I’ve been fully embracing the shorts-and-sandals weather lately — and here in Erie, PA, we know to cherish every warm, sunny day we get. With this warm-up, Lake Erie’s main lake temperatures have climbed into the low 70s, and fish are responding. The bass are wrapping up their spawn and transitioning into more classic early summer patterns. We’re seeing smallmouth start to slide off into deeper water, which only gets better as we move into July. Bass Update Presque Isle Bay is thinning out as more fish migrate to the main lake. Right now, productive depths range from 10 to 35 feet, with fish gradually heading deeper as water temps continue to climb. Look for them near rock, contour breaks, and transitions. Best baits right now include: Drop shots with minnow, goby, or perch imitations Ned rigs, tubes, and swimbaits Spy baits, crankbaits, and hair jigs (especially in clearer water) Walleye Bite on Fire The walleye fishing is red hot in PA waters right now — and yes, it’s possible to get in on the action without trolling or burning much gas. I’ve been casting and jigging for quick limits, using a mix of Humminbird and Lowrance electronics (360 Imaging + Active Target 2). It’s an efficient and fun way to catch them. On a recent trip, I took out a young guy named Micah, who had never caught walleye this way. After watching me dial in a quick limit, he turned around and landed his own. It was awesome to see him adapt, learn to read the electronics, and trigger bites from finicky fish. If you want a more interactive experience than traditional trolling or bottom bouncing, this is it. And for those with their own boats, I also offer instructional trips — I’ll show you exactly how to replicate this approach with the right tools and strategy. Where to Find Fish Smallmouth Bass: Depths: 10–35′, gradually trending deeper Areas: Main lake points, offshore structure, deeper breaks Presentation: Match the forage – gobies, shiners, perch Walleye: Depths: 40–65′ holding the biggest numbers Zones: Just outside the peninsula, east toward Shades Beach, and west of Walnut Techniques: Most guys trolling or bottom bouncing worm harnesses (still very effective) I’ve had best luck casting with jigheads + minnow/crawler imitations We’re loading freezers — and you can too! Trip Options & July Availability Want the best of both worlds? We can mix trips — a few hours of bass fishing, followed by walleye casting. It’s an awesome way to explore what Lake Erie has to offer. Bass trips are filling in July, but I still have a few open spots. If you want in on this walleye bite or learn how to do it yourself, now’s the time to reach out. Tight lines, Captain Destin DeMarion Big Fat Bass Guide Service

It’s been a wet and weird spring on Lake Erie, but with next week’s projected heat wave, we should be firmly into our early summer patterns in the next couple of weeks. First, I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s been reading these reports and booking trips this spring. This season has exceeded all expectations, and I’m incredibly grateful. Leaving the corporate world and putting a pause on tour-level fishing was a big risk—but through prayer and the steady support of so many of you, my family is thriving and at peace with that decision. I've been able to spend more time at home, be more involved in our church, and still do what I love every day. That’s a blessing I don’t take for granted. The Fishing Despite the up-and-down weather, Lake Erie has kept producing solid action. Over the past month, we’ve welcomed folks from Texas (who drove here!), Colorado, Kentucky, and Indiana—all coming to experience the world-class smallmouth fishing we’re lucky to have here in Erie, PA. Some trips were anniversary celebrations, others were graduation gifts. One client asked me, “Does this ever get old?” My answer: maybe I look forward to seasonal transitions in patterns, but this—the smiles, the memories, the lightbulb moments when someone picks up a new technique—that never gets old. It's a joy. Seasonal Transition We’re still in the prolonged spring bite, but many smallmouth are transitioning from spawn to post-spawn and moving into early summer patterns. More fish are leaving Presque Isle Bay and migrating outward into the lake. What’s Working Finesse tactics are the name of the game in early summer. Your electronics become critical this time of year for finding and staying on active fish in deeper water. If you need a refresher, check out our Electronics Trip—a 2-hour, on-the-water session to help you interpret your electronics and dial them in. Last week I helped a client fine-tune four Lowrance units with ActiveTarget and even helped troubleshoot some boat performance issues. Bass Bite Depths: 10–35’ Patterns: Post-spawn transition/Early Summer Baits: Drop shot, tubes, Ned rigs, swimbaits, jig-head minnows, spybaits, hair jigs Location: Fish are leaving the Bay and moving onto main lake flats and deeper shelves and humps. Timing is everything. Walleye Bite The walleye action is starting to pop off as we’ll be ramping up casting and jigging using forward-facing sonar. Some recent tournament-winning bags hit 38 lbs for 5 fish (my friend Ashton) — casting, not trolling! Depths: 30–60’ (hot zones around 40–55’) Techniques: Trolling plugs and harnesses, casting and jigging also producing well Location: Big schools are showing up from Ohio through New York waters Want to Fish with a Pro This Summer? If you’re looking to escape the heat and enjoy some serious rod-bending action, I’d love to have you out on Lake Erie. Whether you're a smallmouth fanatic or want to sample world-class walleye fishing, we’ve got options that will leave you smiling. Book now! -Captain Destin DeMarion

As May winds down and June rolls in, Lake Erie smallmouth bass are finally getting that signature spunk back. After a brief cooldown, we’re seeing water temps in the mid-to-upper 50s on the main lake and low 60s in Presque Isle Bay—perfect for active bass. Right now, we’ve got fish in all three phases of the spawn. In the Bay, postspawners are showing up in offshore areas, but prespawn and spawning fish are still around. Out on the main lake, the spawn is going in some areas, with many fish still waiting to go—especially in the cooler zones away from the Bay. When fish are spread across all phases, it opens the playbook. Look for them shallow, mid-depth, or deep—on beds, guarding fry, fattening up before or after the spawn. Forage is plentiful right now, too: emerald shiners, baby perch, gobies, shad, craws, and more. Pay attention to what they’re eating. Feel their bellies—if they’re soft, they’re feeding on baitfish; if they’re crunchy, it’s craws. Match the hatch with size and color. Hard baits like jerkbaits, spy baits, A-rigs, cranks, and hair jigs are excellent. For soft plastics, try drop shots, tubes, Neds, swimbaits, grubs, or Senkos. Watch the weather and moon phases—a warming trend during a full or new moon often triggers a new push of spawners. That said, full moons can make for tougher daytime bites, as non-spawning fish feed more at night with the extra light. Other Species Updates: Walleye – Evening bite is still best around creek mouths. Expect walleye bite to to heat up as the migration from the west continues. Lake Trout – Anglers are still doing well trolling near “The Mountain” around the NY line in 100’+ depths. Perch – We are getting sporadic catches of postspawn perch in the Bay while bass fishing. Most big schools have moved back to the lake, so focus there. Memorial Day Special & June Availability We just had Memorial Day and May 27th open up due to a client’s knee surgery. I’m offering a 2-day, 8-hour guided trip special for just $1200 — a $100 savings! June is filling up fast in the past couple of weeks, with limited dates remaining: June **hidden content** If you want to get in on the summer deep bite (July–early September) or secure a prime fall trophy smallmouth spot (October–November) or lake trout jigging/scoping big fall walleye, now’s the time to get on the books, as many of my prime fall dates are already filling. Tight lines, Captain Destin DeMarion Big Fat Bass Guide Service