Late Spring Fishing Frenzy on Lake Erie and Detroit River

This is Artificial Lure with your Friday, May 30th, Lake Erie and Detroit area fishing report.

We’ve slid into late spring prime time, and I’m happy to say the fishing is matching the season. Weather-wise, anglers are enjoying nearly perfect conditions today—partly cloudy skies, temps topping out at 72, and a southwest breeze around 5-10 mph. That’ll set you up for a pleasant day on the water and help drive active feeding from the morning into dusk. Sunrise was at 5:57 AM, sunset’s 8:53 PM, so you’ve got plenty of daylight to chase a limit.

Walleye action is staying hot. According to recent Lake Erie charters and reports, most fish are running a solid 3–5 pounds, with the occasional 24–27-inch trophy popping up in coolers. The Detroit River mouth is loaded with hungry post-spawn walleye, and the western basin islands—think Grosse Ile and the Celeron Island flats—are producing steady catches. Trolling crawler harnesses with copper, chartreuse, or purple blades has been the ticket, but don’t overlook Z-man plastics when things slow down. For folks vertical jigging or drifting, a jig tipped with a nightcrawler or minnow will keep rods bending. Mornings and evenings deliver the best bite, as the fish are up and feeding around the weed edges and moving water.

Yellow perch fishing continues to improve by the week. The bite is on in 15–25 feet, and anglers are seeing quality with schoolies in the 9 to 11-inch range. Minnows on spreaders, especially around the Detroit River mouth and the humps of the central basin, are doing the most damage. If you want a mess of perch for the table, this is your moment.

Smallmouth bass are straight-up fired up right now. Hit the rocky points along the west shoreline or the weedy bays for largemouth. Plastics in natural colors, tubes, and crankbaits are all working—just keep your presentation close to bottom structure. The warm water and steady weather have them in chase mode.

And don’t forget, steelhead and trout have been turning heads with a few exceptional catches. Just last week, one group landed a monster 14-pound steelhead while trolling for walleye—a true Lake Erie surprise and a reminder to keep your gear ready for anything.

For hot spots, circle the Detroit River mouth and western basin islands for mixed bags. Out deeper, target the central basin humps at 30–35 feet for steady action. Port Clinton and Erieau are also top picks if you’re looking to stretch your run or fish the Canadian side.

Grab your license, check your weather apps, and swing by your local bait shop—supplies are stocked and the local reports are fresh. Thanks for tuning in and be sure to subscribe for daily updates and tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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

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