Late December Walleye and Perch on Lake Erie and Detroit River

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report. We’re sliding into the back end of December and winter’s finally putting its stamp on western Lake Erie and the Detroit River. The National Weather Service out of Cleveland is calling for a strong system with a gale watch on Erie, with west winds pushing 25–35 knots and waves building 4–7 feet offshore. Near the mouth of the Detroit River that means a nasty chop, bitter wind, and very limited safe-boat windows. Water temps on the west end are hovering in the low to mid‑30s, so any mistake is life-threatening. Detroit doesn’t see true tides, just wind‑driven seiches. With this strong west wind pattern, expect water levels to get pushed down on the western shore and current to rip harder in the Detroit River funnels. Sunrise is right around 8 AM, with sunset just after 5 PM, so you’ve got a short light window. The bite has been best at first light and again in that last hour before dark when the traffic dies and the fish slide shallower. According to the recent Lake Erie, Detroit Fishing Report podcast on Spreaker, the late‑December pattern has locked in: walleye are still the headliners, with good numbers of eater‑size fish and the occasional big hen coming from the deeper edges off Bolles Harbor and Brest Bay when the lake is calm enough to sneak out. Anglers have also been picking at perch on the Michigan side when they can find a clean pod, plus a few bonus smallmouth hanging tight to rock and shipping‑channel edges. On the Detroit River itself, jig anglers are still boating walleye in the shipping channel and along the American side breaks when the flow isn’t insane. Most guys are reporting a modest but steady bite – not lights‑out limits every trip, but enough fish to keep you honest if you stay on the breaklines and watch your boat control. Best producers right now: - **Lures:** – 1/2 to 3/4‑ounce jig heads in chartreuse, fire‑tiger, and glow, tipped with 3–4" paddletails or flukes in white, pearl, and natural shiner. – Blade baits in gold, silver, and perch patterns for vertical work in 18–30 feet when the current allows. – For those rare calm Erie windows, deep‑diving crankbaits in purple, clown, and blue chrome trolled low and slow are still taking suspended walleye. - **Bait:** – Emerald shiners on a simple perch rig or drop‑shot for perch and bonus walleye. – Jig and minnow for a more subtle cold‑water walleye presentation when plastics get too stiff. Couple of local hot spots to circle: - **Sterling State Park / Brest Bay:** When the wind lays down, the deeper breaks off the park and out into Brest Bay have been giving up mixed bags of walleye and perch to jiggers and the few trollers still grinding. - **Trenton Channel on the Detroit River:** Classic winter drift lines along the edge of the shipping channel are still holding walleye. Focus on inside turns, current seams, and any little breaks that slow that heavy flow. Safety note: wit This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.