Lake Erie, Cleveland Fishing Report Today

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie Cleveland fishing report for Sunday, November 9, 2025.

We woke up to a real November blow this morning—National Weather Service Cleveland reports strong northeast winds 15 to 25 knots, swinging north through the day, with waves 5 to 8 feet and a small craft advisory active right now. Rain dominates, turning to snow as the day goes on, and these conditions are expected to stick around into Tuesday. Water temperature off Cleveland is holding in the mid-50s, around 55 degrees, but with this cold snap, expect that to drop quickly. Sunrise was at 7:08 a.m., and sunset comes early now at 5:16 p.m.

Weatherwise, we’re locked in a wintry blast. Ohio news outlets say the region is bracing for periods of heavy lake effect snow from late Sunday into Tuesday, with temps plunging and wind chills knocking the bite out of the air. Expect snow squalls, especially along the shoreline and out towards the east. Layer up, keep an eye on the radar, and most importantly, if you’re running a small boat, today’s not your day—things are downright dangerous out there right now according to the National Weather Service marine advisories.

As for fish activity, if you can find a safe window, it’s prime late fall walleye and steelhead action in the nearshore and river mouths. Local guides and forums, like The Fishing Foundation and LakeErieUnited, report solid walleye hauls earlier in the week, with fish stacked in 18 to 28 feet off east Cleveland and making moves into the Cuyahoga River and Rocky River mouths. Most ‘eyes are running 16–23 inches, with a few pushing the 8–10 pound mark. Nighttime shore anglers have been producing well too, using stickbaits and jerkbaits—the classic Rapala Husky Jerk, Smithwick Rogues, and Bandits in gold, firetiger, and purple patterns. With the murky water stirring up, add a rattle and slow-roll those retrieves.

Steelhead are in—recent catches of chromers up to 27 inches are coming from the Rocky and Chagrin, especially as the temps tumble. Chartreuse spawn sacs under floats and small jigs tipped with waxworms or gulp minnows have been hot. Focus efforts near deeper pools and creek mouths as rain and snow bring fresh runs.

Perch bites have tapered with the wave action, but folks managed nice slabs earlier in the week by the Edgewater breakwall and off the E72nd Street marina. Deadstick a minnow on a crappie rig, drop to the bottom, and hold on.

For those chasing bass, the bite is tough in these temps, but a slow finesse approach—think Ned rigs, tube jigs, and blade baits—can still pick up lethargic smallmouth in rocky shallows on calm days.

Hot spots to target when conditions calm down:

- The E55th and E72nd public access piers: great for both walleye and steelhead after dark or during light wind windows.

- The mouth of Rocky River for steelhead runs, especially after snowmelt.

- The nearshore reefs off Wildwood Park for late-run walleye.

Quick reminder: All anglers need to use caution—dre

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Good morning, fellow anglers—Artificial Lure here bringing you the Lake Erie and Cleveland fishing report for November 8, 2025.

Today’s weather is shaping up classic for late fall on Erie: right now, off Cleveland, the water sits at a cool 56 degrees according to the National Weather Service, and we’re looking at mostly overcast skies with a high in the upper 40s. That north wind we had overnight is tapering off, and for much of the day you’ll see 5 to 10 knots from the north-northeast and waves settling down, generally 1 to 3 feet, maybe even flattening out more in the afternoon. There might be some rain swinging in by mid-to-late afternoon. Sunrise this morning was at 7:05 a.m., and you can expect sunset at 5:13 p.m.

As far as tidal activity, Erie’s a basin lake so tides aren’t a factor, but that north and northeast wind will push some water out of harbors—watch for lower water levels on the shoreline and pier edges, especially if winds freshen up again, as posted on USHarbors.

The fall bite is on, and so are the big-fish opportunities. A lot of folks have been out east of Cleveland chasing walleye after dark, especially between East 72nd Street, Gordon Park, and all the way to Edgewater—The Fishing Foundation reports a surge in the night bite. Walleye are stacked shallow and hitting crankbaits, jerkbaits, and Husky Jerks, mostly in clown and purple patterns. Don’t overlook Bandit Walleye Deep Divers—they’ve been outproducing the rest for big fish.

Daytime, perch activity has perked up as temps have dropped. Most shore reports have hammers in 32 to 38 feet off the Cleveland crib and just west of Gordon Park. Best rigs continue to be drop shotting with emerald shiners, or classic two-hook crappie rigs—natural shad patterns are working great, but on these gloomy days, chartreuse or pink gets extra looks, according to FishGPT.

Smallmouth remain scattered but fat: deeper rock piles between 25-35 feet are holding fish, and Ned rigs or tube jigs brown/green flake get the nod. You might get a bonus steelhead near harbor mouths; try a chrome Little Cleo if you see them rolling.

For hot spots:

- **E. 72nd Street breakwalls (rockpiles and marina mouth):** Night walleye fishing is hot—twitch minnow-style crankbaits slow and steady.

- **Edgewater Park:** Perch holding deep; use drop-shot rigs baited with shiners or a 2 to 3 inch Gulp! minnow on days when live bait is in short supply.

- **Fairport Harbor:** If you’re looking for steelhead, toss spoons at the mouth early in the morning.

Top baits for the weekend:

- For walleye: Deep-diving crankbaits in purple or clown, and Husky Jerks or Smithwicks in metallic or firetiger.

- For perch: Emerald shiners, lake worms, small soft plastics in white, chartreuse, or even pink.

- For smallmouth: Ned rigs, tubes, and swimbaits in natural and green pumpkin patterns.

Safety tip: With waves still settling and water temps chilling, wear your PFD when you’re out, especially in the dark or if you’re fishing alon

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Artificial Lure here with your on-the-water fishing report for Cleveland and the western basin, right on Lake Erie, this Friday, November 7th, 2025.

First things first—let’s get a grip on today’s conditions. The sun rose at 6:59 AM and will dip at 5:16 PM, so there’s a tight window for prime action. The weather is brisk, with air temps this morning in the low 40s, warming just a touch, but stay layered up. According to the National Weather Service, we’re looking at a mix of clear skies and increasing clouds later, and Cleveland’s seeing winds out of the southwest, 10 to 20 knots. Waves are running 2 to 4 feet early, so small craft should use caution. The lake temperature off Cleveland is still holding at about 57 degrees, which is on the cool side but still pretty hot for late-season fishing. As we get into the weekend, a chance of lake-effect snow is coming in from Sunday night into Tuesday, so get out there before visibility and waves go sideways.

Tides aren’t a factor on Erie but low water advisories are posted today, so keep clear of the shallow cuts and rock piles, especially on the west end. Muddy, churned-up water after wind can trigger a walleye bite but will make perch more scattered.

Speaking of catch reports, Lake Erie anglers around the Cleveland area—especially off Edgewater and E. 72nd Street—are hauling in quality late-season walleyes. Multiple crews checked in this week with 4-6 fish limits, many over 25 inches, thanks in part to the Fall Brawl tournament heating up the night bite. Most productive have been crankbaits trolled at 1.2–1.8 mph after sunset. Local favorites right now are the Supernatural Big Baits Mattlock 10-12 and HÖWK Rocky Dentex TPE shallow divers, along with classic Bandits in purple clown and firetiger patterns. Early morning and dusk have produced the best action, with some big fish coming between midnight and 3 AM.

In perch news, the bite is fair to good but the fish have moved deeper. Target 35–44 feet just east of the breakwalls and around the Cleveland Crib. Minnows on drop-shot rigs are doing most of the work, but tipping small jigging spoons with emerald shiners will pull bonus slabs when they’re tight-lipped. Reports from local boats show perch limits, but more sorting is needed—expect a handful of jumbos per trip, mixed with runts.

The bass bite is slowing, but some nice smallmouth are still coming from rocky structure off Gordon Park and the harbor mouth, mostly on blade baits and soft plastic tube jigs.

