Lake Erie, Detroit Fishing Report

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report.

We’re sitting on a cool early-summer pattern around the western basin and the mouth of the Detroit River. Air temps are running mild, with light winds and a mix of clouds and sun—good chop on the lake, not too rough, just enough to put a little life in your presentation. Expect it to warm through the day with a stable barometer, which usually keeps the bite steady rather than frantic.

Sunrise is coming in early and sunset late, giving you wide windows, but the **prime times** are still that first light to mid‑morning and then the last couple hours before dark. Midday, the bite pushes a little deeper or tighter to structure and current.

Lake Erie doesn’t really have a classic ocean tide, but you’ll feel a bit of **seiche effect** and wind-driven water movement. When you see the current pick up along the shipping channel markers or hear the lake level has bumped up a few inches from a wind shift, treat it like a tide change: that’s when fish reposition and the bite often fires for an hour or two.

On the **walleye** front, limits have been common out on the western basin, with plenty of eater-size fish and a good number of 20–26 inchers being boxed. Anglers drifting or slow-trolling harnesses with nightcrawlers are still doing work, but crankbaits are coming back into play as the water clears. Think deep-diving shads and minnows in natural perch, gold, and purple patterns, run 20–60 feet back depending on depth.

The **smallmouth bass** bite has been solid on rock piles, humps, and current breaks around the islands and along the lower Detroit River. Most fish are running 2–4 pounds with the odd 5‑plus. Tubes in green pumpkin, drop-shot minnow baits, and small swimbaits dragged or hopped along rock are the ticket. Subtle colors on clear days, something with a little flash or chartreuse if the water dirties up.

There’s also steady action on **perch** in the usual summer haunts once you locate a school. Anchor up-current of marks on your sonar and drop down emerald shiners or soft plastics on perch rigs. When you find them, you can put together a decent bucket, but they’ve been a bit here‑today‑gone‑tomorrow, so stay mobile.

For **baits and lures**:

- Best live bait: nightcrawlers for walleye, emerald shiners for perch, and minnows for river smallmouth when they’re picky.

- Best artificials: crawler harnesses with Colorado blades, deep-diving crankbaits, 3–4 inch paddletail swimbaits, and 1/4–3/8 oz tubes. Add scent if the water’s murky or the bite is off.

A couple of **local hot spots** to put on your list:

- The **Belle Isle and Fighting Island stretches** of the Detroit River: current seams along the edges, breaks behind freighter channels, and rocky points hold both walleye and smallmouth. Vertical jigging with hair jigs, plastics, or blade baits works great when the current is right.

- The **reefs and shoals off the mouth of the Detroit River into western Lake Erie**: classic walleye country. Work those contours with harnesses or cranks, watching your graph for bait clouds and hooks just off bottom.

Keep an eye on wind direction—any strong east wind can stack up some rough water on the western end, and a stiff south or southwest can make the main lake bouncy. When that happens, tuck into the river or behind structure for a safer but still productive bite.

That’s your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Erie – Detroit fishing report.

We’re sliding into a settled late‑spring pattern on western Lake Erie and the lower Detroit River. Water temps are riding in the mid‑60s to low‑70s across most of the basin, warm enough to push bait and gamefish shallower at dawn and dusk and a bit deeper once the sun’s up. Being a Great Lake, there’s no real tide to worry about, but wind‑driven seiches can slide water levels up or down a foot or so, so keep an eye on the shoreline rocks and current seams through the day.

Weatherwise, expect a mild start with light southwest to west breezes, building slightly by midday. Skies lean partly cloudy, with a chance of a pop‑up shower later, but nothing that should keep you off the water if you’re prepared. Sunrise hits a little after 5:50 a.m. local time, with sunset just after 9:10 p.m., giving you a long, fishy window. The best bite should fire from first light through about 9 a.m., then again from roughly 7 p.m. to dark, especially if those evening clouds roll in and knock the glare down.

Walleye action remains the main story. Recent reports from local charter captains and bait shops around the Detroit River, Wyandotte, and out toward Brest Bay and Luna Pier say boats are still putting solid numbers in the box, with many crews limiting on eater‑sized fish and a few bigger trophies mixed in. A typical good trip right now might see 10–20 walleyes for a small crew when the wind plays nice.

