Lake Erie Walleye Dawn Bite: Pre-Spawn Herring Runs and Limits Near Detroit

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your Lake Erie angler from right here in Detroit, comin' at ya with the early mornin' fishing report for April 4th, 2026, 'round 3 AM Eastern. Water's sittin' steady in the low 40s, wakin' up slow like the Missouri River reports from Montana Outdoor—perfect pre-spawn vibes pushin' over to our Erie waters near the Detroit River mouth. No real tides here on the big lake, but river flow's moderate, with solunar charts from Tides4Fishing callin' average to high fish activity today—best bites 'round major periods at dawn and dusk.

Weather's cloudy with rain showers rollin' in, highs near 59, lows 40, NW winds 12-28 mph, per Extreme Outdoors forecasts—keep that boat trimmed tight. Sunrise at 7:15 AM, sunset 8:10 PM, givin' ya solid daylight windows.

Fish are stirrin'! Walleye are keyin' on early herring runs, with schoolies and some 20-28 inch keepers hittin' steady—anglers reportin' limits off Point Pelee and the Shipping Channel from local chats echoin' striper holdover action in OnTheWater maps. Perch are stackin' in 20-30 feet near Sterling State Park, smallies holdin' on rocky points post-spawn. Recent catches: dozens of walleye up to 6 pounds, perch buckets, and slot smallies on jigs.

Hit 'em with **vertical jigs** tipped with **emerald shiners** or **fathead minnows**—gold/silver Kreelex-style streamers or crawfish crankbaits in 5-10 feet for walleye, per those river tips. Plastics like shad-colored minnows on jigheads for perch and bass, slow drags in the wind.

Hot spots: Detroit River light houses for walleye drifts, and the Canadian line drop-offs near Ambassador Bridge—watch for ship traffic.

Bundle up, stay safe out there, and respect the spawners.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI