Lake Erie

Lake fishing Michigan · 05:48 - 21:03

Lake Erie is a lake in Michigan. The fish here are ranked by weather, water temperature and season, see the likely catch below.

View on Google Maps Directions

Conditions right now

Weather

Light rain

Water temp (est.)

69°F

Air temp

65°F

Wind

19 mph

Pressure

29.68 inHg → stable

Clouds

100.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Updated 2026-06-17 14:57

Best times today

Dusk 19:48–21:48 Night 21:48–05:03

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

Next hours

08:00

65°

09:00

65°

10:00

64°

11:00

64°

12:00

64°

13:00

64°

14:00

65°

15:00

66°

16:00

67°

17:00

68°

18:00

68°

19:00

68°

Likely catch now (17 species)

Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

14%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

14%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season.

Tap for details ↗

Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

14%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season.

Tap for details ↗

Common Carp

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

13%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season.

Tap for details ↗

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

10%

Active through the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

5%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

4%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Brown Trout

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

3%

Slow during the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Brook Trout

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

3%

Slow during the night, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Black Crappie

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

3%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

2%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Bluegill

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

2%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, peak season.

Tap for details ↗

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

2%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

White Bass

White Bass

Morone chrysops

2%

Slow during the night, water near its preferred 21 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

Lake Trout

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

1%

Slow during the night, overcast lifts the bite.

Tap for details ↗

About the fishing here

Lake Erie is a lake in Michigan.

Popular catches here include Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish, Common Carp, Walleye and Muskellunge.

Channel Catfish fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

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.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a ledger bait for channel catfish, the most likely catch right now.

Timing This is a prime window for channel catfish at night. Fish hard now.

Depth The water is colder than the fish like. Fish deep and slow. Look towards deeper water.

Colour Low light: try strong scent, yellow or blood red for channel catfish.

Lure Ledger bait for channel catfish: Stinkbait on the bottom.

Fishing permit

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

Take Me Fishing

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

Pymatuning Reservoir Ohio · 51.8 mi away LaDue Reservoir Ohio · 52.9 mi away Mosquito Creek Lake Ohio · 57.4 mi away French Creek Pennsylvania · 62.6 mi away Michael J Kirwan Reservoir Ohio · 69.2 mi away French Creek Pennsylvania · 72.0 mi away Meander Creek Reservoir Ohio · 73.5 mi away Conewango Creek Pennsylvania · 105.3 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Lake Erie?

Popular catches here include Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish, Common Carp, Walleye, Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth 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?

Channel Catfish fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

What is biting at Lake Erie right now?

Right now Channel Catfish is the most likely catch, at about 14%.