Football season is here, hunting seasons are opening, boats are starting to get put away and Lake Erie is beginning to feel like fall.
Which means we’re getting into one of my favorite times of the entire fishing season.
We’ve had a lot of wind events lately that have been moving and mixing water, changing temperatures and forcing fish and bait to adjust. Some days the biggest challenge isn’t finding where the fish should be. It’s figuring out where they went after the lake changed overnight.
That’s fall fishing on Lake Erie.
And the best of it is still ahead.
Lake Erie Smallmouth Are Getting Into Fall Shape
I got home from the St. Lawrence River and went right back to work on Erie, and we’ve already seen some beautiful, incredibly healthy smallmouth up to 6 pounds this past week.
The fish are starting to look like fall fish.
They’re getting thicker, bait is beginning to congregate more and we’re entering the time of year when smallmouth start putting on the feed bag ahead of winter.
There’s a reason I love “football season.”
Yes, actual football is back. But this is also when Lake Erie smallmouth start looking like footballs.
As water temperatures continue falling (slowly creeping down the 60s), their metabolism and feeding behavior don’t simply shut off. Instead, the available forage starts changing location and becoming concentrated. Emerald shiners, alewives, gizzard shad, gobies and other forage can create opportunities for bass to pack on weight before winter.
That’s where things get interesting.
Some fish move shallower. Others remain deep. Some follow pelagic bait. Others stay tied to rock and gobies.
And with the wind events we’ve had lately, stability can become extremely important.
Wind, Water Temperature and Finding Stability
Lake Erie doesn’t cool evenly.
That’s something worth understanding if you’re fishing here in October.
Strong winds can move enormous amounts of water. They can push warmer surface water, bring colder water toward the surface, mix portions of the water column and change temperatures significantly from one area of the lake to another.
A productive area can change quickly.
That’s why I pay so much attention to water temperature this time of year, not just the number itself, but how it compares with where I was yesterday or even another part of the lake that same day.
Fish still have to eat.
But when their environment changes rapidly, they often reposition to find more favorable or stable conditions.
Sometimes that’s a depth change.
Sometimes it’s a move to another section of the lake.
Sometimes it’s bait.
And sometimes the fish are still there, but the way you need to catch them changes.
That’s one of the things I enjoy most about fall fishing. You have to keep figuring it out.
Walleye Are Still Showing Up, Too
We’ve also been mixing in some walleyes while bass fishing lately.
That isn’t unusual.
As Lake Erie continues cooling and baitfish become increasingly concentrated, walleyes will move and reposition right along with them. We still have resident fish in our part of the lake, and those surprise walleyes mixed in with bass can be a pretty fun bonus.
As fall progresses, some of Lake Erie’s biggest walleyes will also make larger seasonal movements, with many fish eventually concentrating farther west toward Ohio and Michigan waters.
That movement is a big part of what makes the fall trophy-walleye season around Lake Erie so popular.
I’m signed up for the Fall Brawl and Walleye Slam this year and hope to sneak out for a day or two once our guide season winds down.
Some absolute giants get caught around Lake Erie every fall, and you never know when the right bite is going to happen.
Steelhead Are Starting to Move
We’re also beginning to see the annual steelhead transition.
Some fish are starting to stage and move toward the tributaries, although water levels have remained pretty low.
As always, we aren’t a stream steelhead guide service. But steelhead are part of the Lake Erie ecosystem we fish, and later in the fall they can certainly show up in our lake fishing.
Cooling water, fall rain and increased tributary flows will continue pushing that migration along.
It’s another sign that the lake is changing.
Lake Trout Are Coming
This is the one I’m really looking forward to.
With more significant cooling over the next few weeks, lake trout should start becoming a much bigger part of our fishing.
Late October through November is typically our window, with some of the best lake trout fishing of the year often occurring around Thanksgiving if Erie lets us get out there.
And jigging for these fish is an absolute blast.
I’ve introduced a lot of my bass and walleye clients to late-season lake trout over the years, and they’re usually surprised by just how much fun it is.
These aren’t little fish.
A lot of the lake trout we catch are in that 8 to 12-pound range, with fish into the high teens and 20-pound class always possible.
They’re dinosaurs.
They’re incredibly strong, especially on the light tackle we use, and when you hook a big lake trout vertically or casting a jig, you’re going to know it’s there.
It’s a completely different style of Lake Erie fishing than what many of my clients experience with me during spring smallmouth or summer walleyes.
That’s part of why I enjoy it so much.
Thanksgiving Week Can Be Special
November 17 and 18 are currently pending, and after that we’ll be looking toward Thanksgiving week.
Those late-November trips always come with an asterisk.
Weather.
Some years Lake Erie gives us beautiful windows around Thanksgiving and the lake trout fishing can be some of the best of the season.
Other years, the lake decides we’re done.
Safety comes first, always.
If someone books a late-November trip and the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll work together to reschedule. At that point, that may mean pushing the trip into spring or another part of the 2027 season.
I’m not going to put somebody on Lake Erie just because a date is written on a calendar.
October Is Essentially Full
I’m extremely thankful to say that our October calendar is basically booked.
There may be an opportunity to squeeze in a 4-hour afternoon trip somewhere depending on weather movement and the existing schedule, but we’re essentially full.
So instead of pushing October dates that really aren’t there, now is a great time to start thinking ahead.
When Should You Book a Lake Erie Fishing Trip?
I get versions of this question all the time:
“When’s the best time to come?”
The answer depends on what you want to catch and how you want to fish.
Here’s a simple look at how our season typically breaks down.
Yellow Perch: Ice Out Through Early April
Our perch season usually begins as soon as we’re able to safely get the boat out after ice-out.
That window generally runs until around the second week of April.
It’s an early-season opportunity and one of the first ways we get back onto Lake Erie each spring.
Smallmouth Bass: Late March/Early April Through Fall
Smallmouth are the backbone of what I do.
Our Lake Erie smallmouth season generally gets started somewhere in the late-March to early-April window, depending on weather and water temperatures, and continues throughout the fishing season.
Spring brings some of the most popular bass fishing of the year.
Summer can mean deeper water, finesse fishing and electronics.
Then fall brings the feed.
If you want a prime spring smallmouth date in 2027, now is not too early to start looking at the calendar. Spring dates and some summer and prime fall dates are already being booked.
Walleye: Late May/Early June Through Early Fall
For the way we fish them, our Lake Erie walleye season typically begins around the end of May or early June.
From there, casting and jigging opportunities can continue throughout summer and into early or sometimes mid-fall depending on conditions and fish movement.
We aren’t trolling.
We’re casting, jigging, using electronics and actively targeting these fish.
For someone who has only experienced traditional Lake Erie trolling, it’s a completely different way to catch walleyes and often my bass centric friends very much enjoy this more.
Lake Trout: Late October Through November
Lake trout typically become a major target for us from late October through around Thanksgiving and sometimes the end of November.
Weather ultimately determines how long that season lasts.
But when conditions cooperate, November can be outstanding.
If you’ve spent your trips with me chasing bass or walleyes and haven’t experienced jigging for lake trout yet, put it on your list.
A Trip North for the Rumble
Fall also means tournament season for me.
Alec and I recently made the trip north for Doc’s Rumble on the River on the St. Lawrence.
Tournament fishing is different from guiding. It gives me a chance to compete, learn, fish new water and put myself in situations where I have to solve problems quickly.
That’s valuable.
You don’t stop learning in this sport.
That’s also one of the things I appreciate about the guys at Doc’s Tackle.
Drake, Jose and the crew have been great to work with over the last few seasons. They’re top-notch guys, but what I respect most is that they’re always trying to learn more.
That’s a big deal to me.
Doc’s was recently recognized by Best on Tour for “Best Staff Knowledge” among tackle shops across the country, and that’s pretty fitting.
They’ve built an amazing shop in the Finger Lakes region, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them and working with them.
One More Tournament
Now Alec and I are getting ready to head toward Niagara Falls and Lake Erie for the Canadian Tire Open, our last tournament of the year.
Buffalo has almost become a second home for me over the years.
I’ll get to spend some time with my old pals Jeff and Andy while we’re up there, and Saturday morning we’ll all head across the border together for the tournament.
Then the tournament season is over.
Probably.
You guys know how fishermen are.
A Pretty Special Sunday Away From Fishing
There was one other pretty important thing waiting for me when I got home from the Rumble.
My daughter Eva was baptized.
