Artificial Lure here with your November 4th fishing report for Lake Erie and the Detroit River. Cold air moved in overnight, and we’ve got a brisk start on the water, with southwest winds building through the morning. Today’s marine forecast from the National Weather Service calls for southwest winds at 20-25 knots, flipping to west later. On the lake, expect 3 to 6-foot waves—so keep to protected areas and keep an eye on those whitecaps.
Sunrise today was at 7:10 AM, and sunset will be at 5:27 PM, which gives folks plenty of daylight for working those mid-morning bites. Air temps are starting around the low 40s °F and will only creep into the mid-40s as clouds thicken, with rain holding off until later in the week.
Recent catches in these waters, as reported by local tackle shops and angler boards, include solid numbers of late-season walleye from Monroe to the mouth of the Detroit River—most boats running deep diving crankbaits, specifically Reef Runners in purples and metallics, or trolling with Bandit cranks near the channel edges. Shore anglers by Wyandotte have been picking off perch using minnows and small jigs, with best results during the early twilight.
Lake Erie’s smallmouth bass activity has been steady through the past week, especially off the rocky points and humps west of Point Mouillee. Anglers are chucking tube baits and drop shots with green pumpkin or watermelon plastics, adjusting weight for the wind. On calm pockets, Ned rigs and finesse swimbaits have drawn bites. Recent bass tourney results posted by Major League Fishing featured limits over 18 lbs, with some chunky 4-5 pounders weighed in.
Water temps are sitting around 48-50°F—meaning the big fish are hungry and putting on winter weight. With last week’s Ontario province announcement investing in Lake Erie fisheries, expect these waters to remain productive for years to come.
Local bait shop reports from Monday indicate perch were biting well using emerald shiners and fatheads, especially near the mouth of the Detroit River and scattered weed beds off Grosse Ile. Early morning and dusk remain your best windows.
Don’t forget about those bonus steelhead showing up near the river mouths and deeper lake breaks—run spoons or spawn sacs on the drift if you get a chance.
Best bet lures right now:
- **Crankbaits** (Bandit, Reef Runner) in metallic and dark shades for walleye
- **Tube jigs** and **drop shots** in green pumpkin for smallmouth
- **Live minnows** or finesse plastics for perch
Hot spots to hit today:
- **Wyandotte shoreline** for perch and walleye (especially if you want action without the rougher lake waves)
- **Point Mouillee rock piles** and humps for smallmouth bass
- **Grosse Ile weed beds** for mixed bag perch and the odd northern pike
Always remember to check for any low water advisories before launching, as the lake levels have shifted this week.
That’s your Lake Erie and Detroit River fishing update for November 4th. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a bite! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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