered him on as Dad dipped the net into the water, only to pull out a surprise Northern Pike which stretched  over 40” long!  I’ve never seen him so excited, it’s been all he’s talking about the last 4 days. (That and asking when his Fish Ohio pin will show up haha).” (photo courtesy of Christina S.).

Liam caught this big largemouth bass during a Camp Cheerful summer camp in Cleveland Metroparks (photo courtesy of his mother Jennifer).

Josh scored a steelhead before work on Monday at the Rocky River marina area (photo courtesy of Joshua Merryman).

Nicholas was seeking steelhead casting a Little Cleo spoon along the Lake Erie shoreline and got a big surprise.  A massive smallmouth buffalo sucker.  Although they look somewhat like a non-native carp, buffalo suckers are actually a cool native species 9photos courtesy of Nicholas Peters).

Carlos caught another gorgeous Rocky River smallmouth bass this week (photo courtesy of Carlos Velez Serrano).

“Captain Rich” reports that the walleye fishing has been good and they also had a visit on their boat from a migrating Magnolia warbler. The little stowaway was even eating bugs on the boat!  It’s not terribly uncommon for this to occur when the exhausted little travelers are crossing Lake Erie (photos courtesy of Rich Salvetta).

John caught this naturally spawned rainbow trout way upstream in the Chagrin River in Solon. No doubt the offspring of steelhead, the fish is of a size that indicates it has spent over a full year in the stream, likely from the spring 2024 spawn.  It is on its way to becoming a smolt that migrates to Lake Erie to potentially return as a wild adult steelhead (photo courtesy of John DiFranco).

Carl shared that he has been making some nice walleye catches with friends trolling Bandit crankbaits 5 miles north out of Rocky River (photos courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).

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