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Lake Erie

Lake fishing  Michigan · 07:05 - 19:33

Lake Erie is a lake in Michigan. Anglers here fish mainly for Smallmouth Bass and Walleye.

Prime 84% The bite right now
Top bet: Smallmouth Bass Prime feeding window at the dusk, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
84%
76°
Fri
83%
72°
Sat
84%
70°
Sun
83%
66°
Mon
87%
62°
Best day

The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.

Conditions right now

Weather
Partly cloudy
Water temp (est.)
71°F
Air temp
77°F
Wind
21 mph
Pressure
30.07 inHg ↑ rising
Clouds
91.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 06:20–08:20 Dusk 18:18–20:18

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Feeding times today

Waxing crescent 23% lit
Major period 16:22–18:22 Major period 04:22–06:22 Minor period 12:10–13:40 Minor period 21:04–22:34

Solunar times are a traditional guide based on the moon's position, separate from the live ranking above. Local time at the spot.

Next hours

19:00
77°
20:00
77°
21:00
76°
22:00
76°
23:00
75°
00:00
75°
01:00
72°
02:00
71°
03:00
71°
04:00
71°
05:00
70°
06:00
70°

Likely catch now (2 species)

Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
84%
Prime feeding window at the dusk, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details
Walleye
Sander vitreus
61%
Prime feeding window at the dusk, water near its preferred 22 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details

About the fishing here

Lake Erie is the shallowest and warmest of the five Great Lakes, and its western end near the Michigan-Ohio line is regularly ranked among the best walleye fisheries on the continent. Anglers work the reefs and open basin for walleye through spring and early summer, and yellow perch and smallmouth bass fill out the catch once the water warms. The lake is big enough to build a serious chop fast, so a small boat needs a real weather window before heading out onto open water.

Popular catches here include Smallmouth Bass and Walleye.

For Smallmouth Bass, the fishing tends to peak around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Guides for this water

Tips right now

Technique Start with a soft-plastic jig for smallmouth bass, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for smallmouth bass at dusk. Fish hard now.
Colour Low light: try chartreuse, orange or black for smallmouth bass.
Lure Soft-plastic jig for smallmouth bass: Tube jig on rock.
Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

About this water

Lake Erie is the fourth-largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and also has the shortest average water residence time. At its deepest point, Lake Erie is 210 feet (64 m) deep, making it the only Great Lake whose deepest point is above sea level.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Lake Erie?

Anglers here regularly land Smallmouth Bass and Walleye.

Do you need a fishing license at Lake Erie?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Lake Erie?

Smallmouth Bass fishing is usually best around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

What is biting at Lake Erie right now?

Right now Smallmouth Bass is the most likely catch, at about 79%.