Lake Erie Fishing Report 2025

Hey there, fishing folks! Welcome to Lake Erie—yep, the one and only Walleye Capital of the World. I’m Kris from Sir Walleye Charters, based right here in Port Clinton, and I’ve got some good news: 2025 is looking like a heck of a year to wet a line out on the big lake. Whether you’re chasing walleye or perch, here’s the scoop on what’s coming up.

Walleye: They’re Everywhere, and They’re Hungry

Man, the walleye fishing this year is gonna be something else. We’ve got a lake full of ‘em—about 180 million, give or take—thanks to some killer hatches over the last decade. Think back to 2015: huge hatch. Then 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, and just last year in 2024—boom, more big ones. These fish are mostly 2 to 8 years old, running 20 to 26 inches and weighing anywhere from 2 to 7 pounds. Oh, and there’s still some bruisers from 2014 swimming around—10-year-olds pushing 4 to 8 pounds. You know they’re out there just waiting to test your drag!

The fishery folks from Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Canada all agree: Lake Erie’s walleye game is strong. Even the “off” years have been pretty darn good, and last fall, the wildlife crew said the 2024 hatch was a banger. Some of those little guys were already 10 inches by September—talk about growing up fast! That’s a sign we’re in for awesome fishing, not just this year but for a while down the road. At Sir Walleye Charters, we’re itching to get out there as soon as the ice melts in April. Limits every day ‘til October? You bet we’re counting on it.

Perch: Western Basin’s Bringing It

Now, if perch are more your speed, you’re in luck too. The western basin was hopping with perch in 2024, and with another decent hatch on deck for this year, 2025’s shaping up to be just as solid. We’ve had some great perch years lately—2014 and 2015 were standouts, with ‘15 being one of the top five hatches since they started keeping track back in ’87. That’s putting more perch in the lake, and bigger ones too. So whether you’re all about perch or just like switching it up, we’ve got plenty to go around out here.

What Makes Lake Erie So Darn Good?

Here’s the thing about Lake Erie: it just keeps delivering. Remember 2003? That hatch was insane—over 100 million walleye—and it kept us fishing like champs for years. Nowadays, we’re riding a wave of steady, strong hatches that keep the lake loaded with fish of all sizes. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) backs me up on this—they’re pulling up way more walleye in their surveys than usual. In 2015, they counted 84 per hectare, when the average is more like 32. That’s a lotta fish!

Perch are on the upswing too. The ODNR’s Jeff Tyson—he knows his stuff—says back-to-back good hatches are turning things around in the western basin. A few years back, perch were so scarce they shut down commercial fishing out here, but now? We’re looking at better days ahead, and I’m all for it.

Come Fish with Us!

So, what do you say—ready to hit Lake Erie with me? At Sir Walleye Charters, we’re all about getting you on the fish. We launch out of Port Clinton as soon as the ice is gone in April and keep the rods bending right through fall. Walleye, perch, you name it—we’ve got the boat, the know-how, and the stoke to make it a blast. Swing by sirwalleyecharters.com and book your trip. Trust me, you’re not gonna wanna miss this season.

See you out there—fish on! Get the net!

Kris StoneburnerSir Walleye ChartersPort Clinton, Ohio