Best baits for walleye right now: deep-diving crankbaits, Reef Runner 800s, and Bandits. Best colors: purple, chrome, and anything with a hint of glow if you’re trolling at night. For perch: emerald shiners, either live or salted. For bass: dark tube jigs and blade baits.

Couple of go-to hotspots this week:

- E. 72nd Street Wall: Walleyes are stacking up after dark, especially on windy nights. Cast or troll parallel to the breaks.

- Rocky River mouth: Good multi-species action, including bonus

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Good morning, anglers—this is Artificial Lure checking in with your November 6th Lake Erie and Cleveland fishing report.

Sunrise hit at 6:56 this morning, with sunset rolling in at 5:13 this evening. Get your casts in during that mid-morning to late afternoon sweet spot, but be aware: we’ve got a stiff breeze on the water today. According to the National Weather Service out of Cleveland, strong west winds of 20 to even 30 mph are expected, with gusts up to 50. There’s a Gale Warning east of Vermilion and Small Craft Advisories elsewhere, so if you’re heading out check your gear and expect big rollers—waves could push from 5 up to 9 feet this afternoon and tonight. Water temps off Cleveland are 57 degrees, turning brisk but still lively enough for late fall action.

Lake Erie doesn’t have a measurable tide, but wind-driven water movement is real today, so look for current breaks, points, and creek mouths as active ambush spots for fish.

Now to the bite: Recent catches in the Cleveland basin have been dominated by **walleye**, **yellow perch**, and late-season runs of **steelhead**, with a handful of **smallmouth bass** still showing up, especially close to rocky structure and deeper breaks. The nearshore and inshore rocks, Cleveland Harbor wall, and up the Cuyahoga River channel have produced solid fish for those brave enough to handle rough water.

For **walleye**, trolling and casting are both effective right now. The top baits remain crankbaits like Bandits and Smithwicks in chrome, purple, and chartreuse; don’t overlook deep-diving stickbaits as those fish push down with the cooling water. Blade baits and jigging spoons are also producing, especially when fish are pinned tight to bottom. Switching to hair jigs tipped with minnows works if fish get fussy.

Perch are stacking in 30-45 feet, especially off E. 72nd Street and the Cleveland Crib. Emerald shiners on crappie rigs or plain drop-shot rigs are the ticket. If you’re not finding a bite within fifteen minutes, don’t be afraid to move—these schools are on the roam.

Steelhead are showing up at river and harbor mouths, like Edgewater Park and the Rocky River. Try Little Cleos, spawn bags under floats, or minnow imitations, especially when the wind pushes warmer surface water and bait into the tributary mouths.

Smallmouth are holding along rocky points and reefs in 15-25 feet. Drop-shot rigs with a Strike King Dream Shot, Gulp Minnows, or tubes in goby colors have been the go-to. Calm, sunny days help smallies bite, but if the waves calm just a touch and the sun peeks out, it can turn on quick.

Two hot spots worth your time today:

- **Cleveland Harbor Wall and E. 72nd Street Access**: Protected from some wind, with structure for late-season walleye, perch, and steelhead.

- **Lorain Breakwall and Black River Mouth**: Good for mixed bag action and offers some lee if the wind’s howling.

With falling barometer and heavy winds, fish are active but hugging cover—precision and patience are key

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Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Erie, Cleveland fishing report for Wednesday, November 5th, 2025. It’s a classic autumn day on the North Coast—chilly sunshine, brisk air, and the lake serving up just enough chop to remind you it’s November. Sunrise came at 7:58 AM and we’ll fish daylight till a 6:17 PM sunset, so there’s a solid window before that next cold front rolls in.

Right now, weather is holding steady: mostly sunny skies, highs topping out in the mid-50s, and southwest winds running 5–10 knots. The open water temp off Cleveland is a cool 57 degrees according to NOAA, perfect to keep all our favorite species pushing shallow and feeding up. Waves are mild today, holding around 1–3 feet according to the National Weather Service and local marina forecasts, but don’t let your guard down—a stronger front is due later in the week, so now’s your shot for some calmer fishing before the winds start howling again.