Drifting and casting or slow‑trolling harnesses is still a top producer. Harnesses with hammered copper or gold blades and chartreuse, purple, or fire‑tiger beads are hot over 18–28 feet of water off the reefs and edges. Crankbaits like Flicker Shads and Bandits in purple, clown, and chrome/blue are taking fish behind inline boards when run 40–80 feet back, especially in slightly stained water. If you’re vertical‑jigging the river, stick with ½–¾ oz jigs tipped with emerald shiners or soft‑plastics in chartreuse, white, or black, and work the breaks and edges of the shipping channel.

Smallmouth bass are chewing hard on the rocky structure. Anglers working the rock piles, humps, and breakwalls near the mouth of the Detroit River, around Stony Point, and along the Michigan shoreline are reporting good numbers of 2–4 pound bronzebacks with an occasional 5‑plus. Tubes in green pumpkin, goby, or smoke, Ned rigs, and drop‑shots with small minnow baits are doing damage. When the wind kicks up a little chop, throw spinnerbaits or squarebills in shad or perch patterns along riprap and breakwalls for reaction bites.

Yellow perch reports are spotty but improving. Mixed bags are coming from deeper edges, often 24–32 feet, with anglers picking away at schools using spreader rigs and emerald shiners or minnows on the bottom. It’s not lights‑out yet, but if you mark a good pod on your graph, you can put together a nice mess for the pan.

For bait, it’s hard to beat fresh emerald shiners for both walleye and perch. Nightcrawlers on harnesses are a close second and often out‑fish cranks when the bite gets fussy. For artificials, keep a box of crankbaits in natural perch and shiner colors, a handful of crawler harnesses in copper and gold, and plenty of jig heads in 3/8 to ¾ oz with bright plastics.

A couple of local hot spots to keep on your short list:

– The reef complex and flats off Brest Bay and Luna Pier: great for drifting harnesses and long‑lining cranks for walleye over 18–28 feet.

– The lower Detroit River near Fighting Island and down toward the river mouth: strong current seams and channel edges for vertical‑jig walleye and some bonus smallmouth.

If you’re launching closer to Detroit, the Trenton Channel and the area around Grosse Ile bridges remain solid for mixed walleye and bass when the current is right.

That’s your Lake Erie – Detroit fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report.

Out on western Lake Erie and the Detroit River, we’re sliding into a classic early‑summer pattern. Water temps are running in the upper 60s to low 70s on the main lake and a touch cooler in the river. No real tides here, just a light seiche now and then, so pay more attention to wind and current than any “tide table.”

Weather today around Detroit and the western basin is mild and fish‑friendly: expect light to moderate southwest winds, partly to mostly cloudy skies, and comfortable temps climbing through the 60s into the 70s. Sunrise comes early over the lake and sunset lands late, giving you long low‑light windows. The best bite has been the first two hours after sunup and the last 90 minutes before dark, especially when wind is putting a little chop on the surface.

Walleye action remains the main story. Charter captains and weekend crews alike have been reporting limits or near‑limits of eater‑size fish, with enough 20–25 inchers mixed in to keep it interesting. Most catches are coming off the reefs and deeper edges in 20–30 feet, and down the shipping channel in the river. Perch are starting to show in better numbers on the humps and around rockier bottom, but it’s still a pick rather than a full‑on slam. Smallmouth bass are active along the rocky shorelines and breaks; lots of 2–3 pound fish with the occasional brute.

For lures, this has been a crankbait and harness game for walleye. Trollers are pulling smaller crankbaits and stickbaits 30–60 feet back behind inline boards, in natural shad, gold, and perch patterns. Crawler harnesses with #4–5 Colorado blades in copper, chartreuse, and purple have been hot when run just off bottom at a slow roll. If you’re jigging the river, go with 3/8 to 5/8 ounce hair jigs or paddle‑tail plastics in white, chartreuse, or black, tipped with a minnow when you can get them.

Best bait remains live nightcrawlers for walleye and perch, either on a harness, a two‑hook spreader, or a simple drop‑shot for the picky ones. Emerald shiners are money for perch when you can find them at the shops. For smallmouth, tube jigs, Ned rigs, and small craw‑style plastics in green pumpkin or goby colors have been doing real damage along the rocks.

