Grand River is a large, shale-bottom tributary to Lake Erie with over 50 miles of fishable water from the lake to Harpersfield, Ohio. Grand River is stocked annually by the Ohio DNR with Little Manistee steelhead that return to the river each spring. The Grand River also receives a run of Pennsylvania strain steelhead each fall. The mix of steelhead returning to the Grand provide and an excellent steelhead fishery from October to May.
Ohio DNR designated steelhead fishing areas on Grand River include Mentor Headland & Breakwall, Fairpot Harbor, Painesville City Park & Old Dam, Helen Hazen Wyman Park, Mason’s Landing, Indian Point Park, Hidden Valley Park, Riverview Park, Hogsback Ridge Park and Harpers Field Dam.
To make life a little easier we upload all the Ohio DNR designated steelhead fishing access site to the DIY Fly Fishing Map.
Get Directions to the Fishing Access Points shown above with the DIY Fly Fishing Map
The Grand River is Ohio’s largest Lake Erie tributary that receives runs of steelhead and typically takes the longest time to get into shape following rain events (usually a week or more). The Grand River fishes best when the stream flow is between 250-450 cfs.
The USGS Grand River stream gauge near Painesville, Ohio provides real-time stream flow data and is useful in determining when to hit the river.
Effective flies for catching steelhead in the Grand River include basic egg, nymph and streamer patterns. Don’t fret too much over the particular pattern, just be prepared to switch up flies until you find one that works.
Visit our DIY Steelhead Alley Fishing Guide for maps and information on other Lake Erie tributaries that steelhead like to visit.
