April 9, 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 offering very good fishing conditions. There is rain in the forecast and 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>. Rainbow trout were stocked in the East Branch Rocky River on Tuesday (details below).

The Rocky and other area streams are offering very good fishing conditions at the moment although rain is in the forecast into the weekend. Anglers can keep an eye on the flow trends at the resources listed above. Anglers are reporting a mix of fresh run fish (bright silver), actively spawning, and post-spawn “spent” (also called dropback) steelhead throughout the rivers. When the water was stained this week a brightly colored nickel size spawn sack (containing either trout or salmon eggs) driftred under a float was the top offering. With the water clearing fish are also biting well on 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 good numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass and lake-run white suckers available in the rivers. A jig tipped with maggots or small tube jig drifted under a float or casting minnow/shad mimicking lures can yield an angler both “silver and bronze” (steelhead and lake-run smallmouth bass) from the same spots this time of year.

On Tuesday morning we stocked 900 lbs of rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River in Millstream 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, last week 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. 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). 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

Brendan shared “Hey Mike, big fan of your fishing  report- keep up the great work! Wanted to share this photo of a steelhead my son Mason pulled out of the Chagrin this past Sunday- hoping to get his photo on the site” (photo courtesy of Brendan Downing).

Scott shared “Dylan caught his first steelhead and sucker!  He was amazed by the fight  of the steelhead. Although he really liked how unique the sucker looked and how weird its mouth is. He said dad that sucker needs some Chapstick. The Heron also took advantage.” (photos courtesy of Scott Ferian).

Kevin caught this monster 14.75” 2.5 lb yellow perch off Cleveland on a Jigging Rap tipped with an emerald shiner (photo courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

Ted and friends have been pursuing rainbow trout in the East Branch Rocky River and he reports that Rich Becker (top image) was so excited to catch his first trout (photos courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

Captain Mike “Moke” Mochan shows off a pair of good size Cleveland walleyes (photo courtesy of Sam Horn).

Jimmy caught a coveted blueback rainbow trout at Wallace Lake (photo courtesy of Jimmy Miranda).

Chuck’s yellow perch caught off Cleveland was almost as big as his smallmouth bass! (photos courtesy of Chuck Naujoks).

Father and son Ed and Jack found success at Wallace Lake, including a golden rainbow trout (photos courtesy of Carl Schweisthal).

Corey and his fishin’ buddy show off a Cleveland lakefront smallmouth bass (photo courtesy of Corey Reed).

Max displays a pretty Wallace lake rainbow trout caught on a spoon (photo courtesy of Max Bilan).

Greg made this nice catch of trout at Wallace Lake with his friend Mark (photo courtesy of Greg Kalvitz).

Even Wallace Lake was muddy after all the rain last week but that didn’t keep Dexter from catching a rainbow trout (photos courtesy of Dexter Butram).

Victor got his limit of 2 rainbow trout from the East Branch Rocky River on Tuesday (photo courtesy of Victor).

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>