Late Fall Frenzy - Lake Erie-Detroit Fishing Report 10/26/25

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report for Sunday, October 26, 2025. Lake Erie and the Detroit River are rolling into late fall and the fishing is still firing on all cylinders. Sunrise hit at 7:53 AM and sunset will fall at 6:38 PM, giving you that classic, crisp autumn daylight window. The weather’s settled into typical late October form—right now we’ve got mostly cloudy skies, temps in the low 50s, and a light southwest wind at about 8 knots according to NOAA’s Marblehead dashboard. No real tidal movement to report here; Lake Erie’s water levels are more wind-driven than tidal, but expect slightly elevated flows at the river mouths after yesterday’s rain. Fish activity has been strong, especially for walleye and smallmouth. This past week saw a steady bite, with anglers reporting limits of walleye averaging 18 to 22 inches just outside the River Raisin mouth and along the reefs near Point Mouillee. Jigging with blade baits, like the classic Heddon Sonar or silver jigging spoons, accounted for big numbers. A shift toward brighter chartreuse and firetiger patterns seems to pay off on overcast days like today. Yellow perch action moved a little deeper, with the best hauls coming from 24–28 feet off Brest Bay and around the dumping grounds. Minnow rigs on spreaders or slip bobbers are still the go-to. There have been several “two-man limit” stories out of the Metropark pier this weekend, with perch running a nice ten to twelve inches. Don’t overlook using live emerald shiners for bait; they’re out-producing soft plastics by a mile right now. Smallmouth bass are hot on the Detroit River edges and up into the Trenton Channel, feeding up hard before winter. Ned rigs with green pumpkin Z-Man TRDs and dropshotting Gulp! Goby baits around rock piles are drawing big strikes. A few folks are still working spinnerbaits along riprap with success, especially where the water’s warmer near discharge points. According to Major League Fishing’s regional breakdown, Detroit River tournaments lately have reinforced that smallmouth are the main show, but there are still beefy largemouth lurking in the back bays and creeks—try flipping jigs up tight to dying weeds if you want to mix it up. Regulations-wise, don’t forget that Lake Erie around Detroit is still closed for spearing northern pike, walleye, and lake trout, so it’s hook-and-line only for those. But bowfin, bullhead, and catfish are open year-round if you want to have some fun with alternative gear per the latest State Fisheries Order. If you want the inside edge on hot spots, here’s what’s been working: - Metropark Fishing Pier and the mouth of the Huron River for perch and walleye. - Walleye Alley just east of Pointe Mouillee where the current rolls off the rock reefs. - Trenton Channel—look for smallmouth staging on rocky flats. Early morning or right before dusk has been prime. A quick word on conditions: Lake St. Clair still shows some patchy brown algae, but it’s not This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.