Fishing Report - May 8, 2008
Rocky River was named one of the “150 Best Places to fish in America” in the June 2007 issue of Field and Stream magazine
The Rocky River is currently fairly elevated and stained due to recent rains. The latest <river flow gage data> will help anglers determine the latest trend in river conditions.
The Children’s Spring Fishing Derbies on May 3rd and 4th were another huge success again this year! You can view some of the 100 plus photos I took at the event at the following link compliments of www.flyandfloatfishing.com : <2008 Fishing Derby photos and video>. Furthermore, the owner of that website (Sean Swatsky) also compiled a great six minute video montage of the event on Saturday morning at that same link. Here’s to looking forward to the 2009 event already (although our many employees and volunteers who make this fine event possible can certainly use their rest right now!).
Although some anglers were still catching steelhead last week, this latest rise in water levels will allow the many dropback (already spawned) steelhead head back to the lake more easily. With that said, there are always a few steelhead around in the river up until about mid-May.
Although the spring steelhead run is coming to it’s end, reports of Lake Erie run smallmouth bass are on the upswing. Streamer flies and smaller lures (spinners and plugs) will take their share of smallmouth bass in the coming weeks, as well as other live baits such as crayfish and leeches. Most larger smallmouth have been caught in the northern river reaches. I also strongly encourage others to quickly release any larger smallmouth this time of year, as they are getting ready to spawn and natural reproduction is responsible for sustaining this fishery.
When the river levels cooperate, rainbow trout fishing has been good in deeper holes and around cover in the East Branch Rocky River between Route 82 (Royalton Road) and the ford just upstream of Wallace Lake. Spring stocking of trout is complete as of this time. Trout are also still available at Hinckley, Shadow, and Wallace lakes, too. Power Bait, salmon eggs, worms, corn, and small spinners are among the offerings these trout will eagerly grab.
Additionally, carp and catfish are biting well in deeper holes throughout the river and white perch and freshwater drum (sheepshead) are biting well near the marina. Panfish and largemouth bass have been biting well at various Cleveland Metroparks lakes and ponds, as well.
Some early season boaters have been reporting great catches of yellow perch and walleye out of the Emerald Necklace Marina, as well.
Working hard to make your public fisheries the best they can be. Cleveland Metroparks was recently offered a donation of fish from a private 5 acre lake being drained due to issues wtih it’s 60 year old dam. On Tuesday and Wednesday this week our staff, along with the assistance of some Ohio Division of Wildlife colleagues, proceeded to do the wet, muddy, and physically challenging job of collecting and tranferring an estimated 3,000 adult bluegill, 500 largemouth bass, and 16 huge grass carp to the public waters of the Park District (exact locations of releases being withheld to allow these fish to establish, and hopefully spawn, in their new homes). A sincere thank you goes out to Allen, Barney, Chris, Dave, Jeff, Jim, John, Kevin, both Ricks, and Tim for all your hard work assisting me to make this opportunistic project such a success. A special thanks goes to the family of Rick Huff for this much appreciated donation of fish. Photos from this activity are offered below. A final “mop up” collection will occur next week as the lake is drained all the way down.
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 .
Good Fishing,
Mike
The following photos are from the fish collection and transfer discussed in the report:
Those fish will surely make many anglers happy around the Park District!
<Click here to view 2008 Fishing Derby photos>
Ralph, visiting from Arizona, took this photo of himself having what appears to be an intimate moment with a steelhead! (photo courtesy of Ralph C.).
Rodger, visiting from St. Louis to fish with friends on the Chagrin River, caught this beautiful steelhead (photo coutesy of Rodger B.).
Joe, also from the St. Louis Crew, with his first steelhead! (photo coutesy of Rodger B.).
St. Louis Rick with a nice Chagrin River steelhead (photo coutesy of Rodger B.).
Ryan shows off a buck steelie. Can you guess where he's from? If you said "St Louis" you would be correct (photo coutesy of Rodger B.).
Rodger with a fine 30 incher (photo coutesy of Rodger B.).
A panoramic vista along the Chagrin River valley (photo coutesy of Rodger B.) .
Stephen with a nice late spring steelhead (photo courtesy of Stephen W.).
A Canada goose watches over it's streamside nest (photo courtesy of Scott B.).
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Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund
Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund helps provide a rewarding fishing experience to Northeast Ohio anglers through the stocking of rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and other sport fish. The Fund also supports children's fishing derbies and creation and restoration of essential habitat in the ponds, lakes, and rivers within Cleveland Metroparks.
For more information or to make a gift to Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund, please contact:
Karen J. Kannenberg, CFRE
Manager of Gift and Donor Development
Cleveland Metroparks
4101 Fulton Parkway
Cleveland, Ohio 44144
216.635.3217
kjk@clevelandmetroparks.com
Mike Durkalec