Fishing Report - February 19, 2009

Published Feb. 19, 2009 at 7:01 p.m.

Rocky River was named one of the “150 Best Places to fish in America” in the June 2007 issue of Field and Stream magazine

***February 22, 2009, update: With the low overnight temperatures the river is getting icy again, especially in the mornings.  Also, be aware that the flow gage readings can be erratic when the probe gets iced up.***

***February 20, 2009, update: Just a very early warning, a pair of bald eagles were reported carrying nesting materials in the Rocky River Reservation today.  If you see any eagles make a point of not disturbing them during this critical period, as it could deter them from nesting in the valley.***

The Rocky River spiked a moderate amount following the rain yesterday, but is dropping in level again and is currently exhibiting elevated and stained, but fishable, conditions. Based on the extended weather forcast look for conditions to continue to improve into the weekend. Anglers can monitor the most recent river water level and temperature at the following link:  

Anglers have been catching steelhead pretty well the past few days in the Rocky River. Most fish are being taken at fords, where fish tend to concentrate during higher water conditions. In the coming days, expect brighter spawn sacks and egg pattern flies, especially in hot pink and chartreuse, to produce well. Larger bright or black streamers and jigs will also catch fish under these conditions. Transition to more subtle colors and smaller size offerings as the water continues to clear. Many of the fish caught this week are not chrome bright, but have a blush of color. Fish are currently very well distributed throughout the river.

Anglers are successfully fishing for recently stocked rainbow trout through the ice from the solid ground offered by numerous docks and fishing platforms. Stocked trout have been biting well on Power Bait in brighter colors, jigs tipped with maggots, salmon eggs, live minnows, waxworms, and jigging spoons.

This winter, a total of 3,600 pounds of rainbow trout were stocked in Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Ranger, and Judges lakes around the Park District (in descending order in terms of number of fish stocked). Fully half of those fish (1,800 pounds) were released in Wallace Lake, being the largest of these bodies of water.

Fly fishing in Iraq?!   Charles Preble is a U.S. Army Major who likes to fly fish for steelhead on the Rocky River this time of year...but doesn't have that option being currently stationed in Iraq. That can't stop Charles from fly fishing during R&R, though. He sent me some very cool photos of fish called "asp" that he caught fly fishing, which are similar to a Florida snook in appearance (see photos below). The palaces in the background are quite a backdrop for a fly fishing excursion! Charles has his sights sets on catching a "mangar" next, an enormous species that lives in some of these lakes that he describes as having "pectoral fins as large as his hands".  Good luck to Charles on that mission and hopefully he'll be sending home photos of one of those guys next! Charles plans to come back home in March to catch the tail end of the steelhead season. Thank you to Charles and the other brave soldiers the likes of whom we owe our privileged lives in American to...and make sure to thank him personally if you see him with the flyrod in hand and knee deep in the Rock this March.

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

 

Pete caught this beauty at Morley Ford on Tuesday.

 

Charles Preble, a U.S. Army Major stationed in Iraq, with a few photos of "asp" caught fly fishing during  R&R.  Charles plans to be home to catch the tail end of the steelhead run in the Rocky this March.

 

Randy caught this nice hen today at the Rockcliff access on a bright orange jig and maggots.

 

"Alabama Jim" with a fine Wallace Lake trout caught this week...one of many to his credit this season.

 

Nick has been catching the steelhead well this week on a gold Flatfish plug (photo courtesy of Nick Bryan).

 

Matthew caught this find steelie on Monday on a salmon spawn sack at a ford on the Rocky River (photo courtesy of Matthew Bill).

 

A fly fisher set against a snowy backdrop on the East Branch Rocky River this afternoon.

 

A few photos sent in by Chico (photos courtesy of Chico).

 

Conditions at Morley Ford on the afternoon of this report.

 

Blast from the past:  "The Steelheads are Coming"  April 1977 Ohio Outdoor Journal

I would venture to say that "The Steelheads are Here!"   Fortunately, the Rocky River has come a long way since the 1970s and right now we are living in the "good old days" (article and photo from the historic archive vault).

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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

 

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