This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Erie Cleveland fishing report for Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Starting off with the weather, anglers are waking to mostly clear skies and a crisp morning on the lakefront. According to the National Weather Service, today’s high will reach about 66-68 degrees right near the water, with a northeast breeze picking up as the day goes on—starting at 5 to 15 knots and increasing to 15 to 20 knots by mid-afternoon. Waves will run 1 to 3 feet this morning, building to 2 to 4 feet later, so if you're heading out, plan for a slightly choppy ride as the wind stiffens. The water temps off Cleveland are holding steady at 68 degrees, typical for mid-October after a run of cooler nights.
Sunrise hit at 7:32 this morning, and we’re looking at a sunset at 6:53 tonight. With good surface light and steady water temps, fish activity has been best right around sun-up and again as the sun starts to set—your classic bite windows.
If you’re fishing walleye, the news is still excellent. AA Charters out of Vermilion reported strong catches all week. Recent trips have seen groups bagging up to 24-30 quality walleye per outing, with several “hawgs” over 27 inches hitting the deck. Most boats trolling are running deep diving crankbaits or worm harnesses in 35 to 45 feet of water, especially on the near-shore reefs and just outside the Cleveland breakwalls. In the last couple days, daylight drift fishermen using 1-ounce bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses have also done well, especially during the low-light periods and on those muddy transitions after an east wind.
Perch have scattered but steady catches are still coming in around the East 72nd Street Wall and the “Crib,” just off the water works in about 32 feet. Anglers are soaking emerald shiners on spreaders and getting mixed size—enough for a fish fry if you’re patient. The bite picks up after mid-morning as the sun gets a little higher.
Smallmouth action is going strong for those jigging tube baits or paddle-tail swimbaits around rocky structure and deeper points between Edgewater and Gordon Park. Fish are holding in 18-25 feet, especially in spots with a bit of wind-driven chop—just enough to stir things up. For best results, use watermelon and green pumpkin colors, or go brighter if the water clouds up this afternoon.
Your bait counter rundown: This week, glow and chartreuse crankbaits, silver-bladed harnesses, and green-orange soft plastics have been hottest for walleye. Top local pick is a #7 or #9 deep diving crank in a “purple demon” or “blue chrome” finish. For perch, nothing beats live emerald shiners fished just off bottom. Smallmouths are smashing 3.5” tubes or Strike King Rage Swimmers in goby shades.
Hot spots right now? Two main areas: First, the stretch around Lorain’s dump grounds, about 3 miles out in that 35-40 foot range—boats are piling up and the walleyes are stacked. Second, the east side near Gordon Park and the Cleveland Crib, as both walleye and perch are moving in tighter with the wind shifts.
Finally, no major tide influence on Erie, but these shifting winds can pile water along certain stretches, so check near-shore conditions as you set out.
That’s your Lake Erie, Cleveland fresh fishing update for October 12th. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for your daily report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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