Last 14 days
Daily flow table
| Date | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 13 | 17.7 | 21.9 | 23.2 |
| Mon, Oct 12 | 21.5 | 22.9 | 23.2 |
| Sun, Oct 11 | 18.4 | 22.0 | 23.2 |
| Sat, Oct 10 | 20.7 | 21.6 | 23.2 |
| Fri, Oct 9 | 20.7 | 21.5 | 23.2 |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 19.9 | 21.1 | 22.4 |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 20.7 | 22.9 | 24.1 |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 24.1 | 24.8 | 26.0 |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 26.0 | 28.1 | 31.3 |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 31.3 | 32.9 | 36.1 |
| Sat, Oct 3 | 36.1 | 40.9 | 46.0 |
| Fri, Oct 2 | 26.0 | 40.7 | 54.3 |
| Thu, Oct 1 | 30.1 | 32.7 | 33.6 |
| Wed, Sep 30 | 33.6 | 36.9 | 38.7 |
| Tue, Sep 29 | 40.1 | 41.0 | 42.9 |
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 Grand gets there.
- A home-screen widget
See the Grand's flow, gauge height and trend on your iPhone home screen without opening anything.
- The NWS forecast
The National Weather Service forecasts this gauge year-round, and RiverTrax shows where the Grand is headed over the next few days.
What's normal, and when the run happens
According to Perfect Fly, steelhead can start entering the Grand at the beginning of October, and the season runs into May. The fish can't get past Harpersfield Dam near Geneva, the top of the steelhead water on ODNR's map.
The Grand is a big river with a lot of farmland upstream. It rises fast after rain, and DIY Fly Fishing calls it the slowest of Ohio's steelhead rivers to clear, often a week or more.
| Date | Low year (25%) | Median | High year (75%) | Median vs. range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15 | 55 | 133 | 394 | Below |
| Nov 1 | 109 | 368 | 828 | Inside |
| Nov 15 | 172 | 565 | 1,360 | Above |
| Dec 1 | 610 | 1,130 | 2,150 | Above |
| Dec 15 | 549 | 1,100 | 1,860 | Above |
| Jan 15 | 420 | 763 | 1,620 | Above |
| Feb 15 | 351 | 555 | 1,460 | Above |
| Mar 15 | 701 | 1,270 | 3,710 | Above |
| Apr 15 | 511 | 1,060 | 2,160 | Above |
| May 15 | 182 | 383 | 1,420 | Inside |
Access and parking
Public access from the mouth up to Harpersfield Dam, from the parks' own pages. Lake Metroparks parks are open 6 AM to 11 PM. Much of the Grand's bank is private, so stay on park land or ask the landowner.
- Grand River Landing1181 N. St. Clair St., Fairport Harbor, OH 44077
At the river mouth. Small-boat (canoe and kayak) launch; Lake Metroparks says bank fishing is popular here. Source: Lake Metroparks
- Beaty Landing543 East Walnut St., Painesville, OH 44077
3,300 feet of Grand River frontage in Painesville. A parking lot and a mile-long loop trail with three access points to the river; a larger lot at the east entrance has a canoe and kayak launch. Source: Lake Metroparks
- Helen Hazen Wyman Park6101 Painesville Warren Rd. (Rt. 86), Concord Twp., OH 44077
Lake Metroparks notes that anglers cross Big Creek and its floodplain from the park to fish the Grand for steelhead and smallmouth bass. Source: Lake Metroparks
- Indian Point ParkSeeley Rd., Leroy Twp., OH 44077
Three lots: Paine Creek lot (12951 Seeley Rd.), upper lot (13165 Seeley Rd.) and west lot (12701 Seeley Rd.). Seeley Road is closed to cars between the lower and upper entrances, so park in either lot and walk. Source: Lake Metroparks
- Hidden Valley Park4872 Klasen Rd., Madison Twp., OH 44057
Lake Metroparks lists fishing, river access and canoe and kayak access. Source: Lake Metroparks
- Riverview Park4895 Bailey Rd., Madison Twp., OH 44057
The parking lot is next to the sledding hill; the steep 0.38-mile River Bottom trail drops to the floodplain. Source: Lake Metroparks
- Harpersfield Covered Bridge Metropark1122 Harpersfield Rd., Geneva, OH 44041
Ashtabula County Metroparks park at the covered bridge. Harpersfield Dam, where ODNR's steelhead map ends, is here. Source: Visit Ashtabula County
The ODNR Grand River steelhead map (PDF) also marks the Fairport Harbor short pier, Mason's Landing, Hogback Ridge and Painesville City Park.
Stocking
The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocks the Grand River every spring with yearling steelhead, which spend time in Lake Erie before coming back to the river as adults. Strains stocked include Little Manistee River and Shasta.
| Spring | Steelhead stocked | Average length |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80,020 | 7.1 in |
| 2024 | 79,999 | 6.2 in |
| 2023 | 96,610 | 6.9 in |
| 2022 | 90,169 | 7.1 in |
| 2021 | 102,114 | 7.6 in |
Source: ODNR, Ohio Steelhead Stockings 2021–2025 (PDF). ODNR describes the figures as approximate.
Common questions
When does the steelhead run start on the Grand River?
According to Perfect Fly, steelhead can start entering the Grand at the beginning of October, and the season runs into May. Fall rain that raises and cools the river brings fish in. Perfect Fly: Grand River.
What flow is best for steelhead on the Grand River?
DIY Fly Fishing says the Grand fishes best between about 250 and 450 cfs on the USGS gauge near Painesville (04212100). This page shows that range on the chart and compares today's flow with what's normal for the date. DIY Fly Fishing: Grand River.
How long does the Grand River take to clear after rain?
DIY Fly Fishing calls the Grand the slowest of Ohio's steelhead rivers to clear, usually a week or more after a big rain. The flow can drop back into range before the water clears.
Where can I fish for steelhead on the Grand River?
Public access between Fairport Harbor and Harpersfield Dam is mostly in Lake Metroparks parks: Grand River Landing, Beaty Landing, Helen Hazen Wyman, Indian Point, Hidden Valley and Riverview. Harpersfield Covered Bridge Metropark sits at the dam. Much of the bank is private, so stay on park land or ask permission.
How far up the Grand River do steelhead go?
Up to Harpersfield Dam near Geneva in Ashtabula County. The fish can't pass the dam, and ODNR's steelhead map ends there.
Is there a water temperature reading for the Grand River?
The Painesville gauge has a temperature sensor, but it doesn't always report reliably. When it's down, or has only just come back and hasn't yet reported steadily for two days, this page shows "Not available" rather than a number that might be wrong.
What is the steelhead limit on the Grand 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 Grand River. Check the current rules before you go. Ohio rule 1501:31-13-08.