Cleveland Fishing Report: Walleye, Smallmouth, and Steelhead Bite Strong on Lake Erie

Good morning from the Lake Erie shoreline, this is Artificial Lure with your Sunday, April 20th fishing report for Cleveland and surrounding waters.

Sunrise hit the horizon at 6:58 AM and you can expect sunset around 7:58 PM. We’re seeing classic spring conditions with temps starting out in the mid-40s and warming into the lower 50s. Skies are a mix of sun and clouds with a light southwest wind. Water temps in central Lake Erie are holding steady in the mid-40s, which is prime for walleye and steelhead action, and a touch of chop on the lake could help trigger a bite[3].

Walleye season is in full swing and the bite is outstanding. Most catches are coming in that solid 20 to 26 inch range, with plenty of fish in local limits. Nearshore areas and reef complexes are hot right now, especially around Cleveland Harbor, Edgewater, and E72nd. Trolling Husky Jerks, especially the DHJ-12 model, is working wonders. Work them slow or throw in an occasional pause to tempt those bigger post-spawn fish. If trolling’s not your thing, try jigging with heavier jig heads to keep contact with the bottom in the wind—these are producing solid numbers too[3].

Smallmouth bass are really showing up in good numbers this week, especially river mouths and rocky points near the Cleveland shoreline. Tube jigs, especially olive colored 3 inchers, Ned rigs, and medium-size minnow or shad crankbaits are all taking fish. There are also great reports on spinners and goby pattern streamer flies for those tossing a fly rod. Fish are aggressive and pushing shallow, so cover some water[1].

Steelhead are still hanging around, mostly in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers, but numbers are starting to taper as spring goes on. There are still a few fresh ones in the mix, and it’s still possible to land both steelhead and a big smallie in a single trip—locals call that the silver and bronze combo. Focus on the lower river stretches and river mouths[1].

Perch anglers are getting in on some solid action, especially with the strong 2024 hatch. The bite is best over deeper flats near the harbor mouths. Minnows on a spreader rig or blade baits are landing nice numbers, and you can expect perch activity to stay strong through the spring[5].

For bait, you can’t go wrong with minnows for perch and steelhead. Walleye are keyed on shad and smelt, so stick with crankbaits that mimic those profiles, or tip jigs with plastics that have a lot of action. For smallmouth, tube jigs and Ned rigs in natural colors are money right now.

Hot spots to check today: Edgewater Park for walleye and perch, E72nd street fishing area for mixed bag action, and the mouth of the Rocky River for smallmouth and steelhead.

Enjoy the weather and tight lines to all. If you get on a good bite, don’t be shy—share the love at the docks or bait shop. See you on the water!