A couple of local hot spots to circle:

Belle Isle and the Detroit River channels right around it are giving up steady walleye and some solid smallmouth when the current’s right. Work the edges of the channel and the breaks where rock meets softer bottom. Farther out on Lake Erie, the area off Brest Bay and the Banana Dyke has been productive for trolling passes, with mixed bags of walleye and the odd bonus perch. If you’re staying closer to the city side, the Trenton Channel continues to give up fish if you’re willing to move and hop between current seams.

Overall, fish activity is good and only getting better as the water settles into its summer groove. Keep your presentations just off bottom, vary speed until you dial them in, and don’t be afraid to switch blade colors or crank styles when the bite slows.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report.

We’re coming off a stretch of stable late‑spring weather on western Lake Erie and the lower Detroit River. Nearshore water temps are riding in the mid‑60s to low‑70s, with light south to southwest winds most mornings, picking up a bit in the afternoon. Skies have been partly to mostly clear, which means cooler, active mornings, a slower mid‑day, and a little evening bump as the sun drops. Sunrise is right around the early 5 o’clock hour, with sunset after 9 in the evening, so you’ve got a long window to work with.

No real tide here, but wind‑driven seiches and current from the river mouth matter. A light south breeze has been stacking some water and a touch of stain along the Michigan shorelines and around the river plume, which is perfect for walleye and smallmouth—just off‑color enough to make them chew without killing visibility.

Walleye action remains the main story. Local captains out of Luna Pier, Bolles Harbor, and around Brest Bay have been boxing easy limits of eaters in the 16–21 inch range, with a steady pick of bigger fish mixed in. Most reports have 20–40 fish days when the wind and boat control cooperate. Out over the deeper flats off Brest Bay and toward the Banana Dike, crawler harnesses behind inline boards have been doing work—1 to 1.3 mph, 1‑ to 2‑ounce weights, and a mix of chartreuse, purple, and gold blades. When mayfly husks are heavy on the surface, slow it down and keep those crawlers just ticking the tops of the marks on your sonar.

Crankbait trollers are still getting it done too. Bandits, Flicker Minnows, and Deep Husky Jerks in chrome, lemon drop, and firetiger are solid producers, especially early and late when the fish ride a little higher. Run them 30–80 feet back depending on depth and light level. If you’re a caster, drifting and pitching 3/8‑ to 5/8‑ounce jig heads tipped with emerald shiners or soft plastics in the river channel edges, the dumping grounds, and the reefs is still putting fish in the box.

Smallmouth bass are waking up nicely along the rock and rubble from Point Mouillee north toward the mouth of the Detroit River and along the humps and breaks off Stony Point. Anglers have been reporting good numbers of 2–4 pound bronzebacks, with an occasional 5‑plus. Best bets have been tube jigs in green pumpkin, goby‑style plastics, drop‑shot rigs with small minnow‑shaped baits, and 1/4‑ounce hair jigs. Low‑light mornings and evenings around isolated rock piles, current seams, and the edges of grass in 8–18 feet are prime.

Perch are spotty but showing in small pods on the deeper breaks and around the old shipping lanes. Those putting in the time are picking off enough for a decent fry—mostly 8–11 inch fish—on spreader rigs with minnows tight to bottom. You’ll do a bit of sorting, but when you find a pod, anchor up quietly and let them come to you.

Your best lures right now:

- For walleye: crawler harnesses in chartreuse, purple, gold; deep‑diving cranks in natural and bright perch patterns.

- For smallmouth: green pumpkin tubes, goby plastics, Ned rigs, and dropshots.

- For perch: plain hook or small ice‑style jigs tipped with minnows, fished vertically.

A couple of local hot spots to circle on the chart:

- The Brest Bay and Banana Dike area: classic late‑spring walleye water with good numbers and a real shot at a big fish.

- The rock and current edges near the mouth of the Detroit River on the Michigan side: smallmouth and walleye mixed, especially on calm mornings.

That’s the latest from Lake Erie around Detroit. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report.

We’re sliding into a classic early‑June pattern on western Erie and the Detroit River. Overnight temps ran cool, but we’re headed for mild, stable weather today: light west to southwest breeze, highs in the low 70s, mostly clear skies with a mix of sun and some afternoon haze. Humidity is manageable and barometric pressure is steady to slowly rising – good conditions to keep fish active through the morning and again in the evening.

Sunrise is right around 5:55 a.m. with sunset near 9:10 p.m., giving you a long window to work those low‑light bites. Figure your best feeding flurries about an hour after dawn, a mid‑day lull if the sun gets bright and the wind lays down, then another push from about 7 p.m. to dark.

We don’t have true ocean tides here, but wind‑driven seiche on Erie and current in the Detroit River act like one. With a light west–southwest wind, expect a gentle push of water downriver, enough current to position fish on breaks and along the shipping channel edges. If the breeze stiffens this afternoon, watch for a little chop to kick the walleye bite up a notch on the lake side.

Recent action has been strong for **walleye**, solid for **smallmouth**, with bonus **sheepshead**, **white bass**, and a few **perch** mixed in. Local anglers are reporting easy limits of eater‑size walleye in 18–30 feet on the western basin and consistent numbers pushing up through the Detroit River. Jigging and trolling are both producing: typical boat reports are 10–20 walleye with a couple in the 5–8‑pound class when the wind lines up. Smallmouth catches have been running a handful to a dozen fish per boat, many in the 2–4‑pound range around rocky structure.

For walleye, the best artificial setups right now are:

- Jigging with 3/8 to 5/8‑ounce jigs tipped with minnows, crawlers, or soft plastic paddletails in chartreuse, purple, and firetiger.

- Trolling harnesses with nightcrawlers behind bottom bouncers or inline weights. Copper, chartreuse, and gold blades are hot.

- Crankbaits like Flicker Shads and similar profiles in natural shad, clown, and purple patterns during low light.

If you’re running live bait, emerald shiners and nightcrawlers are the go‑tos. Keep your presentation just off bottom and adjust speed: 0.8–1.2 mph for harnesses, a touch faster for cranks.

Smallmouth bass are setting up on rock piles, breaks, and along seawalls. Tube jigs in green pumpkin, goby, and brown, dropshots with minnow‑style plastics, and small swimbaits have been producing. Live leeches and minnows under a slip float will also get smoked when the wind is right.

Couple of local hot spots to circle:

- **Breton/Peche Island area on the Detroit River** – Work the current breaks, channel edges, and inside turns. Vertical jig for walleye early, then switch to casting tubes and jerkbaits for smallmouth as the sun gets higher.

- **Western Lake Erie humps and reefs off the mouth of the Detroit River** – Look to the dumping grounds and reef complexes in 18–26 feet. Troll harnesses along the contours or drift and drag jigs when there’s enough wind to move you 0.5–1 mph.

Closer to shore, the Detroit River shoreline and seawalls near downtown and down toward Wyandotte can give up mixed bags in the evening – toss crankbaits and swimbaits for roaming walleye and smallmouth when the shadows get long.

Plan your trip around that early and late light, respect the shipping traffic, and keep an eye on that west wind in case it stacks waves on the open lake.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report.

We’re sitting on a cool early‑summer pattern. Overnight temps dipped into the upper 50s, climbing into the low 70s this afternoon with a light west to southwest breeze around 8–12 mph. Skies are partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a passing shower later. Sunrise hit right around 5:55 a.m., with sunset close to 9:10 p.m., giving you a long, fishy day to work with.

No real tide action here on the Detroit River and western Lake Erie, but wind-driven currents are the big story. A light west wind is stacking a bit of chop on the Michigan side, which is perfect for walleye and smallmouth—enough stain to make them comfortable, not so much that boat control is a pain.

Fish activity has been solid. Warm surface temps have pushed a lot of walleye into classic summer structure: breaks, humps, and the edges of shipping channels. Anglers have been boxing good eater‑sized fish in the 15–20 inch range, with an occasional bigger one. Recent catch reports out of the Detroit River and lower Lake Erie show mixed bags of walleye and white bass, with good numbers when you stay on the schools and adjust to current speed.

Best walleye tactics right now:

- Slow‑trolling crawler harnesses in chartreuse, purple, or copper blades behind bottom bouncers in 18–28 feet.

- Jigging heavier 3/8–1/2 oz hair jigs or plastics in the current seams, tipped with minnows or crawlers.

- Hard‑bait trollers can run shallow‑diving crankbaits in natural perch, firetiger, or purple patterns 30–60 feet back, especially early and late in the day.

Smallmouth bass are chewing on rock piles, seawalls, and deeper breaks off points. Tube jigs in green pumpkin or goby, Ned rigs, and drop‑shot rigs with 3–4 inch minnows are doing damage. Early morning topwater—walking baits and poppers—can trigger some explosive strikes over shallow rock and along riprap.

For bait, emerald shiners and nightcrawlers remain the staples. Minnows on a simple river rig are putting white bass and the odd perch in the box, while crawlers on harnesses or simple slip-sinker rigs are taking both walleye and channel cats.

A couple local hot spots to keep on your radar:

- The Trenton Channel: work the current breaks, eddies behind islands, and along the shipping channel edges for walleye and smallmouth. Vertical jigging or controlled drifting shines here.

- The mouth of the Detroit River out into western Lake Erie: troll harnesses or cranks along the mud line and contour breaks where clean and stained water meet—those transition zones have been holding active walleye.

Prime windows today will be low light: first light through mid‑morning, and again the last two hours before sunset, especially if that wind holds a steady chop. Midday, slow down, go deeper, and stay tight to structure.

That’s your Lake Erie–Detroit rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report. Early June on the Detroit River and western Lake Erie is classic transition water: warming temps, strong current, and fish sliding between river seams, weed edges, and nearshore reefs as they feed hard before summer settles in.

Today’s **weather** around Detroit calls for a comfortable early-summer morning with mixed clouds, light wind, and good fishable conditions overall. **Sunrise** is early morning and **sunset** is late evening, giving anglers a long window to work structure and current breaks. I do not have a live **tide** report for Lake Erie because this is a Great Lakes system, so the big factor here is **wind-driven water movement** and current, especially in the river and along the shoreline.

Recent action in these waters has centered on **walleye**, with **smallmouth bass** and some **yellow perch** showing up where bait is concentrated. In the river, fish are being caught by trolling and drifting current seams, and in the lake, anglers are finding walleyes staging near drop-offs and reefs. When the bite turns on, it is usually a numbers game—multiple hookups in a short run rather than one giant fish, especially at dawn and dusk.

For **lures**, the best bets are still **crawler harnesses**, **crankbaits**, and **jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics**. If the water has a little stain, brighter colors like chartreuse, orange, and gold have been solid. If it is clearer, go with natural shad, perch, or silver patterns. For **bait**, you cannot go wrong with **nightcrawlers**, **minnows**, and **cut bait** where legal and practical. For bass, try tube jigs, Ned rigs, and small jerkbaits along current breaks and rocky cover.

A couple of **hot spots** to watch are the **Detroit River shoreline seams** and the **western Lake Erie reefs and nearshore drop-offs**. Areas around river mouths, wing dams, and any place that pinches current are worth attention, especially if baitfish are dimpling the surface. If you are looking for perch, focus on calmer inside water and hard-bottom stretches where they are roaming with schools of shiners.

If I were heading out this morning, I would start with a slow troll or drift in the river first light, then shift to reef edges once the sun gets higher. Keep an eye on wind direction, water color, and bird activity—those three usually tell the story before the fish do.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report.

We’re sitting under a classic early‑summer pattern. Around Detroit and the lower Detroit River into western Lake Erie, expect light southwest breeze early, picking up a bit by afternoon, with temps climbing through the 60s into the 70s. Skies are partly cloudy with a chance of a light shower sliding through later, but nothing that should chase you off the water if you’re dressed for it. Sunrise comes just after 5:55 a.m., with sunset a little after 9:10 p.m., so you’ve got a long, fishable day to work those low‑light windows.

No real tide to speak of on Erie, but water levels and current are the story. River flow is moderate, with a good push of current in the main channel and softer seams along the edges and behind islands. That moving water is keeping the bite honest: fish are set up on current breaks, drops, and rock piles, not wandering aimlessly.

Walleye action has been solid. Anglers running the Detroit River and the mouth of the lake have been boxing decent numbers of eaters, with a few bigger fish mixed in. Best bet has been vertical jigging in 16–32 feet, working edges and holes. Think 1/2 to 3/4 oz jigs tipped with emerald shiners or soft plastics in chartreuse, purple, or motor oil. Trolling out on the lake, stickbaits and harnesses behind inline weights are still pulling fish, especially in 18–28 feet off the points and reefs.

Smallmouth bass are waking up nicely on rock and rubble. Fish in the 2–4 pound class are showing up around breaks, humps, and the shipping channel edges. Tubes in green pumpkin, goby patterns, and dark melon are doing work, along with drop‑shot minnows and jerkbaits. On the live bait side, fatheads and leeches are steady producers when the artificial bite cools.

Yellow perch reports are a bit spotty but improving. Look for scattered pods in 20–30 feet around transitions from mud to rock. Perch rigs with emerald shiners just off bottom are the ticket. You may have to do some searching, but once you find a school you can put a nice mess together.

For lures today, I’d lean into:

- 1/2–3/4 oz jig heads with bright plastics for walleye in the river.

- Color‑changing crankbaits and stickbaits, natural hues in clearer water, firetiger and clown when it muddies.

- Tubes, Ned rigs, and drop‑shot setups for smallmouth.

- Simple spreader rigs with shiners for perch.

Two hot spots to circle:

- The Trenton Channel: classic Detroit River structure, current seams, and shipping channel edges holding walleye and smallies. Work your jigs straight up and down, stay vertical, and follow the contour lines.

- The St. Clair–Detroit River mouth area and out toward the Banana Dike and Brest Bay: great early‑season walleye trolling and smallmouth structure on rock and shoals. Watch your graph and work those breaklines.

Fish activity should peak early and late with that long daylight window. Hit the morning before the sun gets high, then again in the evening when the wind lays and the surface cools off. Midday, slow down, fish a bit deeper, and let the current do some of the work.

That’s your Lake Erie–Detroit rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie – Detroit fishing report.

We’re sitting under a classic early‑June pattern on western Lake Erie and the Detroit River: cool morning, mild afternoon, light to moderate west–southwest breeze, and generally stable barometric pressure. Air temps are running in the upper 50s early, pushing into the low 70s by afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy with only a slight shot at a light shower later. That stable pressure has fish comfortable but a bit finicky mid‑day; the best bite has been early and late.

Sunrise on the lake is right around a quarter after 5 in the morning, with sunset just before 9 at night. Your prime windows have been that first 2‑3 hours of light and then the last 90 minutes before dark. Lake Erie and the Detroit River don’t have real ocean tides, but wind and seiche set up a “fake tide.” A west or southwest wind is pushing a little extra water down your way, giving a nice bit of current on the main lake reefs and the river edges. When that wind lays down for an hour or two, the bite has been noticeably tougher.

Walleye action is still the headliner. Local charter captains out of Bolles Harbor and Sterling State Park ramps are reporting easy limits on eater‑size fish with the occasional 8‑ to 10‑pounder in the mix. The best bite has been in 18–26 feet of water off Brest Bay, the dumping grounds, and the outer edges of Stony Point. Trollers running crawler harnesses behind inline boards at 1.0–1.4 mph are doing the most damage. Hot colors this week have been chartreuse, purple, and anything with a copper back when the sun pops out. Crankbait guys are still picking fish with Flicker Shads and Husky Jerks, long‑lining 30–60 feet back.

On the Detroit River itself, the main jig bite has slowed from its peak but is still worthwhile at first light. Anglers are boating decent numbers of walleye from Fighting Island down to the Trenton Channel, especially where clean breaks in current meet slightly softer water. Short, sharp pops with 3/8‑ to 5/8‑ounce jigs tipped with emerald shiners or soft‑plastic minnows in natural tones have been the ticket. The cleaner the presentation, the better; river fish are seeing a lot of pressure right now.

Smallmouth bass are really waking up on Erie’s nearshore structure. Local bass clubs have been weighing solid bags, with plenty of 3‑ to 4‑pound bronzebacks and a few pushing 5. Focus on rocky points, scattered boulders, and the edges of old shipping channels in 10–20 feet. Ned rigs, tubes in green pumpkin, and dropshots with small baitfish‑style plastics are producing numbers. When the wind puts a chop on the water, jerkbaits and small swimbaits have been deadly.

