June 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 transition into early summer, highlight 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> Please note: the Fishing Blog is updated once a month in June, July, and August and back to weekly in September.

Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the river during the day in early summer, and often move to the heads of such pools in the early morning and evening hours to feed actively. A dark olive or brown tube jig of 3-4" length is one of the best producers of bass in the river. "Smallies" also bite well on live bait (ie: minnow, crayfish, and leeches), lures (ie: spinners and minnow plugs), and flies (ie: crayfish patterns, Clouser minnows, dark brown or olive sculpin or muddler minnow patterns). Bass of all sizes are abundant bass in the river, with a healthy number of trophy lake-run fish available through at least early June. Rock bass are also present in the same river areas as smallmouth.

Channel catfish and large carp are also present in some of these same areas in the river, and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water. Lots of channel catfish stocked in late May also remain to be caught at Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area. Catfish were stocked on June 1 at Shadow Lake (350 lbs), Ranger Lake (250 lbs), Oxbow Lagoon (250 lbs), and Strawberry Pond (250 lbs) and will be stocked on Friday, June 5 at Ledge and Judge’s lakes (250 lbs each). Catfishing is usually best during lower light conditions using baits such as nightcrawlers, minnows, chicken liver, and processed dough baits. A good number of larger catfish are move into the river from Lake Erie on their spawning run in late spring and early summer. Resident channel catfish are available in the river all summer.

Some large carp will be found in the northern river reaches throughout the month, as well. Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails. A growing contingent of fly anglers looking for a challenge are targeting carp with nymphs and crayfish imitations, as well.  The key to fishing for either carp or catfish is fishing on (or very near) the river/lake bottom. In addition, freshwater drum (sheepshead), white perch, and bullhead catfish are also abundant in the northern river reaches (north of Morley Ford) in early 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.

Summer means family fishing time for many folks, and panfish fit the bill perfectly for a leisurely picnic and fishing outing. Anglers seeking panfish have experienced action at most of the ponds and lakes in the Park District in the past week. Bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed and other sunfish species can be taken with a number of offerings, but a waxworm or redworm on a small hook (or tiny jig) suspended under a stick float and fished around a weedbed or shoreline brush is always a good choice. Wallace Lake, Shadow Lake, and Lakefront Reservation are just a few of many places in the Park to wet a line for various panfish species. Wallace is a also a good location to check out for largemouth bass.

Rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, walleye, catfish, freshwater drum and sunfish species can all be found along the Cleveland shoreline of Lake Erie in early summer. Versatile offering for a chance at multiple species include tube jigs and live minnows. Offshore anglers do well trolling for walleye all summer off Cleveland.

Hinckley Lake Fishery Update. I have a soft spot for Hinckley Lake because it’s where I caught my first fish ever 50 years ago - a bluegill in a rowboat rented at the boathouse with my father. The lake has historically been popular for family fishing and also offered a quality largemouth bass fishery. We’ve had a lot of recent inquiries about the fishery situation at the newly restored lake so I am offering a summary here. Next week (early June) Metroparks and Ohio Division of Wildlife will be conducting a population survey to determine what fish have migrated into the lake from the river upstream. We do not expect much and I will post a summary of those results in the July fishing report. Then in fall 2026 we plan to stock juvenile largemouth bass (~6K) and juvenile bluegill (~30K) in the lake. We may amend those numbers based on survey results (won't be more but could be fewer). These fish will take a few years to grow but should be self sustaining after that. Channel catfish (also juveniles) will be stocked in the future (TBD) as the lake ecosystem develops. The Ohio Division of Wildlife has permanently dropped the lake from their trout stocking schedule in favor of smaller ponds with higher harvest rates. So bottom line is that we have a fisheries restoration plan but it will take a few years to produce results. The improved lake habitat has set the stage for a good future fishery. In the meantime Ledge and Judges lakes in Hinckley Reservation offer good fisheries for sunfish, largemouth bass and stocked catfish and trout. Boat rentals are currently offered at Hinckley Lake, as well.

Annual Rocky River Volunteer Clean-Up is Saturday, June 6.  Please join us on Saturday, June 6 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Scenic Park/Rocky River Marina picnic shelter for the family-friendly 27^th annual volunteer river clean-up!  Cleveland Metroparks is partnering with Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District and Rocky River Watershed Council to host the event. We will break up into groups and clean up trash from along the river banks, then re-convene at the picnic shelter starting around 11:30am to host a thank you cookout. Trash bags will be provided and long pants and boots are recommended. Please pre-register here as an <adult> or for <youth> if you are parent or guardian.

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

Tim and the family had a successful walleye outing out of Cleveland then enjoyed the convenience of the fish cleaning station by Gordon park boat launch (photo courtesy of Tim Day).

Tiffany shared “I caught this over Memorial Day weekend at E.55. I caught a thousand gobies.  But also a surprise yellow perch and a sheephead. Both were a lot of fun too catch and both were released. They were the only non gobies that I caught. The gobies were taken by the seagulls as a snack. Have a great day!” photos courtesy of Tiffany Lovett).

That last photo is the last thing a gizzard shad sees!  Proud mother Cynthia shared “I want to share a few photos of my son’s catch. He was so thrilled! Luke Lytell, 16 years old, sunny 5/31 on Lake Erie off of Rocky River. Caught 4 walleye and this was the best one. 8.7 pounds ~29” (photos courtesy of Cynthia Lytell).

Wes shared regarding a recent trip a young man won’t soon forget “I fished out of Cleveland with Ryan (my great nephew) today we had a good time. We caught a plethora of species including Ryan’s first ever walleye and perch. It was a beautiful day on the water spending time with family.” (photos courtesy of Wes Janke).

Steve has been enjoying the early summer bounty of the Rocky River, including the unheralded common carp. I have good memories of carp fishing the river as a kid, with strong fighting carp being among the minority of river fish that would willingly eat on a hot, bright summer day. I surely dunked more canned corn into the river those days than I ate! (photos courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

Dan shows off a fairly common yet not readily caught denizen of our local streams - the longnose gar. This one was from the Chagrin River. They can observed lazily hovering in the sunny shallows at times, but their hard beak-like mouth makes it tough to keep them hooked. One trick is to use a piece of white rope as a minnow lure.  As crazy as it sounds their numerous needly teeth get caught in the filaments of the rope kind of like Velcro. In this case Dan cleverly adapted and used a piece of white string from his hoody and added it to his jig (photo courtesy of Dan Szabo).

Joe enjoyed a successful outing targeting the recently stocked channel catfish at Wallace Lake, and he found some real bruisers! (photos courtesy of Joe Dirk).

Some young men from the Benedictine High School Fishing Club were recently treated to a Lake Erie fishing excursion by the non-profit group Casting It Forward. More on the group <here> (photos courtesy of Art Panfil).

The annual Rocky River Volunteer Clean-Up will be on Saturday, June 6. Folks can register at the QR code in the flyer above.

On Friday, June 12 interested folks are invited to a fish sampling event we are hosting at Tinkers Creek as outlined in the flyer above.

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>