Rocky River was named one of the 150 Best Places to fish in America in the June 2007 issue of Field and Stream magazine
(Note: The fishing report is updated monthly in June, July, and August and weekly every other month)
As we move into summer, highlight species targeted by anglers around Cleveland Metroparks include panfish, channel catfish, carp, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. To monitor the most recent river water level and temperature you can check the following link: river flow gage data
Summer means family fishing time for many folks, and panfish fit the bill perfectly for a leisurely picnic and fishing outing. Anglers seeking panfish have experienced decent fishing at most of the ponds and lakes in the Park District in the past week. Crappie, bluegill, and other sunfish species can be taken with a number of offerings, but a waxworm or redworm on a small hook (or tiny jig) suspended under a stick float and fished around a weedbed or shoreline brush is always a good choice. Wallace Lake, Shadow Lake, and Hinckley Lake are just a few of many places in the Park to wet a line for various panfish species.
Smallmouth bass are typically found in the deeper, rocky pools of the river during the day in summer, and often move to the heads of such pools in the early morning and evening hours to feed actively. A dark olive or brown tube jig of about 4 length is one of the best producers of bass in the river. also bite well on live bait (ie: minnow, crayfish, and leeches), lures (ie: spinners and minnow plugs), and flies (ie: crayfish patterns, Clouser minnows, dark brown or olive sculpin or muddler minnow patterns). Rock bass are also present in the same river areas as smallmouth, and can be caught using the same offerings listed above. Good smallmouth bass fishing areas include the Rocky and Chagrin river areas of Cleveland Metroparks.
Channel catfish and large carp are also present in some of these same areas in the river, and fishing for them can be a laid back and relaxing way to enjoy some time on the water. Good numbers of channel catfish can be found in deeper holes in the Rocky River as well as at Wallace Lake and the Ohio and Erie Canal fishing area. Catfishing is usually best during lower light conditions using baits such as nightcrawlers, minnows, chicken liver, and processed dough baits.
Carp can often be caught throughout the day on such bait as canned corn, carp dough baits, worms or crayfish tails. A growing contingent of fly anglers looking for a challenge are targeting carp with nymphs and crayfish imitations, as well. The key to fishing for either carp or catfish is fishing on (or very near) the river/lake bottom. In addition to the Rocky River, carp can also be found in good numbers in Hinckley Lake .
Anglers out of the Emerald Necklace Marina have been catching walleye trolling (and drifting when conditions permit) in Lake Erie in 55-63 feet of water. Trolling Stinger spoons or crawler harnesses behind diving planers (Dipsey and Jet divers) has been most productive for most folks. Some good catches of yellow perch are still coming scattered in waters from 40-50 deep around the Crib area.
Fishing Area Spotlight: Hinckley Lake . At nearly 90 acres, Hinckley Lake is the largest inland lake in Cleveland Metroparks. On July 1, 2008, a fish population survey was conducted at this lake as a collaborative effort between the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Cleveland Metroparks staff. The initial observations of this survey reveal that Hinckley Lake offers an understated largemouth bass fishery! We collected many quality fish (see a few photos below), as well as noting a good distribution of age classes of healthy fish. Part of this is certainly due to the lake having an abundance of stunted sunfish and gizzard shad that provide forage for these bass predators. There is also an abundance of shoreline cover along the lakeshore, and this is where we sampled most of the largest bass.
Hinckley Lake does not give up her bass overly easy, but an angler with a small watercraft (rowboat or canoe) can work this shoreline structure near deeper water with snag resistant lures, such as rubber worms and spinnerbaits, and experience some very good fishing on summer mornings and evenings. Please note that there is a limit of two bass per day of minimum size 12 inches at this lake, but anglers are highly encouraged to release any larger fish to conserve the resource.
The lake also has an abundance of modest sized sunfish (mostly bluegill) and white crappie. Although the majority of these fish are on the small side, an angler in the spring will occasionally turn up a crappie up to 15 inches or so. Futhermore, the lake offers a thriving carp fishery and channel and bullhead catfish are also present. Rainbow trout are also stocked in the lake by the Ohio Division of Wildlife every spring.

Electric trolling motors are allowed on the lake, although gas motors (outboards) are strictly prohibited. A new small boat/canoe ramp was installed near the boat house earlier this summer for boaters convenience, although anything over 16 foot in length would be too large for this relatively small ramp in shallow water.
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 .

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