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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
The Rocky River is currently exhibiting moderate flow and clearing conditions, with a green stain in the deeper areas. Expect these conditions to continue until our next significant rain, which looks like it will be this weekend. Also, there is a lot of rain in the forecast next week, so wise anglers will get out while conditions are good. Anglers can monitor the latest trend in river flow and temperature, especially during transitional weather, at the following link:
The last rain, as expected, brought in a good run of fresh steelhead. Although the numbers of fish this year do still seem down from average, the trade-off is that I have not seen as many larger fish (over 10 pounds and 30 inches) in the river since the early 1990’s. Most of the better reports of success have come from areas further upstream, such as the near the fork in the river at Cedar Point Road and up both branches of the river (steelhead get up to Berea Falls just north of Bagley Road in Cleveland Metroparks in the East Branch). Pods of good numbers of fish have been found throughout the river, though. Fewer reports of success have come from the marina area this week, though, and many of those fish have been smaller “skippers”. Most of the fish are in faster water in the morning and evening hours, with the deeper pools offering spottier fishing.
Fly fishers, in particular, have been out in force this week. Of the various successful fly fishers I’ve talked to, some have kept it simple and done well with smaller natural colored egg patterns and black wooly buggers. Others have done well with smaller flashy/beadhead nymphs and baitfish streamers. One angler specifically noted that size 14-16 bright green caddis larvae and scud patterns on lighter (4-6 lb) fluorocarbon tippet were the reason he was able to hook 60 fish in two days. Changing flies often is another tactic a number of anglers have found successful. As a tip, when fishing for concentrations of fish in shallow water, especially spawning fish, going to a single fly (versus double fly rig) is a good idea to avoid accidentally snagging fish. Also, covering some water looking for active biting fish works well. Steelhead are still being caught on all the standard bait and hardware offerings, as well, although smaller and more subdued offerings are a better bet in clearing water.
Trout were not stocked this week, but we will likely do a double stocking next week (most likely Monday and Thursday). We plan to release the fish in the river unless there are flooding conditions, in which case we’ll put the fish in Wallace Lake. Keep posted to the fishing report for details on that. The Ohio Division of Wildlife (DOW) also plans to stock Hinckley Lake with 2,500 trout this moring. These trout will complement those recently stocked in Shadow and Wallace lakes, as well as the East Branch Rocky River between Royalton Road (Rt. 82) and the ford just upstream (south) of Wallace Lake Trout have been biting well this week on Power Bait in brighter colors, small jigs tipped with grubs (maggots or waxworms) under a small float, and small spinners.
The Lake Erie white sucker run is just beginning to wind down, although lots of suckers are still available in the northern river reaches. For anglers looking to put a bend in their rod, these fish are a load of fun and 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. In addition to white suckers, there are also golden redhorse suckers and common carp coming up from the lake (which can be caught on some of the same offerings).
The marina area of the Rocky River is currently being dredged to facilitate better boating access, and the current plan is to install the courtesy docks as soon as this is complete. We are hoping that will be mid-April. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience this poses to early season boaters.
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
Jack and Robby had fun fishing for trout at Wallace Lake this week with their father who, of course, they outfished! (photos courtesy of Richard Wagner).
Three year old Zack helped his father reel in a pair of large trout at Wallace Lake on Saturday. Nice job, Zach!
Gio caught this gorgeous 13.5 pound fresh steelie yesterday (photo courtesy of Giovanni Quintana).
Bill had a good day in a deeper hole on the northern river yesterday morning. He started the day with a steelhead on the first drift, and also caught this plump Lake Erie run smallmouth bass. He was using a black jig tipped with maggots suspended below a float.
A fly fisher tussles with a steelie on the northern river yesterday afternoon.
Congratulations to Matthew on catching his first steelie, a beautiful 7.5 pound buck (photo courtesy of Matthew Videc).
Emmanuel got this thick hen on a black wooly bugger fly pattern (photo courtesy of Emmanuel Roman).
Joyce was rewarded yesterday for her persistence during what was a tough steelhead season for her. She had one of her best days ever, landing six of over 20 fish fly fishing a secluded spot on the upper Rocky. Nice job Joyce! (photos courtesy of Joyce Smith).
Jeff added another trophy steelie to his growing list this year with this 13 pound class brute (photo courtesy of Jeff Abbott).
Fabio and Yuri had another great week fly fishing the Chagrin, capped by Fabio's 32" brute in the top photo (photos courtesy of Fabio Malaspina).
A fly angler plies the riffly waters near Big Met golf course, a popular spring spot.
Justin had a great evening fly fishing the Rock yesterday. He decribed the last half hour of sunlight as "insane". His fish had a sweet tooth for wooly bugger patterns (photos courtesy of Justin Marconi).
One angler found about a dozen steelies holed up in a smaller tributary this week (photo courtesy of Tim Fischer).
This very plump fresh hen was taken at the dam across from Lagoon picnic area on the East Branch of the Rocky River earlier this week.
Jim was temporarily tethered to a feisty skipper steelie before it came unbuttoned from his hook at the marina area this week. Overall, he said the fishing there was slow for him.
This "humpback" steelie is likely the result of hatchery accident or birth defect, but is healthy otherwise (photo courtesy of Chris Levicki).
Some of you fishing at Wallace Lake on Saturday morning may have noticed about 40 people using seine nets on the beach, a well as our electrofishing boat in action. That was an educational fish sampling outing with four local college science programs (Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State, Baldwin-Wallace, and Tri-C). The students enjoyed getting up close and personal with the specimens before they were released back to the lake.
This large lake sturgeon was found dead by an angler boating in western Lake Erie this week. This prehistoric species is listed as endangered in the state of Ohio (photos courtesy of Jim Gajewski).
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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 4/14/2011 2:51:32 PM by Seamus and last updated on 4/14/2011 2:51:32 PM.
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