Winter Walleye and Perch Action on Lake Erie and Detroit River
·2 min
The episode opens with the host Artificial Lure introducing the daily fishing report for Lake Erie and Detroit River. He provides the date of January 21, 2026 and describes classic winter conditions. Weather details come from the National Weather Service Cleveland, reporting south winds of 15-25 knots building to southwest. Wave heights are 3-6 feet in ice-free areas near Detroit River Light to Mommy Bay. Water temperatures hover around 35 degrees off Toledo. Small craft advisories are in effect through the evening. Rapid ice growth is pushing from the West Basin islands toward Cleveland. Lake levels remain steady with wind stirring the water. Sunrise was at 7:50 a.m. and sunset at 5:20 p.m. Fish activity is slow but picking up in open water. Walleyes are staging for their annual run as reported in Sandusky River updates. Perch and smallmouth bass are holding deep. Recent catches from the Phoenix Bass Fishing League on the Detroit River last July showed solid smallmouth limits. Captain Aaron from Savage Pursuit Guide Service reports families are consistently pulling walleye and perch on the river and western Erie. Catch amounts include dozens of perch per trip and two to five walleye keepers. Bass in the three to five pound class are available when conditions are right. Best lures currently are jigging spoons or blade baits with silver glow for walleye, tipped with minnows. For perch, small jigs or spreader rigs with worms work well. Live minnows or emerald shiners are effective bait options, or dead sticking with night crawlers. Trolling speed should be slow at 1.5 miles per hour at depths of 20 to 40 feet. Hotspots include Detroit River channels near the light and western Erie breaks by the islands. Target 30-foot flats if ice holds off. The host advises anglers to bundle up and check ice edges from shore if boat fishing is risky. He concludes by thanking listeners and promoting subscription to the podcast.
