Night Trolling Detroit River | Savage Pursuit

Night Trolling for Walleye on Detroit River

Picture this: the sun's gone down, the Detroit River's humming with activity below the surface, and walleye are moving shallow to feed like there's no tomorrow. That's what you're signing up for with our night trolling trip during the annual walleye spawn. This isn't your typical day on the water—it's prime time fishing when these fish throw caution to the wind and attack anything that looks like dinner. We're talking about some of the fastest action you'll see all season, with limits coming quick for anglers who know where to be when the bite turns on.

What to Expect on the Water

Our Detroit River night trolling adventure puts you right in the heart of one of the Great Lakes' most productive walleye fisheries during their spawning season. You'll be fishing alongside up to three other anglers in our top-rated setup, working the proven spots where walleye stack up year after year. The Detroit River connects Lake Huron to Lake Erie, creating a natural funnel that concentrates massive numbers of spawning walleye. As darkness settles in, these fish abandon their deep-water haunts and move into the shallows to feed aggressively before spawning. The bite can be so hot that we often hit our limits within the first couple hours. Don't expect to catch much sleep on this trip—when the walleye are biting, we're fishing. The river comes alive at night with boat traffic from serious anglers who know this is when the magic happens.

Trolling Tactics That Work

We run a proven trolling spread that's been dialed in through years of chasing spawning walleye on the Detroit River. Our rods are rigged with deep-diving crankbaits in colors that trigger strikes in low-light conditions—think bright chartreuse, hot pink, and glow patterns that walleye can't resist. We'll be pulling these baits at specific speeds and depths, covering water efficiently while staying in the strike zone. The key is reading the electronics and adjusting our presentation as conditions change throughout the night. Water temperature, current flow, and baitfish location all play into where we set up our trolling runs. You'll learn to watch the rod tips for that telltale bounce that signals a fish, and we'll coach you through the fight to make sure every walleye makes it to the net. Our boat is equipped with quality electronics, proper lighting for night fishing, and all the tackle you'll need to capitalize on this world-class bite.

Species You'll Want to Hook

Walleye are the undisputed stars of the Detroit River, especially during their spring spawning run when they become incredibly aggressive and predictable. These golden-colored gamefish typically run 2-6 pounds in the Detroit River system, with plenty of bigger females pushing 8-10 pounds during the spawn. Walleye are notorious for their excellent table fare—many consider them the best-eating freshwater fish in the Great Lakes. What makes them so exciting to target during the spawn is their complete change in behavior. Normally cautious and structure-oriented, spawning walleye throw caution to the wind and feed heavily in preparation for reproduction. They'll hit lures aggressively and fight harder than usual, making for some of the most action-packed fishing of the year. The Detroit River's unique flow and structure create perfect spawning habitat, drawing walleye from both Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Night fishing gives you the edge because walleye are naturally more active in low light, using their excellent night vision to hunt baitfish that can't see them coming.

Time to Book Your Spot

The annual walleye spawn on the Detroit River is a limited-time event that serious anglers plan their whole season around. We're only talking about a few weeks when conditions align perfectly—water temperature, spawning behavior, and weather all have to cooperate. That's why this trip has limited availability and books up fast every year. Once you experience the non-stop action of night trolling during the spawn, you'll understand why anglers travel from across the Midwest to fish the Detroit River. This is your chance to get in on some of the best walleye fishing the Great Lakes has to offer, guided by someone who knows exactly where to find them when they're feeding hardest. Don't wait until the last minute—the spawn waits for no one, and neither do the prime dates on our calendar.