My wife Meghan and I couldn’t be prouder of her for making the decision to accept Jesus as her Lord and wanting to walk that path.
My friend and our new pastor, Karl, and I had the privilege of being in the water with her for it, which made an already special day even more meaningful.
There was a neat little connection I didn’t really think about until afterward.
Years ago, I was baptized after coming home from a fishing trip to the St. Lawrence River.
This year, I came home from the St. Lawrence and watched my daughter get baptized.
Fishing is a huge part of my life. It’s my livelihood, something I love and something God has blessed me and my family through.
But moments like that have a way of putting everything else back into its proper place.
Pretty special.
The Best of Fall Is Still Ahead
We’re into October now, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of fall fishing yet.
The lake is still cooling.
Bait is still moving.
Smallmouth are getting heavier.
Walleyes are repositioning.
Steelhead are beginning their fall movements.
Lake trout are coming.
And every major wind event can shuffle the deck again.
That’s what makes this time of year so much fun.
The lake doesn’t hand you the answer.
You have to watch it, adjust and keep learning.
For those already on my October calendar, I’m excited to see what the next few weeks give us.
For those looking toward Thanksgiving, we’ll chase those lake trout as long as Erie gives us the weather.
And if you’re thinking about 2027, especially spring smallmouth, now is a great time to start planning.
The boats might start disappearing from the ramps this time of year.
We’re not quite ready to put ours away yet.
Planning Your 2027 Lake Erie Fishing Trip
Here’s the quick version if you’re trying to decide when to come:
Perch: Ice-out through approximately the second week of April
Smallmouth Bass: Late March/early April through fall
Walleye: Late May/early June through early to mid-fall
Lake Trout: Late October through Thanksgiving/end of November, weather permitting
Every season is different, and Lake Erie ultimately sets the schedule.
That’s part of fishing here.
If you have a particular species, technique or experience in mind, reach out and I’ll help you choose the part of the season that makes the most sense.
Spring 2027 dates are already starting to fill.
Tight lines,
Captain Destin DeMarion
724-790-4232 (4BFB)
Big Fat Bass Guide Service
DestinDeMarion.com
Gear Discounts for Clients & Blog Readers:
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Lake Erie Fall Fishing FAQ
Is October a good month to fish Lake Erie?
Yes. October is one of my favorite months on Lake Erie. Smallmouth bass are feeding heavily, water temperatures are falling, baitfish are moving and lake trout opportunities begin developing later in the month.
What is the best month for Lake Erie smallmouth bass?
There isn’t one single best month. Spring provides excellent prespawn and early-season opportunities, while fall can produce some of the heaviest smallmouth of the year as fish feed before winter. We typically target Lake Erie smallmouth from late March or early April through fall.
When does Lake Erie walleye fishing start near Erie, Pennsylvania?
For our casting and jigging program, walleye fishing usually becomes a major focus around late May or early June and continues through summer into early or mid-fall depending on conditions and fish movement.
When is the best time to jig for Lake Erie lake trout?
Our lake trout jigging generally begins in late October and improves as Lake Erie cools. November, particularly around Thanksgiving, can provide some of our best lake trout fishing when weather allows us to safely get on the lake.
How big are Lake Erie lake trout?
Many of the lake trout we catch are approximately 8 to 12 pounds, with fish in the high teens and 20-pound class possible. Their size and strength make them an excellent light-tackle target during late fall.
Can you fish Lake Erie around Thanksgiving?
Yes, weather permitting. Thanksgiving week can produce excellent lake trout and late-fall bass fishing, but conditions become much less predictable. Trips may need to be rescheduled into the following spring or season if Lake Erie doesn’t provide a safe weather window.
When should I book a spring Lake Erie smallmouth trip?
Earlier is better for prime dates. Our smallmouth season can begin in late March or early April depending on conditions, and spring dates for 2027 are already beginning to book.
Does Big Fat Bass Guide Service troll for walleye?
No. Our walleye fishing focuses on casting and jigging using light tackle, electronics and open-water presentations.
Do you guide for Lake Erie steelhead?
We may encounter or target steelhead in Lake Erie, but we do not offer stream steelhead guide trips.
What species does Big Fat Bass Guide Service target?
Depending on the season, we target Lake Erie smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch and lake trout, along with other seasonal opportunities out of Erie, Pennsylvania.
