Fresh Erie Fishing Reports

Fish are moving deeper off Erie. We are still catching them. Get em before they are gone.

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

2-4 person trips . Get in on the action while you still can.

We are still running trips weather permitting. Get some great tasting fillets while you still can.

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