Lake Erie Fishing Report: Walleye, Bass, Perch, and Pike Bites Strong Around Cleveland

This is Artificial Lure reporting on fishing in and around Lake Erie by Cleveland, Saturday, August 16th, 2025.

If you’re heading out early, sunrise was at 6:30 AM with sunset at 8:23 PM. This gives you plenty of daylight to work with. The lake is settling into a calm stretch, with water temperatures near Belle Isle at 79 degrees and waves staying at a mellow 1 foot or less. Light south winds below ten knots will make for smooth boating. Forecasts from the National Weather Service call for mostly sunny skies; watch for a chance of showers overnight as a cold front approaches later in the weekend. Tides aren’t a big factor here, but those weather conditions help drive fish activity.

Let’s talk walleye first. The bite is still strong, especially off the Cleveland coastline in 65 to 72 feet of water. Anglers are reporting steady catches trolling crawler harnesses—double willow blades in chartreuse or purple are producing best. Inline weights are letting folks stay down in the strike zone. Early morning and early evening runs seem most productive, with schools moving deeper midday. Reports from Tall Tales Tackle say most boats are filling limits of quality fish, averaging 17 to 22 inches, many keeping a half dozen or more for the cooler.

Smallmouth bass are showing up strong around rocky structure—think the breakwalls near Edgewater, the old crib reefs out from Gordon Park, and the east side of the Cleveland Harbor. Tube jigs in green pumpkin, Ned rigs, and drop-shotting with Gulp minnows are bringing bass to hand. The Nishine Lure Works Erie 115TW topwater is getting noticed locally, especially for largemouth up inside the marinas and boat slips where docks shade the water and baitfish stack. Pea gravel flats and steep drop-offs are places to target throughout the day.

Yellow perch runs are improving, too, with decent numbers coming from 48 to 55 feet straight north of Wildwood Park and the NE corner of the breakwall. Emerald shiners remain the undisputed bait king for perch—fish them on double hook rigs right on the bottom. Most of the keepers are running ten to twelve inches, with a few bigger slabs. Mix in plenty of white bass and the odd channel catfish for good measure.

If you’re interested in toothy critters, northern pike are active. Points east, around the mouth of the Cuyahoga and Gordon Park, are local hot spots. Pike are coming on silver spoons, large stickbaits, and live chubs under a bobber. Reports from Buffalo and west into Sandusky show solid catches—if you want big fish action, cast or troll deeper edges of the harbor where baitfish congregate.

Today’s best bets:
- Walleye: 65–72 feet off Cleveland, trolling harnesses and deeper crankbaits.
- Smallmouth bass: rocky areas at Edgewater and Gordon Park, tube jigs, drop-shot rigs.
- Perch: 48–55 feet near Wildwood Park, double hook rig with emerald shiners.
- Pike: Cleveland east breakwalls and harbor edges, spoons or big live baits.

Two hot spots to check this weekend: Wildwood Park for perch and Edgewater breakwall for bass and walleye. Both have solid parking, easy launches, and lots of local anglers willing to share a tip.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Lake Erie fishing report. Please subscribe, stay safe out there, and tight lines! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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