Tide swings don’t matter much on Erie, but pay close attention to wind-driven currents near the harbor mouths and rocky points. That’s the secret sauce for active fish—it turns regular spots into feeding frenzies, so follow the southwesterly flow.

Steelhead are leading off right now. The big silvers are piling into the river mouths—places like the Rocky and Chagrin—and staging close to shore. At first light and dusk, folks are swinging Little Cleo spoons, bright spawn sacs, and waxworm-tipped jigs. According to WeatherWorld and multiple reports, the most consistent action is on ¼ oz spoons and pink or chartreuse sacs drifted through slight current seams. The morning bite is hot, especially where creek outflows meet the lake.

Walleye fishing has really ramped up too. The water temp drop flipped the switch, and folks trolling deep-diving crankbaits like the Rapala Husky Jerk and Bandit Deep Divers in firetiger or purple are putting lots of eaters in the box. For night owls, casting blade baits from the Edgewater and E55th breakwalls is a Cleveland classic and has been putting out three-to-six pounders steady, especially as dusk hits. Some crews are getting their six fish limits quick if they work the current seams in 40–50 feet of water.

Don’t sleep on yellow perch! The late fall bite is on strong. Boats working just off Rocky River and towards Edgewater in 35–45 feet are icing down coolers full of “jumbos,” mostly on live emerald shiners fished on spreaders, or with a chartreuse bead for the finicky ones.

Smallmouth bass are getting sluggish but still catchable on Ned rigs and tubes in green pumpkin. Key targets: marina docks, riprap, and wood cover tight to shore. If you spot baitfish dimpling the surface, a soft paddle-tail swimbait bounced just above bottom can fool those last stubborn bronzebacks.

Hot spots for today:

- East 55th Street Marina: Steady steelhead and bonus walleye at dusk.

- Edgewater Park west breakwall: Perch and occasional walleye, prime for bass and steelhead at sunrise and sunset.

- Rocky River mout

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Lake Erie’s fall bite is on, but so’s the November wind. This is Artificial Lure with your November 4 Cleveland Lake Erie report.

Sunrise hit us at 6:58 AM, with sunset tonight rolling in at 5:19 PM. Skies are partly to mostly sunny, with temps climbing into the low 50s by afternoon—gorgeous for early November. A strong westerly wind settled overnight, dropping to 10–15 knots by midday, but hang onto your hats: those southwest winds ramp again this evening, pushing waves from a calm 1–3 feet up to 4 feet after dusk. Small craft advisories are up for good reason. Looking ahead, another cold front hits tomorrow, bringing more stiff wind, colder air, and a shot of rain—classic late fall action according to the National Weather Service Marine Forecast and local Cleveland weather updates.

If you’re planning your trip, stick close to the Cleveland shorelines early. Wave heights should be fishable nearshore this morning before afternoon rollers grow. Outflows and rivers remain safer bets if wind kicks up on the open lake. The Cleveland Bulkhead, especially around Edgewater Park, and the mouths of Euclid Creek and the Rocky River are solid hot spots. Good reports keep coming from Wildwood, too, where the breakwall deflects some chop.

Walleye action has been steady. The night bite is still solid off E. 72nd, Edgewater, and Rocky River, with several anglers pulling limits trolling Reef Runners and P10s, especially in purples and chartreuse. Shore casters have found success with Husky Jerks and Bandits, especially black chrome and clown colors. A few boats are staying tight to shore: blade baits like Vib-E or Silver Buddy jigged on bottom have been hot, and jigging Rapalas in blue/silver trigger strikes. If you’re casting from the bank, weightless swimbaits or paddle tails in minnow patterns are doing damage at dusk and after dark. Planer boards let you cover more water if you can get out safely, with crawler harnesses still working on calmer pockets where perch chase bait.

