Fresh Pennsylvania Fishing Reports

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

These folks got them, some!!!! . Now you COME GET YOU SOME!!!!!

Today the weather held off long enough to Catch a limit of nice walleye

Went out got our limit of walleye with a bonus 15 pound laker.

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

The walleye are everywhere in the lake so don’t miss out.