January 8, 2026

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  The Rocky River is ice free and dropping with a good flow and stain, but rain in the forecast could foul conditions for weekend anglers. 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>.  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 River is decent at the moment, and the river is ice free, but rain in the forecast may foul conditions for weekend anglers. The best advice is to get out there as soon as you can. In cold, stained water slowly drifting a brightly corored dime to nickel size spawn sack is hard to beat but small marabou jig tipped with a few maggots or a Gulp minnow, salmon egg mimicking bead, or live (or salted) minnow under a float can produce winter steelhead. Anglers checking out the Lake Erie shoreline should exercise caution and bring cleats and a long handled net. Also of interest, Cleveland Magazine did an article about the higher incidence of salmon in local streams this past fall that may be read <here>.

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 later in January.

 Note:  Ice on local lakes and ponds has degraded this week and ice fishing is currently not safe. Colder weather is forecasted to return around mid-January and ice formation will hopefully improve after that. For those considering ice fishing when conditions permit 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. 

Upcoming Cleveland Anglers Program has been Postponed. The Jan 14 Fly in My Beer program scheduled with Cleveland Anglers at the Beach Club Bistro has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts. This is being moved into February. The new date will be announced soon.

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

Chelsea and Connor had fun catching multi-species while ice fishing at Wallace Lake. Note: the ice has degraded over the past week and anglers should not venture onto it until we have another suitable cold snap. In the first two images you can see how Chelsea is fishing from the safety of shore through thin ice (photos courtesy of Connor Floyd).

Ralph shared “Thought I'd share a surprise catch from Wallace this past Sunday for the fishing report. I was trying to catch some trout through the ice and wasn't having much luck when a big mark came through, up high in the water column. I quickly reeled up my blue/chrome kastmaster to the mark and felt the thump. I set the hook and it didn't move. My drag started peeling and I was hopeful it was one of the larger trout that were recently stocked. I called a couple buddies over and after fighting the fish for a few minutes, I saw a big catfish rolling around at the hole. We chuckled, took a few pics, and back down the hole it went. I'd say the fish was around 10lbs.” (photo courtesy of Ralph Stcok).

Chuck and Jared made a nice catch of mixed trout on the ice (photos courtesy of Jared Kassouf).

Paul displays a Rocky River winter steelhead (photo courtesy of Paul Hruby).

Vinny shows off a rainbow trout caught on a small jig tipped with maggots at Wallace Lake. He also caught around 15 bluegill and a small largemouth bass (photo courtesy of Brian DiGioia).

This is Nick’s first season ice fishing and he is having a great time catching trout at Shadow Lake with friends (photos courtesy of Nick Swason).

Owen caught this channel catfish through the ice at Wallace Lake (photo courtesy of Owen Lockhart).

Doug has been catching his limit of trout regularly (photos courtesy of Doug Clout).

Mike is not afraid to brave the slushy conditions on the Rocky River in the mornings but, as you can see, it often pays off for him (photos courtesy of Mike Sekerak).

Steve got his weekly steelhead from the Rocky River despite the wintery conditions (photo courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

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.