Saturday Swell: A Great Lakes Fishing Report for Lake Erie and the Detroit River

Good morning—this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie and Detroit fishing report for Saturday, November 15th, 2025, coming to you straight from the banks and marinas where the bite is always a local legend.

First light broke this morning at 7:18 AM and you’re looking at sundown at 5:15 PM, giving you a solid window to hit the water. The sky is mostly cloudy today with a light south breeze at 5-10 knots, building to about 10-15 knots in the afternoon, then swinging southwest. Water temps near Detroit are sitting tight around 45 degrees off Toledo and 51 off Cleveland, so it’s cold, but not out of play for our hardy local fish. According to the National Weather Service, the lake is calm this morning with waves less than a foot, but watch for things to kick up to 2-4 feet this afternoon as that wind shifts. Sunday looks windier, so now’s your best bet for comfort and safety.

There’s no true tidal swing on Lake Erie, but wind does push water around and you’ll want to watch for that edge effect, especially in river current zones and near creek mouths after breezy nights.

As for the fishing—it’s late autumn, with water cooling but not locked in just yet, and fish are definitely on the move. Recent chatter on the Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum and reports from local shops say smallmouth are still moving in schools from the deeper summer structure to shallower haunts, following baitfish wherever they bunch up. Anglers in the Detroit River, particularly between Belle Isle and the mouth, are pulling in smallies in the 2-4 pound range with some real bruisers caught close to 5 pounds. Walleye action is consistent near the River Mouth and out into Brest Bay, with a few limits reported over the last week.

For lures, this is the time for classic late-fall selections. Drop-shot rigs tipped with soft plastics like a smoky gray shad or a green pumpkin worm are getting loads of bites, especially when worked along the bottom contour in 18-25 feet. Blade baits—think silver or gold—have been slammin’ the smallmouth and even some bonus walleye in these chilly temps. Crankbaits with a slow wobble, in natural or chrome patterns, are also pulling their weight. Remember, cold-water fish like a slower presentation, so don’t be afraid to drag or hop those jigs gently.

Live bait, if you can get it, is always welcome—minnows and large shiners fished on a simple jighead in current breaks will draw interest from both bass and walleye. Nightcrawlers still have a place, worked slowly through any weedline or drop-off you can find.

Walleye catch counts are ticking up as we move deeper into November, with several groups reporting quick limits near the river’s mouth using vertical jigging tactics and live bait. White bass, perch, and the ever-present silver bass are showing sporadically in the Detroit River near the shipping channel and the islands.

Hot spots to hit today:
- **The mouth of the Detroit River** near Lake Erie Metropark—current breaks, especially where baitfish are stacked up, are loaded with both bass and walleye.
- **Wyandotte Horseshoe and Grassy Island area**—great for vertical jigging and a fall favorite for locals in-the-know.
- If you’re looking to stay sheltered, duck into the Trenton Channel and target those deep holes near the Edison plant outflow—warmer water there can mean more active fish.

Big news for the region: Lake Erie’s fishery is getting new investment, with Ontario’s facilities stepping up efforts and ongoing habitat restoration projects—good stuff for the long-term health of the system, keeping our fisheries strong for years to come.

That’s the word on the water today. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for tomorrow’s action and instant tips from the dock to the drop-off.

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