Lake Erie and Detroit Fishing Report: Walleye, Perch, and Smallies Heating Up for Spring

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Erie and Detroit fishing report for March 28, 2025. We're looking at a partly cloudy day with temps around 45°F and light winds out of the southwest. Sunrise was at 7:15 AM and sunset will be at 7:52 PM. Tide-wise, we've got a high tide at 11:23 AM and a low tide at 5:47 PM. The fishing has been heating up lately as we transition into spring. Walleye and yellow perch have been the stars of the show, with some nice catches reported in the western basin. Anglers are having success trolling with crawler harnesses and deep-diving crankbaits for walleye, while perch are biting on minnows and small jigs tipped with emerald shiners. Speaking of walleye, the Michigan DNR just set the daily limit at 6 fish per angler for the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and Lake Erie. That's good news for us! Smallmouth bass fishing has also been picking up, especially around rocky areas and drop-offs. Tube jigs, drop-shot rigs with goby imitations, and jerkbaits have all been producing. Some anglers have been landing trophy smallies over 5 pounds recently. For you catfish enthusiasts, some nice channel cats have been coming out of the Detroit River. Cut bait and nightcrawlers are your best bets. As for lures, you can't go wrong with a Rapala Jigging Rap or Berkley Flicker Minnow for walleye. For smallmouth, the Poor Boys Erie Darter on a drop shot rig is always a good bet. Don't forget to tip your jigs with some Gulp Alive minnows for extra scent. Hot spots to check out today include the mouth of the Detroit River near Lake Erie, which has been producing well. Also, give the area around Pelee Island a try for some good walleye action. For smallmouth, the rocky areas off Kelleys Island have been firing. Water clarity is still a bit stained from recent rains, so bright colors and scented baits are your friends today. The water temp is sitting around 42°F, so the fish might be a tad sluggish - slow down your presentations and be patient. Remember to dress in layers and bring your rain gear just in case. And don't forget to pick up some emerald shiners from your local bait shop – they've been the ticket lately. Tight lines, everyone! This is Artificial Lure, signing off until next time. Stay safe out there and enjoy the start of the spring fishing season! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.