The calendar turning to March is always a major milestone on Lake Erie.
It usually means two things. First, at least in our minds, the worst of winter is behind us. Second, open water fishing will begin at some point this month.
Cabin fever is real in Erie, Pennsylvania. But it is the price we pay for the incredible fishing that follows, from early spring perch and prespawn smallmouth all the way through late fall walleye, bass, and trout before everything locks up again next winter.
Watching the Ice on Presque Isle Bay
I have been keeping tabs on the ice closely. It is softening and breaking up with the wind and warmer temperatures. With a very warm stretch ahead, Presque Isle Bay should lose a significant amount of ice coverage.
The bay always warms faster than the deeper and more expansive main lake. Because of that, it often provides the first real open water fishing opportunities on Lake Erie each spring.
There is a realistic chance we see fishable water there within a week or two.
That does not mean the smallmouth bite immediately explodes. But jumbo perch and panfish usually respond quickly once stable open water develops. Trout opportunities improve as well. Bass typically need another week or two of consistent conditions before they really get going, but once they do, things move fast.
Late March can offer a short but excellent window for jumbo perch fishing in Presque Isle Bay. It is a period many anglers overlook, yet it can produce steady action and quality fish when conditions line up.
If ice cooperates, I am planning to run a handful of perch trips during the final two weeks of March.
Fishing Pressure and the Rise of “Fuzzy” Baits
Going through show season this winter, one theme kept coming up in conversations.
Fishing pressure.
Specifically, how to deal with it on places like Lake Erie where smallmouth see a lot of baits throughout the season.
That brings me to what many are calling the fuzzy bait or dice bait movement.
I first started noticing these Japanese finesse baits in the early 2020s. Like many American anglers, I initially dismissed them. I questioned whether they were just another short lived trend.
That turned out to be a mistake.
By 2023, I had become a believer, largely because of my friend and occasional co angler practice partner, Sakae Ushio.
Sakae is a true finesse fisherman and a very accomplished one. He has won multiple co angler events using techniques many anglers would consider unconventional. One of his confidence baits is the Geecrack Imo Kemushi.
It is essentially a stick bait with fine strands woven through it. The action is subtle, especially when deadsticked, but it consistently triggers bites from pressured and finicky fish. The first tournament we practiced for together, he leaned heavily on that bait and won by a solid margin.
That got my attention quickly.
Why These Baits Work on Lake Erie Smallmouth
Since then, I have experimented with the Imo Kemushi and many other fuzzy and dice style baits. I have even started making my own versions, and still do.
They are not magic. They are not always better than traditional presentations.
But in clear water, high pressure situations like we see on Lake Erie, they can shine.
They excel when:
- Fish have seen every standard presentation
- The bite is neutral
- Conditions are calm and clear
- You need a precise fall rate and subtle presence
I have personally put a number of 5 and 6 pound smallmouth in the boat using these presentations.
That said, there is a learning curve. Hook selection, weight choice, fall rate, and maintaining proper depth in the water column all matter. Much like jig and minnow fishing, small adjustments can make a big difference.
Once you understand when and how to fish them, they become another dependable tool rather than a novelty.
During a recent seminar, someone asked how to combat increasing fishing pressure. I answered simply:
You have to get more crafty.
Fish react to repeated threats. If you can show them something different in profile and fall, especially in clear water smallmouth fisheries like Lake Erie, your odds improve.
Would you throw something unconventional if it meant catching bigger fish? Or do you stick with what you are most comfortable with?
Looking Ahead to Spring and Summer on Lake Erie
Spring preparations are underway. The boat is nearly ready, tackle is being reorganized, and electronics are getting dialed in for another season of guiding on Lake Erie – with a few new tools coming that I know our clients will love.
April is filled to where I like it.
We still have a few May dates available:
May 11th
May 14th
May 22nd
May 25th
May 26th
May 30th
As we move into June, our focus shifts heavily toward Lake Erie walleye casting trips. That bite typically runs strong through summer and into early fall, and those prime June through October dates tend to book quickly once fish settle into consistent patterns.
If you are interested in:
- Early season jumbo perch in Presque Isle Bay
- Learning more about electronics and forward facing sonar
- Targeting trophy smallmouth bass
- Or planning a summer walleye casting trip
There is still some room on the calendar.
Tight lines,
Captain Destin DeMarion
724-790-4232 (4BFB)
Big Fat Bass Guide Service
DestinDeMarion.com
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