Rocky River Fishing Report - April 29, 2009

Published April 29, 2009 at 6:54 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

The Rocky River level is currently moderately low and clear. The exceptionally warm weather over the weekend has led to a sharp decline in the numbers of remaining steelhead but the good news is that the warmwater fisheries opportunities are heating up just as quickly. Given the current weekend forecast I would not expect river conditions to change much for the weekend. During changing weather patterns anglers can check the lastest trend in river flow and temperature at the following link:  

Three consecutive days of 85 deg F heat has led to a mass exodus of steelhead trout in the Rocky River. Over the weekend, I viewed a number of fish swimming back downstream towards the lake, and have heard similar reports from other anglers. Still, a modest number of spent (already spawned) fish do remain, along with a few fresh fish that have not yet spawned. Expect steelhead numbers to continue dwindling into the coming week.

On the plus side, though, the river warmwater fisheries are gaining momentum just as quickly. During river sampling this morning we turned up many smallmouth bass of all size classes in the Rocky, with a number being of trophy size (see photo below). A dark brown or olive tube jig about 3-4” is a great offering for river smallmouth. Please consider quickly releasing any larger smallmouth you catch in the river right now, as these fish are in the river to spawn and sustain a fine natural (unstocked) fishery.

We also turned up several large carp, quillback, and golden redhorse suckers that would put up a spirited tussle on the end of any rod. A worm fished on the river bottom will entice any of the latter species. On the other hand the larger lake-run white suckers were pretty much gone from the areas where they were formerly concentrated, having finished spawning and heading back to the lake. Expect a some large channel catfish to begin running up the northern river reaches from Lake Erie soon, as well.

Anglers have reported excellent success overall this week fishing for stocked rainbow trout at Cleveland Metroparks in Wallace and Hinckley lakes and the East Branch Rocky. Tomorrow Cleveland Metroparks plans to release the final 400 pounds of rainbow trout of the season into the East Branch Rocky River between Route 82 (Royalton Road) and the ford downstream of the covered bridge. Stocked trout have been biting best on Power Bait in brighter colors and small spinners.

Spring Children’s Fishing Derbies May 2 and 3.  The highly popular Spring children's fishing derbies are coming up on Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3. Details on this free event, complete with prizes for various catches, can be found at the following link: <2009 Children’s Fishing Derbies>  Some images from last year’s event can be viewed on the flyandfloatfishing.com site at  

NOTE:  Wallace Lake and the Ohio Erie Canal fishing area will be stocked for the upcoming children’s derbies and certain areas will be clearly posted as closed to fishing between Thursday morning up until the fishing derby ends on 4:00pm on May 2 (Wallace Lake) and May 3 (Ohio and Erie Canal). Wallace Lake north of the swimming area will be posted as no fishing, but will be open on the southern half. Rangers will be enforcing these closures with a “zero tolerance” policy (citations issued) for those who choose to disregard the clearly posted signs. There are always plenty of catfish and trout left for everybody after the events have ended and the children, many of them fishing for the first time, have caught theirs.

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

 

Two large smallmouth bass of many we sampled (and released) from the river this morning.

 

Congratulations to Addison Fry on catching his first steelhead this past weekend (photo courtesy of Scott Heidrich).

 

Ken caught and released this fine 17" smallmouth bass on Monday on a brown Berkley Gulp rubber crayfish (photo courtesy of Ken Johnson).

 

John has been capitalizing on the "changing of the guard" in the river from trout to warmwater species, as the following images depict.

Yes, the last photo depicts a smallmouth who tried to eat an egg imitation!  (photos courtesy of John Proch).

 

Dave caught this 28" steelie this week (photo courtesy of David Genco).

 

Jason Dillinger of Pulse Jigs, one of the sponsors of our Spring Children's Fishing Derbies, ties up these walleye and smallmouth jigs that work great on the artificial reefs off Cleveland in spring and early summer (photo courtesy of www.pulsejigs.com).

 

Smallmouth this size can be a ton of fun on light tackle (photo coutesy of Stephen White).

 

A few fresh steelhead are still around, but will continue to decline sharply in numbers into May (photo courtesy of Tony DeLuca).

 

A trio of curious red fox kits explores the world outside of their den this week (photo courtesy of naturalist Tim Krynak).

 

An image from the 2008 Children's Fishing Derbies.  Make sure to join us this year!  More photos from last years event can be viewed at <2008 Fishing Derby Photos>.

 

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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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