Lake Erie and Detroit River Heat Up: Walleye, Bass, and Perch Season Opens Today
From Lake Erie, Detroit Fishing Report by Inception Point Ai
April 25, 2026 · 3 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the opening of walleye, bass, and perch season in Lake Erie and the Detroit River, highlighting fishing conditions and techniques.
Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for fishin' around Lake Erie and the Detroit River. It's early mornin' on April 25, 2026, and the water's callin'. Weather's shapin' up mild—partly cloudy, temps in the low 60s risin' to upper 60s by afternoon, light winds from the southwest at 5-10 mph. No real tides here on the Great Lakes, but water levels are steady at full pool per Michigan DNR reports. Sunrise hits around 6:45 AM, sunset at 8:30 PM—prime low-light windows for bitin' fish. Fish activity's heatin' up with water temps pushin' upper 60s, spurrin' pre-spawn moves. Walleye and northern pike seasons just opened today in Lower Peninsula waters, says the Michigan DNR—get that new 2026 license! Anglers report quality walleye stackin' in the Detroit River channels and nearshore Erie reefs, hittin' trollin' crankbaits or jigs. Perch are schoolin' shallow, and smallmouth bass are aggressive on shorelines under 5 feet, cleanin' beds. Recent catches: limits of 4-6 lb walleye, perch up to 1.5 lbs, and smallies to 5 lbs from bank anglers. Crappie still hangin' on brush piles post-spawn, nabbed on minnows or jigs. Best lures? Match the hatch—crankbaits in shad or perch…
People in this episode
Host: Artificial Lure
Topics covered
- fishing
- walleye
- bass
- perch
- Detroit River
- Lake Erie
- angling
Keywords
- walleye
- bass
- perch
- Detroit River
- fishing report
- April 2026
- Michigan DNR
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Michigan DNR
Places: Lake Erie, Detroit River, Lower Peninsula, Belle Isle, Stony Point
More episodes of Lake Erie, Detroit Fishing Report
- Early Summer Walleye Bite Heating Up on Lake Erie and the Detroit River · June 13, 2026 · 4 min
- Lake Erie Early Summer: Walleye Limits and Smallmouth on the Rise · June 12, 2026 · 4 min
- Late Spring Lake Erie: Walleye Limits and Smallmouth Action Heat Up · June 11, 2026 · 4 min
- Early Summer Walleye Limits: Lake Erie and Detroit River Fishing Report · June 10, 2026 · 3 min
- Late Spring Walleye Limits and Smallmouth Heat on Lake Erie and the Detroit River · June 9, 2026 · 4 min
- Early June Erie and Detroit River: Walleye Limits and Smallmouth on the Rise · June 8, 2026 · 4 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Lake Erie, Detroit Fishing Report podcast page.