Cleveland Metroparks Blogs & Podcasts

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 level is currently low and clear, and given the current weather forecast not much should change into the weekend. Anglers can check the lastest trend in river flow and temperature at the following link: <river flow gage data> 

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good in the river again this week despite the low, clear water conditions. A dark brown or olive tube jig about 3-4” (on spinning tackle) or a brown/olive woolly bugger or sculpin streamer fly are great offerings for river smallmouth, and live bait are always another good choice. Anglers are strongly encouraged to gently handle and release any larger smallmouth you catch in the river right now, as these fish are in the river to spawn and sustain a fine natural (unstocked) fishery.

Anglers have reported fair to good success this week fishing for rainbow trout and channel catfish (stocked a few weeks ago) at Wallace Lake and the Ohio and Erie Canal fishing area. Late season trout have also been biting in deeper holes of the East Branch Rocky River between Royalton Road and the covered bridge, as well as at Hinckley Lake. One successful tactic anglers have been using for trout at Wallace Lake lately has been to cast out a minnow type streamer fly or small jig several feet below a clear casting bubble bobber and bring it back with a fairly quick retrieve. Stocked trout have also been biting on Power Bait in brighter colors and small spinners.

Bluegill, crappie, and other panfish have been biting well around Cleveland Metroparks on grubs or small bits of worm fished below a bobber. Wallace, Ledge, and Shadow lakes and Beyer’s Pond are a few of many places to pursue panfish around the Park District.

Lake Erie boating anglers out of the Emerald Necklace Marina have been making some limit catches of good size yellow perch on the east side of Cleveland in 30-40' FOW, as well as hooking up with walleye trolling crankbaits along the city shoreline at dusk and right after dark.  Smallmouth bass are also available, along with sheepshead, for anglers focusing on jigging the artificial reefs off Lakewood with tubes and dropshot rigs.

Spring Children’s Fishing Derby Photos. Sean Swatsky of www.flyandfloatfishing.com has again graciously taken the time to post all our spring fishing derby photos at a separate link for folks to enjoy. Please check them all out at the following link: <Spring Children’s Fishing Derbies Photo Album> 

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

Two young lads pose with a beautifully colored spring bluegill from a Park District pond.

Tomoaki saved the best for last (of the season), catching this magnificent 33" Chagrin River buck steelie on a yellow sucker spawn pattern on his flyrod.  Nice work, Tomoaki!  (photo courtesy of Tomoaki Ogino).

Garry knows how to have a good time chasing carp on the flyrod, as highlighted by this fine Rocky River golden bruiser (photo courtesy of Garry Zimmerman).

This young angler scored a white bass and scrappy carp fishing near the marina this past weekend.

The following photos were taken at the 18th annual Ken Mantkowski Memorial Fishing Outing at Ledge Lake this past Saturday:

Thank you to the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Ohio Central Basin Steelheader, and Grand River Tackle for assisting Cleveland Metroparks in putting on this fine event.

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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