Fishing Season: Winter

Rocky River - OH

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

45

Orvis Westlake's Tip of the Week

Steelhead have making their way up the river with every rain. Closer to the lake may hold more fish but you can get away and find fish spread out through the system. With the colder water temps look for fish in deep holding water, as temps rise throughout the day fish will move into faster water.

Directions open in app

Map of Rocky River

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 3/27/24

The latest snow will swell the river back up and increase turbidity but warmer temps are on the way later this week and weekend. When the river falls back into shape it will bring what is likely to be a final push as the season grinds to the inevitable end in mid April. The spring run of Steelhead has been in full swing and the fresh pushes of lively fish have been ready to play!

Techniques & Tips as of 3/27/24

Stripping baitfish and sculpin patterns is a great way to cover lots of water and target the most aggressive fish. If you fing holding fish, drifting egg patterns over a wooly buggers or zonkers under an indicator is a good way to break down that same water and catch them all.

Local Species Available Winter

  • Fish Icon

    Steelhead

Orvis Westlake's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Senyo's AI Intruder White, Chartreuse, B 2, 4, 6
Senyo's Egg Raider Orange, Pink, Chartr 2,4
Meg A Egg Sucking Leech Orange, Pink, Chartr 4, 6
Lynch's Double D Streamer Brown, Olive, White 2, 4, 6
Princess Nymph Pink 10,12
Krystal Bugger White 6, 8, 10
Schultzy's S3 Sculpin Olive, Black
Bead Head Flash Zonker white/Olive, White/Gray 6, 8,10
Mojo purp/blck 4, 6

Senyo's AI Intruder

The leech-like profile of this steelhead streamer will have fish in a frenzy.

Orvis Westlake's Recommended Gear

Description: About Rocky River

The Rocky is a medium-sized tributary of Lake Erie similar in character to its Eastern neighbor, The Chagrin River. It receives excellent runs of Lake Erie steelhead from October through April in most years, and its close proximity to Cleveland’s Eastern and Western suburbs make it a very popular destination for fly anglers. In 2007 Field and Stream Magazine named the Rocky River one of the 150 best places to fish in America. The Cleveland Metroparks provide excellent public access along the Rocky and its branches, and several fords along the river force migrating steelhead to pause in their upstream movement, creating excellent fishing opportunities. Like the other shale-bottomed rivers in Northeast Ohio, the Rocky rises and falls dramatically after a precipitation event, so monitoring its flow in cubic feet per second is critical to being successful as an angler. Also like the other northeast rivers, it fishes best with a slight green stain, which usually corresponds to flows between 150 and 350 cubic feet per second. During the summer months, the Rocky provides excellent warm-water fly fishing opportunities for smallmouth bass, carp, and panfish. A 9 ft. 5 or 6 weight rod is perfect for casting the flies needed to bring these fish to hand.

Nearest Airport:

Cleveland Hopkins Int'l Airport (CLE), Cleveland-Akron-Canton (CAK)

Hatches:

This fishery is based on subsurface activity, and there are no key hatches of note. Baitfish and sculpin patterns are the primary forage to imitate on this river. Crayfish imitations always fish well. Stoneflies, woolly buggers, and egg patterns are great when nymphing.

Best Time to Fish:

Any

Best Stretch:

Lower and middle access points

Best Access:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/rocky.pdf