Fishing Report - February 11, 2010

Published Feb. 11, 2010 at 3:27 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 12, 2010, afternoon update:  Since yesterday, quite a bit of the Rocky River opened up between the Nature Center and Morley Ford  Although there is still shelf ice, there was very little slush this afternoon, alot of fishable water, and light fishing pressure.  The river upstream of the Nature Center, including the East Branch, is still mostly frozen, as is the marina area.  Ice fishing for trout was reportedly slow today at Wallace Lake.***

The Rocky River currently has quite a bit of slush and shelf ice present, although a relatively small amount of open water is still available (especially below the fords).  Looking at the extended forecast, conditions are only only going to grow more challenging by the day considering that we are not projected to have any temperatures above freezing in the next week.  The good news is that ice on our lakes and ponds will continue to grow thicker for ice anglers.  River anglers can monitor the latest trend in river flow and temperature at the following link:    (note: icy winter conditions can sometimes make flow gage readings inconsistent/inaccurate)

Persistent steelhead anglers have still been hooking into a few steelhead this week, although conditions are challenging.   This week the modest  number of anglers on the river have reported catching fish primarily by drifting egg sacks (pink, peach, white, and yellow colored mesh have all produced), live minnows, rubber baits (especially white trout worms and swimbaits), and black jigs tipped with bait suspended under a float.  Drifting a lively minnow or slowly retrieving a wobbling plug right along the ice shelves is a particularly effective tactic in winter, as these offering can entice a big trout out from under the ice shelves they use for cover.   Using an ice-off type paste (available at most locals shops that cater to steelhead anglers) can greatly assist the angler in minimizing ice build-up on their guides and line.  Another tip to minimize iced up line is to hold the rod tip high during drifts so that as little line as possible comes in contact with the water.

Cleveland Metroparks completed the final round of winter trout stockings of our lakes and ponds in late January. This winter, a total of 3,600 pounds of trout have been stocked between Wallace, Shadow, Ledge, Judges, and Ranger lakes (with Wallace receiving about half the total fish).   Along with the usual pan size rainbow trout, the plantings have also included quite a few trophy trout from 19-23”, as well as a few dozen brown and golden rainbow trout.

Trout fishing at our lakes and ponds has slowed a bit over the past week, but anglers are still hooking them and there are plenty left to catch.  Many of the fish continue to be caught on jigging spoons fished between 1-3 feet of the surface, with Swedish Pimple and Forage Minnow lures being top producers.  Trout have also been caught this week on Power Bait fished near the bottom, small jigs tipped with a few maggots suspended under a small float, and even nightcrawlers.

Local Business Highlight:  Orvis Cleveland Store.    The local Orvis shop in Woodmere may be the new kid on the block in terms of the local fishing scene, but Orvis full service fly shops have been servicing American fly fishers for over a century.  Jim Lampros, the store’s fishing manager, reports that “we pride ourselves on being especially accommodating to beginner fly fishers”.  Of course, they also have all the fly gear the most serious of our local steelhead and warmwater anglers need.  This store offers a free seminar every Saturday, and this weekend (Feb. 13) Greg Senyo will be the featured speaker for those looking to bypass the winter doldrums and learn from a noted regional fly fisher.  In the near future, their shop will also be bringing in noted Michigan fly fisher Matt Supinski.  You can find out more information about this free seminar series, as well as information about this newer store, at the following link:

An International Visitor to the Rocky.    I was contacted about two weeks ago by a friend who had a business associate coming in from Germany who wanted to fish the Rocky River.  Michael Walther had been made aware of our fabulous fishery via the internet, and being a serious angler wanted to sample it for himself.  Since I already had obligations the day he would have free to fish, I gave him some advice but also sent him over to the able hands of Craig Lewis at since he was staying on the west side of town.  So, a week ago this past Saturday Michael embarked on his first Ohio steelhead trip, along with borrowed waders (thanks Craig) and a friend of Craig’s that generously agreed to show him the ropes.

Michael respectfully declined the offer to borrow a more specialized steelhead noodle rod, and insisted on using his shorter, ultralight action spinning rod…and ended up paying the price for it!  He ended up hooking into three steelhead that morning and losing all of them due to being undergunned for the task.  I wonder if he ever heard the saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” ?  Michael admitted he was not expecting our steelhead to be so large and strong.  A photo below shows him during an extended battle with a large buck steelie.  Michael noted that he was especially surprised at how friendly and helpful the anglers he met on the water were to him, an international visitor, and stated “it was a great experience and I am absolutely sure that I will come back to the Rocky River for fishing again.”  Let’s hope next time Michael takes up the offer to borrow the rod and lands one of those chrome missiles!

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 .

Tight Lines,

Mike

 

Adam braved the elements this week and caught this pretty lavendar hued hen on a minnow at a popular ford (photo courtesy of Adam Zakarowsky).

 

Here's what anglers on the river can look forward to every few drifts under our current conditions!  A good ice-off type paste is a great idea this time of year for keeping guides relatively ice free (photo courtesy of Dan Pribanic at ).

 

Justin braved the elements, as well as the flu, on Tuesday afternoon and was rewarded with this fine Rocky River hen.  The fish bit a jig tipped with maggots drifted along an ice shelf.  That lad has the steelhead bug worse than the flu bug!  (photo courtesy of Justin Marconi).

 

Michael, visiting from Germany (story outlined in the report), engaged in an extended battle with a Rocky River steelhead (photo courtesy of Michael Walther).

 

Dan at Chagrin River Outfitters reports that open water on the Chagrin River is currently very limited, as is the case on the Rocky (photo courtesy of Dan Pribanic at ).

 

Conditions at Morley Ford on the Rocky River on the morning of this report.

 

The river is frozen across by the marina.

 

A doe endures wintery conditions in a comfortable spot (photo courtesy of Bill Britt).

 

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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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