Lake Erie Fishing Report: Walleye, Perch, and Bass Bites Heating Up

Good morning from the Lake Erie shoreline—this is Artificial Lure with your Cleveland fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.

We kicked off the day with sunrise at 5:52 a.m. and anglers were already out, rods in hand, taking advantage of a long window before sunset at 9:03 p.m. Weather’s cooperating nicely—it’s partly cloudy, sitting in the mid-70s, and there’s just a light northwest breeze. That means ideal conditions for both boaters and shore folks, but remember: Lake Erie can change on a dime, so keep an eye out for that signature chop, especially into the afternoon.

While Lake Erie isn’t tidal, water levels have stayed at their summer norm. There’s just enough fluctuation to keep baitfish up shallow and predators like walleye on the hunt. Today’s conditions have kept the water moving, making for active fish and a promising bite window.

Fish activity is running high as we push into late June. Recent reports from the Cleveland Metroparks and area anglers say the walleye are still the main event—solid limits are coming out of 40-45 feet of water by midday for those trolling spoons and plugs on divers. If you’re chasing that after-dark action, the night bite is on fire in 7-15 feet; shallow crankbaits like Bandits or Perfect 10s are the ticket, especially around rock piles and breakwalls, with the daily state limit at 6 per angler and a 15-inch minimum.

Yellow perch are starting to wake up too—look for schools off the east end of the Cleveland breakwall and around the mouth of the Cuyahoga. Most folks are filling buckets with fatheads or emerald shiners on simple crappie rigs. Expect a mix of eaters in the 8–12-inch range.

Smallmouth bass are making noise from the rocky shorelines along Edgewater and up to the mouth of the Rocky River. Early mornings with drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs, or tubes in green pumpkin are producing strikes. If you want to mix things up, try tossing a jerkbait or blade bait off the drop-offs—bass are keying in on shad and minnow imitations as baitfish move shallow.

For those after channel cats, the Ohio & Erie Canal and Wallace Lake remain loaded from recent stockings according to the Cleveland Metroparks. Fresh cut bait or chicken livers are accounting for plenty of action.

Hot spots? You can’t go wrong trolling west of the Cleveland lighthouse out to about 45 feet, especially from Edgewater Park westward. The east end of the breakwall, near Gordon Park, is also firing for both walleye and perch right now.

Top baits for today are jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or leeches, crankbaits in purple and chartreuse, and classic spoons for trolling. For live bait, you can’t beat minnows, worms, or leeches this time of year.

Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Erie Cleveland fishing report. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a bite, and remember to check your local regulations before heading out. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.