Late Fall Fishing on Lake Erie & the Detroit River

Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Erie/Detroit fishing report for Thursday, November 13, 2025. It’s late fall in the Motor City, and the morning started crisp and blustery. Sunrise hit at 7:15 AM, with sunset coming around 5:13 PM—so plan those trips for max daylight, especially with the colder temps and early dusk. Weather’s a big factor today. National Weather Service reports strong west winds—15 to 25 knots—putting a chop on the lake. Nearshore, you’re looking at waves 2 to 5 feet, and further out it’s rough, 7 to 10 feet, with a Small Craft Advisory still active through Thursday. Water temps are chilly: 46°F off Toledo, 52°F off Cleveland, and 50°F off Erie. The cold front moving through will slow fish metabolism, so target midday warm-ups for action. Fish activity has dropped off a bit with the conditions, but Lake Erie and Detroit River are still kicking up solid fall numbers. Walleye are staging for their winter runs—local bait shops report steady catches, especially by drift anglers in 14-20 feet of water. Best baits lately: jigging Rapalas, blade baits, and the classic chartreuse twister tail. Fishing Addiction Gear notes that stinger hooks are essential for walleye—those short-striking fish need the backup steel, especially now when bites are subtle. Yellow perch are hanging tight near the weed beds and drop-offs. The bite’s not hot, but patient anglers are getting 8–12 per trip using emerald shiners on spreaders and crappie rigs. Try working slow—they’re sluggish after the cold snap. Smallmouth bass are still cruising rocky shorelines and deeper ledges, especially near the mouth of the Detroit River. GreatLakesBass.com locals report that tubes (green pumpkin or smoke colors) and drop-shot rigs rigged with minnow-style plastics are turning bass right up until freeze-up. If it’s sunny, fish the south-facing banks where water warms quickest. Your Lake Erie hotspots today: - **Mouth of the Detroit River:** Massive grass flats—recent tournaments saw heavy bags from here, especially bass and walleye after windy fronts. - **Milliken State Park shoreline:** Sheltered from wind, consistent perch and occasional bass. - **Fermi Power Plant outflow:** Water’s a tad warmer—mixed catches possible, especially when other areas lock up. Stormwater runoff is an issue in Detroit right now, with leaves and organic debris washing into the lake, creating low-oxygen “fish kill” risk. Keep an eye out for floating mats and avoid fishing in heavily debris-choked stretches after rain, per advice from local park interpreters. No tidal swings here, but watch for fluctuations in water levels after heavy winds. Low water advisories were around this morning but have lifted. Always check before launching—some ramps may be tricky with the wind driving water levels down. Sum up your tackle box for this week: - Blade baits (silver, gold) - Jigging Rapalas - Chartreuse twister tails - Emerald shiners - Tubes & drop-shot plastics - Stinger hooks for walley This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.