Speaking of perch, action’s been scattered but picking up near the mouth of the Cuyahoga and at the Cleveland Crib. A spreader rig tipped with emerald shiners is always a local staple. Look for schools staging just outside 20 to 30 feet—pay attention to your electronics.

Smallmouth bass remain active as waters cool. Focus on rocky structure off the east breakwall or around Bratenahl. Jigs with green pumpkin tubes, Ned rigs, or drop-shot rigs still pick up fish; the classic dark melon tubes never fail around here. According to local tackle shops, blade baits and smaller crankbaits—especially firetiger or craw—are reliable as bass bulk up for winter.

Steelhead trout continue entering local streams with every cold snap. Anglers have been getting them on spawn sacs, minnows, and pink or chartreuse paddle tails in the Rocky and Chagrin. If you fly fish, egg patterns and white woolly buggers are best, especially mid-morning once water clarity improves. Try the lower Rocky River and Eucli

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Erie fishing report for Cleveland and surrounds on this crisp Monday, November 3, 2025.

Early risers got a treat with **sunrise at 7:58 AM** and anglers can fish until **sunset at 6:17 PM**. The weather is a gift for November—mostly sunny skies, a high in the mid-50s, calm winds out of the southwest at 5 to 10 knots, and **Lake Erie waves holding at 1 to 3 feet**. But make no mistake, a cold front is due midweek, so get your lines wet before conditions get feisty. According to the National Weather Service Cleveland, keep an eye on shifting winds and waves later in the week, especially as the next storm line approaches.

Tides aren’t much of a player here, but water temp off Cleveland sits at a cool **57 degrees**, putting fish on the move and making daylight hours prime time for action. AccuWeather and local marina reports both advise: layer up, watch the forecast, and expect those signature Great Lakes rapid weather swings.

**Steelhead are front and center now**. Local videos and reports from Sunday highlight the first proper run of the year. Recent rainfall juiced up the tributaries, pulling a wave of chrome-bright steelhead in. The Rocky, Chagrin, and Grand rivers are all producing, especially around deep runs and seams. Anglers are reporting solid hookups—several going “four for six” or “four for seven” on floats. The bite is best early, but fish are staging all day long.

For bait and lures: **egg sacs, 8mm soft beads, and small jigs** lead the way for steelhead. Whites, naturals, and a dash of sparkle are on fire right now, especially when the sun pops through. Beads in 8mm have changed the game, but if the fish get spooky, switch to smaller natural egg imitators or white marabou jigs. Centerpin drifting is the go-to, but spinning gear with floats works just fine.

**Walleye** action is still going, though you’ll need to work harder as temperatures drop. Trollers are picking up fish out near the Cleveland breakwalls and out around 40-50 feet, especially at first light and dusk. Stickbaits in purples, chartreuse, and clown patterns are reliable, but scaling down to smaller crankbaits helps when fish go tight-lipped. Locals suggest a slower retrieve as the temps settle lower. Jigging with minnows or shad-imitating plastics near the river mouths also turns up some bonus fish.

Recent catches include:

- Good numbers of steelhead (Rainbows), many in the 5-8 lb class, with multiple hookups per trip on the Rocky and Chagrin.

- Walleye limits have been steady offshore, with a handful of bigger fish mixed in—most recently just after sunset or as daylight breaks.

Top **hot spots** this week:

- **Edgewater Park Pier**: Early morning and late afternoon steelhead on floats and spawn sacs.

- **E. 72nd Street access and breakwall**: Steady walleye bites, plus a few bonus steelhead in the marina cuts.

- **Rocky River (Lorain Rd. bridge area and marina stretch)**: Consistent chrome, nice flows, and deep slots holding a

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Lake Erie fishing report straight from the Cleveland shoreline for Sunday, November 2, 2025.

