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Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
Rocky River was named one of the “150 Best Places to fish in America” in the June 2007 issue of Field and Stream magazine
It’s shaping up for another weekend of great fishing conditions on the Rocky River for local anglers. The rain yesterday helped conditions by increasing flow without muddying the river much, and the river is currently has that perfect emerald green stain. Anglers can check the latest trend in river flow at the following link:
Steelhead fishing has been steadily improving over the past week, as evidenced by all the great photos following the report that blog readers submitted (thank you). Fish have been spread all throughout the system, with a mix of darker fish upstream and fresh skipper and adult steelhead in the northern river. One theme that has arisen over the past week is that most steelhead are not being caught in the deepest pools, but are being found in the broken, fast water areas of about 3 feet in depth most consistently. Spawn sacks, marabou and tube jigs under floats, and flies (eggs and flashy nymph patterns) have all been producers this week. Look for fishing to only continue to improve in the coming weeks.
On Tuesday, the first installment of spring trout were released in the East Branch Rocky River between Royalton Road (Rt. 82) and the river ford crossing just south of Wallace Lake. A total of 600 pounds of trout were stocked in the river, as well as a bonus 150 pounds of trout also released in Wallace Lake at the swimming beach. The trout are excellent size, with many fish up to two pounds available. We plan to release another batch of trout late next week, as well (keep posted for an update on that in the report next week). Also, Shadow Lake was re-opened to the public this week following an investigation of a winter fish kill at the lake. I would not recommend anglers to target this lake, though, until the Ohio Division of Wildlife releases a load of 500 rainbow trout there on April 1st.
Trout continue to be caught in the open waters of Wallace, Ledge and Judges lakes this week. Jigging spoons, bright colored Power Bait, jigs tipped with grubs (maggots or waxworms), shiners (live or salted), and salmon/trout egg sacks and small spinners have all been catching some trout. Incidentally, this is typically the time of year that the handful of bonus large brown trout stocked in Wallace Lake in winter bite best.
The Lake Erie white sucker run is also underway in the Rocky River, too. For anglers looking to put a bend in their rod, these fish are a load of fun and are reportedly make good table fare in fish patty recipes. Suckers tend to pile up in deeper holes in the northern miles of the river before starting to spawn, and transition into riffle areas when spawning. Suckers have among the less discriminating palates of fish in the river right now, and will bite offerings ranging from a small nymph or wet fly, to grubs on a jig, to a worm fished on the river bottom with a sinker. Given their willingness to bite and abundance, suckers make a very good quarry for less experienced anglers or children, in particular.
The Legend of Old Blue. For years, I have heard accounts about anglers hooking, and subsequently losing, a giant fish in Wallace Lake. Most speculate that it was either an unusually large carp or catfish that they that temporarily hooked into before their line snapped. Well, as of last week these stories have a whole lot of merit, as a huge catfish was found dead on the beach of Wallace Lake! The 41 inch blue catfish, estimated at between 30-40 pounds, likely succumbed to old age or winter stress. Since blue catfish are a more southern species not normally found in northern Ohio (they are found in the Ohio River), the fish most likely slipped into the lake mixed in with a shipment of channel catfish from an Arkansas fish farm about 20 years ago. And then it began to grow in the deep, dark recesses of this former sandstone quarry. And it continued to grow. And then it even grew some more for good measure!
“Old Blue” probably enjoyed early summer most of all, when any of the remaining foot long trout stocked in the lake in winter and spring would begin getting stressed during warmer temperatures and dying, making for a tasty, high calorie catfish feast. Is it possible that Old Blue was not the largest catfish in Wallace Lake? There is no way to know for sure, other than to soak a large bait on the lake bottom at dusk this summer and attempt to find out for yourself. And don’t forget to use an adequately heavy rod with heavy line, unlike Old Blues’ former hapless acquaintances, so you don’t become just another person with a wild fish story about “the one that got away”! Check out a photo of Old Blue following this report, as well as a featured article from the Plain Dealer from this past Saturday, which includes more details on the story (and if you have your own Wallace Lake fish story comments details are encouraged following the article at this link): ge Wallace Lake Catfish found dead>
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
Harry did a fine job catching some of his first spring steelhead of the year in the Rocky River (photos courtesy of Dave Vonderau and Dale Delgado).
