Steelheaders getting ready to make a splash: NE Ohio fishing report

CLEVELAND, Ohio — If you’re a steelhead trout fisherman, all you can do Friday morning is watch the river levels rise and wait for a while. It’s going to take a few days for the Northeast Ohio rivers that were ice covered just days ago to settle down after Thursday’s rains.

It’s the transitional time of year for steelheaders. The river ice is disappearing fast, the Lake Erie harbors — and the launch ramps — will be open soon and some fresh runs of steelhead trout are expected from Lake Erie to kick off the outstanding spring fishing.

But as usual, waiting for prime fishing conditions in spring can be perplexing.

“The good news is that the ice jam on the Rocky River in the downstream marina area has been blown out by the rains and high water,” said aquatic biologist Mike Durkalec. “The river still won’t be fishable for a few days, but the spring run of steelhead trout will move in (from Lake Erie) as the water goes down.”

Get out the Barbie Rods: It’s tough enough to hook and land a feisty steelhead trout from one of the Northeast Ohio rivers and streams. It’s far more challenging when you’re required to use an extremely light version of kid’s fishing tackle, the iconic Shakespeare Barbie Fishing Rod.

The annual Barbie Rod Steelhead Derby will be held on Saturday, April 2 on the Rocky River, and bragging rights and a few prizes will reward anglers lucky enough to find success landing a bruiser on the tiny tackle.

Any version of a kid’s plastic fishing rod is allowed. Check in after 8 a.m. at the South Mastick Picnic Area located off Valley Parkway in Rocky River Reservation, south of Puritas Road/Mastick Road in Fairview Park. There will also be a noon cookout and an awards ceremony and raffle from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

The tournament was created to have fun and raise funds for the Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund, and hosted for years by Mark Warren. Park officials will take over this year, with the raffle hosted by the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders, a long-time supporter.

In case of high water or impossible fishing conditions, anglers can weigh in rainbow trout caught from area Cleveland Metroparks lakes.

Walleye Slam announces Saturday events: The Walleye Slam Awards Party at the Columbus Fishing Expo on Saturday presented Jake Runyan of Cleveland with the Lake Erie walleye derby’s top prize from 2021, a fully-rigged 23-foot Warrior fishing boat. Tournament Director Craig Lewis also debuted the expanded 2022 Walleye Slam schedule on Lake Erie that includes a new slew of Walleye Slam Saturday events.

“We had a great season, and wanted to broaden the appeal of the Walleye Slam with Saturday events all along the Ohio shoreline,” said Lewis. The fall derby will remain, though, with the 2022 Walleye Slam set for Oct. 14-Nov. 27.

The Walleye Slam scales will be on the move, however. The weigh-in sites will be hosted by an area fishing tackle shop, starting with Happy Hooker Fishing just west of Port Clinton on April 9. The Sandusky Bait Company in Sandusky will host Walleye Slam Saturdays on April 23 and May 7, followed by Cranberry Creek Marina in Huron on May 21 and Erie Outfitters (June 4).

A Walleye Super Slam will be June 10-17, with weigh-ins at Erie Outfitters in Sheffield Lake and a fully-rigged Starcraft Fishmaster 196 as top prize. The Walleye Slam Saturdays will continue at DB Marine in Geneva (Aug. 6); Erie Outfitters (Aug. 20) Lakeshore Bait & Tackle (Sept. 3), Erie Outfitters (Sept. 17) and Mid-Ohio Sporting Goods (Sept. 27).