Early Spring Fishing on Lake Erie Heats Up in Cleveland

Good afternoon, anglers! Here's your Lake Erie fishing report for April 4, 2025, focusing on Cleveland and surrounding waters.

Today brings partly cloudy skies, with a high around 53°F and a low dipping to 37°F. Winds will blow from the northwest at 10-15 mph, so be prepared for some chop on the water. Sunrise was at 7:06 AM, and sunset will be at 7:52 PM. While there are no significant tidal effects on Lake Erie, water clarity is decent in areas, with cooler temperatures in the 40s—perfect for early spring fishing.

The walleye action is heating up as the spawn continues. Walleye are being caught in water depths between 8-20 feet near reefs and gravel shores, especially around the Cleveland Artificial Reefs, Rocky River, and the nearshore areas of Huntington Beach. Anglers are landing fish averaging 18-24 inches, with some trophies exceeding 26 inches. For bait, the Husky Jerk DHJ-12 has been a consistent producer, especially in colder water. Jigging with Z-Man Minnows or jerk shads near the bottom has also been effective.

Yellow perch fishing is holding steady, particularly east of Cleveland at hotspots like Ruggles Reef and Lorain’s artificial reef areas. Catches have been solid, with many fish over 10 inches. For perch, traditional spreaders baited with emerald shiners are hard to beat. Schools are gathering in 20-30 feet of water, so watch your electronics!

Steelhead trout are still hanging in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers, with anglers finding success drifting spawn sacs, jigs tipped with maggots, or brightly colored spoons. These chrome beauties are moving into swifter waters as the spawn progresses. Look for pools with at least 2 feet of depth for your best shot.

For smallmouth bass enthusiasts, pre-spawn fish are starting to move into rocky nearshore zones and tributary mouths. Try drop-shot rigs with Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worms in natural colors, or cast small crankbaits near structure.

Hotspots to consider today include:
1. Rocky River near the mouth for steelhead and walleye.
2. Cleveland Artificial Reefs for walleye and perch.
3. Ruggles Reef and Lorain for perch anglers.

The lake is alive and kicking, with plenty of variety for any angler. Tight lines, and stay safe out there!