Joanne caught this beautiful buck steelie 4 hours before the official arrival of spring. The big fish was estimated at between 12-13 pounds (photo courtesy of Joanne Steinhauser).
Tito caught this trophy steelie on a minnow this week (photo courtesy of Emmanuel Roman).
Dr. Ken Stein took a mental respite from writing his latest scientific text this week to do a little fishing on the Rocky, and it paid off for him. He caught four fish, two each on spawn sacks and minnow crankbaits. He noted the pressure was surprisingly light the day he was out (photo courtesy of Ken Stein).
Pat hooked this fine carp specimen on a pink sucker spawn fly. Pat is a physician, but in his spare time maintains a neat blog you can read at the following link: (photo courtesy of Patrick Campbell).
Justin, who's only been steelhead fishing for about a year now, is a quick learner! He caught some nice Rocky steelies on plastics this week (photos courtesy of Justin Marconi).
Behold "Old Blue", the 41 inch whopper catfish from Wallace Lake detailed in the fishing report!
Mike caught this chromer on the northern river this week (photo courtesy of Dan McCutcheon).
Randy caught the nice steelie in the top photo, and Gio caught the surprise brown trout below that, in the Rock early this week (photos courtesy of Giovanni Quintana).
Adom had fun catching a mixed bag of fish on the middle Rock yesterday, including several plump white suckers, a 28" Fish Ohio class common carp, and even lost a bright steelie after a brief display of acrobatics. He was using spawn sacks and maggots (photos courtesy of Adom Mehwald).
Cleveland Metroparks stocked a total of 750 pounds of rainbow trout on Tuesday (see the report for details). In the top photo, Hocking Tech fish and wildlife student Joe Shiel assists with the release of these fish, and in the photo below a group of our regular senior anglers approves of the fish.
Stephen had a fun targeting white suckers in the Rock this week. He caught sevearl fish on twister tail style jig (photos courtesy of Stephen White).
Dave caught this 28" chromer steelhead on a jig tipped with maggots drifted under a float by the boat ramps.
Kevin and Randy were catching some fresh run steelies by the "Black Wall" at the marina on white tube jigs under floats mid-week. Randy had an exciting, but heartbreaking, moment when he had the largest steelhead of his life on the line, but it broke the net of the angler who tried to assist him in landing it and it got away (despite Randy's last ditch "bear hug" effort to grab it). Several witnesses I talked to said the fish was in the 36" size range (and dwarfed the good size fish in the photo above)!
Forrest Gump would say that fishing the river this time of year is like a box of chocolates, in that you never know what you are going to get! On one day you might hook a steelhead, white sucker, common carp, smallmouth bass, golden redhorse sucker, stocked rainbow trout, and a host of other smaller river fishes.
Charlie Sheen caught this fine Rocky River steelhead this week on a....hey, wait a minute, that's Gio! OK, he tricked me by doctoring the photo before sending it in. And, yes, Gio certainly is "WINNING!" (photo courtesy of Giovanni "Sheen" Quintana).
A gentleman on his way back from having cocktails on Monday morning (Mistake #1) make an error in judgement and lost control of his vehicle on the parkway by Cedar Point Road (Mistake #2). And finally, he didn't notice as he drove right past the sign indicating a river was in front of him immediately before pulling this Dukes of Hazzard style maneuver (Mistake #3). But, in his defense, the sign does say "No Horses on the Bridge" and does not clarify "No Vehicles in the River". Fortunately, he was OK...other than the OVI citation our Rangers awarded him to acknowledge his feat.
...and while the van was being towed out of the river, this angler caught and released a steelhead about 100 feet away to the applause of the crowd that had assembled. It's certianly never a boring day in the Rocky River Valley!
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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
This Fishing Report was submitted on 3/24/2011 11:49:24 AM by Seamus and last updated on 3/24/2011 11:49:24 AM.
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