Early Winter Walleye & Smallmouth Bite Holds Strong on Lake Erie-Detroit

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie–Detroit fishing report.

We’re in classic early-winter pattern now: cold, a little cranky wind, but steady fishing for the die‑hards working the Detroit River and western Erie. The National Weather Service marine forecast out of Cleveland is calling for west winds building 15 to 25 knots through the weekend, with main-lake waves 3 to 6 feet offshore, so smaller rigs should tuck in close to shore and work the river or protected bays. Closer in, you’re looking at a stiff chop, air in the upper 20s to low 30s, and that damp lake cold that cuts right through you.

Sunrise this morning hit around 7:50 local, with sunset just after 5:00, so you’ve got a short window—first light and last light are absolutely prime. That low-sun angle’s helping the walleye bite hang on in the river and along the Michigan shoreline reefs.

According to recent Lake Erie Detroit fishing reports on Spreaker, walleye and smallmouth are still biting steady despite the cold front pattern. Anglers this past week have been boxing solid eater-size walleye in the 16–22 inch range, with a decent number of bigger fish mixed in. The better crews are still putting 10–20 fish in the box on a grind, especially those staying mobile and working current breaks. Bass guys are reporting fewer numbers but some heavy late-season bronzebacks hanging on rock and shipping-channel edges.

Best producers right now:

- For **walleye** in the river and nearshore Erie:
Stick to vertical jigging with 3/8 to 5/8 oz jigs in chartreuse, purple, or firetiger, tipped with minnows. Blade baits in silver, gold, and purple have been hot when the sun’s up a bit—lift just off bottom and let them flutter down. Handliners are still sneaking out when the wind allows, running shallow stickbaits in natural shiner, clown, and blue chrome in that 18–24 foot range.

- For **smallmouth**:
Tube jigs in green pumpkin, goby, and smoke with flake, worked painfully slow on rock piles and along the edge of the shipping channel. A dropshot with a small baitfish-style plastic is picking up the more finicky fish. Live minnows on a simple bottom rig will still out-fish plastics on the tougher days.

Live emerald shiners and golden shiners are the go‑to bait across the board right now. With the water this cold, scent and subtle action matter: hook those minnows lightly through the lips and keep your jigging strokes short—less is more.

Couple of local hot spots to circle:

- **Trenton Channel and down toward Grosse Ile**: Classic winter walleye water. Work the inside turns, current seams, and any stretch with a little color change in the water. Vertical jig right under the boat and watch that electronics screen tight to bottom.

- **Breast Bay and out toward Brest Bay Reef / Stony Point** on the Michigan side: When the wind lays down enough to sneak out, fish the 16–22 foot band, dragging jigs or blades near bottom. This has been a steady producer for eater walleye when main-lake conditions allow.

Ice is just starting to tease in some back bays and marinas, and the Coast Guard has already kicked off ice-breaking operations on portions of the Great Lakes, so don’t trust any skim ice you see. Open-water tactics still rule, and safety gear—float suit, PFD, and a solid float plan—is not optional in this weather.

That’s the word from the river and western Erie today from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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