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

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