As I’m writing this, cooler weather is finally pushing into the area after a long stretch of hot, dry conditions here on Lake Erie. For early October, water temperatures are still holding at summertime levels — but that will change quickly. Cool nights and lower daytime highs should push fish into full-on fall feeding mode very soon.
Baitfish are starting to group up, with many moving into shallower areas while plenty still remain out deep. The lake feels right on the edge of that big seasonal transition we look forward to every year.
Bass
The bass bite has been a little tougher the past couple weeks thanks to the warm spell, with air temps climbing into the 80s. Staying mobile has been the key — the fish are scattered, but if you cover water, you’ll eventually run into pods. We’ve found better numbers shallow, but some of the best quality fish have come deeper in 35–50 feet. Finesse tactics like a drop shot with various plastics have produced best, though a few have still fallen for power techniques. Expect more techniques to come into play as water temps continue to drop.
Walleye
This lake has been nothing short of incredible for walleye this season (pictured above on the right is client Stephen, with a new personal best of 27″ walleye last week). After guide trips this past weekend, I spent a few evenings jigging with the family — and the results were fantastic. The 70–90’ range has been best for us lately, though there are shallower fish to be caught too. There’s a lot of bait riding high in the water column out deep, so keep that in mind when trolling or casting to stay in the strike zone.
Perch
Perch have been less consistent lately due to the warm-up, but expect them to group up and feed more aggressively as temperatures continue to cool. Traditional methods like crappie rigs and sabikis are great ways to target them, but don’t sleep on drop-shotting plastics or light jigging — both can be highly effective (and fun). Look for perch to migrate closer to Presque Isle Bay in the coming weeks.
Trout
There hasn’t been much word on lake trout yet, and the steelhead run has been slow to start. Low water levels from ongoing drought conditions have kept fish from pushing into the creeks. We’re finally getting some rain today, but the forecast looks mostly dry again afterward. Once we get a few solid rain events, expect things to pick up quickly. As for lake trout, we’re probably a few weeks to a month away from prime casting conditions — the colder the better in my opinion.
Looking Ahead
Our October calendar is pretty well booked, but we still have some prime November dates open for trophy bass, walleye, lake trout, and perch. November offers one of the best chances all year to connect with truly trophy-caliber fish — they’re fattened up for winter and feeding hard. If you don’t mind a little cold, November can be pure magic on Lake Erie. Let’s connect!
Tournament Time
I’m gearing up to head up to Buffalo this weekend for the Canadian Tire Open on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. It’s a fantastic, well-run event that draws some of the best anglers from both sides of the border. I’ll be fishing with Alec Poland, a talented young angler from the WVU team (although I won’t hold that against him — this Pitt Panthers fan will behave, haha).
The weather looks perfect for fishing the main lake on Saturday, and I’m predicting it’ll take around 26.5–28 pounds to take home the win. I’m excited for one last tournament of the year on this special lake — the eastern basin fishes very differently from our central basin, and I love the variety and challenge. Plus, I’m looking forward to catching up with my buddies Captains Jeff Hippert and Andy Full. Wish us luck!
Tight lines,
Captain Destin DeMarion
724-790-4232 (4BFB)
Big Fat Bass Guide Service
DestinDeMarion.com
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