Fresh Pennsylvania Fishing Reports

Fun family fishing at the lake! Tons of fish like bass, perch, crappie, and bluegills! Lots of rain making it hard with dirty high water but trout fishing in the creeks and river have been productive!

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 not far off from a major spawn wave. Other Species Notes Walleye: Anglers are catching them at night near creek mouths, while others are finding success trolling during the day—from the shallows out to deeper drop-offs. The bite is picking up with the warming water and is only going to get better. Lake Trout: There are still good reports of lakers being caught while trolling near “The Mountain”, east of Erie, close to the New York line. If you’re targeting trout, this zone remains a solid option. Perch: We’ve landed some big, sporadic postspawn perch in Presque Isle Bay, but most of the larger schools have pushed back into the main lake after their spawning cycle. What to Look For In the Bay: Spawning fish are locked onto shallow flats and marina areas. Fry guarders and postspawn fish are hanging around and just outside the shallows, feeding up. Prespawn fish are still staging too—look for 5-20’ drops and hard spots adjacent to spawning grounds. Find the right area, and you can really get into a pile of fish. In the Main Lake: Mostly prespawn fish, but signs of change are coming fast. Focus on chunk rock flats and subtle depressions—perfect staging zones. Warmer water is pushing activity around the Bay mouth. Try Thompson Bay flats and the Hammermill stacks. Prespawn fish may range from the shallows out to about 30 feet. Tight lines, Captain Destin DeMarion Big Fat Bass Guide Service

Lake Erie Fishing Update – Spring Transition in Full Swing The last few weeks on Lake Erie have been classic spring transition. Here’s what’s happening: Perch have mostly finished spawning around Presque Isle Bay and are pushing back into the main lake. Walleye are migrating through the islands in the Western Basin, with postspawn fish heading east. Lake Trout are showing up strong near “the mountain” offshore, mostly caught trolling. Bass are sliding into Presque Isle Bay and other prespawn staging areas. Even a few steelhead have been caught near creek mouths—bonus catches while bass fishing! Water temps are hovering in the mid to high 50s, with Presque Isle Bay warming slightly faster than the main lake. Some areas in the lake are still touching the high 40s. This variety in temps has fish in different phases: some spawning, some staging, and others still deep. In the Bay, big females are getting ready to spawn in the shallows, while fat prespawners are cruising deeper looking for a few last big meals. On the main lake, it’s a mix—some fish are still in their deep winter zones, while others are transitioning to spring areas. Trophy Season Is On! This is prime time to land a true Lake Erie giant. My clients have already boated 24 smallmouth over 20 inches in the past few weeks, with many personal bests shattered. Whether you’re chasing that trophy bass or just want a fun day with good numbers, we can make it happen. We use a variety of baits this time of year, including: Swimbaits Blade baits Jerkbaits Spoons Crankbaits A-rigs Hair jigs Tubes, Ned rigs, and more Smallmouth School – Learn How to Break Down a Fishery We’re now booking for May and June (some weekdays still open), and already looking ahead to summer trips, including a special Smallmouth School. This is a multi-day session where we take you to a fresh area, teach you how to break it down, find fish quickly, and dial in how to catch the biggest bass possible—all in real time. Whether you’re a weekend angler or someone trying to step up to tournament-level efficiency, this is a fantastic opportunity to fish with a pro who’s done it at the highest level. Spots are limited! Message us to book your bass, perch, or walleye trip and come experience this world-class fishery firsthand. Tight lines, – Captain Destin DeMarion

Our half day trip turned out to be a great one with lots of Lake trout hitting the deck and smiles everywhere!

Presque Isle Bay & Lake Erie Fishing Report – Week of April 13th, 2025 Spring is slowly but surely taking hold here in Erie, PA on Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. We’ve had some beautiful days teased in between those classic reminders that winter isn’t quite ready to let go—yeah, that “unnamed” white stuff still flying around here and there. But you know what really tells us spring is here? Big prespawn Lake Erie smallmouth bass showing up hungry and ready to eat. The last couple of weeks on guide trips have turned up some thick, healthy prespawn females and plenty of fired-up bucks, too. This time of year brings some of my absolute favorite ways to fish, and clients have been loving every minute of it. Blade bait jigging (can’t beat the Fish Sense Lures Binsky), swimbaits in shad patterns, and treble-hook favorites like jerkbaits and cranks have all been putting fish in the boat. We’ve seen a ton of personal bests lately—21 to 21.5” smallmouth that are ridiculously fat and clearly not skipping meals. One trip that really stood out was with Destiny and her boyfriend Chris. I honestly don’t know who had more fun—her catching fish, or me watching her light up with every smallie she hooked. That pure joy is what it’s all about. Check it out here. Big thanks as always to all of my awesome clients: Destiny and Chris, Jeff, Brian, Randy, Crist and crew. Some are longtime regulars, some brand new, and I appreciate every one of them for jumping aboard the Big Fat Bass Guide Service Phoenix 21 XE. Looking ahead, the fishing is only going to get better as the weather settles and the water warms. Expect fresh waves of fish moving into the Bay, and big Lake Erie smallmouth starting to show up in force as the main lake catches up temperature-wise. Perch fishing is still solid too, with a chance at some last-round “Jumbolinas” before they head back out. Availability Update: We still have April 18th (1:30pm–7:30pm) and April 23rd open if you want to get in on the early spring action. May is filling up fast with just a few early-to-midweek slots left. Don’t wait—contact us today and come fish with a pro this spring on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay! Tight lines, – Captain Destin DeMarion

As consistent as the sun rising and setting each day, each spring, big Lake Erie smallmouth make their pilgrimage to their temporary home in Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania. The timing largely depends on the severity of the winter. If the winter is mild and the water begins warming sometime in February, smallmouth usually arrive in the Bay in good numbers by March. However, if it’s a harsh winter with heavy ice coverage that lingers, it can be early April before we see a strong push of smallmouth into Presque Isle Bay. This year fell into the latter category. Over the past week, though, smallmouth bass from the main body of Lake Erie have started to funnel in to feed up and prepare for their spawning rituals, which will take place over the next couple of months. April is generally the most consistent month for fishing; when you find them, they usually have quite a few friends with them. During this prespawn period, smallmouth bass group up around structures like hard-bottom areas and flats near drop-offs. It’s a great time of year not only to catch good numbers of fish, but also to have a real shot at landing a trophy bass. The big females are carrying extra weight with their eggs and, just like in the fall during the pre-winter feed, this is when they weigh their heaviest. In Presque Isle Bay, a six-pounder is a big fish, but there’s definitely potential for seven-pound-class bass and even larger. The fishery is loaded with three- to four-pound fish, with plenty of five-pounders mixed in as well. It’s truly a world-class smallmouth fishery—and often one of the first places in the Northeast to warm up and become fishable, thanks to its shallowness and relatively southern location. It also offers some wind protection from spring’s volatile weather patterns, but like any cold or big water, always use caution and check resources like NOAA before heading out. We just wrapped up a trip with one of our favorite clients, JD from Ohio. The action started fast—we quickly boated ten fish up to five pounds and kept at it until we tallied sixty bass for the day. The air temps were cold with some scattered flurries early on, but the winds were light, and the sun eventually broke through, making for excellent fishing conditions. Some of the most effective presentations during this time include swimbaits, jerkbaits, blade baits, spoons, tubes, and a variety of other plastics and hard baits as the water warms. If you're looking to get in on some of the most exciting early-season smallmouth fishing around, come join us at Big Fat Bass Guide Service! We still have availability on April 18th (1:30 p.m. to dark), April 23rd, April 30th, and select weekdays in May. Come experience what Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay have to offer—book your trip with us today! Tight lines, – Captain Destin DeMarion