July 2026

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is updated once monthly in June, July and August and will resume weekly Thursday updates from September-May*** As we move along in summer, typical species targeted around Cleveland Metroparks include walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, channel catfish, and common carp. To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River Main Branch flow gage data> <Rocky River East Branch flow gage data> <Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity>. Check out the new Cleveland Metroparks fishing T-shirt, which helps support our Fishing Fund, at the end of this report!

Summer means family fishing time for many folks, and panfish are perfect for a leisurely picnic and fishing outing. Bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed and other sunfish species can be taken with a number of offerings, but a waxworm or redworm on a small hook suspended under a medium size bobber and fished around shoreline structure is often an effective choice. Wallace Lake, Shadow Lake, Strawberry Pond and Lakefront Reservation are just a few of many places in the parks to wet a line for various panfish species. Early mornings and dusk are typically better times to fish during the heat of summer. Largemouth bass fishing can be good at Wallace Lake and Lake Erie harbors.

Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers during the day in summer, and often move to the heads of such pools in the early morning and evening hours to feed. A dark olive or brown tube jig of 3-4" length, ned or dropshot rig, other lures/flies that imitate minnows or crayfish, and live bait are all offerings that can catch smallmouth. Rock bass are also present in the same river areas and can be caught using the same types of offerings.

Channel catfish and large carp are also found in the rivers in summer and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water. The first week of June a total of 1,600 lbs of farm raised channel catfish were stocked between Shadow Lake (350 lbs), Ledge Lake (250 lbs), Judge’s Lake (250 lbs), Ranger Lake (250 lbs), Oxbow Lagoon (250 lbs), and Strawberry Pond (250 lbs). Channel catfish stocked in late May also remain to be caught at Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area. Catfish often bite best during the evening using baits such as nightcrawlers, raw shrimp, chicken liver, and processed dough baits.

Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails. The key to fishing for either carp or catfish is fishing on the river/lake bottom.  In addition, freshwater drum (sheepshead), white perch, and bullhead catfish are also available in the northern river reaches (north of Lorain Road bridge) in summer. For the angling generalist, any of the species thus far can be effectively targeted by fishing a nightcrawler worm right on the river bottom with a sinker.

The walleye bite has been good in anywhere from 45-55 feet of water out of Gordon (E72nd) and Edgewater parks. Trolling deep diving crankbaits and spoons behind dipsy divers has been productive. Anglers can also hook up with walleye by casting worm harnesses and weight forward spinners. For trolling anglers can try leads 100-125’ back unassisted or 50-80’ back with divers or 4-ounce snap weights at speeds of 1.5-2.5 mph. Additionally, diverse fishing opportunities including (but not limited to) rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, catfish, freshwater drum and sunfish species can be found along the Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie on offerings such as tube jigs and live minnows.

Fishing Regulations Change.  Our recent proposed changes to the numbers of fishing lines allowed at select Cleveland Metroparks locations was overwhelmingly supported (93% in favor) based on a poll of 350 local anglers.  With that noted the regulation change will go into affect on July 18, 2026. The change is that only 2 fishing lines per angler, which will include tip-ups for ice fishing, will be allowed at the following locations: Wallace, Ledge, Judges, Ranger, and Bunns lakes; Beyers, Strawberry, Acacia, Garfield, and Astorhurst ponds; and Oxbow Lagoon in Rocky River Reservation. Waters not included are joint management areas with the Ohio Division of Wildlife where we default to their regulation of 3 lines and up to 6 tip-ups (the latter for ice fishing) per angler.

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

Hunter caught this fine Lake Erie smallmouth bass while fishing with his grandfather (photo courtesy of Allen Reinke).

Brad shared regarding his son’s catch “Mitch caught this surprise flathead cat out of the Cuyahoga River on a Ned rig. He fought so hard that he thought it was a snagged carp!” (photo courtesy of Brad Geduldig).

Matt relayed “Sharing a recent 7lb walleye off of Lakewood. Grinded through a lot of juvenile walleye offshore until I moved in shallow and found the big ones at around 30 feet. The program was Walleye Nation Creations Lil Reaper in Bubbleyum color, 50+2, 116 feet of line out. This fish was a catch and release. Thanks for all you do to keep our great fishery healthy!” (photos courtesy of Matt Gunn).

Mike set out to catch a longnose gar in the Rocky River and got this one on a nightcrawler on a 1/32 oz jig. He had hooked 6 before finally landing one, as it’s difficult to set a hook in their narrow beak-like mouth (photo courtesy of Mike Simon).

William caught this bowfin at the Edgewater Park boat ramp area on an unweighted white Zoom fluke (photo courtesy of William Maynard).

This beautiful walleye was caught in 40 feet of water off Cleveland (photo courtesy of John Burkhart).

Above are just a few of the 1,000 kids who attended our recent Spring fishing derbies. Tons of rainbow trout and sunfish were caught this year!

On Monday, June 8, we teamed up with the Ohio Division of Wildlife to conduct a baseline survey to see what fish have recolonized Hinckley Lake naturally since it was recently refilled.  As expected there were not many fish overall, but we did get a handful of catchable size bluegill as well as 3 largemouth bass and a bullhead. We plan to stock 6,000 juvenile largemouth bass and 30,000 juvenile bluegill in the lake this coming fall.

We had a great turnout for the recent Tinkers Creek “Life in the Stream” fish collection outing that was open to the public. The biggest surprise in our fairly diverse catch was a 2^nd year rainbow trout that appeared to be naturally spawned in the stream from steelhead parents.

Show your local fishing pride with this new Cleveland Metroparks fishing T-shirt which helps support local fishing initiatives! Purchase at many of our nature center shops or online <here>.

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, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com  (888) 453-5899

#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>