COLUMBUS, Ohio – Results from the 2025 Lake Erie trawl surveys revealed the walleye hatch as the sixth largest of the past 38 years, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The 2025 west zone yellow perch hatch ranks as the seventh largest of the past 38 years, while hatches in the central and east zones were below average.

Data from annual trawl surveys indicate spawning success and survival of young walleye and yellow perch. The results allow biologists to predict how many fish will enter the catchable population as 2-year-olds in 2027. These indices are a key piece of information used by the inter-agency Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to determine annual levels of safe harvest for walleye and yellow perch.

Lake Erie walleye fishing is buoyed by above-average hatches in eight of the past 11 years.

Walleye
Lake Erie has maintained its reputation as The Walleye Capital of the World because of its world-class walleye fishing, fueled by above-average hatches in eight of the past 11 years. The 2025 western basin walleye hatch index, which includes trawl sites in Ohio and Ontario waters, was 128 fish per hectare (a standard measure of catch per area). A hectare is equal to approximately 2.5 acres. This is the sixth largest hatch of 38 years of surveys and is well above the average of 57 fish per hectare.

Walleye production in the central basin remained strong, with a 2025 survey index of 26 young-of-year walleye per hectare, well above the long-term average of 8 per hectare. This index ranks fourth of 36 years of surveys. Central basin walleye hatches are likely a small component of the lake-wide population, but tagging studies suggest that fish hatched in the central basin spend more time there as adults compared to migratory walleye from the western basin. Above average central basin walleye hatches may seasonally provide local fishing opportunities when schools of migratory walleye are not present.


Walleye from the strong 2025 hatches should reach catchable size, surpassing the 15-inch minimum length requirement, as early as spring 2027. Walleye fishing is expected to remain fantastic for many years.

2025 Lake Erie trawl surveys summary.

Yellow Perch
Lake Erie yellow perch are surveyed and managed as regional populations within discrete management zones. The Division of Wildlife uses these zones to monitor yellow perch hatch success and, by comparing results to previous years, determine safe harvest levels.

West Zone
The west zone (Toledo to Huron) yellow perch hatch, as determined from Ohio and Ontario trawl surveys, was above average in 2025 and should make a noticeable contribution to the catchable adult population in 2027. The survey index was 733 young-of-year yellow perch per hectare, above the average of 467 fish per hectare, and ranking seventh of the survey’s 38 years.

Surveys in the past decade have shown a trend of more consistent hatch success in the west zone. This year’s strong hatch, along with contributions from previous years, is expected to support the trend of good yellow perch fishing in 2026 and beyond across the west zone.

Central and East Zones
The central basin is split into two management zones for yellow perch: the central zone (Huron to Fairport Harbor) and the east zone (Fairport Harbor to the Ohio-Pennsylvania border). Survey catches were below average in the central and east zones, with indices of 10 and 5 young-of-year perch per hectare, respectively.

This year, frequent, strong winds limited survey days in the central basin and fewer trawls than usual were completed. Many anglers caught limits of large yellow perch near central basin harbors in late fall 2025, especially near Lorain and Cleveland, indicating that good seasonal opportunities still exist despite lower population sizes.

Variability in regional yellow perch hatch success is expected on Lake Erie because of the size of the lake, differences among basins and zones, and prevailing weather conditions. Hatch success is largely determined by the timing and availability of favorable conditions for both spawning and survival of newly hatched yellow perch in the spring and summer. Strong lake-wide yellow perch hatches are rare.

For more information on the Lake Erie fisheries and to find fishing reports, maps, and more resources, visit wildohio.gov. Download the HuntFish OH mobile app for fishing information on the go.

The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.