Lake Erie Fishing Report: Walleye, Perch, and Smallmouth Action Heats Up

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake Erie and Detroit fishing report for March 17, 2025. Let's dive right in! The weather's looking decent today with partly cloudy skies and temps in the mid-50s. We've got light southwest winds around 10 mph. Sunrise was at 7:32 AM and sunset will be at 7:46 PM. Water levels are pretty stable, but keep an eye on those wind directions as they can affect water movement. Walleye action has been heating up as we get closer to the spring spawning run. Anglers are reporting solid catches in 15-25 feet of water, with fish averaging 20-24 inches. The best bite has been in the western basin of Lake Erie and the mouth of the Detroit River. Jigging with minnows or plastic swimbaits has been the ticket. Purple and gold Bandits or Reef Runners are also producing well. Yellow perch fishing has been hit or miss, but some decent schools have been found in 30-35 feet of water. Spreader rigs tipped with emerald shiners are your best bet. We've seen some jumbo perch over 12 inches, so it's worth putting in the time. Smallmouth bass fishing is starting to pick up too. Drop shots with goby imitations or tube jigs in green pumpkin have been productive. A few trophy smallies over 5 pounds were caught this past week. For you shore anglers, try casting from the East 55th Street pier in Cleveland or Edgewater Park. These spots have been producing some nice walleye in the evenings. Hot spots to check out: The area around Pelee Island for walleye, and the rocky areas off Kelleys Island for smallmouth. In the Detroit River, focus on the lower portion near Lake Erie. Remember, water temps are still chilly, so dress warm and always wear your life jacket. Tight lines, everyone! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.