Last 14 days
Daily flow table
| Date | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 13 | 25.2 | 30.6 | 38.2 |
| Mon, Oct 12 | 9.0 | 12.5 | 38.2 |
| Sun, Oct 11 | 5.9 | 8.3 | 11.0 |
| Sat, Oct 10 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 7.4 |
| Fri, Oct 9 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 7.9 |
| Thu, Oct 8 | 7.9 | 8.9 | 10.3 |
| Wed, Oct 7 | 10.3 | 11.7 | 13.2 |
| Tue, Oct 6 | 9.0 | 9.5 | 11.0 |
| Mon, Oct 5 | 9.0 | 9.7 | 10.3 |
| Sun, Oct 4 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 14.8 |
| Sat, Oct 3 | 14.0 | 15.0 | 16.6 |
| Fri, Oct 2 | 9.0 | 14.4 | 19.6 |
| Thu, Oct 1 | 9.6 | 9.9 | 10.3 |
| Wed, Sep 30 | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.7 |
| Tue, Sep 29 | 11.7 | 12.0 | 12.4 |
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 Vermilion gets there.
- A home-screen widget
See the Vermilion'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
According to DIY Fly Fishing, spring-run Little Manistee strain steelhead start entering the Vermilion in late November and stay until late April or early May, when they drop back to the lake. The same source notes there's no industry along its banks.
The Vermilion is a flashy river: it can run very low between storms and come up fast after rain. DIY Fly Fishing says it usually takes 3–5 days to return to normal after a rain event. ODNR's steelhead map runs from the municipal boat ramp in Vermilion up to the dam at Wakeman.
| Date | Low year (25%) | Median | High year (75%) | Median vs. range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15 | 4 | 12 | 32 | Below |
| Nov 1 | 7 | 18 | 127 | Below |
| Nov 15 | 15 | 43 | 127 | Below |
| Dec 1 | 37 | 73 | 243 | Below |
| Dec 15 | 54 | 109 | 315 | Inside |
| Jan 15 | 51 | 115 | 344 | Inside |
| Feb 15 | 80 | 165 | 450 | Inside |
| Mar 15 | 163 | 312 | 1,480 | Above |
| Apr 15 | 99 | 188 | 487 | Inside |
| May 15 | 56 | 166 | 429 | Inside |
Access and parking
ODNR's steelhead map marks eight public areas on the Vermilion. Two are Lorain County Metro Parks with addresses on the park's own pages; the rest are listed by name below.
- Mill Hollow–Bacon Woods (Vermilion River Reservation)51211 North Ridge Rd., Vermilion, OH 44089
Lorain County Metro Parks reservation on the river; ODNR lists both Mill Hollow and Bacon Woods as steelhead areas. Source: Lorain County Metro Parks
- Schoepfle Garden11106 Market St., Wakeman, OH 44889
Lorain County Metro Parks garden beside the river. The park bans fishing and wading in its garden ponds, not the river. Source: Lorain County Metro Parks
ODNR's map also marks the Vermilion municipal boat ramp, Jerusalem Road access, Peasley Road, Gore Orphanage Road and Wakeman Dam. See the ODNR Vermilion River steelhead map (PDF).
Stocking
The Ohio Division of Wildlife stocks the Vermilion River every spring with yearling steelhead, which spend time in Lake Erie before coming back to the river as adults.
| Spring | Steelhead stocked |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 50,021 |
| 2024 | 50,024 |
| 2023 | 55,000 |
| 2022 | 58,954 |
| 2021 | 65,453 |
Source: ODNR, Ohio Steelhead Stockings 2021–2025 (PDF). ODNR describes the figures as approximate.
Common questions
When do steelhead run in the Vermilion River?
DIY Fly Fishing says spring-run steelhead enter the Vermilion in late November and stay until late April or early May.
What flow is best for steelhead on the Vermilion River?
DIY Fly Fishing says the Vermilion fishes best between about 100 and 250 cfs on the USGS gauge near Vermilion (04199500).
How long does the Vermilion take to clear after rain?
About 3–5 days to return to normal flow after a rain event, according to DIY Fly Fishing.
Where can I fish for steelhead on the Vermilion River?
ODNR marks eight public areas, from the municipal boat ramp in Vermilion up to Wakeman Dam, including Lorain County Metro Parks' Mill Hollow–Bacon Woods and Schoepfle Garden.
What is the steelhead limit on the Vermilion 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. Check the current rules before you go. Ohio rule 1501:31-13-08.