Last 14 days
Daily flow table
| Date | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 13 | 48.2 | 52.6 | 57.1 |
| Mon, Oct 12 | 47.6 | 49.7 | 52.9 |
| Sun, Oct 11 | 43.7 | 48.6 | 50.8 |
| Sat, Oct 10 | 42.7 | 45.0 | 47.6 |
| Fri, Oct 9 | 44.7 | 46.1 | 48.4 |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 46.0 | 48.1 | 51.3 |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 45.6 | 48.0 | 51.3 |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 47.6 | 51.3 | 54.3 |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 54.4 | 60.3 | 65.0 |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 65.0 | 78.1 | 92.8 |
| Sat, Oct 3 | 93.3 | 130 | 194 |
| Fri, Oct 2 | 52.0 | 104 | 228 |
| Thu, Oct 1 | 50.3 | 51.4 | 52.9 |
| Wed, Sep 30 | 50.3 | 52.9 | 56.2 |
| Tue, Sep 29 | 56.2 | 57.6 | 58.4 |
Daily low, average and high flow in cfs, Eastern time. The current day is partial.
What the RiverTrax app adds
- Alerts at your range
Pick the flow you like and RiverTrax notifies you when the Chagrin gets there.
- A home-screen widget
See the Chagrin's flow, gauge height and trend on your iPhone home screen without opening anything.
- NWS forecasts in high water
The National Weather Service forecasts this gauge when the river runs high, and RiverTrax shows the forecast when there is one.
What's normal, and when the run happens
DIY Fly Fishing describes the Chagrin as one of the Lake Erie tributaries ODNR stocks with Little Manistee strain steelhead, with a roughly 7-mile stretch of clear riffles, pools and gravel runs that's easy to wade.
DIY Fly Fishing puts its run-off time at 3–4 days after rain. ODNR's steelhead map covers the river from the Eastlake seawall up through Willoughby to North Chagrin Reservation.
| Date | Low year (25%) | Median | High year (75%) | Median vs. range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15 | 48 | 80 | 143 | Below |
| Nov 1 | 70 | 114 | 241 | Below |
| Nov 15 | 91 | 168 | 345 | Inside |
| Dec 1 | 134 | 268 | 581 | Inside |
| Dec 15 | 148 | 246 | 463 | Inside |
| Jan 15 | 123 | 200 | 393 | Inside |
| Feb 15 | 156 | 274 | 680 | Inside |
| Mar 15 | 278 | 475 | 1,020 | Above |
| Apr 15 | 192 | 310 | 681 | Inside |
| May 15 | 130 | 235 | 364 | Inside |
Access and parking
ODNR's steelhead map marks eight public areas on the Chagrin. Lake Metroparks' Chagrin River Park is the largest; its details come from the park's own page.
- Chagrin River Park (Lake Metroparks)1000 Rural Dr., Eastlake, OH 44095
A 237-acre park on the river in Eastlake and Willoughby with three entrances: west (1000 Rural Dr., Eastlake), east (3100 Reeves Rd., Willoughby) and south (37699 Erie Rd., Willoughby). Lake Metroparks says bank fishing is popular and an Ohio license is required. Source: Lake Metroparks
ODNR's map also marks the Eastlake seawall, Borac's Landing boat ramp, Mitchell Field (soccer field), Gilson Park, Todd Field, Daniels Park and dam, and North Chagrin Reservation. See the ODNR Chagrin River steelhead map (PDF).
Stocking
The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocks the Chagrin River every spring with yearling steelhead, which spend time in Lake Erie before coming back to the river as adults.
| Spring | Steelhead stocked |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 80,003 |
| 2024 | 80,530 |
| 2023 | 94,450 |
| 2022 | 93,169 |
| 2021 | 92,221 |
Source: ODNR, Ohio Steelhead Stockings 2021–2025 (PDF). ODNR describes the figures as approximate.
Common questions
What flow is best for steelhead on the Chagrin River?
DIY Fly Fishing says the Chagrin fishes best between about 150 and 350 cfs on the USGS gauge at Willoughby (04209000).
How long does the Chagrin take to clear after rain?
About 3–4 days, according to DIY Fly Fishing.
Where can I fish for steelhead on the Chagrin River?
ODNR marks eight public areas, from the Eastlake seawall and Borac's Landing up through Chagrin River Park, Gilson Park, Todd Field and Daniels Park in Willoughby to North Chagrin Reservation.
Is the Chagrin stocked?
Yes. ODNR stocked about 80,000 yearling steelhead in each of 2024 and 2025.
What is the steelhead limit on the Chagrin River?
In Ohio, Lake Erie and its tributaries have a daily limit of two trout and salmon combined from September 1 through May 15, and you need an Ohio fishing license. Brook trout may not be kept from the Chagrin River. Check the current rules before you go. Ohio rule 1501:31-13-08.