Cleveland Fall Fishing Forecast: Perch, Walleye, and Steelhead on the Menu

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure reporting in for Thursday, October 23rd, 2025, bringing you the latest on Lake Erie fishing in and around Cleveland. Let’s start with the weather and water conditions. According to the National Weather Service Cleveland, we’ve got a strong westerly wind on tap today, running 15 to 25 knots with gusts pushing even higher at times. Waves early on will be in the three to six foot range, occasionally peaking around seven, but they’ll settle to two to four feet as the day moves on. Water temperature off Cleveland sits right at 64 degrees—ideal for that late fall bite. There’s a chance of showers this morning tapering off into the afternoon, and a low water advisory is in effect until 11 PM, so pay close attention if you’re running your boat near the shoreline or shallows. Dawn broke at 7:45 AM, and sunset’s expected at 6:32 PM—plenty of daylight for working those fall patterns. On the fish activity front, things are looking solid for yellow perch, which are coming in strong east of Sterling State Park in about 20 feet of water. Up North Voice is reporting that minnows fished on perch rigs have been the ticket, so if perch is your target, stock up heavy and fish tight to bottom. Walleye are still hitting on the western and central basins, and experienced locals have been scoring using Z-Man Swag LT swimbaits, especially low and slow retrieves as the water cools. Steelhead have begun to nose in along the tributaries—they’re scattered but slugging swimbaits and maggots under floats is drawing strikes. Looking at what’s been caught, the perch bite’s been the most reliable—limits are coming in for anglers sticking east of the city and near the mouth of the Cuyahoga. Walleye are scattered, but if you’re trolling deep diving crankbaits in the evenings or dawn hours, expect a few solid eaters. Steelhead have been less predictable with the rougher water, but patient anglers working the rocky mouths and breakwalls have chalked up some success. Best lures right now: for walleye, go with silver or metal flake Dead Eye lures—local angler Harris notes those transparent candy colors are crafted for Erie’s chop and light. Swimbaits with some flash, deep diving bandit cranks, and classic perch rigs tipped with lively emerald shiners are putting fish in the bucket. For steelhead, smaller spoons and maggot-tipped jigs fished beneath floats are landing the slabs. A hot spot you shouldn’t overlook today is the Cleveland Harbor breakwall—especially on the east side where structure meets deeper water. The mouth of the Rocky River is also producing, with perch and the occasional bonus smallmouth for anglers willing to switch it up. If you’re sticking inshore, Edgewater Park’s pier and the nearby marina fingers have seen steady perch action. Given today’s gale warnings and low water, remember—play it safe, use extra caution on those launches and keep an eye on your depth finder for those abnormally low shoals. The wind’s up,