April 23, 2026

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  The Rocky River and other area streams are offering good fishing conditions which is looking to continue into the weekend. If we receive any rain 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 currently offering good fishing conditions and that looks like it should continue into the weekend. This week there are good numbers of steelhead in the streams and excellent numbers of big lake-run smallmouth bass. 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. The steelhead run typically starts to taper off later into April as the river warms and fishing for lake -run bass will remain good through May.

On March 17 and April 7 we stocked a combined 1,800 lbs of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River in Millstream Run Reservation between Royalton Road to the ford river crossing just south of Wallace Lake. Additionally, on March 31 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). One stocking remains scheduled for late next week 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, walleye (especially after dark), 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 recently (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>.

Juvenile Steelhead Stocking in the Rocky River this Week. The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked tens of thousands of sub-legal size (under 12”) juvenile steelhead in the Rocky River by the marina this week. It is suggested that anglers either avoid fishing this area for the next week or otherwise use larger baits (like lures) to avoid catching and stressing these small trout, which are called smolts If you do catch one please handle gently and release immediately as they are the future of our steelhead program.

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

Lucas, 9 years old, caught his first ever fish from the Rocky River this week- a nice channel catfish (photo courtesy of Stephen Kordella).

Nathan shared from the Rocky River on Tuesday “I caught 2 Steelhead and one smallmouth. I wasn’t able to get a picture on the second one but it was an awesome day of fishing. Thank you very much and have an amazing day.” (photos courtesy of Nathan May).

Brad shared late last week “Hi Mike! Had fun catching (and releasing) a few steelies in the Rocky River last Sunday with my son Brian who drove in from Detroit!” (photos courtesy of Brad Elles).

Brad scored the “silver and bronze” x2 on the Rocky River on Monday (photos courtesy of Brad Campbell).

Vinny shows off a healthy spring smallmouth bass (photo courtesy of Brian DiGioia).

Wes had a great outing off Cleveland bagging a limit of jumbo yellow perch along with a few bonus walleye (photos courtesy of Wes Janke).

Ken caught the “gold, silver and bronze” (steelhead not pictured) from the Rocky River by the marina this week. The 28.5” Fish Ohio walleye was caught on a Little Cleo spoon (photos courtesy of Ken Harper).

Mike has been catching some beautiful steelhead from the Rocky River this week (photos courtesy of Mike Sekerak).

Jared and friends have been enjoying the mixed bag catch available in the lower Rocky River closer to Lake Erie this spring (photos courtesy of Jared Kassouf).

Brian is also enjoying the spring fishing bounty, from Wallace Lake trout and catfish buy day and Lake Erie walleye after dark (photos courtesy of Brian Kich).

The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked tens of thousands of sub-legal size (under 12”) juvenile steelhead in the Rocky River by the marina this week. It is suggested that anglers either avoid fishing this area for the next week or otherwise use larger baits (like lures) to avoid catching and stressing these small trout. If you do catch one please handle gently and release immediately as they are the future of our steelhead program!

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>