Lake Erie Fishing Report: Walleye, Perch, and Steelhead Bites Heating Up on Cleveland's Shores

This is Artificial Lure with your November 20, 2025 Lake Erie fishing report for Cleveland and surrounding waters. Weather this morning is downright forgiving, with southeast winds staying below 10 knots and waves topping out at a mellow 1 foot or less, great for both shore and open boat anglers. The forecast from the National Weather Service says winds will shift south and stay light through the day, with water temps holding near 48°F off Cleveland. With overcast skies in the mix, expect fish to be more active during peak bite windows, especially at dawn and dusk. Sunrise hit at 7:21 AM and sunset comes at 5:01 PM. For those who base their game off lunar movement, the moon’s waxing crescent phase favors bite activity near major times: best action this morning landed between 3:51 and 5:51 AM, and repeats in the late afternoon from 4:15 to 6:15 PM, according to FishingReminder. Recent days around the Cleveland harbor and outer breakwalls have seen steady late-fall action. Walleye remain the king species, picked off by trolling crankbaits in the 30–40 feet zone. Early risers working the water with Bandits and Gold Rotten Spinfish trolling plugs, especially with UV scent or bright patterns, are landing solid stringers of ‘eyes—many boats reporting 10 to 20 decent fish per trip, size ramping from 16" up to a few healthy 25-inchers. Some folks flatlining Rapalas at dusk have scored bonus fish after dark. Yellow perch are spotty but showing up in traditional spots, namely East 55th Street Marina and the Turning Basin, with catches of 10–20 thicker perch per outing on small emerald shiners fished near bottom. Steelhead are moving in and being caught off the mouth of the Cuyahoga and Whiskey Island; the bite is best on minnows, spawn sacks, and 1/8 oz pink jigs tipped with maggots. For bass chasers, smallmouth are still on feed in rocky pockets. Cole Floyd-style flipping (as detailed on Major League Fishing) with creature baits or tubes is working, but blade baits and deep-diving cranks are turning up more bites as water cools. Hotspots for Cleveland anglers include: - **Edgewater Park Marina**: Reliable for walleye and perch, shore and boat. - **Whiskey Island**: Current breaks stacked with steelhead and late smallmouth. - **Perkins Beach**: Good early and late for bass and migrating steelhead. Best lures lately for walleye are Purple Bandit crankbaits, Gold Rotten Spinfish trolling plugs, and Husky Jerks. Live bait—especially emerald shiners—tops perch and steelhead. For bass, natural-color tubes and drop shots with finesse worms still excel. Local tackle shops like Erie Bait & Tackle are reporting high demand for big-lipped crankbaits, trolling plugs, egg sacks, and maggots. Many anglers are prepping for the upcoming ice season, but be cautious—early ice can be unpredictable. Before heading out, double-check park closures or access via Cleveland Metroparks, especially toward South Chagrin and the Canal Reservation. Some areas may have partial This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.