October 15, 2026

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***  In early fall highlight species targeted by anglers along the Rocky River and other area streams include steelhead trout and smallmouth bass. To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: <Rocky River flow gage data><Chagrin River flow gage data> <Rocky River NEORSD station with turbidity><Rocky River Main Branch live feed camera – scroll down at link>. Lake Erie anglers are primarily targeting walleye and yellow perch and inland lake/pond anglers are primarily pursuing largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish.

The Rocky River got a small bump in flow yesterday, but conditions are still on the low and clear side. The good news is there is more rain in the forecast into the weekend. Several lucky anglers caught steelhead trout this week and as we continue to get rain and cooler weather more fish will be coaxed into local streams (the Rocky River marina area has been the most consistent spot lately) as well as around the rocks at Edgewater Park and E55th and Wildwood Park breakwalls. Casting or flatline trolling a spoon (Little Cleo or KO Wobbler), spinner (Vibrax or RoosterTail) or crankbait (shallow Flicker Shad) at these locations are as good a bet as any for connecting with an early steelhead trout. The lower Chagrin River and Euclid Creek have also been producing a few steelhead this week.

Yellow perch, white perch, sunfish, walleye, channel catfish, and freshwater drum can be found along the Cleveland shoreline in early fall.  Most of these species can be caught on offerings such as a live minnow or worms fished on the lake bottom on  a crappie rig. Walleye bite best after dark on minnow profile lures like Perfect 10 and Bandit crankbaits. Good spots for many species include Wendy Park by the former Coast Guard station and East 55^th breakwall. The fishing for yellow perch and walleye typically gets better as the weather further cools. The best bite is often in the morning and late afternoon.

Last week we stocked 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout and 600 lbs of channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street. The trout averaged 1.5 lbs each and the catfish average 2-3 lbs, but we included a handful of bigger fish and a few golden rainbow trout to keep things interesting. Trout bite good on a dime size ball of PowerBait about a foot from a sinker on the bottom, small marabou or hair jigs tipped with a few maggots about 2 feet under a small bobber and on smaller spinners. Either species can be caught on a piece of nightcrawler or shrimp fished on the canal bottom.

Anglers at our inland lakes and ponds are pursuing catfish, largemouth bass, and panfish. Wallace Lake, Ledge Lake, Shadow Lake, and Beyer's Pond are just a few other spots worth poking around in late summer.

Hinckley Lake Juvenile Fish Stocking. Over the past week Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio Division of Wildlife teamed up to restock fish at Hinckley Lake. In total we stocked 6,000 juvenile largemouth bass and 30,000 juvenile bluegill. These fish will take around 3 years to grow to harvestable size but the future of fishing at Hinckley Lake is bright!

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 went into effect 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

James, 13 years old, set his sights on catching a Rocky River steelhead on his fly rod and he accomplished that goal! He caught the fish just up from the public boat ramps on a “Squirmy Wormy” jigfly (photos courtesy of Matt Tuskan).

Congratulations to Tyler on catching his first steelhead ever from the Rocky River this week (photo courtesy of Tyler Gudat).

Carter had a great week. He won “Largest Trout” of the day at Fall Family Fishing Fest on Saturday with a 16.5” rainbow trout then followed up by catching a limit of lake Erie yellow perch with his dad (photos courtesy of John Lusnek).

Brian caught a 26” walleye casting from the rocks at Edgewater Park on Saturday night (photo courtesy of Brian Kich).

Michael scored this chunky hen steelhead by the Rocky River public boat ramps this week (photo courtesy of Michael Carpenter).

Allen displays a 22” channel catfish he caught this week (photo courtesy of Allen Reinke).

I was so busy measuring fish on Saturday at Fall Family Fishing Fest that I didn’t get many photos, but attendees had a good time and plenty of sunfish, trout, and catfish were caught.

You can show your colors and support Cleveland Metroparks at the same time with our new fishing cap and T shirt. You can purchase online at these links <fishing hat> <fishing shirt> and they will also be available at select nature center and marina shops.

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>