03 September 2025
Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Smallmouth Bonanza, Perch Piles, and Muskie Madness
Lake St. Clair, Michigan Fishing Report - Daily
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Artificial Lure here, bringing you the September 3rd, 2025, Lake St. Clair fishing report—your boots-on-the-dock update for the day.
Weather started out muggy and warm, with a sunrise at 6:57 AM and sunset scheduled for 8:09 PM. Barometric pressure’s been steady, and with daytime highs nudging 82, the lake’s surface temps are hovering in the mid-70s—prime for both comfort casting and fish activity. No tidal swing to worry about on the Great Lakes, but winds are clocking out of the west at 8 to 10 knots, kicking up a bit of chop, perfect for moving bait action.
Fish have been on the chew from dawn through early afternoon, especially if you’re targeting smallmouth bass. According to Bassmaster Elite Series coverage, Lake St. Clair’s been a smallmouth bonanza in late summer, and right now they’re fattening up for the fall[ Bassmaster Elite Series]. Anglers pulling up at the mile roads and out by Grassy Island have been reporting steady numbers—bronzebacks in the two-to-four-pound range with a real shot at a five-pound kicker.
Locals and guides are seeing strong catches on green pumpkin tubes and drop shots with 3-inch minnow imitations. For active fish in shallower water, throw a white spinnerbait or try topwater walking baits—there’s been a proper frog and gizzard shad hatch around the weed edges near Anchor Bay and the Clinton River mouth. Detroit Daily Fishing Report calls out the Detroit River mouth as a honey hole for mixed fishing—walleye, perch, and even some lucky muskie chasers getting a nibble[ Lake Erie, Detroit Daily Fishing Report].
Perch have been piling up in 15 to 20 feet of water, schooled up on the south end flats. Best bet: emerald shiners on perch rigs when you can find them, otherwise red worms will pull in numbers throughout the mid-morning, especially by the Belle River Hump. Walleye are still hanging deeper off the shipping channel drop-offs—crawler harnesses in chartreuse or purple have brought steady results.
Recent reports show the muskie bite picking back up with slightly cooler nights. Trollers are moving big bucktail spinners, and white or perch pattern crankbaits have tempted a couple of mid-40-inch fish east of Strawberry Island just this week. Top catch confirmed this Labor Day was a 48-incher released right back into the cabbage beds by Metro Beach, a true Lake St. Clair hammer.
If you want hotspots, don’t sleep on:
- Metro Beach breakwalls for smallmouth and occasional walleye.
- The St. Clair light and shipping channel for multi-species action—exclusive local word is that the 400 Club area’s been hot at first light for both smallie and perch limits.
- The mouth of the Clinton River for that early fall mixed bag and a chance at a big pike or even a stray steelhead nosing up from the river.
Bait of choice right now: for bass, a drop shot rigged with a 3" goby plastic or Strike King Dream Shot. For perch, it’s tough to beat a spreader with shiners. Muskie folks, keep those double tens and white/black crankbaits ready.
One tip: water clarity’s been solid this week, so scale down fluorocarbon leaders on pressured smallmouth spots—6 to 8 lb test makes the difference on those bluebird days.
Thanks for tuning in to your Lake St. Clair fishing fix. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a local update, wherever the bite’s happening next.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Weather started out muggy and warm, with a sunrise at 6:57 AM and sunset scheduled for 8:09 PM. Barometric pressure’s been steady, and with daytime highs nudging 82, the lake’s surface temps are hovering in the mid-70s—prime for both comfort casting and fish activity. No tidal swing to worry about on the Great Lakes, but winds are clocking out of the west at 8 to 10 knots, kicking up a bit of chop, perfect for moving bait action.
Fish have been on the chew from dawn through early afternoon, especially if you’re targeting smallmouth bass. According to Bassmaster Elite Series coverage, Lake St. Clair’s been a smallmouth bonanza in late summer, and right now they’re fattening up for the fall[ Bassmaster Elite Series]. Anglers pulling up at the mile roads and out by Grassy Island have been reporting steady numbers—bronzebacks in the two-to-four-pound range with a real shot at a five-pound kicker.
Locals and guides are seeing strong catches on green pumpkin tubes and drop shots with 3-inch minnow imitations. For active fish in shallower water, throw a white spinnerbait or try topwater walking baits—there’s been a proper frog and gizzard shad hatch around the weed edges near Anchor Bay and the Clinton River mouth. Detroit Daily Fishing Report calls out the Detroit River mouth as a honey hole for mixed fishing—walleye, perch, and even some lucky muskie chasers getting a nibble[ Lake Erie, Detroit Daily Fishing Report].
Perch have been piling up in 15 to 20 feet of water, schooled up on the south end flats. Best bet: emerald shiners on perch rigs when you can find them, otherwise red worms will pull in numbers throughout the mid-morning, especially by the Belle River Hump. Walleye are still hanging deeper off the shipping channel drop-offs—crawler harnesses in chartreuse or purple have brought steady results.
Recent reports show the muskie bite picking back up with slightly cooler nights. Trollers are moving big bucktail spinners, and white or perch pattern crankbaits have tempted a couple of mid-40-inch fish east of Strawberry Island just this week. Top catch confirmed this Labor Day was a 48-incher released right back into the cabbage beds by Metro Beach, a true Lake St. Clair hammer.
If you want hotspots, don’t sleep on:
- Metro Beach breakwalls for smallmouth and occasional walleye.
- The St. Clair light and shipping channel for multi-species action—exclusive local word is that the 400 Club area’s been hot at first light for both smallie and perch limits.
- The mouth of the Clinton River for that early fall mixed bag and a chance at a big pike or even a stray steelhead nosing up from the river.
Bait of choice right now: for bass, a drop shot rigged with a 3" goby plastic or Strike King Dream Shot. For perch, it’s tough to beat a spreader with shiners. Muskie folks, keep those double tens and white/black crankbaits ready.
One tip: water clarity’s been solid this week, so scale down fluorocarbon leaders on pressured smallmouth spots—6 to 8 lb test makes the difference on those bluebird days.
Thanks for tuning in to your Lake St. Clair fishing fix. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a local update, wherever the bite’s happening next.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn