Late Summer Action on Lake Erie and the Detroit River

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Erie and Detroit fishing report for Sunday, September 7, 2025. The sun’s just cracked the horizon at 7:07 AM this morning, and you’ve got a good window—sunset will run until 7:53 PM—so there’s plenty of daylight to chase those fish today.

Let’s talk conditions: Today on Lake Erie and the Detroit River, we’re seeing a lingering surface trough, making for a breezy morning with west winds 10 to 15 knots, calming down later. Waves will start around 2 to 4 feet, subsiding to a much friendlier 1 to 3 feet as the day goes on. There’s a slight chance of spotty showers, especially early, but skies should be clear much of the day according to the National Weather Service marine forecast. Temps are hovering cool, keeping fish active in those transitional shallows—great news for fall anglers.

On the Detroit side up into Erie, smallmouth bass are still holding strong on the flats and around the islands. Topwater lures—think poppers and walking baits in the morning—have triggered some impressive strikes, especially when thrown right along weedlines and rocky points. As the sun climbs, switch over to drop shot rigs, tubes, or finesse worms for bass that take cover in deeper structure. According to the Lake Erie, Detroit Daily Fishing Report, catches of smallmouth have been steady, with many anglers reporting 2- to 4-pound fish, and the occasional kicker pushing 5 pounds.

Yellow perch are starting to creep closer to shore, but most catches are still scattered between 12 and 20 feet of water off the metro beaches and down to Brest Bay. Try emerald shiners on spreaders or perch rigs—live bait’s still the ticket with these fish, but if you prefer artificial, a small gold or firetiger jigging spoon can do work, particularly if the bite slows midday.

For walleye, late summer patterns are hanging on. Troll crankbaits or crawler harnesses near the shipping channel edges at the mouth of the Detroit River and out toward Luna Pier. Recent reports have shown solid numbers in the 16 to 20-inch class, with an occasional trophy stretching past 25 inches. Early morning and dusk edges have been best for these toothy critters.

If you’re targeting panfish or looking for some family fun, bluegills and crappie are active in the backwaters and marinas, tucked into dense weed mats. Wax worms or small plastics fished under a float are the go-to.

A couple of hot spots to circle on your map today:
- The Stony Point flats for bass and walleye—rocky outcrops here concentrate fish year-round.
- The mouth of the Detroit River itself, particularly along the Belle Isle shoals and Peche Island edges, has produced consistent perch and multi-species action all week.

A quick reminder: always keep an ear on updated marine forecasts before heading out, as conditions can shift fast on the big lake. Give some respect to the waves and winds, especially if any weather rolls through midday.

That’s your bite update for Lake Erie and Detroit—it’s shaping up to be a classic late summer day with a mix of changing weather and active fish. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.

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