Lake Erie Fishing Report: Smallmouth, Walleye, and More Biting Strong This Spring

This is Artificial Lure with your Saturday morning fishing report for Lake Erie and the Cleveland area, April 19, 2025.

We’re kicking off the day with cool spring temperatures, starting in the mid 40s this morning and warming up to about 55 degrees by afternoon. Winds are southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour, so expect a bit of chop on open water—definitely check lake conditions before launching. Sunrise came at 6:47 AM, and you’ve got daylight until sunset at 8:02 PM, which gives you a nice long window to get out and wet a line[5].

The current highlight on Lake Erie and its tributaries is the strong bite for both lake-run smallmouth bass and walleye. Smallmouth are really starting to stack up around the mouth of the Rocky and Chagrin Rivers, sliding in for their spring spawn. These bass are hitting well on olive tube jigs, Ned rigs, medium minnow or shad crankbaits, and spinners. Anything mimicking a goby or shad is a solid bet right now, and streamer flies are doing damage for the fly crowd[1].

Walleye action remains consistent, especially in nearshore waters and just outside harbor mouths. With the bulk of the pre-spawn bite behind us, fish are feeding up post-spawn and can be found from about 12 to 25 feet. Trolling deep-diving crankbaits or drifting with jigs tipped with emerald shiners has produced nice stringers. Some anglers are still catching walleye up to 24 inches, and those Gold Miner 30s and snap weights, especially when the water’s choppy, have been a difference maker[2][5].

Yellow perch are also showing up, thanks to last year’s strong hatch. Perch are responding well to live minnows and small jigging spoons, especially if you’re able to hold bottom in the wind. Target them around the Cuyahoga River mouth or off the East 72nd Street Marina. Heavier jig heads help keep your baits down in the current[3][4].

Steelhead are still around in modest numbers, mostly lingering in the Rocky and Chagrin rivers, but that run’s fading. If you’re after silver, small spawn sacs and minnow imitators will draw bites, but expect to work for them at this stage of the season[1][5].

For hot spots today, I’d suggest trying the Rocky River mouth for both smallmouth and late-running steelhead. The nearshore reefs off Edgewater and Gordon Park are steady for walleye this time of spring, with the occasional perch mixed in. Don’t ignore the harbor and breakwall areas either, especially later in the afternoon as water warms up.

In short: It’s a multi-species bonanza right now, so bring a versatile tackle box and be ready to switch things up. Good luck, tight lines, and remember to check the latest local regulations before you go.