Lake Erie Fishing Reports & Blogs
Lake Erie Reports & Blogs with Captain Destin DeMarion
March on Lake Erie: Ice-Out Signals, Jumbo Perch, and the Rise of “Fuzzy” Baits
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
Preparing for Ice-Out: What’s Ahead on Lake Erie
There’s a stretch of the calendar on Lake Erie, that lives between ice season and the chaos of full-blown spring. It might not be the most flashy or action packing part of the season, but it can be of the most interesting and productive windows of the year. As winter begins to loosen its grip, Presque Isle Bay consistently comes to life earlier than the main lake. Protected water, darker bottom, and shallow depths allow it to warm faster, even while ice still lingers elsewhere. What follows is essentially an extension of ice fishing season, only now it’s accessible by boat. This is when jumbo
A Winter Stretch, Show Season, and Looking Ahead to Spring on Lake Erie
The last few weeks have been a reminder of how quickly plans can change, and how valuable it is to slow down when you are given the opportunity. I recently returned from a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with Grace Church, serving alongside the team at Casa Misionera. What was planned as a standard trip turned into a longer stay after winter weather delayed our return home by several days. While unexpected, the extra time added real depth to the experience. Getting to know the people there, hearing their stories, and seeing what God is doing through that ministry brought a perspective that stays
Why Good Electronics Don’t Always Lead to Better Fishing
Fishing electronics have come a long way. Many anglers reading this started fishing without GPS, mapping, or sonar at all. You learned by watching the water, reading conditions, and paying attention to what worked and what didn’t. Electronics were simple, if they existed at all. Fast forward to today, and we’re in a very different place. High-resolution mapping, side imaging, and forward-facing sonar are now common topics of conversation. For some anglers, especially those who grew up with technology and resources like YouTube, learning these tools comes quickly. For others, the pace of change has been harder to keep up with. Neither approach is wrong.
How to Choose the Right Fishing Rod (Without Overthinking It)
One of the questions I get more than just about anything else is how to choose the right fishing rod for a specific technique or species. Length, power, action, line choice. All of it matters, but not always in the way people think. Most frustration with rod selection comes from buying something that looks right on paper but never quite feels right on the water. Over the years, guiding trips, fishing tournaments, and spending countless hours on Lake Erie across multiple species, I’ve learned that rod selection is less about chasing specs and more about understanding how a rod actually behaves. Small changes in length,
Guide Trip Greatest Hits
