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

Good morning from the Lake Erie shoreline. Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, April 30, 2025, fishing update for Cleveland and the surrounding waters.

The spring bite is ramping up with the weather warming and the lake shed of its winter coat. Sunrise today is at about 6:18 AM and sunset at roughly 8:23 PM, giving us a long window to get out and wet a line. Winds are light out of the west and it’s a cool but comfortable start to the morning, with afternoon highs expected around the upper 50s. No rain in sight, just a classic spring day on Erie.

Fish activity is solid right now, especially for walleye anglers. Recent outings off Bolles Harbor and east of Stony Point have seen walleye coming up steady, with some boats landing up to 18 fish in a trip, while others are seeing big females up to 10.5 pounds. The general report is the daytime bite has slowed just a hair since the peak a couple weeks back, but the action is still good, especially early mornings and evenings. Most of the fish are post-spawn and pushing shallower, feeding up and on the move[1][3][5].

Trolling crankbaits remains the winning tactic. White and chrome Bandit lures are hot right now, and snap weights are still making a difference getting baits into the right zone, especially when the wind kicks up or the fish slide a little deeper. Don’t overlook Gold Miner 30s or similar deep-divers as the fish start working out past 18 feet again. Jigging plastics and minnows around structure is putting fish on the board too[1][2].

Other species are waking up as well. Perch and panfish are starting to show around the harbors and inlets, especially Presque Isle Bay. Smallmouth bass are staging and beginning to move in, with anglers landing decent numbers in the bay and even some in the tributaries on tubes, crankbaits, and live minnows. Largemouth and the odd northern pike are also making an appearance in protected water[4].

For baits, stick with natural colors for plastics and minnows if you’re after bass or perch. Walleye folks should keep a spread of Bandits, Flicker Minnows, and Reef Runners in white, chrome, and firetiger on hand. Nightcrawlers and emerald shiners are always a good bet for panfish and perch.

Hot spots to target include the Cleveland Harbor breakwalls, the nearshore reefs off Lorain, and the mouth of the Rocky River for early smallmouth action. Farther west, Bolles Harbor and the waters east of Stony Point are producing walleye limits with regularity.

Tides aren’t a concern on Lake Erie, but water conditions are fair and clearing up, so it’s primed for a good week of fishing. Get out early or late for your best shot at a big fish and take advantage of the warming trend. Good luck out there, and I’ll see you on the water.