"Lake Erie Fishing Report: Walleye, Smallmouth, and Panfish Bites Heating Up"

Good morning from the Lake Erie shoreline in Cleveland. This is Artificial Lure with today’s report, April 23, 2025.

We kicked off the morning with sunrise at 6:58 and we’ll see the sun set tonight at 7:58. Temperatures are hovering in the mid to upper 40s, touching the low 50s this afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy and a southwest wind is picking up. The lake has a little chop, so anglers in small craft should keep an eye on conditions—especially with water temps still chilly in the mid-40s.

The bite is heating up fast. Walleye action has been stellar, especially in nearshore waters and out by the reef complexes. The post-spawn run is in full swing, with fish in the 20 to 26 inch range being caught in good numbers. Trolling Husky Jerks (size 12s) or Tail Dancers has been producing limits, and don’t be shy about pausing your retrieve in the colder water. Anglers jigging tight to bottom are also doing well—just use a heavier jig to stay down on windier days. Some bigger fish are still hanging a little deeper, but lots are moving up shallow near dusk[3][4].

Smallmouth bass are the buzz right now, especially in the rocky stretches around the mouth of the Rocky and Chagrin rivers. Tossing 3-inch olive tube jigs, Ned rigs, or small shad crankbaits has been deadly. Plenty of lake-run smallmouth are moving up the rivers, and you can even pull a “silver and bronze” double—steelhead and smallie in the same outing. There are still a few fresh steelhead, especially in cooler, deeper holes, but they’re tapering off[1][5].

If you’re after panfish, the marinas and the bay areas are holding mixed bags of perch, bluegills, and even some early pike. Nightcrawlers and minnows under a float work well for the variety[5].

Best bets today:
Rocky River mouth and adjacent breakwalls for smallmouth and the occasional steelhead.
Offshore from Edgewater Park and the Cleveland Harbor reef for walleye, especially early and late in the day. The deeper edges off Gordon Park are also worth a troll.

Top lures lately have been Husky Jerks, Tail Dancers, olive tube jigs, and shad-style crankbaits. For bait, emerald shiners and nightcrawlers are hard to beat if you want to mix it up.

That’s it for today—tight lines and see you on the water.