CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Buckeye State is a fisherman’s paradise, thanks to the due diligence of Mother Nature and the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The Lake Erie walleye fishing is legendary, luring anglers from around the country throughout the year, and its world class steelhead trout fishery can put more pristine coastal river and streams to shame.
Nature has been cooperative for Lake Erie to truly become the Walleye Capital of the World, with fantastic hatches over the last decade. Whether it has been high water that boosted spawning seasons in recent years, or the technology that has helped anglers find fishing success, trophy fish and limit catches have be come the norm.
Lake Erie also produced a record smallmouth bass this year, and while its yellow perch fishing has been in a bit off a slump, the Western Basin perch fishing remains very good.
Credit the late Sen. George Voinovich and an army of fly fishermen for the success of the fabled steelhead trout fishery. When Sen. Voinovich put his foot down and demanded the Ohio Department of Natural Resources purchase the private hatchery for $1.35 million in 1997, it was the steal of the century. Kicking in another $7 million to renovate the Castalia Hatchery was bonus.
While some trout waters can match the North Coast of Ohio, few other trout waters can match the steelhead trout streams of Northeast Ohio in providing provide public access to such fantastic steelhead trout fishing.
Ohio’s six hatcheries raised and released more than 52.3 million fish of 11 species in 2022, a 15% increase in production that more than met its 2022 stocking goal of 44 million fish. The species included the mighty muskies, which are released in public waters as feisty 10-inch eating machines, as well as surplus walleye, saugeye and yellow perch fry.
“Raising, transporting and releasing 52 million fish is a huge undertaking, and provides great fishing statewide for Ohio’s more than 1 million anglers,” said Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker. “I’m proud of the dedicated fish management staff, who work to keep our state the fishing hotspot that it is.”
Ohio’s six state fish hatcheries raise saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, rainbow trout, steelhead trout, brown trout, muskellunge, hybrid striped bass, blue catfish, channel catfish and bluegills. The numbers are staggering, from 19 million saugeye fry and 5.6 million fingerlings to 12.5 million walleye fry and 5.2 million fingerlings. The hatcheries produce advance fingerlings that are 6 top 10 inches, including blue catfish, channel catfish and muskies, and catchable channel catfish, bluegills and rainbow trout.
Steelhead Workshop coming up on Friday: The Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders Workshop is Thursday, Jan. 26 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Emerald Necklace Marina Cafe on the Rocky River in Lakewood. The free workshop will cover a wide variety to fishing topics, including fly fishing, egg curing, near shore trolling, float fishing, ice fishing, fly tying and fish smoking.
Rainbow trout stockings: The Cleveland Metroparks released more than 3,000 rainbow trout at its area lakes in December, and more trout are expected to be released at the end of this month and in early February. Whether a bit of frigid weather will kick off this year’s Northern Ohio ice fishing season remains to be seen because of the unseasonably warm weather, which has prevented Lake Erie’s popular ice fishing so far this season.
A lack of ice, though, will allow anglers to prowl the shorelines of the local Cleveland Metroparks lakes and ponds, including the very productive waters of Wallace Lake in Berea. Wallace Lake also received some of the more exotic brook, brown and golden rainbow trout, and a small handful of colorful tiger trout.
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