Brian Kowalski
Walleye & Smallmouth Guide — Lake Erie, OH
15 years experience
About Brian Kowalski
Captain Brian Kowalski runs fishing charters out of Port Clinton, Ohio, on the western basin of Lake Erie — widely considered the Walleye Capital of the World. With 15 years of guiding experience, Brian has put thousands of anglers on limits of walleye and trophy smallmouth bass. He runs a 30-foot Sportcraft with all the comforts needed for a productive day on the big water.
Brian's approach combines old-school trolling knowledge with cutting-edge electronics and a deep understanding of Erie's seasonal patterns. From the early spring jig bite near the reefs to the summer trolling runs and the incredible fall casting bite, he knows how to find and catch fish in every condition. He's equally passionate about the lake's world-class smallmouth fishery, which produces stunning numbers of 4-6 pound bronzebacks on light tackle.
(This is a sample profile for demonstration purposes. Brian Kowalski is a fictional guide created to showcase the HOOKED guide directory feature.)
Specialties
Waters Fished
- Lake Erie — Western Basin
- Lake Erie — Central Basin
- Sandusky Bay
- Maumee River
Latest Fishing Report
2026-04-01
The spring walleye run is in full swing on Lake Erie's western basin. Water temperatures are hovering around 48-52 degrees and the fish are stacked up on the reefs between Catawba Island and Kelleys Island. We've been drifting with weight-forward spinners tipped with nightcrawlers and limiting out most mornings before noon.
Jig fishing has also been productive for the anglers who prefer a more hands-on approach. Half-ounce jigs with minnow heads worked slowly along the bottom in 18-24 feet have been getting the job done. Fish are averaging 18-22 inches with several over 28 inches this week. The bite has been best during the low-light periods — early morning and overcast afternoons.
Smallmouth bass are starting to wake up too, though the peak won't hit until May. We've picked up a few incidental bronzebacks while walleye fishing, and they've all been chunky fish in the 3-4 pound range. The perch bite is still slow as they transition from their winter haunts, but that should pick up soon.
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