This is Artificial Lure with your Lake St. Clair fishing report. We’ve got a classic early-summer pattern setting up around the lake. Weather out of Detroit Metro this morning is mild, with temps starting in the low 60s and heading for the mid to upper 70s by afternoon, light west to southwest breeze around 5–10 mph, and only a slight chance of a passing shower later in the day according to the National Weather Service. Skies should run partly cloudy, just enough cover to keep fish comfortable through the late morning. Sunrise is right around 5:55 a.m., with sunset close to 9:15 p.m., giving you a long window to work summer spots. Lake St. Clair is not a tidal system, so you’re working wind-driven current and boat traffic rather than true tide. A light southwest wind will push warmer surface water toward the Canadian side and the St. Clair River mouth, so expect a bit more current and slightly cooler, cleaner water on the main-lake breaks and channel edges. Smallmouth bass have been the big story. Local charter captains and tackle shops around Harrison Township and Anchor Bay report steady numbers of 2–4 pound bronzebacks with some 5s and the occasional 6 mixed in over the last week. Many of those fish are sliding off beds and holding on 8–14 feet of water, relating to rock, scattered weeds, and subtle depth changes. Best producers have been dropshot rigs with goby-style plastics in natural browns and greens, 3–4 inch tubes in green pumpkin, and Ned rigs in goby or perch patterns. Early and late, jerkbaits and small swimbaits are taking more aggressive fish on wind-blown shorelines. Muskie action is picking up fast with the stable weather and warming water. Local muskie guides out of the Detroit River and the South Channel are reporting good numbers of mid-30 to mid-40 inch fish, with a few 50s already hitting the nets. Trolling big crankbaits and jointed baits in walleye or perch colors at 3–4 mph along the South Channel, the Belle River Hump, and the dumping grounds has been productive. Casters are doing well with bucktails and 8–10 inch rubber baits over 10–18 feet. Walleye are still in play, though more scattered than spring. Anglers working the St. Clair River and the shipping channel edges have been boxing eaters pulling crawler harnesses and small crankbaits near bottom in 15–25 feet. Natural gold, purple, and firetiger patterns have been solid. Best bite has been low light: first light and last couple hours before dark. Perch catches are spotty but improving. Locals picking at them in the dumping grounds and deeper pockets of Anchor Bay are getting mixed sizes, with some nice keepers in 12–18 feet. Minnows on perch rigs or small pieces of nightcrawler right on the bottom are your best bet there. For bait, you can’t go wrong with emerald shiners and nightcrawlers from the local marinas. Artificial-wise, think natural: goby, perch, and shiner colors for smallmouth and walleye; big perch and walleye patterns for muskie. A couple of hot spots to circle on the map today: - The mile roads out of St. Clair Shores, especially 9 Mile to 12 Mile, in 8–14 feet for post-spawn smallmouth. - The Belle River Hump and surrounding deeper structure for muskie and mixed-bag opportunities along the channel edges. That’s the latest from Lake St. Clair. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
