Erie PA smallmouth fishing charters on Lake Erie
Big Lake Erie smallmouth bass on rocky reefs out of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Book Erie PA smallmouth fishing charters with a licensed local captain. Lake Erie smallmouth bass hold on rock piles, reefs and drop-offs off Erie and Presque Isle, and they are some of the hardest-fighting bass anywhere. Lake Erie trips start at $350 for 4 hours, with rods, reels and lures included. Anglers 16 and older need a Pennsylvania fishing license.
Book your Lake Erie smallmouth charter
These Lake Erie trips target smallmouth bass when they’re biting; tell your captain bass is your goal. Every calendar shows live availability.
4-hour Lake Erie trip
6-hour Lake Erie trip
8-hour Lake Erie trip
Pennsylvania fishing license required for anglers 16 and older (not included): buy it from HuntFish PA before your trip. Free cancellation up to 72 hours before. Full refund or free reschedule if the guide cancels for weather. Questions? Call or text (407) 392-4593, 9 am – 6 pm.
How much is a smallmouth bass charter in Erie, PA?
iOutdoors Lake Erie fishing trips out of Erie, Pennsylvania start at $350 for 4 hours, $425 for 6 hours and $525 for 8 hours, booked online with a live calendar. Captains fish rocky reefs and drop-offs for smallmouth bass, with walleye and perch also possible. Rods, reels and lures are included; anglers 16 and older need a Pennsylvania fishing license.
What’s included and what to bring
- Licensed local captain
- Boat and fuel
- Rods, reels (left and right handed) and tackle
- Artificial lures
- Fishing instruction for beginners
- Cooler, ice and bottled water
- Pennsylvania fishing license (required for anglers 16 and older)
- Live bait, if you want it
- Captain tip (10–20% is customary)
- Food and drinks (bring your own; cans preferred)
What to bring
Reviews from Lake Erie trips
5.0676 reviews
It was our 1st trip to Lake Erie fishing.We had a great day fishing with Capt Mark. It was windy with 3 and 4ft waves but his Ranger cut through the waves. We caught a few fish but we understood how fishing could be with the weather conditions. Mark is a seasoned fisherman and guide and we would…
Paul Hanner · October 2026 · Google
Got us in short notice. Put us on fish during a nice front
Luke Vankeuren · September 2026 · Google
Capt. Mark is top notch! Beautiful clean boat, knew how to get us on the fish fast! Absolutely will be booking with him again!
Marlay Shollenberger · September 2026 · Google
I had an amazing experience on Lake Erie for the first time and caught some nice smallmouth! Jonathan is that dude to make you have a great day, have fun and catch nice fish! Summertime smallie fishing was so badas$ and also a nice challenge but we got a lot of bites for a hot summer and hooked…
Pete Chilimindris · August 2026 · Google
Excellent trip, beautiful weather and lots of fish
John McWhirter · August 2026 · Google
We went out with mark rose bass fishing and he put us on the fish!!
Matt Moore · August 2026 · Google
Had a quick trip got put on the fish extremely fast.
Otis Davis · August 2026 · Google
June 21 2026 Great, amazing and so much fun fishing with Captain John. He immediately put me on the fish. Friendly and very knowledgeable. From the beginning until the end of the trip, he done it all. Including filleting all of the fish. Thank you for a wonderful Father’s Day. Definitely recommend…
Edwin Rosado · August 2026 · Google
Great guide and mate. They provided great assistance and good conversation. Highly recommend and we get to eat some fish for dinner.
Annette Wilson · August 2026 · Google
My husband fished with Captain Mark, he had a wonderful time. Captain Mark was very knowledgeable about the lake and was able to locate Walleye and Small Mouth Bass quickly.
Angela Backley · July 2026 · Google
Captain Jonathon was amazing! This was the first time my husband and I ever did a charter fishing trip. And the whole experience exceeded our expectations. We had some laughs, learned so much about boating, fishing and the area. He went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. We will…
Christina Wood · July 2026 · Google
What an awesome experience! Captain Jonathon was so friendly and experienced. My wife and I had such a wonderful time on the water, catching walleye with him. We had some laughs, learned so much on lots of different subjects, from the winds, local landmarks, different types of boats, and the fish…
James Wood · July 2026 · Google
Lake Erie smallmouth by season
Winter Dec–Feb
- Most charters are off the water
- Plan next season’s trip
Spring Mar–May
- Smallmouth move shallow; check PA bass rules for spring
- Walleye after the spring closure
Summer Jun–Aug
- Smallmouth on deeper rock and reefs
- Calm mornings for longer trips
Fall Sep–Nov
- Some of the biggest smallmouth of the year
- Walleye and perch stay strong
Fish you can catch on Lake Erie
Smallmouth bass is the main target, with walleye and panfish as a bonus.
Smallmouth bass
BronzebackOver rock piles, reefs and drop-offs; strong fighters that jump.
Walleye
Lake Erie’s signature fish; trolled in open water from late spring through fall.
Panfish
Perch and crappieSchooling fish on bottom rigs in the bays; great for kids.
Seasons, size and creel limits apply: see the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission for current Lake Erie rules. Your captain can tell you what you can keep.
Where you’ll fish
Smallmouth trips fish Lake Erie off Erie and Presque Isle: rock piles, reefs, drop-offs and breakwalls. On windy days captains can fish more protected water near Presque Isle Bay.
Meeting spot: your captain confirms the marina and start time before the trip. Plan your stay with Visit Erie.
Prefer walleye? See Lake Erie walleye fishing charters, or browse all Erie PA fishing charters and Pennsylvania fishing charters.
Erie PA smallmouth fishing questions
How much does a smallmouth fishing charter in Erie, PA cost?
Lake Erie trips start at $350 for 4 hours, $425 for 6 hours and $525 for 8 hours. The calendar shows the exact price for your date and group.
When is the best time for smallmouth bass on Lake Erie?
Late spring through fall. Fall often brings the biggest fish. Pennsylvania has special rules for bass in spring; check the PA Fish & Boat Commission.
Do I need a fishing license?
Yes. Anglers 16 and older need a Pennsylvania fishing license; buy it online from HuntFish PA.
What is included?
The licensed captain, boat and fuel, rods, reels, tackle and artificial lures, plus a cooler with ice and bottled water. Live bait, food, drinks and the captain’s tip are not included.
Can we catch walleye on the same trip?
Often, yes. Tell your captain what you want to target; they’ll fish for what’s biting best that day.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 72 hours before your trip. If the captain cancels for weather, you get a full refund or a free reschedule.
Is smallmouth fishing catch and release?
You can keep bass within Pennsylvania’s size and creel limits when the season allows. Many anglers release big smallmouth after a photo.
More Pennsylvania fishing trips
Other trips on Lake Erie and the Allegheny River.
