April 16, 2026

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  The Rocky River and other area streams are currently elevated and muddy from rain and there is more precipitation in the forecast into the weekend. Anglers can keep an eye on river trends at the following links: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity><Rocky River Main Branch live feed camera>.

The Rocky and other area streams are elevated and muddy at the moment with significant additional rain in the forecast into the weekend. Anglers can keep an eye on the flow trends at the resources listed above. This past week there were good numbers of steelhead in the streams although with the warmer temperatures in the forecast the end of the spring run will be wrapping up in the next few weeks. Anglers were reporting a mix of actively spawning and post-spawn “spent” (also called dropback) steelhead with a fair number of fresh run fish (bright silver) still around. Fish have been biting well on dime size spawn sacks, small (1/64-1/16 oz) marabou/hair/tube jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm, egg mimicking beads, small tube jigs (white and pearl work well), and live or salted emerald shiners drifted under a float. This time of year steelhead can be found in shallow fast water as well as the deeper holes and tailouts. Anglers fly fishing (egg patterns, nymphs, streamers) and casting hardware (medium size spoons, spinners and crankbaits) also catch spring steelhead.

There are also very good numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass available in the rivers.  Casting minnow/shad mimicking lures (crankbaits, jigs, spoons and spinners) can yield an angler the “gold, silver and bronze” (walleye, steelhead and lake-run smallmouth bass) from the lower river areas, such as by the Rocky River marina, this time of year. Fishing for lake -run bass will remain good through May as well.

Last week we stocked 900 lbs of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River in Mill Stream Run Reservation between Royalton Road to the Whitney Road covered Bridge (we did not stock at the ford river crossing this week as crews were removing logs deposited during recent flooding). Additionally, two weeks ago we stocked 900 lbs of rainbow trout at Wallace Lake and the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked approximately 1,000 rainbow trout at Shadow Lake on Monday (the fish the state stocks are smaller and perfect for kids). 900 pounds of rainbow trout were stocked in the East Branch Rocky River on March 17 as well and one stocking remains scheduled at the very end of the month which will conclude our spring river stocking program. Additionally, a fair number of trout stocked this past winter are still available at Shadow, Ledge, Ranger and Judge’s lakes. Small jigs tipped with maggots or a waxworm, salmon eggs, PowerBait, minnows, worms and canned corn all have their days. Casting smaller spinners, spoons and crankbaits can also account for plenty of trout, especially the bigger fish.

As a reminder trout limits vary by location. In the river this time of year the limit is 2 trout (of any kind) per day of minimum 12” size. The limit is 3 trout per day with no size limit at Wallace, Ledge, Ranger, and Judge’s lakes. At Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area the limit is 5 trout per day with no size limit.

Along the Cleveland shoreline Gordon and Edgewater parks, as well as marinas at E55th and Wildwood, are all good options for mixed catches of yellow perch, sunfish, steelhead, largemouth bass, and northern pike along with others species when the water is not too stained from rain and wave activity. The docks at Edgewater and E72nd/Gordon Park public boat ramps were installed last week (the Rocky River docks are not in yet due to all the high water and needing conduct annual dredging in the area).  The fish cleaning station at Gordon Park/E72nd has not reopened for the season yet. Daily launch fees can be paid onsite with a smart phone and annual passes for Cleveland Metroparks boat launches can be purchased online <here>.

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 will 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 Jacob on catching his first trout. He was fishing the East Branch Rocky River with his dad (photo courtesy of Jeff Molnar).

Kyle also had fun with rainbow trout on the East Branch Rocky River (photo courtesy of Kyle Chappell).

The lake-run smallmouth bass fishing has been very good in the lower Rocky River. Chuck capped a great outing on Monday with this 5.2 lb specimen (photo courtesy of Chuck Naujoks).

Dexter shows off a walleye from a limit he jigged up from lake Erie (photo courtesy of Corey Butram).

Jimmy shows off one of three chunky smallmouth bass he caught from the Rocky River at the marina (photo courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

Keahnu shows off an interesting looking smallmouth bass. The black patching is pretty common and is a condition known as hyperpigmented melanosis and it does not appear to affect the health of the fish. It is also fairly common in largemouth bass as well as channel catfish (photo courtesy of Keahnu Lindwan).

Kylie had a fun week on the water catching a blueback rainbow trout at Wallace Lake followed by an outing where she caught some fine Rocky River smallmouth bass (photos courtesy of Kylie Kwon).

Matt and his girlfriend had fun catching some dandy spring crappies followed by some great fish fries (photos courtesy of Matt Arroyo).

John found smallmouth success with the fly rod on the lower Rocky River stripping chartreuse and white Clouser minnow patterns. He noted they were hitting during the drop following the pull (photos courtesy of John Brochue).

Nick has been pursuing Chagrin River steelhead by day and Cleveland shoreline walleye after dark this week (photos courtesy of Nick Kosiba).

Rocco had an interesting outing on the Rocky River by the marina. He caught back to back 28” and a 29” walleye and his buddy caught a northern pike (photos courtesy of Rocco Serio).

Steve is enjoying the multi-species diversity in the Rocky River.  In Spring our rivers are (to quote Forrest Gump) “like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you’re gonna get”! (photos courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

On Friday morning I met up with a few of our naturalists to electrofish Wallace Lake and acquire some fresh fish for their Nature Center live fish exhibits (we were mostly interested in sunfish species for that). But we saw some great fish in the hour we were out there, including a half dozen trophy size brown trout in the south end of the lake.

Ted got some footage of the acrobatic rainbow trout he was catching in the East Branch Rocky River (photos courtesy of Ted C).

Note: The fishing report is updated monthly in June, July, and August and weekly every other month

***Note: All photo submissions must first complete the Cleveland Metroparks photo waiver.***

2026 Cleveland Metroparks Registered Fishing Guides (name, company, contact)

#26-001 Jeff Liskay, Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC, [email protected] (440) 781-7536

#26-002 Monte Casey, Steelhead Guide, (440) 773-8064 www.steelheadguide.com

#26-003 Gareth Thomas, Alley Grabs Guide Service, [email protected] (216) 235-5056

#26-004 Jim Lingenfelter, Wild Ohio Outdoors Guide Service, (440) 731-9160  www.wildohiooutdoorguide.com

#26-005 Lucas Smith, What That Vise Do LLC, [email protected] (724) 841-1564

#26-006 Sean Sudimak, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com  (888) 453-5899

#26-007 Nicholas DelVecchio, Wildwood Outfitters, [email protected] (724) 433-2315

#26-008 Cole Jaskiewicz, Chagrin River Outfitters, [email protected] (330) 357-7998

#26-009 Michael Kainec, Chagrin River Outfitters, [email protected] (440) 668-3398

More information on Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Guide Permit requirements, including the permit application, you may check the following link: <Fishing Guide Permit Program>