Fishing Report - February 6, 2009

Published Feb. 6, 2009 at 10:32 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 10, 2009, update: The ice jam in the northern river reaches broke up on Sunday evening, but the river is still very elevated in level and muddy due to additional melt-off.***

***February 8, 2009, update: The Rocky River is currently flooded due to weekend melt-off, with massive ice jams present in the northern river reaches.  The good news is that the river is opening up again!   Check in on the fishing report during the week for any pertinent updates regarding river conditions.***

A limited portion of the middle Rocky River offers some open water and a few anglers have been out trying their hand at catching a steelhead. Even though you will see a few folks on the river ice, especially near the marina area, Cleveland Metroparks highly discourages ice fishing on the river due to serious safety concerns associated with this activity.

Anglers have been ice fishing Cleveland Metroparks ponds and lakes for stocked rainbow trout for the past two weeks. Most reports have reflected that fishing has been best during the low light periods of early morning and late afternoon. One presentation that has been especially productive for anglers has been working a small to medium size jigging spoon (such as a Swedish Pimple) only two to five feet down through the ice. Additionally, stocked trout typically bite well on Power Bait in brighter colors, salmon eggs, live minnows, and small jigs tipped with grubs (waxworms or maggots).

Trout were stocked this afternoon in Wallace (800#) and Ranger (150#) lakes, and last Thursday in Shadow (350#), Ledge (300#) and Judges (250#) lakes. A short video clip of the trout stocking today, as well as ice fishing at Wallace Lake, can be viewed at the following link:   These fish complement the 1,800 pounds of rainbow trout that were stocked in late December in these same waters.

Although anglers are ice fishing all stocked Cleveland Metroparks waters at this time, keep in mind that conditions can change quickly if we get the rain and warmer temperature this weekend that the forecast is calling for. Keep in mind that a minimum of 4 inches of solid ice is considered in the safer range for ice fishing. If ice conditions begin to deteriorate, there are a number of fishing platforms and docks that anglers can fish from on several of these waters.

10,411 visits to the Fishing Report in January!   Thanks to those of you who read, give me feedback on, and support (with your photos) the Cleveland Metroparks fishing report.  You would never know January is a "slow" month for fishing as we had over 10,000 page visits this month alone!

If you have a photo that you would like to contribute to the fishing report, or if you have ny 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

 

Olivia and Ryan had a fun time ice fishing with their father this week

Thanks to Jim Britt at www.floatfishingconnection.com for those cute photos!

 

Congratulations to Blanche, who caught her first ever trout at Wallace Lake today on a Swedish Pimple under Fred's tutelage.

 

Click on the above photo for a short video of the trout stocking and anglers fishing Wallace Lake this afternoon (photo courtesy of Georges d'Arras).

 

This bonus trophy palomino (golden rainbow) trout was stocked in Wallace Lake today and is sure to make some lucky angler's day.

 

Morley Ford on the Rocky River was still pretty locked up with ice today, but that could change quickly with the thaw they are calling for this weekend.

 

Roger caught this trout in Cleveland Metroparks this morning.

 

Lots of anglers were enjoying the weather ice fishing Park District waters today.

 

A colleague from Ohio Sea Grant forwarded me this photo of Lake Erie iced across yesterday (following sub-zero temps the night before).  This is the second year in a row this has happened, which is a rare occurrence.

 

A few dedicated and persistent anglers are still hooking a few steelhead in the limited open water on our streams (photos courtesy of Ken Harper).

 

I think our trout supplier's license plate says it all!

 

 

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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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