January 1, 2026

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  Stain and flow in the Rocky River is good but things are icing upo rapidly with the return of colder weather. Expect mornings, in particular, to be slushy. River water level and temperature 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>. Note: ice build-up on the flow gage sensor can lead to erroneous readings. A total of 3,500 ponds of mixed trout were stocked recently between 5 Cleveland Metroparks lakes and ponds (details below).

The flow and clarity on the Rocky and Chagrin rivers is good but things are icing up rapidly with the return of colder temperatures.  Expect mornings, in particular, to be slushy and snow only adds to that challenge. For hardy anglers, though, steelhead are hunkered down in the deeper holes. In cold winter water slowly drifting a small marabou jig tipped with a few maggots or a Gulp minnow, dime size spawn sack, salmon egg mimicking bead, or live (or salted) minnow under a float can produce steelhead. The Cuyahoga River tends to shine in winter as it tends to ice up slower than the other streams. Lake Erie has really been wind and wave whipped this week and anglers checking out the shoreline should exercise caution and bring ice cleats and a long handled net.

There are lots of trout available for folks with some time off around the New Year. In mid December Cleveland Metroparks stocked 3,500 pounds of mixed trout between Wallace (1,600 lbs, Shadow (850 lbs), Ledge (750 lbs), Judge’s (150 lbs) and Ranger (150 lbs) lakes. The bulk were rainbow trout averaging a pound each although there were plenty of bonus brook, brown, golden rainbow, and even rare tiger (brook x brown hybrid) trout and blueback rainbow trout (new this year) to keep things interesting. A few of the fish were of trophy proportions. Small marabou or hair jigs tipped with a few maggots or a waxworm, a dime sized ball of Power Bait, and smallish to medium size jigging spoons are all great offerings to try for trout. A second (and final) trout stocking will occur in late January or early February.

On local lakes and ponds ice is re-forming rapidly with the return of sub freezing temperatures. For those considering ice fishing we offer the following safety advice. Most state conservation agencies recommend at least 4" of solid ice before anglers should venture out to ice fish, and in Cleveland Metroparks it is the angler's responsibility to check that. One method is to use a spud bar near shore and check the ice thickness, and if it is > 4 inches then walk out a little further and check again. Ice is often thinnest right at the water's edge and around inlets and outlets of the waterbody. Heavy snow serves to insulate the water and slow additional ice formation, as well. A pair of emergency ice picks held at the ready on a cord around the neck are a safety must, as is an emergency length of rope. A floating "survival suit" is something you may consider, as well. Other safety tips are to always fish with a friend, let someone know where you'll be, and focus on areas near where other anglers are already fishing. Anglers leery about going out on the ice can still pursue these trout by drilling or spudding holes the ice along shore and fishing from the safety of docks and areas where the shore slopes rapidly into deeper water, such as is common at Wallace Lake which was a former sandstone quarry.

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

Ben, from Colorado, was visiting family locally and scored a very impressive steelhead while fly fishing the Rocky River. The big hen ate a white wooly bugger (photo courtesy of Ben Beatty).

Nick had a successful week chasing stocked trout on the ice of Shadow Lake and steelhead in the Chagrin River (photos courtesy of Nick Kosiba).

A Rocky River steelhead posed with the custom centerpin reel that it was taken on (photo courtesy of P. Hruby).

Brian scored a few bruiser Rocky river steelhead this week on small jig tipped with maggots drifted under a float (photos courtesy of Brian Kich).

An angler displays a Ledge Lake rainbow trout (photo courtesy of Matt Jacquet).

Mike had a successful morning on “The Rock” drifting beads for steelhead (photos courtesy of Mike Sekerak).

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

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

Learn how you can support recreation opportunities through a donation to the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund.