Bass fishing in Erie, PA can be one of the most fun experiences for someone who enjoys catching smallmouth bass. Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay consistently rank in Bassmaster’s top 10 Northern fisheries each season. The sheer numbers of fish, not to mention the size, can be exceptional.
SPRING SMALLMOUTH BITE
Smallmouth bass migrate from the main Lake Erie into Presque Isle Bay and more protected harbors and the surrounding areas. This is generally the time of year people from all over the Eastern United States, and further, venture up to our neck of the woods in search of our plump, goby fed smallmouth bass. With any prespawn bite, fish are usually moving and changing weekly, daily, and even hourly. Smallmouth move throughout Presque Isle and Lake Erie looking to feed up for the rigors of the spawn cycle.
As the water warms up, so does their aggressive nature. Alabama Rigs, swimbaits, and hard baits, like jerkbaits, become some of the best and most fun ways to catch them. Everyday is different and some days you’ll need to slow down with finesse presentations like tube jigs, ned rigs and drop shots to pluck these bronze brutes from our waters.
As a majority of bass switch from prespawn to spawn, a lot of aggressive presentations start to wane and the finesse stuff picks up substantially. Patience is a virtue and key flats on the Lake and Bay will hold a lot of the population of fish. This cycle continues for a month or so, before the postspawn cycle begins.
SUMMER SMALLMOUTH BITE
As the days get longer and hotter, bass begin to filter out of the shallower areas used for spawning and look for the cool, beautiful, clearish green waters of the main Lake Erie. As was the case during the prespawn period, they are constantly moving and headed to areas they will plan to spend their summers when the stable, hot weather takes hold. Look for hungry smallmouth along these migration paths heading from spawning areas out to where the bait goes.
This is prime ‘drop shot time’ for targeting our now fattened back up smallies. In the summer, it is crucial to be savvy with your electronics, as finding and staying on these deep water smallmouth can take some trial and error for the inexperienced and experienced angler alike. Once again, ned rigs, tube jigs and other baits you are able to fish in deeper depths, will be effective as well.
FALL SMALLMOUTH BITE
As the Northern winds start to blow and cooler air is welcomed in Erie, PA after a hot summer, bass begin to migrate once again to their fall haunts. Baitfish schools scatter and move to find more nutrients and optimal water conditions as thermoclines break up and drive them all over the water column, with bass right behind them. This is generally one of the toughest times to stay on a consistent bite, but for the one who continues to seek, when you find them, they are usually big and hungry brown fish.
Power fishing presentations become more viable once again as the smallmouth bass key in on migratory baitfish. Goby are also present and a smallmouth will never turn down an easy, protein rich meal. The same aggressive presentations like Alabama rigs, swimbaits, and the like will take bass as well as the finesse ones like our drop shots, ned rigs, etc. Each day is different, much like the springtime and fish will continue to group up tighter.
Fall fishing pressure is increasing, but it still pales in comparison to the amount that we receive on Presque Isle Bay in the springtime. Erie smallmouth in the fall reach their pinnacle of heftiness as they feed up to last our harsh Erie, PA winters. As it cools into the 40s and below as we head into wintertime, vertical presentations become ever more effective. Baits like blade baits (my favorite is the Fish Sense Binsky) and jigging spoons can be deadly in the right conditions. Some days finesse it king though with more lethargic Erie smallmouth.
We hope you enjoyed our bass fishing guide for Lake Erie in PA waters. We are thankful for the opportunity to learn more and more about these beautiful Lake Erie smallmouth each season. If you’d like to enjoy some of the great fishing we have to offer, contact Captain Destin DeMarion of Big Fat Bass Guide Service, and chase some beautiful Lake Erie smallmouth!
