Lake St. Clair, Michigan Fishing Report Today

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 crankbai

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Artificial Lure here, your local hookup for fishing and angling news around Lake St. Clair, Michigan, with the midday report for Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025.

Lake St. Clair kicked off the day with a solid sunrise at 7:03 a.m., looking to wrap up with a sunset around 8:07 p.m. The weather’s a true late-summer cocktail: partly cloudy skies, humidity that makes the morning bite comfortable, and a steady south wind coming in at 8 to 12 knots—just enough chop to keep the oxygen moving. Air temps are sitting in the mid-70s, creeping toward 80 by late afternoon. There's no tide to talk about in Lake St. Clair, being a freshwater body, but wind-driven surface movement means you’ll see most activity on windblown shores and points.

Recent action has been lively—anglers are reporting excellent catches for **smallmouth bass**, **largemouth bass**, and **northern pike** in the area. Fishbrain notes more than 28,000 largemouth and 6,800 smallmouth logged through Mount Clemens and up the St. Clair River so far this season, with pike numbers strong and occasional 30-inchers showing up just outside the weed lines.

The bite’s picked up since those fish fly swarms (mayflies) that hit last week in metro Detroit pushed fish up to feed in the shallows. Early September means baitfish schools are on the move, attracting predators everywhere from docks to rocky breaks. According to Bassmaster’s coverage, Lake St. Clair's shoreline restoration has the flats loaded, and recent tourneys saw anglers hauling in limits of smallmouth up to 5 lbs, especially on the Canadian side and near Anchor Bay.

Best lures this week? Locals are swearing by **white swimbaits**, **chartreuse tubes**, and **spinnerbaits** for smallmouth and largemouth. Pike have been hammering **red-and-gold spoons** as well as bigger **soft plastics** worked along weed edges. If you’re tossing live bait, big golden shiners and fatheads on a slip bobber work great, especially for less aggressive fish.

If you’re after trophy-size catches, two hotspots are standing out:

- Anchor Bay: Shallow flats with scattered weed beds—ideal for topwater around sunrise.

- The mouth of the Clinton River: Especially productive in the afternoon with crankbaits and finesse jigs, as baitfish move through and stir up the predators.

Bottom fishing around the Metro Beach breakwall gets you consistent largemouth, while trolling just off the Mile Roads on the east side put several boats onto active schools early this week. Captain Experiences clients landed boat limits on light tackle trips—double-digit numbers of bass per outing and steady midsize pike, with reports of “always on top of the fish” and “filled our bucket.”

Fishing pressure is up as the Labor Day vacationers wrap up. My tip: hit those windblown points in the late afternoon, working baits slow as temps climb, and don’t be afraid to switch up colors if the bite gets picky.

Thanks for tuning in to your Lake St. Clair fishing report. For daily updates, tips, and lo

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025. Folks, it’s shaping up for a classic late-summer bite out on our favorite Michigan waters.

First, let’s set the scene. This morning sunrise was right around 6:56 AM, with sunset expected tonight near 7:59 PM. Weather on the lake is mild and pleasant, with air temps at 65°F and water just a shade warmer at about 68°F, according to the National Data Buoy Center from Buoy 45147 sitting just off Anchor Bay. Winds are light out of the northwest around 4 knots, and the pressure’s steady at 30.22 inches. Waves are flat, so you can expect glassy water and easy boat handling all day long.

No tides influence the lake, but look for some current where the St. Clair River feeds at the north and Detroit River at the south—classic spots where the bite gets triggered, especially with lake levels steady through the week.

Fish activity this week has been strong after a run of cooler nights perked up water oxygen. BassMaster reported that bass fishing on St. Clair is a little tougher than previous years, but the overall numbers are still solid, especially for smallmouth. Tournament results from RFD-TV’s Major League Fishing coverage last week showed both teams stacking up heavy 26 fish days, with the top bag stacking over 62 pounds of smallmouth, largemouth, and a few bonus perch. Most recreations are seeing 15-30 bass per boat on half-day trips, with best catches in the 2–4 pound range. Perch anglers have been picking up decent limits—expect the best bite in the mid-morning window.

In terms of lures, bass continue to smash soft-plastic jerkbaits along mid-depth humps and weed lines—Lake St. Clair’s classic Mile Roads stretch is especially hot, as shared by local angler Kim Stricker. A natural shad or perch pattern is the way to go, as those bait schools are thick right now. Tube jigs (green pumpkin with some copper flash) and drop-shot rigs have been putting up numbers, especially off Metro Beach and the Harley Ensign launch. Early morning anglers are doing well on topwater—try walk-the-dog baits around shallow rocky shoals; crankbaits (chartreuse or red) are cleaning up once the sun’s on the water.

Live bait remains a staple: Emerald shiners, nightcrawlers, and leeches are the best bets for multi-species limits. Crappie and perch are stacking up in 7–10 ft near the weed edges, and minnows fished vertically will keep the rods bending. Don’t overlook vertical presentations with new sonar—several anglers on BBC Boards are catching bonus walleye and drum by marking fish and dropping straight down, especially late in the day.

For hotspots, here are two must-fish zones today:

- **Mile Roads Area (9 Mile & 12 Mile)**: plenty of bass and perch in mixed rock and weed washes, hard bottom transitions, and fish responding to jerkbait and drop shot. The underwater structure is a magnet now.

- **Harley Ensign Launch / Metro Beach Flats**: good for trolling crankbaits and cast

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for Sunday, August 31st, 2025.

We kicked off the morning under cool, stable conditions with air temps hovering around 60°F and water temperature at 67.3°F, courtesy of NDBC Station 45147. Winds were gentle out of the WNW at 3.9 knots, and the lake was nearly flat, waves rolling at a mere 0.3 feet, ideal for both bass and multi-species angling. No need to worry about tides; Lake St. Clair stays steady thanks to its connection to the Great Lakes system.

Sunrise hit at 6:55 AM and anglers were already posting their setups in the marinas and gravel lots. The forecast calls for a high near 78°F, with partly cloudy skies and winds shifting slightly northwest through midday. Takeoff was smooth, and folks targeting the morning bite should have luck through mid-morning as the water remains cool and oxygen-rich—the perfect setup for active fish.

Local and tournament action from yesterday painted a lively picture. According to Bassmaster LIVE, Trey McKenna led with a strong 24 pounds, 11 ounces bag, mostly three-pound smallmouth with a couple of largemouth in the mix. The lake’s bass weren’t aggressive, so finesse was key—McKenna reported better luck with small soft plastic minnow baits, subtle presentations, and careful working around weed lines. Other top anglers, including Dakota E Bear and Paul Marx, reported a slow start but landed steady numbers by shifting between minnow-style baits and jerkbaits.

Recent tournament data from the Fishing Clash Team Series showed great numbers on the St. Clair River: Team 7Brew Coffee landed 26 bass, stacking up a whopping 62 pounds, 1 ounce for the win. Team YETI matched them in numbers, nearly overtaking in the last half hour. Most weights came from smallmouth with several 4+ pounders and at least one largemouth upwards of 5.5 pounds, so the river and surrounding lake are absolutely loaded right now.

Regulars fishing from Anchor Bay and Metro Beach reported solid action before sunrise with jerkbaits and swimbaits, and the bite stayed hot until late morning. Anglers who switched mid-day to soft plastic minnow rigs and jigs also picked up a few big ones near the deep weed edges. According to Xtreme Bass Tackle, their locally designed baits—chartreuse and shad-colored tubes and goby patterns—led to noteworthy catch rates, especially when paired with light line and slower retrieves.

Hot spots today are:

- **Anchor Bay**: Shallow flats outside the launch are holding cruising schools of smallmouth, especially on hard bottom edges and sparse grass lines.

- **Metro Beach area**: The deeper breaks and transitions close to the state park have produced consistent largemouth and bonus perch during midday. Work soft plastics deep and jerkbaits shallow for best results.

Remember, finesse is crucial with the slow wind and crystal-clear water. Focus on drop shot rigs with goby or shad plastics, or try a subtle jig tipped with soft minnow if the bite slows. If you wa

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Hey folks, Artificial Lure here on Sunday, August 31st, 2025, bringing you your Lake St. Clair fishing report from the heart of Michigan’s big bassin’ country.

We had a good early start today—sunrise rolled in at 6:51 AM, with sunset set for 8:09 PM, giving everyone plenty of daylight to chase the bite. Weather’s holding crisp and steady, with the National Data Buoy Center at Station 45147 recording air temps just over 60°F and water temps right at 67.3°F this morning. Winds are light from the WNW at around 4 knots, wave heights under half a foot—so it’s glassy out there, making sight fishing and casting off the boat deck a breeze.

Now, as for tidal activity, Lake St. Clair is non-tidal, but with that steady northwest wind and rising barometric pressure, expect active fish close to structure and weedlines, especially as the sun gets higher.

Recent tournaments and charters have been lighting up the river and open lake. According to Major League Fishing and Bassmaster Elite results just two days ago, anglers packed big sacks of smallmouth: Team 7Brew Coffee hauled in 26 bass for 62 lbs, with scorable fish stacked up especially in the St. Clair River channel and around the mouth. Berkley Big Bass honors went to Ron Nelson for a 4 lb, 8 oz smallmouth—so giants are still prowling.

Local guides and weekenders report heavy catches of smallmouth in Anchor Bay and largemouth off the Metropark weed beds. Most boats are hitting limits with regular five-fish bags in tournament comps; for example, Sportsmen’s Direct and Xtreme Bass Tackle both confirm consistent strong numbers of largemouth and smallmouth caught on plastics and moving baits.

Top lures right now:

- **Soft plastic minnows** rigged on jigs or tubes

- **Swimbaits** in perch and goby patterns

- **Jerkbaits** early morning for reaction strikes

- **Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits** over shallow weeds

If live bait is your go-to, minnows and nightcrawlers are getting smashed, especially in warmer pockets and along current breaks. For artificial specialists, Xtreme Bass Tackle’s custom Lake St. Clair colors—like Canadian Mist tubes and Goby soft plastics—have put plenty of bronzebacks in the net this week.

Hot spots this weekend:

- **Anchor Bay**: Find big schools of smallmouth busting bait, especially early before the sun gets high.

- **Metropark canes and weed beds**: Largemouth are stacked up, holding in heavy grass and feeding aggressively as we close out August.

- **St. Clair River mouth**: Main channel edges and rock piles, especially around Strawberry Island, are producing best for both numbers and size.

Activity looks best from dawn ‘til about noon; the low wind and rising pressure means fish are feeding up shallow before sliding deeper as the day warms. Keep an eye out for bait balls and bird action—where there’s commotion, there’s bass.

Before heading out, check your tackle, grab plenty of plastics and hard baits, and remember: safety first with those calm seas—watch for weekend boat t

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Artificial Lure here with your *Lake St. Clair* fishing report for Saturday, August 30th, 2025. Early risers hit the water today just after a sunrise at 6:47 AM, with sunset expected at 8:11 PM. Weather's been cooperative—mostly clear skies, light winds, and mild temps pushing the high 70s—providing classic late August conditions, just before the big holiday rush.

There’s no tide on St. Clair since it’s a freshwater lake, but water levels are steady and clarity remains good after a stretch of calm weather. The south wind midweek helped to mix up temperatures, pushing fish toward their late summer patterns and setting up some stellar bites for anglers willing to work a little.

Landing right in the middle of Bassmaster Elite series week, the lake’s been bustling with pros targeting **smallmouth bass**, and they're definitely showing up. Yesterday’s Day 1 leaderboard saw Gerald Swindle netting nearly **15 pounds** before midday, and multiple bags weighed in over the 13- to 14-pound mark. Big smallmouth in prime condition are crowding flats and breaks, eager to smash moving baits and finesse plastics. The tournament coverage confirms these fish are harder to fool these days—they’ve been seeing a lot of technology, but anglers with experience in forward-facing sonar are still picking off quality fish. Jay Shakur and Stetson Blaylock have been closing in on the top spots, so target areas where those pros have had proven success, especially the midlake humps and Anchor Bay drop-offs.

Beyond the bass blitz, local anglers are catching **walleye** on the edges, especially early and late in the day when boat traffic is lower. Reports from Anderson's Pro Bait and neighboring shops mention the bite picking up again—mostly smaller eaters, with some bigger keepers in the mix. Live crawlers, leeches, and lipless crankbaits are yielding the best results. If you want variety, perch schools are gathering near Grosse Pointe and Metro Beach weed beds; try live minnows or small chartreuse jigs.

Most productive spots this morning:

- **Metro Beach Drop-offs**: Smallmouth hotspots—work with tube jigs, Ned rigs, and small swimbaits in natural goby colors.

- **Anchor Bay Flats**: Deep and shallow transitions—throw jerkbaits and green pumpkin finesse worms.

- **Grosse Pointe Weedlines**: Perch action on small jigs and live bait; try for a mixed bag.

Top lures right now:

- Goby-pattern swimbaits and tubes for smallmouth

- White spinnerbaits on windy points

- Ned rigs with green pumpkin or black fleck for fussy midday bass

- Gold and silver lipless crankbaits for walleye

- Chartreuse perch jigs for panfish

Live bait is getting it done for walleye and perch—crawlers, shiners, and leeches are producing. Artificial options are winning for bass, especially with seasoned anglers using subtle presentations and dialed-in electronics.

Fish activity today is high early and late, tapering off in the heat of midday. Best windows: 6:50 to 9:00 AM, and again 6:30 PM till dusk.

Bef

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Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure delivering your August 30th, 2025, fishing report for Lake St. Clair and the surrounding Michigan waters.

It’s a cool start this Saturday—the overnight low dipped comfortably into the upper 50s, but by midmorning, the temp is pushing the low 70s. According to the TH Marine weather watch during yesterday’s Bassmaster Elite Series, we’re looking at light winds and partial cloud cover, perfect conditions for firing up that late-summer bite. Sunrise came at 6:51 AM, and the sun will set tonight at 8:10 PM. Lake St. Clair isn’t a tidal water, but water clarity is solid, and levels are typical for late August.

Fish activity is up, especially with this cooling trend nudging our resident smallmouth bass and walleye toward those early fall patterns. The Bassmaster Elite event yesterday saw Gerald Swindle and other top pros boating bags over 14 pounds by early session, with plenty of chunky smallmouth showing up between 3 and 5 pounds. Over on the St. Clair River, according to recent Major League Fishing and Bassmaster coverage, hot teams are stacking up 20 to 25 smallmouth, tipping the scales at 50 pounds total for the competition round. Expect a mix of aggressive pods and some lockjaw fish, as many have seen heavy pressure from forward-facing sonar.

Best lures right now are drop-shot rigs paired with soft plastics—the green pumpkin goby has been hot, especially the Rapala Crush City BLT threaded onto a VMC hook. Ned rigs in goby or perch pattern and tubes dragged along current seams and rocky breaks are also doing damage. If you’re targeting largemouth in marinas or weedy bays, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits in white/chartreuse are producing, especially around scattered cabbage.

Walleye are showing up in fair numbers during the low light hours. Pulling crankbaits just off the edges of deeper flats, especially in the 12–16 foot range, remains reliable. Nightcrawlers on harnesses are picking off bonus fish for those drifting or slow trolling. Early mornings and late evenings are your best windows thanks to reduced boat traffic.

Mixed bags have included the odd muskie lurking the weed edges—big rubber baits or large bucktails are your best tools if you’re grinding for a trophy. Perch schools are tight, but when you locate them, live minnows or finesse plastics on light jigs are working north of Metropark and out towards Anchor Bay.

Hot spots today:

- Mile Roads: Smallmouth are holding on the gravel bars in 10–15 foot depths, especially between 10 and 12 Mile.

- St. Clair River Mouth: Deep current breaks just outside the Black River are stacked with active smallies and some roaming walleye.

- Anchor Bay: Early birds are boating mixed bags of perch and bass along isolated weed clumps.

- Harley Ensign launch area: Reliable for bass, especially around isolated structure and current seams.

As always, check your regulations, especially if targeting sturgeon—Michigan DNR has reminders out, and season dates are f

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Artificial Lure here with your Friday, August 29, 2025, Lake St. Clair fishing report. It’s a classic late summer Michigan morning—first light came at 6:41 AM and you can expect sunset at 8:12 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to soak a line. No tides to worry about in Lake St. Clair, but local wind and pressure play a big role today. The National Data Buoy Center is showing a steady north wind at around 14 knots, a slight chop with 1.3-foot waves, and water temps holding at a cool 68 degrees, air around 60. Pressure is just beginning to fall, classic pre-front fishing conditions—so expect a bit more activity as fish sense that weather change coming.

Recent action has put anglers onto strong numbers of both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Reports from the last week through regional tournaments show plenty of limits, with several smallmouths in the 4-5 lb range and largemouths pushing 3 lbs not uncommon. According to the Michiana Outdoors News tournament roundup, bass between 5 and 5.5 pounds have been winning money, with Chatterbaits, Rapala DT6 crankbaits, jerkbaits, and soft plastics all producing well around main lake points and channels. Swimbaits and jigs are also pulling their weight, especially for those working deeper breaks and weedlines as the summer weed growth matures.

For bait selection, finesse is the story, especially as the water temp dips and the bite gets a little more selective. Great Lakes Finesse has rolled out even smaller versions of their Mini Craw and Drop Minnow—these micro baits are crushing it for pressured smallies in clear water. On days with a brisk north wind like today, a silver or chartreuse jerkbait, a Ned rig with goby or shiner pattern, or a classic white paddle-tail swimbait can really stand out. Don’t forget the old-school tubes and drop shot—natural colors imitate Lake St. Clair’s abundant baitfish perfectly.

Hot spots right now? The Mile Roads remain a go-to, especially around 9 Mile and 12 Mile where rocky patches mix with scattered grass. Muscamoot Bay is still holding good numbers of bass, and the mouth of the Thames River is turning on, with both smallies and the occasional pike taking baits. Don’t overlook the Canadian side if you have your paperwork sorted—Belle River Hump is stacked with smallmouth chasing bait.

Walleye and perch guys: the deep transitions off the middle channel and near Grassy Island have been giving up eater-size fish, especially on crawler harnesses and small blade baits tipped with minnows.

Top tip for today—work your baits slow in the morning when it's chilly, then pick up the pace as things warm toward noon. With a falling barometer and good cloud cover in the forecast, fish should be feeding actively midday and again at dusk.

Thanks for tuning in to your Lake St. Clair fishing report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss the latest tips or hot bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Good morning, anglers, Artificial Lure here coming to you straight from Lake St. Clair with your fishing report for Friday, August 29, 2025.

First light greeted us at 6:47 AM this morning and you can expect the sun to set at 8:16 PM tonight. Weatherwise, conditions out on the lake are promising: air temp a cool 66°, winds are out of the northwest at about 8 knots, and water temperature is holding steady near 68.5°. A slight dip in barometric pressure has the fish feeling a bit more active, and with wave heights around a foot, boaters and shore anglers alike should have comfortable conditions throughout the day, according to recent reports from the National Data Buoy Center.

Lake St. Clair continues to be a bass angler’s paradise. Local tournament numbers from last week showcased outstanding smallmouth action—one pair of anglers in the Fishing Clash Team Series landed 24 scorable smallmouths tipping the scales at a combined 50 lbs. Largemouths have been less abundant, but the ones coming up have solid shoulders and massive bellies, with five-pounders showing up in multiple bags at recent Michiana events. The big bass trend is holding, so you’ve got strong odds for a personal best right now.

The top producing lures haven’t changed much this late summer—chartreuse and white Chatterbaits continue to rule, particularly when slow-rolled over grass beds and main lake humps. Jigging soft plastics—craw or goby imitations on football heads—has also scored limits, especially early and around the mile roads. Local bait shops, like JP Hatch, report their silicone skirted craws and dice baits have been flying off the shelves; anglers mention extra action from threaded skirt strands has been triggering those cautious, late-season bronzebacks. Swimbaits and jerkbaits retrieved with swift but erratic action have also turned reluctant strikes into hookups, particularly close to breakwalls and along weed edges at Metro Beach.

For those targeting other species, perch and walleye are getting more active post-cold front. Emerald shiners on drop shot rigs and finesse worms in natural hues will get you into a mixed bag if you’re fishing deeper holes or channel mouths. Salmon action remains a Lake Michigan story, but rumors of bonus steelhead moving inshore around the river mouths are worth a shot with smaller spoons.

Hot spots right now: Anchor Bay is seeing steady morning and evening bass bites along weed flats, with numerable two-to-four-pounders. Harsens Island cuts are also producing heavier fish—focus on shaded pockets and current edges, as baitfish are high and tight right now. The Mile Roads, especially the area between 9 Mile and 12 Mile, are always worth a drift, and the east side—Mitchell’s Bay—has had big smallmouth moving in shallow, especially on overcast days.

A reminder for our weekend warriors: there’s no classic tide here on St. Clair, but pay attention to wind direction and speed—northwest winds can push bait and predators tight to southern and w

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Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair local fishing report for Thursday, August 28, 2025. Let’s dive right into the lake action, because late August is delivering the kind of fishing days we live for around here.

Weather-wise, today brought mild temps, hovering in the high 70s by afternoon, with partly cloudy skies and a gentle southwest breeze around 8-12 knots, making for perfect drift speed across the popular flats. According to the National Data Buoy Center for Station 45147, lake conditions were stable with surface temp around 71°F, and no major rain events this week. First light hit at 6:40 AM, and you can fish late into the bite with sunset stretching out past 8:31 PM.

The fishing scene? It’s about as hot as the August sun. Smallmouth bass are absolutely lighting up, especially on the northern and central flats. Reports out of the St. Clair River yesterday are wild—Team Jones landed 24 scorable smallies topping 60 pounds, mainly drop-shotting 2.8-inch Geecrack Bellows Shads in patterns like electric shad and green pumpkin. These smaller baits excel in the river’s current and the smallies can’t stay off them.

Over on the lake proper, largemouth are still in play, mostly tight to weed edges and back bays—try targeting Crib and Anchor Bay if you’re looking for that green bite. Past week’s tournaments saw limits regularly topping 18 pounds, with plenty of 4- to 5-pounders mixed in. Anglers flipping Texas-rigged YUM Spine Craws and working wobble head jigs across the deeper weed lines are reporting solid numbers. If you’re after largemouth, don’t overlook the classic black-blue jig and a Rage Craw trailer, especially as the sun gets higher.

The musky crowd’s been quietly putting together some big days, trolling heavy bucktails and 8-inch minnowbaits off Metro Beach and just east of the dumping grounds. Several fish over 45 inches were boated over the weekend, with late afternoon being the best window.

Walleye haven’t totally checked out yet—guys running bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses near the shipping channel edges are still boating eater-size fish when the wind picks up.

Now, for those must-have baits and tactics:

- For smallmouth: drop-shots with natural colored, 2.5-3 inch soft plastics like the Geecrack Bellows Shad or Berkley Flat Worm.

- For largemouth: jig and creature combos (YUM Spine Craw, Rage Bug) and Chatterbaits in bluegill or chartreuse/white work wonders.

- Early and late, topwater walkers or poppers can draw explosive strikes over shallow gravel and weed tops.

- Musky: Large bucktails (#10), Venturi’s musky cranks, or soft rubber baits in perch or white.

- Walleye: silver/purple spinner harnesses tipped with crawlers.

Hot spots today? Try the Mile Roads, especially the 10 Mile hump for smallmouth, and the mouth of the Clinton River for mixed catches. The northern St. Clair River, especially around the Sarnia light, continues to pump out big smallmouth and the odd surprise drum.

No tidal swings here on La

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