All spots

Lake Erie

Lake fishing  Michigan · 07:01 - 17:15

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

Prime 84% The bite right now
Top bet: Walleye Active through the night, water near its preferred 14 degrees, peak season.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
82%
61°
Fri
83%
57°
Best day
Sat
81%
53°
Sun
74%
52°
Mon
83%
54°
Tue
71%
55°

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.)
56°F
Air temp
65°F
Wind
18 mph
Pressure
29.95 inHg → stable
Clouds
48.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 06:16–08:16 Dusk 16:00–18:00

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

Feeding times today

Waning crescent 30% lit
Major period 07:33–09:33 Major period 19:33–21:33 Minor period 01:28–02:58 Minor period 14:08–15:38

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

04:00
65°
05:00
65°
06:00
64°
07:00
64°
08:00
64°
09:00
63°
10:00
63°
11:00
63°
12:00
62°
13:00
63°
14:00
64°
15:00
64°

Likely catch now (2 species)

Walleye
Sander vitreus
84%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 14 degrees, peak season.
Tap for details ↗
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
14%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 14 degrees.
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 Walleye and Smallmouth Bass.

For Walleye, the fishing tends to peak around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. 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 walleye, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for walleye at night. Fish hard now.
Colour Low light: try chartreuse, orange or firetiger for walleye.
Lure Soft-plastic jig for walleye: Jig with worm or plastic.
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 Walleye and Smallmouth Bass.

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?

Walleye fishing is usually best around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

What is biting at Lake Erie right now?

Right now Walleye is the most likely catch, at about 99%.