Erie
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Trips from
US $225
Captain
Destin DeMarion
Erie, United States
25+ reviews
Destin DeMarion is a former Bassmaster Elite Series Pro and U.S.C.G. Licensed Captain, operating Big Fat Bass Guide Service on Lake Erie for a decade. He loves to share his passion for fishing with others and has a passion for targeting big smallmouths on Lake Erie. He lives on the shores of Lake Erie, in Harborcreek, PA.
Destin D.
Captain
Charter
Rating
5.0
29 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (64)
All reviews (29)
Showing 1 – 5 of 29 reviews
Matt Knepp
Pennsylvania, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedGreat Capt, Great Trip
Half Day Trip • 2 adultsI booked wirh Capt Destin because I wanted to learn how to bass fish in deep water. I’ve never been bass fishing in anything past 20’, or Erie, and he got us on a bunch of fish and some smallmouth. Very pleasant guy to hangout with. I only wish we coulda cracked some beers afterwards! I recommend.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainHad a great time with you and Ethan this morning. Hope you guys have a great time fishing this evening! -Captain Destin
Julie RomainRepeat anglerWest Virginia, US•Member since 2025•4 trips5.0VerifiedNEWgreat trip
Half Day Trip - 12:00 PM • 2 adultsWe caught giant bass. Had a good time. Captain is a great guy.
Response from CaptainJulie, it was great meeting and fishing with you and Al. I hope you had a great finish to your trip and safe travels back home. All the best. -Captain Destin DeMarion
Ella HeeterPennsylvania, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedJuly fishing trip
Special 4 hour trip for Ella Heeter • 3 adultsOur guide was very knowledgeable and made it a great experience for us. Made lots of memories and had a great trip! Definitely will visit him again when we are back!
Response from CaptainElla, thanks for coming up and I hope you guys have a great rest of your time here in Erie!
Leo YaoRepeat anglerFlorida, US•Member since 2025•6 trips5.0VerifiedUnique experience
Special 8 hour trip for Leo Yao • 2 adultsDespite the windy weather, captain tried hard to help us get the bite! Can’t believe we can still have such a big bag in the weather like this! Strongly recommend!
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThank you for bearing with the weather. It was awesome catching some big Erie smallies with you and Jasmine! -Tight lines!
Stephanie CulicertoWest Virginia, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedJune fishing trip
Extreme Half Day Trip (AM) • 3 adultsDefinitely will be booking Captain Destin again….Put us on really nice fish late spawn…..Had a great day with my sons.
Response from CaptainI had a great time with you guys. I'm glad we got to celebrate Chris's 50th birthday and have some nice weather to boot. Look forward to next time! -Captain Destin DeMarion
Real catches shared by our community
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- Big Fat Bass Guide Service – ErieErie, PA
- Big Fat Bass Guide Service – ErieErie, PA
- Big Fat Bass Guide Service – ErieErie, PA
- Big Fat Bass Guide Service – ErieErie, PA
- Big Fat Bass Guide Service – ErieErie, PA
- Big Fat Bass Guide Service – ErieErie, PA
- Big Fat Bass Guide Service – ErieErie, PA
- Big Fat Bass Guide Service – ErieErie, PA
What's biting with Big Fat Bass Guide Service – Erie in Erie
This is one of the best months to come to Erie and spend a couple of days fishing. You can target Walleye and Steelhead, jumbo Perch, and epic Bass in the bay.
Top catches for September
Fishing reports
Summer Casting for Big Walleye and Bass
Aug 6, 2026 • Erie
Summer has been flying by, and Lake Erie has been producing some outstanding fishing.
Our casting and jigging walleye trips have been a blast this season. Fish are spread across 40-100 feet of water, with the deeper water generally producing the better quality fish. Casting jigheads tipped with crawlers has been putting plenty of fish in the boat, and we even landed a bonus steelhead this week.
Smallmouth bass continue to provide excellent action in 20-45 feet of water. Most days have called for a finesse approach, but the quality has been excellent with plenty of hard-fighting fish coming to the boat.
As we head toward fall, the opportunities only get better. Trophy smallmouth remain one of Lake Erie's biggest attractions, and lake trout jigging season is just around the corner.
The calendar is filling quickly, with only a handful of August, September, and fall dates still available.
If you're looking for a more active alternative to traditional trolling, now is a great time to experience Lake Erie's incredible casting and jigging opportunities. I look forward to getting you on the water!
-Captain Destin DeMarion
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Casting for Walleye on Lake Erie is Hot
Jun 11, 2026 • Erie
As we continue to warm up and inch closer to summertime here on Lake Erie, the casting for walleye bite continues to get better and better. If you haven't experienced this way of targeting walleye, it’s a truly enjoyable experience. The smallmouth are still biting well and many are transitioning to the postspawn period on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. Finesse fishing has been hot, with soft plastics dominating the bite lately. The summertime is a great time to cast and jig deep water walleye, as well as target deep water smallmouth bass and hone in your electronics game. Reach out to us, to book your memorable summer Lake Erie fishing experience. Tightlines, Captain Destin DeMarion.
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Lake Erie Smallmouth Remain Strong, Summ
Jun 1, 2026 • Erie
May was an outstanding month on Lake Erie, with excellent smallmouth bass fishing throughout Presque Isle Bay and the main lake.
As we move into June, many of those bass patterns will continue, while the summer walleye bite begins ramping up as large schools move into the Central and Eastern Basins.
One thing I'm especially looking forward to this summer is casting and jigging for suspended walleye. It's an active, hands-on approach that offers a fun alternative to traditional trolling and has become one of my favorite ways to target Lake Erie walleye.
July through September are prime months for:
• Walleye casting & jigging
• Deep water smallmouth bass
• Mixed bass/walleye trips
• Learning modern electronics and fish-finding techniques
If you've been thinking about experiencing Lake Erie this summer, now is a great time to start planning ahead.
Tight lines,
Captain Destin DeMarion
Big Fat Bass Guide Service
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Erie Mid-November Fishing Report
Nov 10, 2025 • Erie
It finally happened — the S-word.
No, not that one. Snow.
Mid-November around Lake Erie usually brings our first taste of winter, and this year was no different. Thankfully, the warm lake and ground temps melted it fast, and we’ll be back on the water soon — just in time for one of the best fishing windows of the year, if the conditions cooperate.
The gales of November have been no joke lately. I’ve been glued to the forecast trying to line up guide trips between windstorms. I’ve fished in 6–8 footers before, and trust me, it’s not enjoyable. Whether you’re fishing with a Lake Erie guide service or heading out solo, respect the lake. This time of year, safety and planning are everything.
Even though I’m a bass guy at heart, the crossover between smallmouth bass and lake trout tactics has made for some awesome multi-species days lately. The transition from targeting bass to lake trout or walleye is surprisingly seamless.
When the wind lets us reach key areas, the Lake Erie smallmouth bass bite has been excellent. Power fishing remains our go-to, but slower presentations are getting more effective as the water cools.
One of my favorite late-fall baits is the Fish Sense Binsky blade bait. It’s versatile — perfect for bass, walleye, and trout.
Here’s a quick setup guide for anyone experimenting with where to put the snap on top of blade baits:
Front hole: Best for horizontal retrieves
Second hole: Great all-around for aggressive jigging or casting
Third/Fourth holes: Traditional vertical-only jigging setups
Mix it up — sometimes small changes in vibration or action make all the difference.
The annual Lake Erie Fall Brawl is entering its final stretch, and weights continue to climb as trophy walleye fatten up. The tournament runs through November 30th, and my money’s on the Cleveland-to-Huron corridor producing the winner again this year, as that’s where migrating giants tend to stage.
That said, we still have plenty of quality fish right here out of Erie, PA, and 10–12 pounders aren’t out of the question. If the weather holds, I’ll be getting out for another couple of Brawl days between Lake Erie bass, perch, and lake trout guide trips. It’s such a cool event each year and a great reminder of just how special this fishery is.
The forecast shows a rebound this week, with normal late-fall temps likely to extend the open water Lake Erie bite a bit longer. I’ll be fishing until the lake locks up, so if you’re after trophy bass, walleye, lake trout, or yellow perch, now’s the time to get in a last trip before winter.
We’re already booking into March and April for early-season Lake Erie bass and jumbolina perch adventures. That early window is also perfect for anyone wanting to dial in their electronics setup. Whether you’re running Humminbird, Lowrance, or Garmin (all brands I’ve owned and used a ton), I offer one-on-one boat sessions to help you maximize your investment — from sonar tuning to mapping and forward-facing sonar setup.
If you want to experience Lake Erie fishing with a pro, I’ve be able to squeeze in a couple trips before ice-up — and we’re already booking for spring. Come enjoy a world-class fishing experience!
Happy early Thanksgiving to you and your family — and tight lines this fall!
Captain Destin DeMarion
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November Gales of Erie
Nov 2, 2025 • Erie
The gales of November are a common occurrence on Lake Erie — a sure sign that winter is approaching. The fish are well aware of it, too. This is when the gamefish feed hardest, packing in those last calories to sustain them through the cold, slow-metabolism months ahead. It can be some of the most hardcore, yet most rewarding fishing of the entire year. Whether it’s bass, walleye, trout, or jumbo yellow perch, everything is feeding heavy and everything is big.
Lately, we’ve been running mostly bass trips, with plenty of bonus catches — and sometimes intentional targets — of giant walleye, steelhead, and lake trout. The multi-species action that fall brings is one of my favorite parts of fishing Lake Erie this time of year. For bass, power fishing has reigned supreme, with traditional heavy-hitting techniques like Alabama Rigs (we’ve been throwing the J-Rig), swimbaits, and crankbaits producing best.
There’s good reason for that — not just for bass, but for other predators like walleye, trout, and perch, too. Early in the fall, baitfish like shad dominate the forage base. They’re rich in protein and help these fish fatten up quickly. As water temperatures continue to drop, gobies become a bigger part of the bass diet. I recently had a big walleye spit out a 5” gizzard shad in the net — a good reminder to “match the hatch” when choosing baits. As things cool down further, slower presentations will start to shine. Think goby-style baits or slow-moving shad imitations.
Reading the Water
Another key element this time of year is water color and temperature. Fall winds and rains stain certain areas as runoff enters from creeks and rivers — drawing both baitfish and predator fish. That added color brings nutrients and can also slightly change temperature. Stained water tends to warm and cool more quickly than clear water, making it more responsive to changing weather conditions.
With my background in Environmental Science and Biology, I’m constantly paying attention to these environmental cues — from baitfish behavior to subtle water chemistry changes (limnology). Seeing that “big picture” helps dial in what’s happening on a dynamic system like Lake Erie.
Safety and Preparation
November is no time to take Lake Erie lightly. The water is cold, and the winds can turn dangerous fast. Always check your safety gear, have contingency plans, and monitor weather conditions closely. I use multiple forecast sources — NOAA, Windy, and Weather Underground — to cross-check before every trip. Remember: conditions can change by the hour this time of year.
Dress for worse than what the forecast says. Layers and waterproof outerwear are essential — even on calm days, spray is almost guaranteed. Cold and wet is a dangerous combination. Wear waterproof boots or shoes and quality rain gear. If you’re not familiar with the lake or cold-weather boating, go with an experienced guide. Erie is one of the most powerful and unpredictable freshwater systems in the world.
Late Fall Opportunities
We’ll keep fishing as long as the weather allows. November is trophy season — for hunters and anglers alike. It’s no coincidence that the deer rut and Erie’s prime big-fish period overlap. We’ve still very limited trips available (weather pending), mainly focused on bass, but also targeting walleye, lake trout, and perch.
Both the Fall Brawl and Walleye Slam tournaments are underway, with serious cash prizes up for grabs. As always, we’re sticking to casting and jigging only — using forward-facing sonar (FFS) and other advanced technologies to target the biggest fish. Even on my off days, I’ll be out chasing giants for the Fall Brawl, which runs through November 30th.
If you’re signed up for the Brawl and want to fish during the day — I’ve got limited daytime openings for serious trophy hunts. The best bite is right now, as long as Mother Nature cooperates.
Looking Ahead
It’s never too early to plan for 2026 trips. Spring jumbo perch and trophy smallmouth trips start up in March (weather permitting), followed by prime-time summer walleye casting and jigging adventures.
Book early to lock in your preferred dates — the best windows usually get taken up by the regulars first.
Tight lines!
Captain Destin DeMarion
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Fall Football Season
Oct 13, 2025 • Erie
We just got back from fishing the Canadian Tire Open up in the Niagara Falls region of Canada. It was a fun event and we stuck around the next day to fish another little tournament in the Buffalo area. We ended up cashing a check in both and taking lunker in the 2nd event with a 5.78 lb Lake Erie smallmouth.
We got right back into it today, guiding back in Erie, PA, with our longest (and first 11 years ago) going client, and friend, Michael and his son Henry.
The first cast of our day yielded a true trophy smallmouth and memory that none of us will soon forget, a 7.14 lb behemoth bass! We were all so excited and in awe for quite some time afterwards.
It slowed down some afterwards, but we got on a great power fishing bite a bit later that lasted the rest of our trip and made for a really fun way to catch them.
We still have a few dates left in November and 1-2 in October to cash in on some of the best fishing of the year for bass, walleye, perch, and lake trout. Truly, the best is yet to come!
-Captain Destin DeMarion
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