Lake Erie Fishing Report: Prime Walleye, Perch, and Bass Bites Across Cleveland

Artificial Lure here with today’s Lake Erie and Cleveland area fishing report for June 7, 2025. If you’re up before the sun, expect sunrise at 5:54 AM, with sunset wrapping up around 8:58 PM. Weatherwise, we’re looking at typical early June conditions: morning temps starting near 60°F, warming up to around 75°F this afternoon. The skies are mostly cloudy, with a slight chance of scattered showers and a light west breeze. That’s classic Lake Erie in June—so pack a rain jacket and check the radar if you’re heading out after work. Tides don’t play a major factor here, but water levels can shift with wind on the lake.

The fishing action has been solid this week, especially as the lake calms down after a windy spell that kept many boats at the dock last weekend, according to FishUSA’s recent report. Walleye fishing is prime right now, with limits coming in both day and night. During the day, the bite’s best in 18-30 feet of water off the Cleveland breakwalls, while the night owls are catching ’eyes in shallower, 7-15 feet, especially around the harbor lights. Most are slot-sized, but several Fish Ohio trophy walleye—over 28 inches—have hit the nets this season, per the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Yellow perch are steady for those anchoring and using spreaders or crappie rigs baited with live emerald shiners. The best perch reports are coming from the East 72nd Street and Edgewater Park areas. Remember, the daily perch limit is 30 in the west and east zones, but only 10 in Cleveland’s central zone.

Smallmouth bass are active around rocky shorelines, harbor mouths, and river mouths like the Rocky and Chagrin. Cleveland Metroparks says lake-run smallies are running good, with plenty of fish over the 18-inch limit being caught and released. Most bass are crushing tubes, swimbaits, and small crankbaits, but live minnows and leeches are also producing. Don’t forget: from May 1 to June 27, you’re only allowed one bass per day at 18 inches or longer.

Steelhead and the occasional lake trout are being hooked near tributary mouths and harbor walls, especially by those trolling stickbaits, casting spoons, or drifting spawn sacs.

Hot spots right now include:
- East 55th and East 72nd marinas for night walleye and perch
- Edgewater and the Rocky River mouth for bass
- Gordon Park breakwall for a mixed bag of walleye, perch, and the odd steelhead

Top baits:
- Walleye: Deep-diving crankbaits, worm harnesses, and stickbaits in clown or purple colors
- Perch: Emerald shiners on spreaders or crappie rigs
- Bass: Tubes (green pumpkin), swimbaits, small squarebills, and live leeches

If you’re after channel catfish, you’ll find plenty in Wallace Lake and the Ohio & Erie Canal fishing area, thanks to a recent Metroparks stocking.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Erie fishing report—don’t forget to subscribe for the latest bites and tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.