Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders

OCBS September Membership Meeting
Thursday September 18, 2025
Emerald Necklace Marina Cafe
Curt Wagner, Dow Fisheries Management Supervisor
Ann Marie Gorman, Fairport Fish Station Supervisor
Chris Amen, DOW fish Biologist
Ohio Steelhead Program update & Creel Survey REport

Curt Wagner, Ohio Division of Wildlife District 3 Fishery Management Supervisor, Ann Marie Gorman, Fisheries Supervisor at the Fairport Harbor Fish Station and Chris Amen, DOW Fish Biologist will be our featured speakers this month. They will report on the current state of the Ohio steelhead program and answer any questions we may have. They will also report on the 2023-2025 steelhead creel survey.

Curt, Chris and Ann Marie have a lot of current information about our steelhead program to share with OCBS members. We are very fortunate to be able to learn about the latest news regarding the Ohio Steelhead program directly from DOW management.

This will be another excellent meeting you will not want to miss. I hope you can attend.

31st Annual OCBS Steelhead Expo
Saturday September 27, 2025

Rocky River Nature Center
24000 Valley Parkway
North Olmsted, OH 44070

10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Doors open to public at 9:30 am

Steelhead Fishing Seminars

10:00 am to 10:10 am Steelhead Expo Kickoff

Tom Blotzer, OCBS President will kick off the Steelhead Expo with short presentation detailing OCBS 2025 to 2026 meeting programs and club events.

10:10 am– 10:50 am Ohio DOW Steelhead Report

Curt Wagner, Ohio Division of Wildlife District 3 Fishery Management Supervisor, will report on the current state of the Ohio steelhead program and answer any questions we may have.

11:00 – 11:45 Fly Fishing for Steelhead

John Brochue, the Orvis Crocker Park Store Manager and expert fly fishing instructor, will make a presentation on fly fishing for steelhead in our local Lake Erie tributaries.

12:00 am – 12:45 pm Advanced Steelhead Fishing

Roger Hinchcliff, Steelhead Manifesto, FishUSA and Lamiglas VP/pro staff, will make a presentation outlining advanced fishing techniques for steelhead.

1:00 – 1:45 Spey Fly Fishing for Steelhead

Wael Dardir, OCBS Board Member, will make a presentation focused on two handed spey Fly fishing.

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm Float Fishing For Steelhead

Mike Durkalec, Cleveland Metroparks Aquatic Biologist, will make a presentation focused on center pin fishing for steelhead.

Steelhead Expo Vendors, Conservation Groups and Fishing Clubs

Fishing Equipment Vendors
Chagrin River Outfitters
Dunkn Down Floats
FishUSA
Furball Baits
Jibbs Jigs
Lake Erie Kayak Fishing with Chuck Earls
Lamiglas Fishing Rods
Orvis Crocker Park
River Roe
Steelhead Alley Outfitters
Steelhead Manifesto
Steelhead Stuff
The Fly Guy Fly Shop
Voodoo Custom Tackle

Conservation Groups
Chagrin River Watershed Partners
Cleveland Metroparks – Youth Outdoors
Rocky River Watershed Council

Fishing Clubs
Cleveland Anglers
Firelands Fly Fishers
Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders

OCBS "Members Only" David K. Esner memorial
Steelhead Fishing Tournament
Sponsored by erie outfitters

Matt Hainzey with a beautiful 32 inch alpha male steelhead caught in the March 13, 2022 OCBS Tournament. Well done Matt!

This season’s OCBS Steelhead Tournament is dedicated to the memory of David K. Esner, a long-time Ohio Steelheader who passed away on May 6, 2018.

FISHING DATES:

November 2, 2025
November 30, 2025
December 14, 2025
March 1, 2026
March 22, 2026

Our annual OCBS Steelhead Fishing tournament, sponsored by Erie Outfitters, is for OCBS members only. If not a member, you are welcome to join OCBS in order to register for the tournament.

Members can register for this year’s tournament as follows:

US Postal Service: Print the below registration form, fill it out and mail with check for payment to OCBS PO Box 29577 Parma, OH 44129.
Online: Complete online registration form and credit card payment on our tournament page. Click here to go to online registration.
OCBS Meetings: You can register and pay in person at our monthly meetings.

All participants are required to fish with another OCBS member who is in the tournament and is responsible for verifying the length of each fish checked in.

Check in has been modified to permit members to call or text their catch to the Tournament Director.

Entry fee is $20.00 per participant.

Be certain to read the tournament rules.

2025-2026 OCBS “Members Only”
David K. Esner Memorial Tournament
Sponsored by Erie Outfitters

Click Here for OCBS Tournament Registration Form to use to register via US Postal Service

OCBS in Action

2024 Barbie Rod Tournament

Barbie Rod Tournament was held on Saturday March 30th, 2024. It generated $13,545 for Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund which is a record.

OCBS conducted the raffle which generated $5,682 of the total.

Thanks to OCBS members John Beedlow Jr, John Beedlow III, Jim Berryman, Bob Hajek, Scott Grossnickle, Ben Mott, John Brochue and Tom Blotzer for working the Barbie Rod raffle this year.

The money raised will help assure there are plenty of fish in the Cleveland Metroparks lakes and streams for kids fishing programs and local anglers alike.