Rocky River Oxbow Lagoon

Rocky River Lagoon is a five-acre, old river oxbow located in Rocky River Reservation at the Lagoon Picnic Area, south of Cedar Point Road in North Olmsted.

This oxbow was recently improved with a raised outlet culvert to create additional stable water depth.

The flooded oxbow supports fish populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, white crappie, and brown bullhead. Largemouth bass and panfish are periodically restocked.

Panfishing enthusiasts will find this area a challenge for catching crappie, bluegill and sunfish. Abundant brushy shoreline cover and tree deadfalls create an outstanding panfish and bass habitat.

The main channel of the Rocky River is located in the Rocky River Reservation from Detroit Road in Lakewood, south to Cedar Point Road in North Olmsted. The stream is of moderate grade and is characterized by long stretches of shallow water broken by riffles and occasional deeper pools. The deeper river pools are few in number and are spaced so that the productive fishing areas are well defined.

The deep-water river channel extends from the boat launch ramp at Scenic Park northward to Lake Erie. The ramps can accommodate 200 car/trailers for boat access to Lake Erie.

The newly expanded Emerald Necklace Marina, opened in 1996, provides boat dockage, a gas dock, boat storage and a restaurant facility. Bait and a snack bar are also available. For information on marina services call (216) 226-3030.

The Rocky River is a dynamic fishery affected seasonally by movements of many fish species between the river and Lake Erie. In the spring spawning runs of steelhead trout and suckers get fishing off to an early start in March/April. As the spring season progresses spawning runs of carp, bullhead, smallmouth bass and channel catfish occur. Other fish species which may appear in the river include stray salmon from other states, northern pike, walleye, sheepshead and yellow perch. In recent years the summer smallmouth bass fishery has improved throughout the river with improved water quality. In the fall, the steelhead trout again reappear in the river and this fishery will hold on until the stream ices in for the winter.

Currently, the steelhead fishery is supported with annual stockings of 50,000 Manistee strain steelhead by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. This stocking program has made Rocky River a major steelhead stream fishery in Ohio.