Lake Erie Fishing Report: Walleye & Smallmouth Bass Crushing It, Get Out Early Today

Good morning, folks! This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie and Detroit fishing report for Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025.

We're looking at some solid fishing conditions today as a cold front continues to move through the region. Water temperatures are sitting around 38 to 44 degrees depending on where you're fishing, and that cold water has the fish feeding actively. Sunrise is around 7:30 this morning, with sunset coming early at about 4:45 PM, so get out there early and make the most of your daylight.

Let me tell you what's been working lately. Walleye and smallmouth bass are absolutely crushing it across Lake Erie and the Detroit River tributaries right now. We're seeing some fantastic action, especially with the cold temperatures bringing fish tight to the structure. Yellow perch fishing success increased significantly from the previous week, so don't overlook them either.

For tackle, throw vibrating jigs, crankbaits, and topwater baits to generate steady action. If you want to get serious, use a 6-inch minnow on a 3/16-ounce jighead paired with a drop-shot rig featuring a PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm on a 3/8-ounce weight. This combo has been devastating on smallmouth. The bigger minnow profile draws fish up off the bottom and handles the wind we've been getting.

Speaking of wind, we've got northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming southwest 15 to 20 knots today, with waves building 2 to 4 feet. By tomorrow that could jump to 15 to 25 knots with waves occasionally reaching 9 feet, so today's your day to get out.

For hot spots, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River mouth are producing quality fish. The northern end of St. Clair has been excellent, though you might need to work the middle of the lake if wind conditions get rough. Focus on areas where fish are sitting tight to the bottom—slow your presentation down and let that jig work the structure.

Thanks for tuning in to your Lake Erie fishing report! Make sure you subscribe for daily updates on conditions, hotspots, and insider tips to help you catch more fish.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI