Blustery Start to Fall Fishing on Lake Erie

Good morning, anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your September 5th, 2025, Lake Erie and Cleveland fishing report.

The autumn bite is heating up as cooler nights have started nudging both the water temperature and the fish into early fall patterns. Right now, the surface temperature off Cleveland is holding steady around 67 to 72 degrees, with afternoons peaking a touch warmer. That’s keeping the action brisk for a September morning.

Weather-wise, expect a windy Friday with south winds building up to 25 knots and gustier midday. Showers are a strong possibility as a cold front rolls through by evening, kicking waves up to five to nine feet at times, especially offshore, so small craft should take care according to the National Weather Service’s marine forecast. The sky’s starting partly cloudy, with highs aiming for the upper 70s. Sunrise arrived at 6:55 AM and sunset will be right around 7:54 PM according to the Cleveland Metroparks sunrise/sunset table.

Lake Erie tides are minimal, but be wary—these brisk winds are stacking up currents and making for some dangerous undertows today. Edgewater, E55th, and Wildwood Park breakwalls may get a bit dicey after midday; wade and launch with extra caution.

Now, let’s get to the fish. Cleveland Metroparks reports the late-summer walleye run remains decent, with most trollers working in 30 to 50 feet, running shallow-diving crankbaits like the Perfect 10 after dusk for best results. Anglers are routinely picking up ‘eyes from 18 to 26 inches, and it isn’t out of line to box a limit if you put the time in. Steelhead are making their first scattered showings—Edgewater and the mouth of the Rocky River are your best bet for an early chrome surprise, especially tossing classic Little Cleos or Vibrax spinners.

Smallmouth are firing up along rocky structure. The stretch between E72nd and Gordon Park, as well as around the breakwall at Wildwood, is giving up bronzebacks in the two to three pound range. A few largemouth are working the weedbeds near the boat basin at Edgewater—try a green pumpkin tube or a weedless jig.

If you’re chasing panfish or catfish, Wallace Lake and the Cuyahoga ship channel are producing. Nightcrawlers and minnows are the go-tos for perch and white perch, as confirmed by weekly reports coming in from Monroe County, and you’ll find those perch rigs with two or three hooks are outcatching single rigs by a good margin. For flatheads and channel cats, fresh cut shad or lively creek chubs can make your night.

Some bait shop favorites include:
- For walleye: Shallow-diving stickbaits after dark, worm harnesses by day
- For smallmouth: Live shiners or crayfish, Spro crankbaits, Strike King spinners
- For steelhead: Chrome and blue Little Cleos, KO Wobblers, Rooster Tail spinners

Hot spots for the day include:
- Edgewater breakwall at first light and near dusk for walleye and the first steelhead
- E55th pier for a multi-species buffet—walleye, catfish, and occasional steelhead
- Rocky River marina mouth for a shot at smallmouth and newly arriving steelhead
- Wildwood Park breakwall for perch, smallmouth, and surprise trout

Remember, today’s strong winds and possible storms demand extra caution—keep a close eye on that forecast, especially if you’re running offshore.

Thanks for tuning in to the daily Lake Erie fishing report from Artificial Lure. Remember to subscribe, and best of luck on the water this weekend!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, anglers. This is artificial lore. With your September fifth,
twenty twenty five Lake Erie and Cleveland Fishing report. The
autumn bite is heating up as cooler nights have started
nudging both the water temperature and the fish into early
fall patterns. Right now, the surface temperature off Cleveland is
holding steady around sixty seven to seventy two degrees, with

(00:24):
afternoons peaking a touch warmer. That's keeping the action brisk
for a September morning. Weather Wise, expect a windy Friday
with south winds building up to twenty five knots and
gustier midday showers are a strong possibility as a cold
front rolls through by evening, kicking waves up to five
to nine feet at times, especially offshore, so small craft

(00:48):
should take care. According to the National Weather Service's Marine forecast,
the sky starting partly cloudy with highs aiming for the
upper seventies. Sunrise arrived at six fifty five am and
sunset will be right around seven fifty four pm. According
to the Cleveland Metro Park's sunrise sunset table. Lake Erie
tides are minimal, but be wary these brisk winds are

(01:11):
stacking up currents and making for some dangerous undertows. Today
Edgewater E fifty fifth and Wildwood Park break walls may
get a bit dicey after midday weighed and launch with
extra caution. Now let's get to the fish. Cleveland Metroparts
reports the late summer Walleye Run remains decent, with most
trollers working in thirty to fifty feet, running shallow diving

(01:33):
crank baits like the perfect ten after dusk for best results.
Anglers are routinely picking up eyes from eighteen to twenty
six inches, and it isn't out of line to box
a limit if you put the time in. Steelhead are
making their first scattered showings. Edwater in the mouth of
the Rocky River are your best bet for an early
chrome surprise, especially tossing classic little klios or Vibrac spinners.

(01:56):
Small mouth they're firing up along Rocky structure. The stretch
between E seventy second and Gordon Park, as well as
around the break wall at Wildwood, is giving up bronze
backs in the two to three pound range. A few
large mouth are working the weed beds near the boat
basin at Edgewater. Try a green pumped in tube or
a weedless jig. If you're chasing panfish or catfish. Wallace

(02:18):
Lake and the Queerhrga Ship Channel are producing night crawlers
and minnows are the go tos for perch and white
parch as confirmed by weekly reports coming in from Monroe County,
and you'll find those perch ridge with two or three
hooks are out catching single rigs by a good margin.
For flatheads and channel cats. Fresh cut shad or lively
creekd chubs can make your night. Some bait shop favorites

(02:39):
include quote for walleye shallow diving, stick baits after dark,
worm harnesses by day for smallmouth, live shiners or crayfish
spro crank baits, strike king spinners for steelhead, chrome and
blue little clios, ko wogglers, rooster tail spinners. Hot spots
for the day include breakwall Edwater breakwall at first light

(03:04):
and near dusk for walleye in the first steelhead e
fifty fifth peer for a multi species buffet, walleye catfish,
and occasional steelhead. Rocky River, Marina Mouth for a shot
at smallmouth and newly arriving steelhead. Wildwood Park breakwall for perch, smallmouth,
and surprise trout. Remember today's strong winds and possible storms

(03:28):
demand extra caution. Keep a close eye on that forecast,
especially if you're running offshore. Thanks for tuning in to
the daily Lake Erie fishing report from Artificial War. Remember
to subscribe, and best of luck on the water this weekend.
This has been a quiet please production. For more check
out Quiet please dot ai