February 26, 2026

***NOTE:  The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  We strongly encourage folks to stay off the remaining ice!  As the ice melts and waters begin to open up again there are plenty of trout awaiting them. The Rocky River and other local streams went from completely frozen to open in only a week. River water level and temperature trend can be found 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 in great shape and steelhead anglers have been hooking up this week. The river are mostly open again but could be getting a bit slushy following some of the colder night forecasted. The number of steelhead being caught has been a bright spot following a lackluster fall season, and is hopefully a harbinger of what awaits anglers in late winter and spring. Steelhead are biting on dime size spawn sack of trout or salmon eggs, small (1/64-1/16 oz) marabou/hair/tube jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm, egg mimicking beads, and live or salted emerald shiners drifted under a float through the deeper holes. Anglers fly fishing (egg patterns, nymphs, streamers) and fish hardware (casting medium size spoons, spinners and crankbaits) also have opportunities to hook into steelhead.

Remaining ice is not safe to venture onto, but anglers are fishing for trout through the ice from the safety of solid ground on docks and other areas where the water drops of rapidly from shore. A total of 6,500 pounds of mixed trout were stocked between Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Ranger and Judge’s lakes this winter and the bite can be hot in the weeks surrounding ice-off. Small jigs tipped with maggots or a waxworm, smaller jigging spoons, salmon eggs, PowerBait, and minnows, worms and canned corn all have their days. As the water open ups casting smaller spinners, spoons and crankbaits can account for plenty of trout, which become more aggressive as the water warms and freshens up with melt-off. The spring stockings of rainbow trout in the Rocky River will commence sometime around mid-March.

As the ice melts along the Cleveland shoreline Gordon and Edgewater parks, as well as marinas at E55th and Wildwood are all good options for mixed catches. Shorelines immediately facing the lake have offered some open water this week. Anglers catch a mix of yellow perch, sunfish, steelhead, largemouth bass, and northern pike along with others species. Small to medium size jigs or crankbaits and live minnows will catch a wide variety of species.

11^th Annual Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby is coming on Saturday, March 28!  The always popular Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby will be held on Saturday March 28th.  Cleveland Metroparks will be leading the event and Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders (a non-profit) will be hosting the raffle. Trophies for three largest steelhead, raffles, and a cookout are all part of the day's festivities for this fun event where anglers must fish for steelhead with a kiddie fishing pole! 100% of proceeds from the fundraiser event go to support the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund (this event has raised $79K for public fishing since 2015). The event headquarters will be at South Mastic Woods Picnic Area (immediately south of the Puritas Road bridge), a central location on the Rocky River that offers lots of space. Mark your calendars for this fun event for a great cause! You can save $5 versus the day of the event ($35 vs $40) by registering for the Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby online. More info (including event rules) and register online here: <Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby>. 

This event is rain or shine and if river fishing conditions are poor at the time of the event then the competition will also be opened up to trout at Wallace Lake. Registration includes a hot lunch but if you choose not to participate in the event you may still take part in the OCBS raffle (you do not need to be registered to take part in the raffle).  If you are not registered but still want lunch, you can take part in that for a $10 onsite donation. The lunch traditionally features brats, hot dogs, special recipe baked beans, potato salad, grilled onion/pepper toppings, choice of chips, and cookies. Thank you to Westside Toyota for providing bottled water for the event. Raffle tickets will be sold onsite and will be cash only with OCBS members hosting that.

A big thank you to our repeat event supporter Westside Toyota (with several others also having made verbal commitments of support as well). Jeff May of M3 Technologies will again design and donate 3 stunning custom stainless steel trophies (works of art) again this year. Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders report that raffle donations currently in-hand (in no particular order) include contributions from River Roe Tackle, VooDoo Custom Tackle, Cuyahoga Falls Parks & Recreation Department, ASG Custom Rods, Erie Outfitters, Lake Erie Kayak Fishing with Chuck Earls, Cast Cray Outdoors, Olmsted Laser Wash, Lyon’s Legacy Outdoor Sport, Steely D’s Jigs, 120 Outdoors podcast, the Toker family (in memory of John David Toker), Walt Mueller, Steve Nyetrae, and Fred Jersey. Please consider patronizing these businesses/groups that support local fishing!

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

Kylie pushed the boundaries of the ice fishing season in a Cleveland harbor this week (the season is over and ice is unsafe now) and was rewarded with a few nice panfish (photos courtesy of Kylie Kwon).

Mike feels fortunate to work only a minute from the Rocky River and ducked down this week and was rewarded with several nice steelhead caught on a jig and rubber minnow tipped with a waxworm (photos courtesy of Mike Simon).

Brian caught a few nice brook trout at Wallace Lake this week fishing through the unsafe ice from the safety of shore. The photo of the hawk reminds me a few years ago ice fishers on the lake were complaining about someone stealing their fish. Then someone noticed that when they walked away from their trout left on then ice that a hawk was swooping in to grab them!  Also a year when anglers observed a pair of red fox that would come out at dusk and walk from hole to hole on Wallace Lake eating minnows, waxworms, PowerBait and other edible items discarded by ice fishers. Urban wildlife can be opportunistic and capitalize on our activities and behaviors at times (photos courtesy of Brian Kich).

Steve caught a pair of steelhead in the Rocky River on Sunday morning on good old fashioned worms (photos courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

After a few years away from fishing Greg had the urge to head to the Rocky River and was rewarded with a nice buck steelhead (photo courtesy of Greg Young).

As of yesterday the ice is breaking up at Edgewater public boat ramp (pictured above). The ice is reportedly thicker at Gordon Park/E72nd and Wildwood Park boat ramps and there is still ice around at the Rocky River boat ramp closer to Lake Erie. Changes in wind will also affect where floating ice chucks accumulate. Boat launch annual passes (by calendar year) can be purchased online <here>.

The popular and fun Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby will be returning on Saturday March 28!  Registration is now open at the QR code in the image above or at this link:  <Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby registration>

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

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