May 28, 2026

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  The Rocky River is offering good fishing conditions and based on the forecast it should continue through the weekend. 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>.

Anglers have been catching lake-run smallmouth bass and walleye in the lower Rocky River by the marina recently. Catches were coming on white/pearl 4-5” paddletail jigs (like a Keitech Fat Swing in 3.8” to 4.8”), tube jigs, and shallow diving jerkbaits. Dropshot and ned rigs have also been effective for smallmouth. Channel catfish, freshwater drum (sheepshead), carp and a few late steelhead were also being caught in the lower river and the smallmouth bass were biting throughout the main branch of the river.

A combined 1,300 lbs of rainbow trout and 1,400 lbs of farm raised channel catfish were stocked between Wallace Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation for The Spring Children’s Fishing Derbies in mid May and a good number of those fish remain for anglers.  Some rainbow trout from spring stockings also remain in the East Branch Rocky River in Millstream Run Reservation and the Ohio Division of Wildlife stocked approximately 1,000 rainbow trout at Shadow Lake recently. Small jigs tipped with maggots or a waxworm, salmon eggs, PowerBait, minnows, worms and canned corn all have their days for trout. Casting smaller spinners, spoons and crankbaits can also account for plenty of trout, especially as the water warms and for the bigger fish. A piece of shrimp about the size of a dime fished near the bottom can catch both stocked trout and catfish.

As a reminder trout limits vary by location.  In the river this time of year the limit is 2 trout (of any kind) per day of minimum 12” size. The limit is 3 trout per day with no size limit at Wallace, Ledge, Ranger, and Judge’s lakes. At Shadow Lake and Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area the limit is 5 trout per day with no size limit.

Along the Cleveland shoreline Gordon, Edgewater and Wendy parks, as well as marinas at E55th and Wildwood, are all good options for mixed catches of yellow perch, walleye, rock bass, mixed sunfish, largemouth bass, and northern pike along with a mix of other potential species.  Boating anglers out of Cleveland are reporting good walleye and decent yellow perch catches, too.  The courtesy docks have now been installed at all of our boat launches serving Lake Erie (including those on the Rocky River) and daily launch fees can be paid onsite with a smart phone and annual passes for Cleveland Metroparks boat launches can be purchased online <here>.

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

Roger noted “the time I left the scale and tape measure in the other bag!”.  He caught his personal best smallmouth bass at well over 5 lbs along the Lake Erie shoreline of Cleveland while drop shotting an imitation leech (photo courtesy of Roger Berglund).

Jako shared “Got the biggest smallmouth I have ever caught 19.45 inches and 4.5 pounds in the Chagrin River on Friday! And a surprise late steelhead!” (photo courtesy of Jako).

Wes shared from Sunday “I had a nice multi species fishing trip on Lake Erie out of Cleveland this morning. I caught a limit of perch and a limit of walleye by 7:30am. I spent the rest of morning messing around and caught smallmouth and bluegill. I also caught largemouth, sheepshead, rock bass, white perch and white bass. A nice way to spend the morning” (photos courtesy of Wes Janke).

Darrin caught his personal best smallmouth bass this week measuring 21.5” long with 15” girth, which would put the big bass at right about 6 lbs (photo courtesy of Darrin Kneale).

Jared and a friend scored some trophy smallmouth bass on the Rocky River, along with a bonus late steelhead (photos courtesy of Jared Kassouf).

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