Fishing Report Updated 04/10/24
(Bottom Of Page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Steelhead
Salmon
Smallmouth bass
Size
Medium to large
Location
Northeastern Ohio
Nearest Town
Painesville
Season
Early Fall to late Spring
Access:
Good
Special Regulations
Yes, Make sure you check the
current regulations.
Non-Resident License
State of Ohio
Weather
National Weather Service Link
USGS Real Time Stream Data
Seasons:
The steelhead season is from October to May.
Spring:
Steelhead can be caught as late as the end of April depending on the weather.
Summer:
During the Summer, the water is too low and warm for salmon or steelhead.
Fall:
Steelhead begin entering the Grand River as early as first of October. The fishing is good throughout the Fall.
Winter:
All but the coldest days of Winter can be good for steelhead. The extremely cold water of January and February can make the fish sluggish but otherwise,
fishing remains good throughout the Winter.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Fly Fishing The Grand River Ohio
The Grand River, a tributary of Lake Erie, has become a very good steelhead stream in the past few years. It has a Fall run of Pennsylvania strain steelhead and a Spring run of Manistee strain steelhead. The hundred mile long river has over fifty miles of fishable water.
The Grand River is one of the state of Ohio’s Wild and Scenic Rivers. Its headwaters flow through farmland, which means it can be slow clearing up after heavy rains. The Grand River is a large, long river and the steelhead can be in many different locations at times. It is best fished from a small boat but it also fishes well by wading anglers.
The river drops at a good rate, with mostly a riffles and pool type configuration. The banks and much of the bottom is clay mixed with gravel. There’s some boulders in the stream and there’s also plenty of holes to step in you’re not careful. The fish tend to hold in the lower sections of the river.
Access to the Grand River is great. There’s several metropark areas as well as plenty of public land. Many areas require hiking to reach but in most angler’s opinion, that’s a good thing. Some areas are in the forest and some in more of a rural country setting. Anglers that fish the river due the low water of Summer, get a much better idea of the bottom composition and structure.
Most of the fly fishing is done using the traditional swing method of presentation. Other methods also work including eggs and nymphs. Spey fishing is becoming more and more popular. The Grand River is a big river and the particular method of fishing varies with the season and location but mostly, as with most Great Lakes steelhead streams, with the changing water levels.
Flies:
We have a complete line of flies for steelhead and salmon. We have selected them as the most popular flies from thousands of patterns that have been developed over the years. We have some of our own Perfect Fly steelhead and salmon patterns. They imitate the hexigenia mayfly nymph, certain caddisfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs and fish roe or eggs that are found in the river throughout the year. We also have a full line of popular wet flies, egg flies, Spey flies that are very popular. The next time you plan on fly fishing the Grand River, we hope you will give our flies a try.
Grand River Fishing Report:
03/08/2020 The stream level is down to a normal level and steelhead are being caught, The water is about 37 degrees. Our S.H. nymphs are working best.
08/30/20 Smallmouth bass fishing is still good. Now is the time to get ready for the upcoming steelhead season. Fish should come in the middle of Sept. Send us an email for gear and flies. 10/07/20 We decided to resume reports of the Grand. Some steelhead have entered the river but higher water levels should increase the population quickly. Send us an email for a recommended fly list. sales@perfectflystore.com
10/21/20 Streelhead are still in the river and we continue to get some good reports.
11/07/20 The river is turning out some good steelhead for our customers. We continue to get good reports. Swinging, nymphs and eggs are working. Shoot us an email for a recommended fly list.
11/20/20 The river is still producing some good steelhead catches for our customers. Stream levels are running a little low and it will be better with highter levels.
12/06/20 The river is flowing at a high level but should drop back down fast. We continue to get some good reports when the stream levels are okay. Send us an email for a recommended fly list. sales@perfectflystore.com
12/21/20 The stream is flowing a little below normal levels. Our customers are catching some
steelhead mostly on our steelhead nymphs and egg patterns.
01/05/21 The stream levels are very high. Wait until it drops.
01/24/21 The stream is very low with some slush ice. Steelhead are in the river. Fish deep and slow using our Steelhead nymphs.
02/03/21 The stream levels are low and the water relatively cold. We recommend using our steelhead nymphs in the deeper pools.
02/27/21 The stream levels are a little above normal levels. The warm rains have raised the water temperature and will be a big help. You should be able to catch steelhead.
03/17/21 The stream levels are low but we are still getting a few good reports. Fish the deeper pools with our steelhead nymphs.
05/01/21 Steelhead fishing is done for the season. Check back with us for the Fall run.
08/21/21 The salmon start moving into the river the first part of September followed by the steelhead. Now is the time to get your flies and gear together.
09/06/21 The river is flowing a little above normal but falling. We haven’t received any salmon reports yet. Smallmouth bass fishing has been good.
09/16/21 Salmon are in the river and being caught. Smallmouth bass fishing is still good.
09/27/21 Salmon are in the river being caught.
10/07/21 A few good reports are coming in from customers. They are catching both salmon and steelhead. The stream levels are still below a normal level.
10/18/21 The stream has been high but down to a normal level today. We have been getting good reports from customers fishing for steelhead and salmon.
