March 5, 2026

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  The Rocky River and other area streams are offering very good conditions for steelhead anglers with quite a few reports of success this week. There is some rain in the weekend forecast and anglers can keep an eye on river trends 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. Anglers have reported a mix of fresh run fish (bright silver) as well as those that have been in the river awhile (darker and colorful). Steelhead have been biting this week on dime size spawn sacks 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 casting hardware (medium size spoons, spinners and crankbaits) also have opportunities to hook into steelhead right now.

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 lakes opens up 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 of yellow perch, sunfish, steelhead, largemouth bass, and northern pike along with others species. The shoreline at Edgewater Park has offered open water this week while the E55th breakwall is blocked in with pack ice. The lakefront public boat ramps are still iced in but the Rocky River boat launch is usable for smaller craft (note: the courtesy docks are not installed yet).

Proposed Metroparks Fishing Regulations Change. Cleveland Metroparks is proposing a change in fishing regulations and we would appreciate your feedback in a short survey at the link below. We are proposing a reduction in the number of fishing lines allowed at select locations (currently 3 rods and 6 tip-ups per person) in an effort to allow everybody a fair chance at the fish we stock in our smaller lakes and ponds. Note that Shadow and Hinckley lakes and Ohio & Erie Canal are not included because we have joint management agreements at these locations with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and must default to their regulations. Please take the survey (only takes a minute) here: <Proposed Fishing Regulation Change Survey>.

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 Dairy Queen (Seven Hills location) for providing hotdogs and buns and 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 supporters Westside Toyota, EnviroScience, Jason’s Automotive, Point Blank Hunts, and Kevin Kilbane. 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 Shine’s Bait & Tackle, 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, The Backpackers Shop, 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

Craig scored this hen steelhead while swinging flies on the Chagrin River (photo courtesy of Craig Spahr).

Kylie caught this healthy largemouth bass through the ice (from the safety of a dock) along the Cleveland shoreline (photo courtesy of Kylie Kwon).

David caught this colorful brook trout along with a pair of rainbow trout to round out his limit at Wallace Lake.  He got them using PowerBait on a dropshot rig and notes that he has done best using natural yellow or orange cheese scented variety (photo courtesy of David Kushman).

Vinny had a successful week pursuing steelhead in the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Brian DiGioia).

Dusty shared that he caught his first Cleveland area steelhead on Monday followed shortly after by two more (photos courtesy od Dusty Milligan).

Sean caught some Rocky River steelhead this week including this bruiser (photo courtesy of Sean Flanigan).

Kumbo caught a colorful golden rainbow trout on his own mermaid jig (photo courtesy of Kumbo Leng).

Jimmy displays some dandy steelhead from the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Ted Choukalas).

John swung up a colorful Cuyahoga River buck steelhead (photo courtesy of John Brochue).

Mike struck some Rocky silver on jigs this week (photos courtesy of Mike Sekerak).

As an update the Edgewater public boat launch is closer to being usable this week and although there is no courtesy dock in yet the Rocky River boat ramp offers open water to lake Erie. Keep in in mind, though, that pack ice blowing around on the lake right now can change conditions in a matter of hours. 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

#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>