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

Is it really October? It sure doesn’t feel like it yet, but we’ve made it to one of the most exciting fishing months of the year in my opinion. Hunting season has kicked off, most tournaments have wrapped up, and with less boat traffic, anglers have more freedom to hit prime spots for bass, perch, walleye, and trout. Water temperatures are still hovering around 70°, so we’re in that transition zone between late summer and true fall. Bait and gamefish are on the move, and with more wind and cooler weather on the way (hopefully soon), the bite should only improve until winter finally shuts us down. We’ve been finding success by covering water and casting to active fish. For bass: drop shots, ned rigs, jigs, tubes, jigging minnows, and finesse presentations have been most consistent, with a few power techniques producing as well. We’re almost fully booked for October, but still have limited dates open in November for those willing to brave the chill. The colder it gets, the better the bite—and in my opinion, late fall is the most fun fishing of the entire season. Reach out soon to lock in your fall trip. Tight lines, Captain Destin DeMarion

Here's a great story that finally came full circle this past week. Gene from California found me and booked this trip probably 6-7 months ago. We checked in frequently as Gene was excited to chase some big Erie smallies. Gene is a veteran of fishing world-class fisheries out there, like Clear Lake. I, too, was very excited to show him what we have to offer here on Lake Erie. Ironically, my friend Danny was also flying in from the West earlier last week and coincidentally had a conversation with Gene while wearing his Phoenix Boats hat on the plane. Funny enough, Gene said he was fishing Lake Erie with a guide, and Danny said, "Are you fishing with Destin DeMarion?" To which Gene said, "Yes!" Such a small world. I was having some issues with a key accessory on my boat and unsure if I was going to have it fixed in time (it is fixed now). Thankfully, my good friend and Duke of Hamburg, Jeff, did not have a trip that day and let me borrow his boat to get Gene and his buddy Kerry out. Huge shoutout to Jeff! We had an amazing time out there with beautiful (albeit rare) calm conditions and, thankfully, some cooperative Lake Erie smallmouth. We still have a few dates available this September and in the prime fall season for bass, walleye, lake trout, and perch. We'd love to share our wonderful fishery with you! -Captain Destin DeMarion

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 north (as we just did), it disrupts that layering. Cold water from the depths is pushed up and mixed into the upper layer, sending temperatures in certain areas plunging almost overnight. While most species handle this sudden change just fine, some, like freshwater drum (a.k.a. “sheepshead”), can’t cope as well. After these events, it’s common to see dead sheepshead floating on the surface. The good news is this doesn’t significantly impact their population — they’re extremely abundant — and the majority of other fish species are unaffected. How Turnover Impacts Fishing Although a die-off isn’t pleasant to see, turnover often improves our fishing. The sudden infusion of cooler water pushes gamefish toward prime structure and temperature zones, creating feeding opportunities that simply don’t exist during the stagnant “dog days” of summer. This recent turnover was a perfect example. Summertime bass fishing can be challenging, but almost overnight, concentrations of bass moved back into key areas. As a bonus, we also found big walleye and even some perch taking advantage of the same cooler zones. There are still fish holding in their usual deep summertime haunts, but turnover has opened up more areas to target — and more ways to catch them. Current Fishing Report Walleye: The bite has stayed strong both shallow and deep. We’ve been catching them in 10–30 feet and also in 50–100 feet. Blade baits, jigging raps, and traditional jigheads have done the bulk of the work, though some walleye have even fallen for bass presentations. Productive areas include the mountain region near North East and west around the Peninsula. Smallmouth Bass: Focus on the coolest water you can find, whether shallow or deep near the thermocline. The full fall turnover is still about a month away, but these early shifts are already pulling fish into more aggressive feeding patterns. Drop shots, ned rigs, and jighead minnow presentations continue to lead the way. Tightlines, Captain Destin DeMarion

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 Right now, smallmouth are most active during the early morning and evening hours, with some midday windows when conditions line up. We’re still fishing in that 20–40' zone, targeting rock structures like humps and flats with the right mix of substrate. Ned rigs, tubes, drop shots, and jighead minnows continue to put fish in the boat. We also had a great time fishing the biggest tournament of the year out of Erie, PA—Kings of Bass. It was a cool mixed format with Day 1 focused on smallmouth and Day 2 on largemouth. We were fortunate to boat over 25 solid smallmouth on the first day—some pushing the 5 lb mark—and back it up with quality largemouth up to 4 lbs. Hats off to Frank Malek and the FishUSA crew for organizing the biggest turnout in years. It’s a fun, competitive event on a world-class fishery. Walleye: Full Coolers and Quality Fish Walleye fishing has stayed excellent, with most anglers limiting out in a variety of areas. We've had good success from the dumping grounds to Shades Beach in 50–80', casting and jigging with ⅜ oz jigheads and a mix of hard baits. The Mountain and the New York line have also been productive. Guys that are trolling continue to do well with worm harnesses and hard baits, but our casting and jigging clients are loving the interactive approach—actively hunting down fish and working them into biting. Coolers have been full, and we’ve seen some chunky 25–28" fish on recent trips. What to Expect in August As we head into August, expect to find fish hugging that 50–55' depth zone as the thermocline sets in. Walleye will often suspend over deeper water but hold tight to that range. The bass pattern should stay consistent, with key feeding windows continuing in the mornings and evenings. Thinking About a Fall Trip? We’re already hearing from lots of folks planning their fall fishing getaways. If you're looking to chase trophy smallmouth, lake trout, Fall Brawl walleye, or those famous “jumbolina” yellow perch, now’s the time to lock in your dates. Our calendar is filling up fast for prime fall windows. We'll fish as deep into the fall as conditions allow. Tight lines, Captain Destin DeMarion

Lake Erie is showing off this summer — and if you’re a walleye fisherman, the living’s never been easier. We’re in the middle of what could be one of the best walleye seasons in Lake Erie history. Daily limits, electric action, and big fish are the norm. We’ve been boating eaters and giants up to 28 inches, all while casting only. Smallmouth bass are in their summer transition and slowly beginning to feed up, too — with a 22” class bronzeback hitting the deck this week and beautiful structure fish coming on drop shots, tubes, ned rigs, and more. A quick shoutout to Doc’s Tackle for their support and for letting me run their deep hull Vexus DVX22 on a recent big group trip — more to come on that front for fall Lakers and Fall Brawl trips! We still have limited July spots open, and plenty of room for August and September. Whether you want to beat the heat, learn new techniques, or just unplug and catch fish — I’d love to get you out on the water. Reserve your date! Tight lines, Captain Destin DeMarion