Lake Erie Fishing Reports & Blogs

Lake Erie Reports & Blogs with Captain Destin DeMarion

Client Brad with a big Lake Erie smallmouth bass with Big Fat Bass Guide Service

Lake Erie Turnover: A Unique Summer Phenomenon That Fires Up the Bite

Lake Erie is such a fascinating place. The fishing alone is world-class, but the ecosystem as a whole is an ever-changing, dynamic environment. Every season brings its own shifts in weather, water, and wildlife, and sometimes we get to witness one of its more dramatic events firsthand — something we call “the turnover.” What Is the Lake Erie Turnover? In short, turnover happens about once a summer here on Erie (not the full fall turnover). As the lake warms, it naturally separates into layers — with warmer water on top and colder, denser water beneath. When we get a sustained hard wind, especially from the

Read More »
Lake Erie bass fishing, Lake Erie smallmouth, Best Bass Guide in Erie PA, Big Smallmouth Lake Erie

Lake Erie Late July Fishing Report: Walleye Still Hot, Bass Heating Up

The dog days are approaching on Lake Erie… or maybe they’ve already come and gone—hard to say with this weather. It’s been a hot one, and not just temperature-wise. The walleye bite has stayed red-hot all summer, and the smallmouth bass are kicking into gear again, thanks to some cooler mornings and more stable conditions. We’ve even seen a few bonus perch show up around the walleye grounds. Clients have been boating a mixed bag of species lately—walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, perch, lake trout, white bass, rock bass, and the occasional sheepshead. It’s been an action-packed summer. Bass Bite: Early and Late Are Key

Read More »
22 inch Giant Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass with Big Fat Bass Guide Service

Mid-July Lake Erie Fishing Report: Big Bass and Walleye Insanity

Summertime, and the livin’s easy…Well, if you’re a walleye fisherman on Lake Erie, that’s definitely the case right now. This summer is already shaping up to be one of the best walleye seasons we’ve seen in years — maybe ever. Limits are being taken daily, and the bite just doesn’t stop. We’ve been mixing in more walleye trips this season along with our first fishing love — bass. Bass Update:The bass are in full summer transition. They can be a little picky, but when it’s on, it’s on. We recently boated a gorgeous 22” Lake Erie bronzeback that looked like it was built in a

Read More »
Box full of Lake Erie walleye with Captain Destin DeMarion

Heading into July on Lake Erie: Hot Walleye and Summertime Bass Fishing

I’ve been fully embracing the shorts-and-sandals weather lately — and here in Erie, PA, we know to cherish every warm, sunny day we get. With this warm-up, Lake Erie’s main lake temperatures have climbed into the low 70s, and fish are responding. The bass are wrapping up their spawn and transitioning into more classic early summer patterns. We’re seeing smallmouth start to slide off into deeper water, which only gets better as we move into July. Bass Update Presque Isle Bay is thinning out as more fish migrate to the main lake. Right now, productive depths range from 10 to 35 feet, with fish gradually

Read More »
Captain Destin DeMarion driving on Lake Erie with his daughter

Lake Erie Fishing Report: Early Summer Bass and Walleye Report

It’s been a wet and weird spring on Lake Erie, but with next week’s projected heat wave, we should be firmly into our early summer patterns in the next couple of weeks. First, I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s been reading these reports and booking trips this spring. This season has exceeded all expectations, and I’m incredibly grateful. Leaving the corporate world and putting a pause on tour-level fishing was a big risk—but through prayer and the steady support of so many of you, my family is thriving and at peace with that decision. I’ve been able to spend more

Read More »

Guide Trip Greatest Hits