Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Bass, Walleye, Perch, and Muskie Action on the Great Lakes

Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair fishing report, coming at you like we’re talking over coffee at the Crocker ramp.

We don’t worry about tides on St. Clair, but you *do* want to watch the wind-driven seiche. With this early‑winter pattern and a stiff west–northwest push, expect water bumped up on the Canadian side and pulled down a bit on the Metro Beach / Fair Haven side. NOAA’s Great Lakes forecast is calling for below-freezing air, a stiff breeze, and a mix of clouds and flurries – classic big-jacket, hand-warmer weather. Sunrise is right around 7:50 a.m., sunset about 4:55 p.m., so your prime windows are the first hour of light and that 3–dark crank.

Surface temps are sliding through the upper 30s, and the U.S. National Ice Center’s Great Lakes outlook says we’re headed for near‑average ice this winter, so we’re in that shoulder season where fish are bunched up but still very catchable.

Bass first: the smallmouth bite has tightened but isn’t dead. According to local guide chatter and recent Michigan DNR creel checks, the better fish are coming off the breaks in 14–18 feet, especially where weeds meet rock. Think mouths of the South Channel, the edge off the mile roads, and the deeper pads of the Belle River Hump. Fish are mostly in that 2½–4‑pound class with an occasional 5. Best presentations are slow and subtle:
- **Lures:** 3.5–4" goby- and perch‑pattern tubes, dark green pumpkin and black neon; blade baits like Silver Buddies in silver or gold; and hair jigs in natural brown.
- Work them almost painfully slow, just ticking bottom. Most hits are just weight.

Walleye: The Detroit River’s getting more attention, but Lake St. Clair is quietly giving up decent numbers along the shipping channel edges and out toward the Dumping Grounds. Michigan DNR reports show steady eater‑size fish, 15–20 inches, coming on live bait. Run:
- **Bait:** emerald shiners and fatheads on plain hooks or small glow jig heads, just off bottom.
- Slowly drift or backtroll; if you’re marking them but not getting bit, downsize and add a stinger.

Perch: According to local bait shops around St. Clair Shores and Fair Haven, perch guys are still putting together nice buckets when they stay mobile. Look for 8–12 feet with scattered weed clumps and cleaner sand pockets.
- **Bait:** small emeralds, spikes, or waxies on #8–#10 teardrops.
- A few anglers are reporting 25–40 fish mornings, lots of 8–10 inchers with the odd 12.

Pike and muskie: This is the time of year when the big girls chew. Muskie trollers along the South Channel and out by the Belle River Hump have been moving decent fish, with a few mid‑40s reported.
- **Lures:** big rubber (Medussas, Bulldawgs) in walleye and perch colors, and large crankbaits trolled slow.
- For pike, try big shiners or suckers under a float along marinas and weed edges.

Couple of hot spots to circle on your map:
- **Belle River Hump:** great mixed bag right now – smallmouth on the breaks, muskies cruising the deep edges, and walleyes sliding through.
- **Metro Beach / 9‑Mile to 11‑Mile line:** consistent perch and a bonus smallie or two when the wind lays down.

Best overall winter box: tubes, blade baits, and hair jigs for bass; small jigging spoons and live minnows for walleye and perch; and at least one big rubber bait or large sucker rigged for that surprise muskie or pike.

That’s it from Lake St. Clair for today. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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