November 2025 — Great Lakes: Fall walleye excellent, brown trout on Ontario. November is a late fall month with water in the 44-52°F range — musky peak; walleye trophy season; winter steelhead. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — November 2025
Primary targets this month: Musky, Walleye, Steelhead, Northern Pike.
Musky
Musky on Lake St. Clair, Green Bay, the Niagara, Lake of the Woods, the upper St. Lawrence — world-class trophy fishing. Large bucktails (Cowgirl, Posseidon), big jerkbaits, topwater walking baits in summer, big rubber baits (Bondy Bait, Bull Dawg) in fall. ALWAYS figure-8 at the boat — many trophy musky take on the figure-8.
Walleye
Walleye on Lake Erie (the walleye capital of the world — Western Basin, Bass Islands, the reefs), Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron), Green Bay (Lake Michigan), Lake of the Woods, the Detroit River. Jigging and trolling depending on water temp and forage location.
Steelhead
Steelhead in the tributaries (the Big Manistee, the Pere Marquette, the Salmon River NY, Cattaraugus, Conneaut, the Niagara) for spring and fall runs. Drift fishing eggs and beads, swinging streamers on Spey rods, or center-pin float fishing. Peak runs on tributaries in spring (April-May) and fall (October-December).
Northern Pike
Northern pike on the bays and shallows of every Great Lake — Saginaw Bay, Green Bay, Lake of the Woods, and the protected harbors. Large spinnerbaits, spoons, and jerkbaits in shallow water; live dead-bait (smelt, suckers) under tip-ups through the ice. Wire leader essential.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 44-52°F. Musky peak; walleye trophy season; winter steelhead. Great Lakes have minimal tides; fishing is driven by water temperature, thermoclines, and wind. Salmon hold at the thermocline (typically 50-100 feet in summer). Walleye fishing on Lake Erie is wind-and-current driven — north winds push fish into the reefs. Ice fishing on protected bays is a major winter component.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Musky season peaks. Big baits, cold water, trophy potential.
- Steelhead in tributaries. Fall run — eggs, beads, swung flies.
November Outlook
Late fall — final striper runs, flounder migration peaks, first sustained cold fronts.
Regulations Reminder
Walleye: 15″ minimum, 5-6 per day depending on lake/state. Musky: 40-54″ minimum depending on lake, 1 per day. Catch-and-release strongly encouraged. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Klein’s Sporting Goods (Pennsylvania), Erie Outfitters (PA), The Tackle Box (Saginaw), Frank’s Great Outdoors (Linwood — Saginaw Bay), Marv’s Tackle (St. Catharines ON).
Public Boat Ramps: Catawba State Park (Lake Erie), Mazurik (Lake Erie), Linwood Beach (Saginaw Bay), Bay Port (Saginaw Bay), Manistee River mouth, Frankfort/Manistee (Lake Michigan), Niagara River ramps.
Charter Fishing: $650-$900 walleye (Lake Erie, Saginaw); $700-$1,000 salmon trolling (Lake Michigan/Ontario); $400-$600 panfish/perch; $500-$700 ice fishing guided.
More Great Lakes Resources
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