Fishing Season: Spring

Grand River - OH

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

58

Orvis Westlake's Tip of the Week

You will find smallmouth close to cover this time of year. That means targeting deep water, log jams, and rock shelves with goby, minnow, and crawfish patterns. Utilizing a sink tip can be helpful for getting down deep in the larger pools.

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Map of Grand River

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 5/26/25

The river is currently a little high, but dropping. The end of the week may give us more fishable flows if no additional rain arrives. Good numbers of smallmouth are currently in the system. Spring is here so make the most of it!

Techniques & Tips as of 5/26/25

Swing and strip streamers for smallmouth bass close to cover and in deep pools. Olive, White, and Chartreuse are great colors. Moving and covering water will help you find fish too.

Local Species Available Spring

  • Fish Icon

    Smallmouth

Orvis Westlake's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Bead Head Flash Zonker White 6,8
Hawkins Triple Double Rainbow 4
Hawkins' Hat Trick Black,Olive 6,8,10
Cowen's Baitfish Orange, Peach,Chartr 8,10,12,14
Clouser Minnow White 4
Little Rascal White, White/Olive 6,8,10

Bead Head Flash Zonker

When fishing for bass, this pattern fills the need for an all-purpose big fish fly.

2.99

Item #930E

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Orvis Westlake's Recommended Gear

Description: About Grand River

The Grand River has over 50 miles of fishable water, which winds its way through urban areas, rural lanscapes, valleys, and gorges in Ohio. The " Grand" gets excellent returns of both Fall Pennsylvania strain steelhead and Spring run Manistee Strain Steelhead. Due to the managment efforts of the Ohio Division of Wildlife the Grand River has become a solid steelhead fishery, with great public access, and a solid steelhead fishery from October to May. The Grand River is also classified as one of Ohio's Wild and Scenic Rivers. The Grand also provides outstanding warmwater fly fishing! Excellent populations of smallmouth bass, some stretching to 18 inches or better, make streamer and topwater fishing exciting all summer. Carp, panfish and musky are all possible catches as well.

Nearest Airport:

Cleveland Airport, Erie International

Hatches:

This fishery is based off of subsurface activity, and there are no key hatches. Matching baitfish (Emerald Shiners, sculpin and crawfish) is more important.

Best Time to Fish:

Late morning/Early afternoon

Best Stretch:

Lower river

Best Access:

Lake Metroparks Public Access Points