It’s shaping up to be a classic early-November weekend on the North Coast. Out on the lake, surface temperatures are holding around 58 degrees off Cleveland. We’re dealing with southwest winds under 10 knots this morning, so the water’s staying pretty calm with waves less than a foot—perfect for both boaters and shore anglers, but don’t forget a jacket: the air’s brisk, struggling to crack the mid-30s, and you’ll feel it near the water. According to WeatherWorld, clouds will build as the day goes, but you should see a little early sun before things grey over by afternoon. Sunrise hit at 6:59 a.m., sunset at 5:19 p.m.—plenty of daylight for a long session.

With a steady barometer, calm water, and stable weather, fish activity has been peaking during the low-light hours—think sunrise and the hour just before sunset. FishingReminder notes that today’s major bite windows line up perfectly with that first bit of daylight, so if you haven’t wet a line yet, now’s the time. Tidal swings aren’t a factor on Erie, but wind-driven current near harbor mouths and points can mimic a feeding window, especially when that breeze kicks west.

The walleye bite is still in full swing out east and local anglers have been hauling in numbers, with some fish pushing the 8-pound mark, particularly by trolling deep-running Rapala Husky Jerks in fire tiger and clown patterns. Recent reports from Michiana Outdoors mention boats out near the 28-foot mark east of the islands landing limits in just a few hours, mostly trolling with crankbaits or slow-death rigs tipped with nightcrawler harnesses. Don’t be surprised to run into schools—electronics show plenty of bait roaming the open basins.

Cleveland harbors and breakwalls are also giving up good numbers of late-fall steelhead, especially after cooler nights. Focus on Edgewater Park Marina, East 55th St. Marina, and the Cleveland Harbor wall. Most steelhead are hitting small, flashy spoons like Little Cleos in silver/blue or copper, but spawn sacs or waxworms under a float have been reliable when they hold deep. Perkins Beach and Clifton Beach both offer productive shore casting, especially during low light. The hotter holes have been along the points and just inside harbor mouths where baitfish are stacking up.

As for bass, you’ll find smallmouths still active on rocky structure—shallow points and reefs are best. Ned rigs, dropshot baits in goby color, and tubes in green pumpkin are hard to beat. Soft swimbaits fished just above bottom are a sleeper choice, especially if you see bait dimpling the surface or marked on your graph. Largemouths are slowing with the chill, but look for them around marina docks and wood cover, often tight to the pilings.

Best baits right now:

- Walleye: Deep-diving crankbaits (Rapala Husky Jerk, P10), crawler harnesses, blade baits.

- Steelhead: 1/4 oz spoons (Lit

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This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake Erie Cleveland fishing report for Saturday, November 1st, 2025. If you’re dressing for Halloween leftovers, make sure to grab those extra layers—Lake Erie’s starting November off with chilly temps and blustery winds, but that’s par for the course up here on the North Coast.

The water off Cleveland is holding right around 59 degrees, which makes for classic late fall fishing conditions. It’s jacket weather all day, with air temps sitting near the low 50s, and if you’re headed out early, bundle up—wind chills dip into the 30s, and we could see gusts topping 30 miles an hour. As the sun’s rising around 7:58 AM and setting at about 6:21 PM this evening, you’ve still got a respectable chunk of daylight to work with. According to the National Weather Service, waves will start rough—generally 3 to 6 feet closer to Cleveland—but should settle a bit later today.

Recent catches have put a grin on plenty of local faces. There’s been a solid late-season run on walleye—these cool water temps have really turned them on. Limits are coming regularly for savvy trollers working just off the Cleveland breakwalls and out toward the 40- to 50-foot marks west toward Avon Point and east to Bratenahl. Walleye are chasing bait hard, and the top producers right now are deep-diving crankbaits and stickbaits. Most folks are running Rapala Husky Jerks, Bandit 5/8 Walleye, and Berkley Flicker Minnows trolled behind in-line planer boards. If you’re picking colors, natural baitfish patterns like silver, blue chrome, and purples have been best while the water stays clear. If the lake gets muddied up after these big winds, don’t be afraid to swap in a firetiger or clown pattern for more visibility.

