Where to catch 'em:
Larger mainstem rivers will be coming up through the week as a cold front dumps appreciable rains on our area. Smaller tribs will clear first. Nearshore areas on the lake and piers may be muddy if strong winds persist after the cold front passes. This weather will bring in more fresh fish and will distribute fish well upstream.
Rocky River: Fish from the fords through Emerald Necklace marina down to the river mouth.
Chagrin River: Fish from the soccer fields to Daniels Park dam.
Grand River: Fish from the Mentor Headlands pier and Fairport short pier up to Main St. bridge. Also try Big and Kellogg Creeks.
Arcola Creek: Fish along the beach and in the estuary pond area. Also try Cowles and Wheeler creeks.
Ashtabula River: Fish the Walnut Creek breakwall and harbor up through Indian Trails Park.
Conneaut Creek: Fish from the west wall and harbor up to State Rt. 7 bridge.
Vermilion River: Fish the river mouth up past the Rt. 2 bridge through the Metropark.

Don't forget the daily bag limit of 2 steelhead trout and salmon in the aggregate valid from September 1st through May 15th !

There are many public access areas on Ohio streams. If you are on private property, you must have landowner permission. Don't trespass! Private landowners have the right to restrict access on their property. In Ohio, you can gain access to the stream from public access points, but the private land ownership includes their land under the stream. The streams listed above are navigable streams, meaning you can float a boat through them to fish; however, you cannot get out of your boat and stand on private property to fish unless you have the land owner's permission. For more info on access areas, see the steelhead section in our older Lake Erie Fishing Guide. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE for your copy!
Fish Consumption advisories have been issued for certain Lake Erie trout and salmon species and locations in Ohio. Find out more specifics and guidelines from our Lake Erie Fish Consumption Advisory Web Page
Real-time stream flow data is available at the following links for the Grand, Chagrin, and Vermilion.
Want to know how much rain or snow fell in the last 24 hours? Click this: Intellicast Web Site for the region.

How to catch 'em:

Typical set-ups are long (7-10'), limber spinning or fly rods with light line (4-8 lb. test). Common lures in the fall and early winter include small (1/16 to 1/80 oz.) marabou or synthetic hair jigs tipped with maggots rigged with split shot under a light pencil-thin bobber. Spoons (Little Cleo, KO Wobblers) and spinners (Rooster Tails, Vibrax, etc.) are commonly used on piers, beaches and lower stream reaches. Fly anglers prefer larger weighted fly patterns, such as nymphs and streamers like woolly buggers, princes, egg-sucking leeches, shiner patterns and clouser minnows. Egg fly patterns (single or cluster, sucker spawn, etc.) work well as a single fly or in tandem with a nymph or streamer once the fish move upstream. Salmon or trout eggs are fished as either individual eggs or grouped together in mesh "spawn bags" about the size of a dime or nickel. Eggs can be bounced along the bottom with the current or fished at or near the bottom suspended under a bobber. The fish will be oriented to cover or moderate to deep water pools, cuts or gravel runs as they make their way upstream for spawning. As stream temperatures cool this time of year, expect fish to be more likely to chase lures or bait until they move further upstream.