Lake Erie Fishing Reports & Blogs
Lake Erie Reports & Blogs with Captain Destin DeMarion
June Lake Erie Fishing Report: Weird Spring, Hot Start to Summer Smallmouth
We’ve made it to June! Through the wind, rain, and cold of spring 2025 here in Erie, PA, summer is finally knocking. As I write this, it’s expected to hit 87°F — just a few days after barely reaching 50. I’m ecstatic to finally trade in the boots for flip flops and get back to chasing fish under blue skies. A Strange Spring Across Lake Erie Staying in touch with guide buddies and “hammers” (great anglers) across the East and West Basins of Lake Erie, the consensus is clear: it’s been a strange spring. We’ve seen plenty of quality smallmouth caught across all three basins,
A Fish, A Prayer, and a Lost Rod: One Wild Smallmouth Story
Some days on the water, something happens that reminds you just how unpredictable — and incredible — fishing can be. I took my friend/client Gary out recently to chase smallmouth. Since it was just us, I actually got to fish too — which is a nice treat for me (the guide). Most of the time, when I netted a fish for Gary, I’d set my rod down quickly — often still in the water. Early in the trip, I heard a clank, turned around, and my favorite Douglas rod and reel combo was 90% overboard. The reel barely caught the gunnel. I managed to save
Lake Erie Fishing Report: Wrapping Up May and Looking Ahead to June
As May winds down and June rolls in, Lake Erie smallmouth bass are finally getting that signature spunk back. After a brief cooldown, we’re seeing water temps in the mid-to-upper 50s on the main lake and low 60s in Presque Isle Bay—perfect for active bass. Right now, we’ve got fish in all three phases of the spawn. In the Bay, postspawners are showing up in offshore areas, but prespawn and spawning fish are still around. Out on the main lake, the spawn is going in some areas, with many fish still waiting to go—especially in the cooler zones away from the Bay. When fish are
Presque Isle Bay & Lake Erie Bass Update – Mid-May Fishing Report
Warm weather has finally arrived in Erie, Pennsylvania, with air temps hitting the 70s this week. Combine that with the recent full moon, and you know what that means—love is in the air for the bass. Current Conditions Presque Isle Bay is sitting right around 60°F, which is prime spawning temperature. Meanwhile, the main lake is still a bit behind, with temps in the low to mid 50s, and slightly warmer water around the mouth of the Bay. We’re in that transitional window—prespawn, spawn, and postspawn fish are all present, especially in the Bay. The main lake is largely in prespawn, but warming quickly and
LEWT Tournament and Spring Lake Erie Fishing Report
I just got back from my first-ever walleye tournament—the Bay’s Edge/LEWT (Lake Erie Walleye Trail) Casting & Jigging Open—fishing with the Doc’s Tackle team out of Port Clinton, Ohio. I was brought on board for my expertise with electronics and artificial presentations from bass and perch fishing, and that knowledge paid off in a big way. We cracked the top 10, catching nearly all our fish suspended in the abyss using LiveScope. Our crew—David (owner of Doc’s Tackle), Mike (i1 Baits), Jeff (Lake Erie Trophy Bass Charters), and myself—worked like a well-oiled machine to put together a solid bag of nearly 30 pounds of big
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