Early Summer Walleye and Smallmouth on Lake Erie and the Detroit River

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report. We’re sitting under a classic early‑summer pattern. Around Detroit and the lower Detroit River into western Lake Erie, expect light southwest breeze early, picking up a bit by afternoon, with temps climbing through the 60s into the 70s. Skies are partly cloudy with a chance of a light shower sliding through later, but nothing that should chase you off the water if you’re dressed for it. Sunrise comes just after 5:55 a.m., with sunset a little after 9:10 p.m., so you’ve got a long, fishable day to work those low‑light windows. No real tide to speak of on Erie, but water levels and current are the story. River flow is moderate, with a good push of current in the main channel and softer seams along the edges and behind islands. That moving water is keeping the bite honest: fish are set up on current breaks, drops, and rock piles, not wandering aimlessly. Walleye action has been solid. Anglers running the Detroit River and the mouth of the lake have been boxing decent numbers of eaters, with a few bigger fish mixed in. Best bet has been vertical jigging in 16–32 feet, working edges and holes. Think 1/2 to 3/4 oz jigs tipped with emerald shiners or soft plastics in chartreuse, purple, or motor oil. Trolling out on the lake, stickbaits and harnesses behind inline weights are still pulling fish, especially in 18–28 feet off the points and reefs. Smallmouth bass are waking up nicely on rock and rubble. Fish in the 2–4 pound class are showing up around breaks, humps, and the shipping channel edges. Tubes in green pumpkin, goby patterns, and dark melon are doing work, along with drop‑shot minnows and jerkbaits. On the live bait side, fatheads and leeches are steady producers when the artificial bite cools. Yellow perch reports are a bit spotty but improving. Look for scattered pods in 20–30 feet around transitions from mud to rock. Perch rigs with emerald shiners just off bottom are the ticket. You may have to do some searching, but once you find a school you can put a nice mess together. For lures today, I’d lean into: - 1/2–3/4 oz jig heads with bright plastics for walleye in the river. - Color‑changing crankbaits and stickbaits, natural hues in clearer water, firetiger and clown when it muddies. - Tubes, Ned rigs, and drop‑shot setups for smallmouth. - Simple spreader rigs with shiners for perch. Two hot spots to circle: - The Trenton Channel: classic Detroit River structure, current seams, and shipping channel edges holding walleye and smallies. Work your jigs straight up and down, stay vertical, and follow the contour lines. - The St. Clair–Detroit River mouth area and out toward the Banana Dike and Brest Bay: great early‑season walleye trolling and smallmouth structure on rock and shoals. Watch your graph and work those breaklines. Fish activity should peak early and late with that long daylight window. Hit the morning before the sun gets high, then again in the evening when the wind lays and the surface cools off. Midday, slow down, fish a bit deeper, and let the current do some of the work. That’s your Lake Erie–Detroit rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn