Lake St. Clair, Michigan Fishing Report Today

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for Thursday, November 13, 2025. Sunrise hit at 7:18 a.m., with sunset coming up around 5:13 p.m. Local temps hover in the low 40s this morning with a brisk northwest wind kicking up to 14 mph, gusting higher by lunch. Expect partly cloudy skies, the occasional spitting rain, and that classic November chill in the air.

Lake St. Clair’s bite fired up ahead of last night’s cold front, and it’s holding steady despite dropping water temps. According to Sportsmen’s Direct’s latest video report, smallmouth bass are still active on hard bottoms and mid-depth breaks. Folks fishing from the 9 Mile launch and Metro Beach hammered decent numbers of bronzebacks early this week, with several boats counting double-digit catches and a handful pushing the 5-pound mark. Largemouths are less concentrated now, but still show up in the canals and shallow weedbeds along Anchor Bay. Recent creel counts from Michigan Outdoor News confirm solid bass action, with local guides reporting both size and numbers on the St. Clair cut and up near Harley Ensign.

Walleye and perch have dialed back but remain available. Anglers drifting the outflow at the mouth of the Detroit River and the South Channel reported fair catches, with perch up to 12 inches and keeper walleyes hitting crawler harnesses and jig/minnow combos. White bass and a few northern pike are mixed in, especially near the spillways and deeper marinas.

Fall turnover means finesse is king. Ned rigs and drop-shot rigs topped the charts, with natural colors like green pumpkin, watermelon, and smoke purple pulling more strikes. Jacob Wheeler and Kevin VanDam both vouch for the drop-shot approach on Lake St. Clair’s clear water: light braid, long fluorocarbon leaders, and baits like Roboworms or the Geecrack Revival Shad. Small marabou jigs have also produced near windblown points and rock piles. For smallmouth, scaling back to smaller plastics—Z-Man TRD, Strike King Baby Z-Too—has been money, especially when paired with swimbait heads or tossed on light line.

Live bait options this time of year include shiners and small suckers for walleye and perch. The usual nightcrawlers and fathead minnows still take fish near the river mouths, but most bass guys are sticking with artificial presentations now. If you’re targeting pike, toss a larger spinnerbait, lipless crank, or sucker under a float along the weed edges.

Hot spots to check today:

- **Metro Beach breakwall and weedbeds**: Consistent smallmouth and pike reports.

- **St. Clair Cut at the mouth of the South Channel**: Walleye, perch, and mixed species; best results drifting live bait or casting Ned rigs.

- **Harley Ensign launch and adjacent flats**: Still producing solid bass action on finesse rigs.

Remember, November’s cold means safety first. Wear those life jackets, keep an eye on the wind, and be respectful at the ramps.

For regs, the DNR reminds that only single-pointed, unwe

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This is Artificial Lure with your Lake St. Clair, Michigan fishing report for Thursday, November 13, 2025.

Light winds swept through last night, and by sunrise at 7:19 AM, the lake lay under a brisk 37°F sky, warming only slightly with cloudy conditions expected most of the day. They say we’ll keep flirting with mid-40s, and sunset comes early at 5:16 PM. No tide here—being a Great Lake—but water levels remain stable, with recent rains keeping shore edges slightly swollen according to USGS Water Data. Local fall runoff means clarity’s reduced in some feeder creeks, so target main lake areas for best visibility.

Fish are shifting deep, but action’s still hot for late-season smallmouth and some bonus walleye, especially off Metro Beach and the mile roads. Sportsmen’s Direct, reporting yesterday, mentioned solid smallmouth catches on deep breaks and scattered walleye near the channels. Most boats this week are landing up to 15-20 smallmouth per outing; sizes range from solid “football” 2-pounders up to a few pushing 5-plus. Word is even a few muskie are still on the prowl, best early or late in the day, hanging close to river mouths.

Best lures are clear water finesse styles—Strike King Baby Z-Too rigged drop-shot, as recommended by local legend Kevin VanDam, is gold right now. Use 1/8 to 3/8 ounce weights and 8-pound flouro leader for those deep fish. For fewer snags, try Duo Realis Spinbait spybaits—slow retrieve is key, just let ‘em wobble down and swim steady. Color-wise, natural shad, smelt, or perch patterns stand out as water cools. If you’re throwing blades or underspins, smaller is better; lakes finesse underspins drew strikes in the past few days, according to a detailed YouTube report on Lake St. Clair.

On the bait side, nothing beats live minnows right now, especially golden shiners or small suckers. Rig them on simple single-pointed hooks, as the Michigan DNR regulations allow—no trebles or weighted jigs in the main river channels for whitefish protection, but on the rest of St. Clair, drop-shotting plastics gets the nod.

Walleye trollers did alright near the river mouths, catching half a dozen per trip this week. Stickbaits in clown or firetiger colors worked best dusk to dawn. Perch remain scattered, with modest catches on small minnows fished right under the boat at 12-18 feet.

Hot spots this morning:

- **Metro Beach drop-offs:** Fish 14-22 feet with finesse rigs in the midmorning window, targeting transitions from weeds to sand.

- **9 Mile ramp shoals:** Early hours give you a shot at those stubborn muskies and bonus smallmouth holding on subtle structure.

- **Mile Road seawalls (particularly 10 and 12):** Cast parallel with spybaits or small crankbaits for roaming bass.

As the weather cools and leaf debris increases, keep an eye on water clarity and oxygen—a reminder from Metroparks stormwater management: fall runoff can occasionally trigger low-oxygen “fish kill” events, but right now fish are biting and alive.

Thanks for

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Artificial Lure with your Lake St. Clair Fishing Report for Tuesday, November 11th, 2025.

Sun rose over Lake St. Clair just after 7:14 AM, painting the glassy water in pale November light. Locals awoke to a crisp breeze, about 56 degrees at start with winds light from the northwest, ideal for Lake St. Clair’s fall fishery. Cold front conditions are in the forecast for tonight, so visiting anglers should suit up accordingly and anticipate sharper winds late in the afternoon—those chillier shifts often spark good bites. The new moon phase today means lower nighttime light, giving an edge to daytime fishing during those hot windows: best activity has been 7:04 to 9:04 AM, 12:15 to 2:15 PM, and for the hardcore, 11:43 PM to 1:43 AM, according to Fishingreminder.

Big news is bass—Lake St. Clair is proving once again why it’s a smallmouth capital, as seen during the recent Bassmaster Elite Series. Tournament leaders weighed in bags north of 21 pounds, and pro JT Thompkins called the region “a big water, big fish, and big pressure” situation. Both locals and pros have dialed in that the most consistent bite happens from midday into late afternoon, as the smallmouth suspend up higher and actively chase.

Recent catches: Brittney Wilton, a local guide out of Harrison Township, landed several three- to four-pound bronzebacks working a 10-foot basin rimmed by slightly shallower water. The numbers and size are holding strong, with several guides pulling their “holy grail” fish over the past week—this is prime time for trophies.

Besides smallmouth, expect to see perch schooling in the bays and shallows. A few walleye are still being picked up near drop-offs and channel edges, especially in the very early morning or dusk.

Best lures right now: Power drop-shot rigs are king for smallmouth. Major League Fishing and local heroes like Kevin VanDam recommend working a Strike King 3.5-inch Baby Z-Too, nose-hooked on a drop-shot with a half-ounce tungsten weight. Long casts are critical to avoid spooking fish in the clear water. Ned rigs, tubes, and swimbaits on light jigheads also produce. For perch and walleye, keep it simple—small jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms, or try working a blade bait along sand flats.

Hot spots for Tuesday: Jefferson Beach Marina is drawing in a mix of baitfish and predators, and shoreline casting around L’Anse Creuse Bay is offering access to active schools. Campau Bay has perch in numbers near deeper weed edges, and the main lake basins between 10-15 feet around marker buoys are still holding clusters of smallmouth.

Tides and water shifts are mild this time of year, but with new moon silence and low visibility, fish are staying tight to structure and dropping deeper after mid-morning.

Quick tip: With temps dipping tonight, keep a steady retrieve, but don't be afraid to slow down and let your bait pause near bottom structure. That’s where bronze giants are holding tight, especially as cold fronts nudge them into winter patterns

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Artificial Lure here, bringing you the latest from Lake St. Clair on this crisp November 11th morning. At 8:20 am, sunrise has just painted the banks and we’re heading for a classic late fall bite. Nautical twilight began around 6:51 am, sunrise popped up at 7:27 am, and you can expect sunset at 5:17 pm—so plan your casts and retrieve those lines before the early dusk settles in, especially with daylight hours dwindling.

Weather-wise, it's chilly with air temps around 46°F and a stiff east wind averaging 15 knots. Dress for a wind chill dipping below 40°F and expect small chop—2-foot waves stacking up on the open water according to NOAA buoy 45147. Water temp’s hanging close to 53°F, which still keeps bass and perch active near structure and warmer shallows.

Fish activity today is primed to peak during the following bite windows: minor activity 7:04–9:04 am (happening right now if you’re out early), with a major uptick midday from 12:15–2:15 pm, and another minor flurry 5:26–7:26 pm—matching those key feeding periods around low light. The new moon phase means fish are bullish and hungry, so capitalize with natural-looking presentations.

Recent catches have been nothing short of legendary. Brittney Wilton from Harrison Township hauled in a 7 lb 4 oz smallmouth just last week—released alive and well, showing Lake St. Clair’s bronzeback population is thriving and growing. Bassmaster Elite and Major League Fishing results report winning bags heavy with smallmouth, perch, and scattered walleye. One powerhouse MLF pair boated 46 scorable bass for over 70 pounds in a single day—testament to the current activity.

Popular techniques this week:

- Drop-shotting with a 3.5-inch Baby Z-Too or Dream Shot, nose-hooked or Texas-rigged, is deadly for covering water fast and triggering reaction strikes. Kevin VanDam himself touts this for both deep edges and shallow weedlines.

- Tube jigs (green pumpkin, purple, or natural smoke) consistently pull both quality bass and bycatch drum right off the basin, especially fished slow with bottom contact.

- Yamamoto Senko wacky-rigged, Ned rigs, and finesse worms can be the difference-maker, especially as water clarity increases.

- Spinnerbaits with a black or chartreuse profile match shad or perch—great for midday or if the wind picks up.

- Live bait anglers are connecting with jumbo perch and the occasional walleye using minnows or larval baits on simple rigs near current breaks and deeper holes.

Best baits right now:

- Soft plastic minnow-style drop-shot lures.

- Strike King Coffee Tubes.

- Subtle swimbaits in matte or natural finishes if perch and shiners are spotted.

- Chartreuse, pumpkin, and bluegill hues for power-fishing crankbaits or spinnerbaits.

- Leeches or emerald shiners for perch—a reliable choice, especially around marinas.

Hotspots to try today:

- Jefferson Beach Marina for land-based perch and smallmouth action. Sheltered water draws baitfish and active predators.

- L’Anse Creuse Bay is producing he

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for Monday, November 10, 2025.

We kicked off the morning with sunrise at 7:13 AM and you can expect sunset to wrap things up around 5:32 this evening. Bundle up—it’s a crisp one out there with air temps starting below 47 degrees. Water temps are staying in the upper 40s, and an east wind at about 15 knots is pushing steady two-footers across the main lake. Weather’s looking partly cloudy with the barometer dropping slowly and a bit of wind-driven chop, especially along the south shore, so plan your launches and drifts accordingly. No need to worry about tides, but pay close attention to shifting winds and pressure—they’re moving fish this week.

Right now, the **late fall bite is in full swing**. The talk along the docks and from Michigan DNR reports is that the fish are stacking up heavy for the coming cold. **Smallmouth bass** are the clear headline—anglers are posting great numbers out on the Mile Roads reefs, especially 9 and 11 Mile, as well as around the St. Clair Light north flats. Bladed baits in silver and gold are putting three- to four-pound bronzebacks in the net. Don’t overlook a 4-inch green pumpkin tube or natural-color swimbaits dragged slow along the humps—those subtle presentations are deadly with the cool water. Folks are also boating chunkier smallmouths off deeper flats and drop-offs, with some slabs over five pounds reported early this morning.

**Largemouth bass** aren’t sleeping either—you’ll find them along weed edges on the south end, and one group boated close to 70 fish in a day and a half this weekend, all on soft plastics and jigs. Mix up your retrieve: a slow, steady approach works best, but try a deep-diving crank or suspending jerkbait at sunset when the reaction bite kicks in, much like the pros out on the tour have been doing according to majorleaguefishing.com.

**Muskie action** remains hot for those trolling breaks in 8- to 14-feet, especially from Metropark and Harley Ensign launches. Charter boats are averaging four to six muskies per trip, with a couple of mid-40-inchers landed just yesterday. Try jointed crankbaits and big rubber baits in perch or black-nickel patterns to match the hatch.

**Walleye** have picked up in the river mouths and by the channels—dusk has been prime-time. Word is, those that stick it out into twilight are hitting limits of 17–21 inch eaters. Jigs with minnows and fire tiger crankbaits when it’s overcast are solid bets.

**Perch** are starting to really bunch up deeper. Outside weed edges and drops, especially from Goose Bay to Strawberry Island, are producing nice buckets of keepers for those moving around to track active schools.

If you’re looking for the **hotspots**:

- Mile Roads reefs (especially 9 and 11 Mile) for smallmouth

- Metropark and Harley Ensign for muskie

- St. Clair Light north flats for big smallies

- Goose Bay and Strawberry Island for mixed bag action

- The weedlines inside Metro Beach for a shot at

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Good morning, this is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for Monday, November 10th, 2025.

We’re waking up to crisp late-fall conditions. It's currently about 41°F, with the sky overcast and a breeze straight from the west keeping things choppy across open water. Forecasts from local weather stations say we’ll stay in the low- to mid-40s with winds around 10–15 mph—bring the windbreaker. Sunrise rolled in at 7:19 AM, and sunset’s set for 5:13 PM, giving us a short but punchy window for prime fishing. Lake St. Clair doesn’t have significant tides, but wind-induced currents are moving bait along the eastern shorelines and up into the bays this week.

Let’s talk **fish activity**. Cooler temps and shorter days have dialed up the big smallmouth and yellow perch bite, both packing on seasonal fat for winter. According to the latest Michigan DNR reports and Outdoor News, yellow perch action has notably ramped up since last week, with several anglers running into easy limits near weedbeds and rocky points. Recent charter trips (as shared by locals and on Captain Experiences) logged strong catches of smallmouth bass, with good eaters and a handful of trophies, especially when anglers focused on deeper breaks and channel edges.

For **tackle**—it’s the classic Great Lakes fall playbook. For smallmouth, the drop-shot is still king, paired with a natural-colored plastic like a Strike King Dream Shot or Z Too in green pumpkin or smoke, just like Jonathon VanDam does. Tubes and small swimbaits—such as a 3.25” paddletail—have been fooling bass in shallower flats, especially during brief sun breaks. Don’t skip the tube jigs: they’re excellent for searching and covering water on windblown points. When targeting perch, nothing beats a live minnow under a slip bobber, with many reporting success on small tungsten jigs tipped with waxworms near Jefferson Beach Marina and up into L’Anse Creuse Bay.

The hot **spots** this week? Jefferson Beach Marina stands out for boat launches and sheltered fishing, and L’Anse Creuse Bay is a perch magnet right now, especially near sharp weed-to-sand transitions. Campau Bay has also quietly been producing strong evening smallmouth bites, particularly near current seams and just off deeper humps. If you’re shoreline-bound, both the marinas and the adjacent headlands are worth a cast, especially around sunrise and sunset.

Smallmouth are still hugging structure but getting aggressive with cooler water—don’t be shy about making a few short moves if the action tapers. Keep an eye on electronics for roaming schools; anglers willing to adapt depth are finding fish anywhere from 7 to 18 feet right now.

The bite should hold steady as the weather remains cool, but remember to dress warm and watch for quick wind shifts today. Those cloudy skies can compress your daylight for active fishing, so plan your window.

That’s the rundown from Lake St. Clair. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for up-to

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Artificial Lure here—good morning, anglers! It’s Sunday, November 9, and we’re talking Lake St. Clair, where late-fall chill has set in but the fishing is still hot if you know where to go and what’s biting.

Sunrise rolled at 7:13 AM today, with sunset coming quick around 5:32 PM. You’ll want to dress smart—the air temp is hovering just under 47 degrees, water temps are hanging in the upper 40s, and we’ve got an east wind at 15 knots keeping two-footers rolling across the main lake. The barometer’s steady but starting a slow drop, so expect the weather to get a bit squirrelly later in the day. Tides don’t play a factor here, but those changing pressures and wind shifts sure do.

**Smallmouth bass** are bunched up tight on rocky points and deeper flats. If you’re looking to connect with a chunky bronzeback, locals are crushing it on the Mile Roads reefs—9 and 11 Mile are top of the list. Word from Captain Billy Howe’s crew out of the Detroit River is multiple smallies between 18 and 21 inches, some cracking 4 pounds. Blade baits in silver or gold are hard to beat this week, but don’t shy away from natural tube jigs, a 4-inch green pumpkin tube, or a dark swimbait worked slow right over the submerged humps. The Berkley Chigger Craw is a solid pick for jigs. Late afternoon? Swap to a deep-diving crankbait or a suspending jerkbait for that reaction strike as the sun dips, just like tournament pros recommend when the bite toughens up.

**Walleye** anglers are piling up catches from the mouth of the Detroit River up the shipping channel. Most folks are vertical jigging heavy chartreuse or pink blade baits, others trolling husky deep divers or jigging live emerald shiners near bottom dips. Try the deeper cuts east of Grosse Pointe and up by the Metropark for several eaters per drift.

**Perch** action has been up and down, but keepers are coming in for the patient crew parking near Strawberry Island. Best bet is a classic perch rig baited with small spottail shiners or a bit of worm. Limits take time, but passing up dinks, it’s doable to boat a couple dozen slabs.

**Northern pike** are prowling weedlines around Anchor Bay and the south shore—cast big, flashy spoons or toss suspending jerkbaits parallel to the drops. Muskie maniacs are stretching their luck with big rubber baits—fire tiger and walleye patterns—trolling slow from St. Clair Light to the Belle River hump; heard of several beasts 36–45 inches over the weekend.

Live bait is the ticket in the cold: Emerald shiners for walleye and perch, and large suckers or lively shad if you’re chasing big pike or muskie. Local bait shops are well stocked—don’t forget to downsize presentations and slow your roll.

A couple of hot spots for today:

- **Mile Roads (9 & 11 Mile reefs)** for aggressive smallmouth bass.

- **Windmill Point** remains a steady producer for walleye.

- The **Strawberry Island drop** is perch central right now.

- For a shot at trophy pike, work the **Anchor Bay weedlines**.

- If you

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Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake St. Clair, Michigan, fishing report for Sunday, November 9, 2025. Big chill back in the air, the wind’s been out of the northwest, and the clocks just pushed sunrise to 7:13 AM with sunset rolling in at 5:19 PM, so we’re working with those shorter November days. Water temps are running low 50s to high 40s and with the cold front earlier this week, fish are stacking up and the late fall feed is on, especially for bass, perch, and walleye.

No tides on Lake St. Clair, but wind-driven flows matter, and things have settled after that recent blow. According to Outdoor News Michigan’s November 5 update, perch are starting to school up deep and the smallmouth bass bite is firing on both soft plastics and live bait. The DNR and majorleaguefishing.com have reported that anglers working main lake points, weed edges, and drop-offs have found steady action the past few days, with several nice bags of smallies pushing the 4–6 pound mark coming in, plenty of yellow perch in the well, and even some eater-size walleye caught at dusk.

Best baits out here this time of year? Live minnows are top dog for perch and walleye—use a perch rig or a simple jig tipped with a minnow, and don’t be afraid to switch to wigglers or shrimp if things slow down, as Buc’s Fishing Report pro tips always remind us. For smallmouth, stick with blade baits, lipless cranks, and hair jigs in the deeper holes—shad and perch patterns are winning, and when the wind lays down, a drop shot rigged with a goby-style plastic is killer.

If you’re working artificials, Major League Fishing’s top pros recently went finesse, throwing the CrushCity Mooch Minnow on VMC hooks, or threw Ned rigs and swimbaits around current breaks near deeper flats and shoals. Don’t overlook a slow-rolled spinnerbait or tube, either, especially in green-pumpkin or baitfish imitations.

Recent catches have been solid: local guides report consistent limits of perch up to 12 inches out of the Mile Roads and Anchor Bay, with perch schooled tight in 12–18 feet. Smallmouth are rolling heavy out from Metro Beach and along the St. Clair Light. If you’re after walleye, the late evening bite off the spillways and the channels—especially the mouth of the Detroit River—has kicked up as the sun drops.

My top hot spots this week:

- Jefferson Beach Marina and the mouth of L’Anse Creuse Bay are putting out good numbers of both perch and smallmouth—plus, you’ve got wind protection to tuck in if it blows hard.

- Metro Beach to the Mile Roads—target deeper weed edges and gravel, 14–18 feet, with small blade baits for smallmouth.

- The Detroit River mouth and Belle River Hump—solid night walleye bite on minnows and small jigs worked slow.

Fish activity has really jumped since the temps dropped, and while some folks are switching over to hunting, the diehards are finding hungry fish on every outing. Remember, as the water cools, slow your presentation—let those jigs sink and keep contact with bott

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This is Artificial Lure, bringing you your Lake St. Clair fishing report for Saturday, November 8th, 2025—straight from the heart of Michigan’s November bite. Another cool, brisk fall morning on the lake, and the air’s got that fresh snap locals look for. Sunrise hit at 7:16 a.m., with sunset lined up around 5:16 p.m., giving you a solid window to chase a fall trophy before dusk settles over the water.

Now, Lake St. Clair doesn’t get tides like the ocean, but with today’s steady north wind, current and surface chop are piling into the southern shoreline and marinas—keep an eye out for that steeper weed growth in the bays and flats since those spots are holding the strongest fish. Water levels are a bit higher than your typical November, so shallow patterns are still hanging on in a big way.

The buzz along the launches and bait shops is all about muskie—right now, charter captains out of Metropark and Harley Ensign are reporting steady mid-morning action. Most bites are coming trolling the breaks in 8 to 14 feet, with custom-painted jointed crankbaits or big rubber baits in perch and black-nickel color schemes matching up with what the fish are feeding on. It’s not uncommon to see a 40-inch plus muskie following a bait right to the boat, especially around the weed edges and sandy drop-offs.

Bass anglers, your window isn’t closed yet. Pro insights and fresh guide reports agree—the north shore rocks by St. Clair Light are still loaded with hungry smallmouth chewing tubes in green pumpkin, Ned rigs, and drop-shot rigs. If the wind lays down later, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits in Goose Bay and Strawberry Island areas are working, but make sure to slow that retrieve as the water continues to cool down. One local even reported nearly 70 largemouths in just a day and a half’s run from the Michigan to Ohio side—so toss those finesse baits along the weedlines and breakwalls while the bite’s still on.

Walleye are coming alive at the mouth of the Detroit River and in the St. Clair River channels. Best action lately has been on white fluke-style plastics fished jighead-style, as well as chrome blade baits near channel edges. The chop from today’s wind should extend that prime bite a bit longer into the morning.

Perch fishers are also having a banner week, with most action at the weedbeds off Metro Beach, the mouth of Anchor Bay, and the Harrison Township canals. Emerald shiners and small jigging spoons are the ticket to a slab perch fry, and you’re likely to tangle with a crappie or bluegill mixed in for good measure.

Recent net surveys out of the DNR and fishy chatter at the dock show baitfish numbers are still high—lots of shiners, smelt, gobies, and deepwater sculpin—so the whole food chain is lit up. That’s keeping every predator fat and full of fight.

If you’re looking to zero in on the best water today:

- Metropark and Metro Beach weedlines: where muskie, perch, and bonus pike are putting on the feedbag.

- St. Clair Light north flats: your best b

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This is Artificial Lure checking in with your up-to-the-minute Lake St. Clair fishing report for November 8, 2025. We’re in the heart of that crisp Michigan autumn—temps kicking off in the low 40s, climbing up into the low 50s by midday, under partly cloudy skies. Winds this morning are coming out of the west-northwest at about 10 mph. Expect a light chop, but nothing that’ll keep you off the water. Sunrise hit us at 7:14 AM, with sunset rolling in at 5:17 PM, giving you a generous window for a productive Saturday session.

For you tide-watchers: Lake St. Clair isn’t tidal, but water levels have been steady and clear this past week. That’s helped fire up the bite as the fall turnover brings prime oxygen and a nice temp drop, keeping the fish energized and cruising shallows and mid-depths.

This week’s action has been classic fall—big numbers and some trophy fish. Recent local reports highlight the muskies moving aggressively; several boats are reporting four to six fish landed per trip, with top fish pushing the mid 40-inch mark. Bass anglers—both largemouth and smallmouth—have been putting up strong numbers. According to Outdoor News and Michigan DNR, smallmouth are stacking up over the deeper flats and drop-offs, while largemouths are patrolling the weed edges and reeds on the south end. One group logged nearly 70 largemouths in a day and a half, and others found the smallmouth in good supply and feeding hard on baitfish.

Walleye activity is picking up as well, especially in the river mouths and near the shipping channel—guys are bringing in limits if they put in the time, with fish in that tasty 17–21 inch range. Yellow perch success increased from the previous week, with mixed buckets but plenty of keepers if you move around to find active schools.

If you’re loading up the tackle tray, your best bets right now are:

- **For Muskies:** Large rubber swim baits like Bull Dawgs and Medusas, as well as trolling big crankbaits in perch and whitefish patterns. Don’t overlook classic bucktails.

- **For Smallmouth:** Tube jigs, blade baits, and jerkbaits in natural shad hues. The Ned rig is still pulling its weight when things get finicky.

- **For Largemouth:** Texas-rigged creature baits and medium-diving crankbaits along the weedlines are cash. Spinnerbaits on windier afternoons.

- **For Walleye:** Jigging with minnows or working crawler harnesses and deep-diving ripsticks along the river breaks is pulling fish.

- **For Perch:** Small minnows on drop-shot rigs or traditional perch rigs, moving until you hit the right school with some size.

Live bait is still king for walleye and perch, but don’t sleep on artificials with some added scent this late in the season. For muskies and bass, stick with the big, flashy baits to match that aggressive fall attitude.

Hot spots to keep on your radar:

- **Anchor Bay:** Especially out by the Metropark weeds, continues to hold numbers of smallmouth and pike.

- **The Mile Roads:** Both 9 and 12 Mile are strong, w

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