Perch have been scattered but starting to show in better pockets off Luna Pier and out toward the E‑Buoy line. Minnows on spreader rigs just off bottom are catching mixed bags; you may have to weed through white perch and sheepshead, but when you land on them, you can box a nice mess in a hurry.

For bait, it’s hard to beat live emerald shiners and nightcrawlers right now. Crawler harnesses for walleye, minnows for perch and jig‑tipped river eyes, and then finesse plastics for smallmouth will cover most of what’s biting. Best artificial lures lately: spinner rigs with #4–5 Colorado blades in bright patterns, size 7 crankbaits in natural shad and purple, and 2.75–3.5 inch tubes for bass.

A couple of local hot spots to key on:

- Brest Bay to Stony Point: drifting or trolling for walleye along the 18–26‑foot contour lines. Watch for pods of bait on your sonar and stay with them.

- Trenton Channel edges: early‑morning jig bite for walleye where the main push of current slides along shoreline breaks and behind islands.

This is Artificial Lure reminding you to fish that early and late window, stay mobile, and let the fish tell you what they want.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report.

We don’t worry about tides here on the western basin of Erie and the Detroit River – it’s a Great Lake system, so water levels are driven more by wind and seiche than true tides. What matters today is wind, sky, and water temp.

Sunrise came in around 5:55 a.m. and sunset will be close to 9:10 p.m. on this stretch, giving you a long window to work those low‑light bites. Early and late are still your best bets, with a decent midday lull unless the wind kicks up a good chop.

Weather-wise, look for a mild early start, light to moderate southwest breeze, building some surface chop on the open lake by late morning. Skies lean partly cloudy, with enough sun to warm the surface but not so bright it shuts the fish down. Surface temps in the western basin and Detroit River are running in the upper 50s to low 60s – prime for walleye, smallmouth, and mixed panfish.

Recent action has been strong. Local charters and weekend warriors around the Detroit River mouth and the western basin have been boxing good numbers of eater‑size **walleye**, plenty in the 16–22 inch class, with the odd fish pushing 8–10 pounds. Perch reports are spotty but improving, with small packs of 8–11 inch fish. Smallmouth bass have been hot along rocky structure, lots of 2–3 pounders and some 4‑plus bruisers.

Best producers for walleye on the lake have been crawler harnesses pulled behind inline weights or bottom bouncers, plus shallow‑running crankbaits long‑lined when the light is low. Colors: chartreuse, purple, and anything with a bit of glow or UV in the slight stain we’ve had after recent winds. On the Detroit River, vertical jigging with 3/8–1/2 oz jig heads and emerald shiners or soft plastics in purple, firetiger, and natural shad has been putting fish in the net.

For smallmouth, think classic Great Lakes patterns: tube jigs in green pumpkin or goby colors, Ned rigs, and jerkbaits twitched over rock piles and along shipping channel edges. A white or perch‑pattern jerkbait can really shine when the wind puts a ripple on the water. Don’t overlook drop‑shot rigs with goby‑style plastics when the sun gets high and the fish slide a bit deeper.

Live bait: nightcrawlers remain king for drifting harnesses, with emerald shiners and minnows doing the heavy lifting for both perch and jigging anglers. If you’re running slip bobbers around structure, a simple hook with a lively minnow just off bottom still catches everything that swims out here.

Couple of local hot spots to circle:

– **Breast Bay to Luna Pier**: drifting harnesses in 18–24 feet has been steady for walleye, especially with a light southwest wind. Work the pods of marks on your electronics and don’t be afraid to make shorter drifts and reset on fish.

– **Belle Isle and Fighting Island stretches of the Detroit River**: vertical jig the current seams and the edges of the shipping channel. Keep your line straight up and down, feel bottom, and tap bottom without dragging.

If the lake lays down, slide out toward the dumping grounds and deeper flats and run cranks a bit farther back. If it blows up, tuck into the river or behind points and breakwalls; the fish will still eat when the water’s moving.

That’s the word from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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