Cleveland Lakeshore Fishing Report: Walleye Hot, Perch Pick Up, Smallies Biting - Sept 20, 2025

Good morning from the Cleveland lakeshore—Artificial Lure here with your Lake Erie fishing report for Saturday, September 20, 2025. Early risers hit the docks under mostly clear skies this morning, with sunrise at 7:14 a.m., and locals are already taking advantage of moderate temps in the upper 60s, though it’s expected to climb to the low 70s by midday. Waves are about 1 to 3 feet now, but if you’re planning a run past five miles offshore, keep an eye out: east winds will pick up to 15–20 knots by afternoon, and a Small Craft Advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. into early Sunday, with waves building to 3–6 feet. Water temp off Cleveland sits steady at a near-perfect 70 degrees—the fish and we can’t ask for much better, at least for another week or two, before that lake chill hits. Sunset tonight is at 7:29 p.m. Now, let’s talk fish. According to the Lake Erie Cleveland Daily Fishing Report, the walleye action has been nothing short of hot, especially from Gordon Park heading east to Wildwood and Euclid. Most boats are reporting quick limits, with the best catches coming at 32 to 45 feet, where suspended schools are holding. Several boats limited out with six walleye per person, many in the 17–22 inch range. It’s been a mix of trolling deep-diving crankbaits—Bandits in purple or chrome blue have been reliable—and harnesses tipped with nightcrawler, pulled behind 3/4 ounce bottom bouncers or inline weights. If you’re tossing blade baits, go natural: silver or gold patterns are consistent, especially during the low-light bite just after sunrise and before sunset. Perch numbers are picking up, and some solid jumbo perch have been caught off the Glen Cove and Edgewater reefs. Slip bobber rigs with emerald shiners at 20–25 feet are producing the best. Don't overlook a bright-colored jig—chartreuse and orange stand out in the mild September stain. A vertical jig tipped with minnow or worm under the boat can be the ticket if the fish turn finicky. Steelhead action is just starting up, with a few silvery fish staged outside the Rocky and Chagrin river mouths, waiting on a good rain to push into the tributaries. Until then, try trolling small spoons in blue/silver or drifting live shiners in the harbor edges; reports say the first push of chrome is mixing in with resident bass. Speaking of bass, smallmouth fishing’s been strong with bronzebacks up to 4 pounds biting on tubes, Ned rigs, and dropshot rigs tipped with soft plastics around breakwalls, especially near East 72nd St. Hot spots this week have included the E. 55th Street Marina rock pile and the riprap near the mouth of the Cuyahoga, where smallies are chasing shad and gobies. Try a ¼ oz football jig if they’re locked down close to structure. Don’t forget, a little rain in the forecast—and more on the way Sunday—could set off the fall steelhead run and kick bass activity up another notch by flushing out the shallows. But for now, conditions are as stable as you’ll see in transition season. Fo This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.