10/28/21 The stream has been turning out good catches of salmon and steelhead prior to the higher water levels. It is falling and should be good very soon.
11/04/21 Stream levels are still high but we did receive one good report from a customers catching steelhead.
11/12/21 The stream is flowing at near a normal level in good shape. We received two good reports this past week from customers fishing for steelhead.
11/20/21 The stream is high but should fall back down soon. We have been getting good reports from customers fishing for steelhead.
11/29/21 The stream is just a little above normal level and turning out steelhead for our customers.
12/08/21 The stream is high again but falling back down rather fast. Give it another day or two. We have been getting good reports from customers catching steelhead.
12/16/21 The stream is still well above normal level but falling down fast. It should be very good within a day or two.
12/24/21 The stream is flowing below normal levels and in good shape. You should be able to catch steelhead. Let us hear from you.
01/01/22 The stream is still a good bit above normal levels. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone last week likely due to the xmas holiday.
01/09/22 The stream is a little above normal and headed up. We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone last week.
01/18/22 Stream levels are fine but the water is very cold. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone this past week.
01/25/22 The stream is flowing at a normal level and in good shape. We received two good reports from customers catching steelhead.
02/02/22 The stream level is okay. We received one good report from a customer fishing for steelhead this past week.
02/10/22 Conditions are still okay but we didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week. Let us hear from you.
02/18/22 Stream levels are very high. We didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing this past week.
02/26/22 The river is very high and highly stained. The water is also cold. Steelhead are present but tough to catch. Fish when the water drops back down.
03/06/22 The stream level is down and in much better shape and warmer. You should be able to catch fish. Try our Sucker spawn fly and steelhead nymphs.
03/14/22 We are still getting some good reports. Sucker spawn flies and our Hexigenia steelhead nymphs are working good.
03/22/22 Steam levels are near normal and the water much warmer. You should still have an opportunity to catch steelhead.
03/30/22 We received some good reports from the past week on steelhead. Stream levels are okay and the river in good shape.
04/07/22 More good steelhead reports came in. Stream levels are fine and the warmer about 51 degrees.
09/12/22 Steelhead have entered the river but more are yet to come. Send us an email for a recommended fly list. sales@perfectflystore.com
09/26/22 The stream is turning out some steelhead. Both nymphing and swinging methods are working.
10/09/22 The stream is turning out good numbers of steelhead.
10/31/22 Good steelhead action is underway. We continue to get some good reports. Both swinging and nymphing methods are working good.
11/19/22 We have been getting good reports from customers fishing for steelhead. Our Perfect fly steelhead streamers, nymphs, spey flies and egg flies are working.
12/31/22 The stream is running at near normal levels. We continue to get good reports of steelhead being caught. Spey flies and egg flies are working well.
02/04/23 The stream is okay from level standpoint with some slush ice. Steelhead are sill being caught but should be a little better when the water warms a little. Fish deep and slow using our Steelhead nymphs.
04/05/23 Steelhead are being caught in decent numbers. Sorry for all the missed reports. We have a new source of information. ‘
08/27/23 We are still getting some good smallmouth bass reports. Now is the time to get ready for the upcoming steelhead season. Fish should come in the middle of Sept. Send us an email for gear and flies.
09/18/23 It is time for steelhead to start showing up. No reports yet, but they are sure to be some very soon.
10/02/23 We are getting our first reports of salmon in the river.
10/09/23 The stream is still producing good salmon catches for our customers. Steelhead should soon be coming in. Now is the time to get ready for them with the right flies and gear. Let us help you.
10/20/23 The stream levels are up and this is bringing in good numbers of steelhead and salmon.
11/02/23 Stream levels remain above normal and this continues to bring in good numbers of fish.
11/09/23 Good numbers of steelhead are being caught. Our Hexigenia steelhead fly is working good among our other steelhead flies.
11/16/23 We received two more good reports from customers fishing for steelhead.
11/26/23 Steelhead are still being caught. Swinging large steelhead streamers is producing some nice catches.
12/07/23 We are still getting good catch reports. Egg flies are working as well as swinging streamers.
12/29/23 Sorry for missed reports. We have been short people working. We are still getting good reports mainly from customers using our Hexigenia steelhead nymphs and Estaz egg flies.
01/20/24 The stream is turning out some good catches of steelhead as long as the stream levels are okay. It is a little high now but should be down very soon.
02/01/24 Stream levels are still high. Give it some more time to drop some and it should be very good again.
02/21/24 The stream is flowing well below normal and clear. We are still getting reports of steelhead being caught from our customers.
02/28/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone but you should be able to catch steelhead.
03/13/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. Steelhead are still in the river. Let us hear from you.
03/20/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. We received two good reports of steelhead catches this past week.
03/27/24 The stream is still in good shape and turning out good catches of steelhead. Both swinging and nymphs are working good.
04/03/24 The stream levels is very high. Give it some time to drop and clear.
04/10/24 The stream has dropped down to near normal levels as of today but heavy rain is on the way.
Click Here to see our Steelhead Flies: Click Here to see our Salmon Flies:
Give us a call 800 594 4726 or write us (sales@perfectflystore.com) for information you need to do that.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh