Lake Erie Walleye, Perch, and Bass Bonanza - June 15, 2025 Cleveland Fishing Report

This is Artificial Lure with your June 15, 2025 Lake Erie Cleveland fishing report.

Lake Erie is kicking into high summer gear, and Cleveland-area anglers are reaping the benefits. We’re seeing classic June weather—expect daytime highs near 26°C (about 79°F), nights dipping to 14°C (57°F), and about nine hours of sunshine. Today’s forecast calls for steady conditions, but keep an eye on the sky as mid-month fronts can bring the odd pop-up shower or a bumpy lake. According to the National Weather Service, a ridge of high pressure is holding, so wave action should be moderate, but always check marine bulletins before heading out.

Sunrise this morning was at 5:53 a.m., and sunset will be at 9:03 p.m., giving plenty of daylight to chase a mixed bag.

The walleye bite remains hot all along the Cleveland shoreline. Both local guides and FishUSA’s June 9th report confirm anglers are landing limits from 40 to 45 feet of water during the day, with night bites happening closer to shore in 7–15 feet. Trolling deep-diving plugs and spoons behind divers has been most productive by day. At night, shallow plugs like Bandits or Smithwick Rogues are turning big fish close to breakwalls and near the mouths of the Cuyahoga and Rocky Rivers.

Yellow perch action is picking up in the harbors and lakefronts. Ohio DNR notes spreaders or crappie rigs tipped with emerald shiners are your best bet, with the daily limit set at 10 perch per angler in the Central Zone around Cleveland. Target rocky structure or traditional haunts like the east end of the Cleveland breakwall and near E. 72nd St. marina.

Bass fishing is still solid. Cleveland Metroparks and FishUSA both mention smallmouth and largemouth are being caught in good numbers in the harbors and river mouths. Try drop shot rigs or jigs rigged with swimbaits, especially early and late in the day. Remember, black bass possession is limited to one fish over 18 inches until June 21 per Ohio DNR regs, so catch and release is still the name of the game for most folks.

Steelhead reports are slowing, but you could still connect with a summer-run fish tight to harbor mouths or pierheads, especially early morning, by drifting spawn sacs or casting spoons. If you’re lucky, a bonus lake trout could be in the mix.

A couple hot spots to hit:
- The Cleveland breakwall, both east and west ends, especially for nighttime walleye and daytime perch.
- E. 55th Street Marina area—great for mixed-bag outings, especially walleye and smallmouth.

Best bait and lures:
- Emerald shiners for perch
- Deep-diving plugs and spoons for walleye in deep water, shallow crankbaits at night
- Swimbaits or drop-shot rigs for bass

That wraps it for today around Lake Erie, Cleveland—thanks for tuning in to your local fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily angling updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.