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 rose in level and muddied following today’s rain. With more rain in the forecast, the conditions will likely remain elevated and stained 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 very good in the river again this week, with a number of trophy bass being reported. 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. Minnow style crankbaits and spinners will also produce bass well at times. Anglers are strongly encouraged  to gently handle and release any larger smallmouth caught in the river right now, as these fish are in the river to spawn and sustain a fine natural (unstocked) fishery.

Anglers are still catching a modest number of rainbow trout at a number of locations in the Park District. 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 Ledge, Hinckley, and Wallace lakes. Stocked trout have been biting on Power Bait in brighter colors, small jigs tipped with maggots or waxworms suspended below a float, and small to medium size 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.

Cleveland Institute of the Great Outdoors Fly Fishing Classes.   Have you been aspring to take up or better learn the fundamentals of flyfishing? Cleveland Metroparks Institute of the Great Outdoors has two upcoming classes to choose from that suits the bill. Class A is a one day class at Sunnybrook Trout Club with staff from Chagrin River Outfitters learning the basics of fly fishing. This one will be held on June 6 from 9:00am to 5:00pm and is $75.00 (class limit of 12).

The second offering (Class B) is taught by instructor Bill Grake and is an evening class on July 8 from 6:00-9:00pm at Garfield Park Nature Center, followed by an outing to Sunnybrook Trout Club on July 12 from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Cost is $150 ad class is limited to 6 people.

Equipment and lunch will be provided in both offerings, and all you have to bring is your enthusiasm for learning. You may contact Dana Smith at (216) 341-1704 or dfs@clevelandmetroparks.com for more info or to sign up.

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

Corey caught and released this gorgeous 19" River River smallmouth bass on a swimbait (photo courtesy of Corey Butram).

Pete caught this hefty Rocky River carp on corn this week (photo courtesy of Matt).

This gentleman caught two nice trout fishing worms on the bottom of Ledge Lake the afternoon of this report.

Geoff caught this trophy 21" Rocky River smallmouth on his favorite lure:  a perch colored Rapala Shad Rap.  Incidentally, Geoff serves a General Curator at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (photo courtesy of Tom Robatin).

"Alabama Jim" caught these three nice rainbow trout fishing the East Branch Rocky River this week.

Stan caught and released this fine Rocky River smallmouth (top photo) on a rubber crayfish soaked in bass attractant oil (bottom photo).

Nice job Stan, and thanks for releasing that fine smallie!

One of my employees brought me these "mystery teeth" late last week, which he found along the shoreline of Shadow Lake.  Can you figure out what animal they came from?  The answer is below (following the three photos).

Those are pharyngeal teeth from the throat of a grass carp, used for shearing stringy aquatic vegetation that they feed upon.

Several photos follow depicting fish collection activities from a non-fishing Cleveland Metroparks pond that were transferred to our public waters for anglers' enjoyment.

Jim had a hard time lifting that hefty bluegill in the bottom image!

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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