Steelhead Alley Trips

Fish With Jim Outfitters provides guided fishing trips on the most productive steelhead rivers in Northeast Ohio's "Famed" Steelhead Alley. Ohio stocks the Manistee Strain of Steelhead that begin to migrate to the Ohio Lake Erie Tributary streams at the beginning of October and can be caught thru the peak run in April. They average 24 inches in length and weigh 6 – 10 lbs. Fishing these rivers for steelhead is an exciting game for any fisherman. Enjoy breath taking scenery and extremely energetic fish capable of long, drag screaming runs and multiple acrobatic jumps!

We target these fish using three methods; Spinning (float fishing or bottom bouncing), Fly Fishing (indicator or swing) and we are the only guide service in Steelhead Alley to offer Center Pin trips. This is your chance to step out of your comfort zone and learn a new technique.

Fish With Jim Outfitters knowledge of the Ohio Streams will guarantee that you will be in the best possible water on the day of your trip. We specialize in finding out of the way places that are not crowded. We are available seven days a week thru our season. Start planning your trip today, these fish are waiting for you and are like silver rockets waiting to go off.

Trip Details

License: You will be able to purchase an Ohio Fishing License for $11 daily, three-day for $18, Resident Annual for $24 or Non-Resident Annual for $40.
Directions: Drive 20 min from Cleveland Airport, 2.5 hrs from Detroit, 4 hrs form Cincinnati, 5 hrs from Chicago; please contact Jim for the meeting place 248-252-1277.
Tackle: All tackle is provided at no extra cost. Spinning, Center Pin and Fly Rods are available. Bait including Jigs, Fresh Spawn, Flies and other live bait is provided. This is a great opportunity for you to learn how to fly fish, center pin or use conventional spinning gear.
Season: October - April.
Style of Fishing: Walking and wading. For your comfort, we recommend a breathable stocking foot wader with studded boots. Waders in select sizes available please call.
Sections: We will access streams on public land in the Cleveland Metro Parks on the Vermilion River, Black River, Rocky River, Chagrin River, Grand River and the Ashtabula River. In high water conditions we will fish small tributaries.
Keeping Fish: You are able to keep two Steelhead or Trout over 12 inches per person.
Other: We recommend you bring the following items to make your trip as enjoyable as possible; bottled water or soft drinks (no alcoholic beverages are allowed in the metro parks), a rain jacket, polarized sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, camera and a cooler for your catch. We fish a variety of conditions so please dress in layers.

More About The Rivers

The Chagrin River runs through suburban areas of Greater Cleveland in Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Portage counties, transects two Cleveland Metroparks reservations, and then meanders into nearby Lake County before emptying into Lake Erie. The river has two branches, the Aurora Branch and East Branch. The Chagrin River was designated as a State Scenic River in 1979. It tends to clear up fairly fast due to its headwaters being on a protected suburban real estate and lush forests. It offers all types of scenery and wildlife and is the most diverse river of the three. More about the Chagrin River.

The Rocky River is a relatively short river that borders Cleveland Ohio. It is a tributary of Lake Erie and an urban river with a forest on both sides running through Big Steelhead 11.5lbsone of the most underrated of the Cleveland Metro Parks system, The Rocky River Reservation. More about the Rocky River.

The Vermilion River is located in northern Ohio. It is a tributary of Lake Erie. The river was named due to the reddish clay that is the major local soil along its route. The river is commonly muddy after rains. At the rivers headwaters, many local farms feed it and it commonly stays muddy days longer than other rivers that are larger than it. It is more of a rural river by nature and a good set of legs are required since hiking is required to reach the good fishing. More about the Vermilion River.

Fish With Jim Outfitters also offers guided trips on the Ashtabula River, Grand River, Arcola Creek and Beaver Creek - the choice is yours! However, for you best chance at that trophy steelhead allow Fish With Jim Outfitters to select your destination.

Fall steelhead trips are primarily targeted with spinning or centerpin rods and spring trips are primarily targeted with spinning, center pin and fly rods. Rods, bait and tackle are provided at no extra cost.