October 31, 2024

***NOTE: The Fishing Report Blog is back to regular weekly Thursday updates from September-May***   The Rocky River is running low and clear with an increasing amount of fallen leaves in the water making fishing more challenging. The best steelhead fishing prospects are in the lower river closer to Lake Erie although pods of fish may be found further upstream. 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>. Lake Erie anglers are targeting walleye and yellow perch, and inland anglers are catching stocked rainbow trout and farm raised channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area.

Area rivers are exhibiting clear and low flow with an increasing amount of fallen leaves in the water making fishing challenging in many areas. The best steelhead opportunities are currently in the lower stream segments closer to Lake Erie, although there are pods of fish further upstream for anglers willing to explore. The larger Cuyahoga River also sustains a strongly flow during dry conditions and enough stray steelhead enter the river to make it a worthwhile prospect. A river hot spot has been the Rocky River boat ramps area at Scenic Park in Lakewood.  Anglers drifting smaller marabou/hair jigs tipped with a few maggots, dime size spawn sacks and egg mimicking beads under floats through the holes are connecting with some fish. Trolling spoons and medium size crankbaits (like Flicker Shad) around the river mouths has also been production, although the fallen leaves can be frustrating.

Along the lakefront steelhead are being caught off the rocks at Edgewater Park, E55th breakwall, and Wildwood Park. Casting a spoon (ie Little Cleo or KO Wobbler) or spinner (ie Vibrax or RoosterTail) at these locations are a good bet for connecting with an early steelhead trout. These same locations are also producing good catches of walleye after dark, with Perfect 10 and other shallow running stick-style crankbaits working well. Access to the Lakefront parks at Edgewater, E55th/E72nd, Wildwood and the Rocky River boat ramps are exceptions in that anglers can fish them 24 hours a day (other Cleveland Metroparks areas are closed to access from 11:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.). Trolling Flicker Shad and Mag Lip crankbaits and flutter spoons along the shoreline and river mouth areas is also a good bet for connecting with a bright steelhead.

Yellow perch are being caught by boaters near the Cuyahoga River outer lighthouse, at the east end of the outer city breakwall, and out of Rocky River and Bratenahl in 30-40 feet of water. A few perch may also turn up at E55th breakwall, although shore fishing for them is less predictable, and will take minnows fished on the bottom on a crappie rig. Please note that Wendy Park at the old Coast Guard station is closed for repairs and will reopen to the public in roughly August 2025.

On October 10, we stocked 1,000 lbs of rainbow trout and 741 lbs of channel catfish at the Ohio & Erie Canal off E49th Street for Fall Family Fishing Fest and many of those fish remain to be caught. The trout average 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/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.

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 md@clevelandmetroparks.com.

Tight Lines,

Mike

Congratulations to Benjamin’s biggest steelhead caught casting an X-Rap from the Cleveland shoreline (photo courtesy of Scott Mills).

Eric was on break from Michigan State University and caught this colorful buck steelhead in the Rocky River (photo courtesy of Eric Abramczyk).