For perch chasers, numbers are hit or miss, but when you find a pod, you can fill a pail. Anglers working just outside the mouth of the Cuyahoga and around the Edgewater and E72nd Street areas have been putting together nice catches with emerald shiners on the drop-shot and crappie rigs. Depths of 38 to 44 feet have been holding the most consistent schools.

If you’re after smallmouth, focus on rocky structure and flats with access to deeper water. According to majorleaguefishing.com’s Jonathon VanDam, a drop-shot rig tipped with goby or shad imitations like the Strike King Dream Shot, or a jigged tube in natural hues, is tough to beat right now. Look for current seams and deeper breaks off spots like Gordon Park and the Gold Coast. When the wind lays down, small swimbaits or tubes hopped aggressively will also tempt bronzebacks.

Steelhead action is building, especially with recent rain, and some early fish are showing in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers. The lakefront mouth at Gordon Park is a classic November hot spot—drift spawn sacs or cast Little Cleos and spoons for your best shot.

If you’re looking for hot spots today:

- Try Avon Point for prime walleye trolling runs.

- Work the Edgewater reefs for perch and bonus smallmouth.

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Lake Erie gave us a proper Halloween chill this morning—winds howlin’ out of the northwest, topping 20 to 30 knots, with waves stacking up 3 to 6 feet all along the Cleveland shore. The National Weather Service’s small craft advisory is posted right through tonight, so if you’re running a small boat, best stick to the shore or just wet a line from the rocks until the lake settles.

Cleveland saw sunrise at 7:55 AM, with sunset rolling in at 6:23 PM—enough daylight to work both the morning and evening bites if you’re game for the wind. Temps won’t stray much from the upper 40s today, and with clouds and that bite in the air, the artificial lure bite for walleye and steelhead is set for prime time.

Walleye action has been outstanding all along the shoreline, especially after dark. E55th breakwall, Edgewater, and Gordon parks are the main stages right now—local anglers are stacking five-fish limits on Perfect 10s, Husky Jerks, Bandits, and Ripfish, all in shad or perch colors. The key according to Cleveland Metroparks is a slow, steady crank once the sun’s gone—don’t rush it. Recent catches? Plenty. Folks like Alex Mangels have hauled in 25.5" walleyes this week, and there’s been an outright parade of fish at Edgewater rocks, regardless of color or brand of crankbait.

Perch are also picking up from the north breakwall at E55th, and over by the Bass Islands on the west end, yellow perch have been filling baskets using emerald shiners on bottom rigs. For those using boats—when the lake gives you a break—try 50-70 feet for perch, but stay safe.

Steelhead, meanwhile, are finally on the move after low rivers got a shot in the arm from this week’s rain. The Rocky and Chagrin rivers are still running a bit low, but there are deep, slow pools holding fish—just beware the leaves stacking up in that slow water. Down by the lake, Gordon and Edgewater beaches are good bets at first and last light. Little Cleos, KO Wobblers, Vibrax, and RoosterTail spinners are putting steelhead on the rocks. Nightcrawlers under a bobber about 4-5 feet down, marabou jigs with maggots, and Gulp minnows all count as top choices for this Lake Erie run.

For you multi-species anglers, don’t overlook channel cats in Sandusky Bay—cut bait or shrimp has pulled some monsters lately, up to 30 pounds. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are still in play near structure with jig minnows, tubes, and crankbaits around rocky humps and breakwalls. Smallmouths in particular are on the chew for downsized presentations—try Ned rigs or drop shot rigs on light line.

Top two hot spots today:

- E55th breakwall—walleye and perch galore, with steelhead a bonus right at sunrise or dusk.

- Rocky River lower pools—fresh steelhead, and even a report of a stray coho salmon this week.

Reminder: Wendy Park by the old Coast Guard station is still closed for repairs, so steer clear until further notice.

In short, it’s a banner late-October for fishing Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga shoreline, even as the wind how

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