Catfish released around Cleveland Metroparks: NE Ohio fishing report
Large numbers of trout and catfish were stocked for the Children’s Fishing Derby. The Cleveland Metroparks fishing waters around Cleveland have seen a surge in activity, particularly in the park's Children’s Fishing Derbies. The hatchery-raised channel catfish was released at Wallace Lake in Berea and the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights. The park's trout and catfish were stocked for the Children's Fishing Derby and are expected to be caught over the next few weeks. Additional foot-long stocked catfish will be added to various local lakes soon to create catfishing hot spots. The best fishing for big Lake Erie walleye is in 55 to 58 feet of water near shore. The U.S. Weather Service is predicting strong winds on Lake Erie, which could potentially delay the Lake Erie Walleye Trail's Ashtabula tournament until Sunday.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Bank fishermen will have a lot of opportunities to kick off the summer season around Northern Ohio, especially in the Cleveland Metroparks fishing waters around Cleveland. The park’s Children’s Fishing Derbies had a large turnout recently for the hatchery-raised channel catfish at Wallace Lake in Berea and the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights.
Enjoying the trout and catfish at Wallace Lake were Corey Butram of Parma Heights, and his three boys, Max, Dexter and Lincoln, who are regular fishermen at the Cleveland Metroparks ponds and lakes.
“The kids are avid anglers and love the outdoors, and fishing around the Metroparks,” said Butram. “The kids enjoy helping Mike Durkalec, the fisheries guy for the Cleveland Metroparks, with the kid’s derbies.”
Large numbers of trout and catfish were stocked for the Children’s Fishing Derby, and the hardy catfish are a special delight all summer. The trout are sensitive to the rising water temperatures, and fisheries officials are hoping most of the stocked trout will be caught over the next few weeks.
To add to the plentiful foot-long stocked catfish already swimming in park waters, more will be added soon to various local lakes to create catfishing hot spots over the next couple of weeks. The lakes where anglers can target the catfish will be Shadow, Ledge, Judge’s and Ranger lakes, Oxbow Lagoon and Strawberry Pond.
The channel cats are most likely to feed early and lake in the day. The top live baits are nightcrawlers, minnows, raw chicken livers and typical dough baits.
To track down large channel catfish at this time of year as they make their spawning runs, fish the deeper waters of the lower pools of the Lake Erie tributaries. The Rocky, Chagrin and Grand rivers are excellent catfish rivers, and resident cats can be caught throughout the summer.
With big winds in the Lake Erie forecast for Saturday, low-key bank fishing for channel catfish might be the best bet if the windy weather does slam the door on the walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch fishing.
The U.S. Weather Service is calling for gale force winds from the northwest Saturday afternoon on Lake Erie, which could delay the Lake Erie Walleye Trail’s Ashtabula tournament until the blow date on Sunday. The weigh-in is at the Fairport Harbor Port Authority Public Launch.
Don Moore at Harbor Bait & Tackle in Fairport Harbor reports that the best fishing for big Lake Erie walleye is in 55 to 58 feet of water. Lots of 17-23-inch walleye are around, but closer to shore.
A 45.85-pound flathead catfish triggered a victory for Team Croc in the The Tri-State Hawg Hunters team catfish tournament last Saturday on Mosquito Reservoir. A couple of channel catfish boosted the total weight to 66.65 pounds. Catfish Somewhere was second (61.80 pounds), with three flatheads.
Spawning channel catfish are the hot topic around Sandusky Bay. Small boat fishermen have been taking advantage of the usually calm Sandusky Bay waters, and shoreline anglers are taking home lots of catfish. The Old Bay Bridge has lured a legion of fishermen, but remember to keep the area tidy. State wildlife officers have been issuing citations for littering.