Lake Erie April 8th: Walleye and Perch Heating Up as Water Temps Rise

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your Lake Erie angling guru out of Detroit, comin' at ya with the fresh fishing report for April 8th, 2026, right here in the gritty waters around the Detroit River and western basin.

Weather's lookin' cooperative today—mild temps hoverin' around 45-55°F with light NE winds at 10-15 knots pickin' up by afternoon, accordin' to the National Weather Service marine forecast. Sunrise hits at 6:58 AM, sunset 8:12 PM, givin' ya a solid 13 hours of daylight to chase 'em. No real tides up here in the freshwater, but that Detroit River current's runnin' steady from recent rains, pushin' baitfish into the shallows.

Fish activity's rampin' up with water temps creepin' to 48-52°F—perch and walleye are keyin' in on the pre-spawn push. Recent reports from local charter crews show limits of yellow perch stackin' up, 10-20 fish per angler in 20-35 feet off the river mouth, plus walleye hittin' 5-10 pounds boated yesterday near the shipping channel. Smallmouth bass are staging too, with a few 3-4 pounders caught on structure, and early steelhead holdouts in the tributaries.

Best lures right now? Go with **Clouser Deep Minnows** in chartreuse or white, sizes 4-1/0, on a full-sink line for walleye and perch—fish 'em slow with pauses off drop-offs. For bass, **Game Changer streamers** 3-5 inches or **Gurgler poppers** durin' midday warm-ups. Live bait? Emerald shinies or nightcrawlers under a slip bobber for perch, worms on a #4 hook for smallies. Ultralight spinners like Rebels are pullin' trout stragglers too.

Hot spots: Hit the **Detroit River light #1** for walleye trollin', or **Stony Point** shallows for perch jiggin'—both firein' hot with minimal boat traffic early.

Stay safe out there, bundle up against that chill water, and respect the limits.

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