Grab the fishing gear and go fishing this weekend...for FREE!

Grab the fishing gear and go fishing this weekend...for FREE!Ohio residents may fish in all of Ohio's public waters...

A largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, hunting among water plants.
Photo (George Grall Getty Images/National Geographic Creative) 

Paine Creek stocked with 800 lbs of trout

Lake Metroparks placed 800 lbs of trout in Paine Creek Friday.

Ponds stocked and ready to fish!

Lake Metroparks offers a variety of opportunities for fishing including stocked ponds as well as river, stream and lakeshore access. Lake Metroparks has created angler access through the construction of trails, parking areas, canoe landings, and decks.

Nine ponds were stocked on Monday, May 5 with a healthy variety of fish for angler fun.


Concord Woods Nature Park

Girdled Road Reservation (south)

• Large wetland
• Pond closest to shelter

Skok Meadow (Rt. 608)

Penitentiary Glen Reservation

• Red Fox Loop
• Nature Center

River Road Park

A state of Ohio fishing license is not required by children or adults to fish in these ponds.

Lake Metroparks encourages catch and release fishing, which helps to maintain fish populations and ensure many park goers the same opportunities to enjoy fishing. 

The ponds are stocked with:

• 12"+ Large Mouth Bass
• 9 to 12" Channel Catfish
• 4 to 6" Bluegill 
• Fathead minnows

Fishing limits are in accordance with The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

• Inland water bodies

Get a 'fish-eye' view of Big Creek

Lake Metroparks protects our local waterways like the Chagrin and Grand rivers and their tributaries. Our rivers are vital natural resources and provide recreation for residents of Lake County and beyond.

A underwater view of the fish in the Big Creek
at Liberty Hollow.

Ponds at Hidden Lake and Veterans Park stocked today

800 lbs of large mouth bass stocked at Hidden Lake & Veterans Park

The ponds at Hidden Lake in Leroy Township and Veterans Park in Mentor were stocked today with 12”+ Large Mouth Bass, 9-12” Channel Catfish and Fathead Minnows. Hidden Lake also received 4-6” Bluegills.

Albino Catfish!

Important notes: 

1) A state fishing license is required to fish at Veterans Park for those aged 16 and older. A license is not required at Hidden Lake or 12 other ponds within Lake Metroparks which are stocked by the agency.

2) In an effort to improve and maintain a quality fish population at Hidden Lake and ensure many park goers the same opportunities to enjoy fishing, all species are catch and release only at Hidden Lake. 

3) Lake Metroparks fishing limits for the other inland water bodies and Lake Erie and its tributaries within its parks are in accordance with The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

Now that's a beauty!

Veterans Park pond stocked today

Lake Metroparks stocked Veterans Park pond today
with about 750 lbs of rainbow trout. 

The trout averaged a little over one pound each.
There were some Golden Rainbow trout included in this stocking.  

Veterans Park protects the largest inland pond in the county.  

    The park offers four accessible fishing piers,
a 1.78-mile loop trail though native wetlands with 830 feet of boardwalk,
and a wetland/wildlife viewing area.

A valid Ohio fishing license is required to fish at Veterans Park. 

Click here for more fishing opportunities in Lake Metroparks.

Ten ponds stocked with fish today

Lake Metroparks  stocked ten of its ponds today with largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish in ponds at parks in Kirtland, Concord Township and Madison Township. 

• Penitentiary Glen Reservation (two ponds)
• Concord Woods Nature Park
• Skok Meadow entrance to Girdled Road Reservation (two ponds)
• Girdled Road South  (two ponds)
• Resource Center near Hidden Valley Park
• Strong Cabin in Hogback Ridge Park
• River Road Park

Fishing licenses are not required at any of the ponds at these locations; which makes for great learning and recreational experiences for people of all ages. Lake Metroparks also offers opportunities for fishing including river, stream and lakeshore access. Click here for more locations.

Post from Outdoors with Frischkorn

Jeffrey L. Frischkorn takes you with him as he chronicles his outdoors adventures around Northeast Ohio and beyond. 

...Spring had come to the creek at long last, and not a moment too soon to suit most people.

But steelheaders are not most people, not in the conventional sense anyway. Some steelheaders even crave the nastiest, cold-nose-running weather imaginable. Not so much because the angling is better but rather for the reason such weather conditions help keep other, weaker, members of this tribe huddled around a fireplace.

I don’t go that far, though truth be told steelheading is the only type of fishing for which I’d give up a hunting trip...

Click here to read Jeff's blog.

Hidden Lake and Veterans Park stocked

Lake Metroparks stocked two ponds today.

Veterans Park in Mentor received 600lb of 12" or larger Largemouth Bass and 900 Channel Catfish.

 Hidden Lake in Leroy was stocked was stocked with 400lbs of 12" or larger Largemouth Bass, 600 Channel Catfish and about 1000 Bluegills. .
 

John Glovna and son had a great time catching some crappie at Hidden Lake recently.