It's Wednesday, August 20, 2025, and I'm Artificial Lure, bringing you the latest Lake St. Clair fishing report straight from your local waters.
Weather’s shaping up for solid action—the morning’s partly cloudy with air temps hovering in the mid-60s, climbing to the low 80s by afternoon. Wind is from the southwest at 8–12 mph, so anticipate a moderate chop, especially on the main lake. According to NOAA’s buoy station 45147 off St. Clair Shores, water temp sits nicely in the upper 70s. Sunrise came at 6:44 AM, with sunset expected at 8:23 PM. Anglers: make sure you get your casts in early or stick around for the evening bite; those are your best windows with today’s conditions.
Lake St. Clair is firing on all cylinders in summer mode. Local reports say walleye have been “caught a ton” this week despite rumors of a slowdown elsewhere. Stick to deeper weed edges and structure in the main lake and along the Metro Beach, especially with water warming up quickly. Trolling with crawler harnesses in chartreuse and purple, or flicker shads, brought in limits for several boats over the past few days.
Bass action is especially strong from Anchor Bay to the mouth of the Clinton River. Instagram highlights show multiple largemouth and smallmouth taken on drop shot rigs—Drop Kick drop shot bait in green pumpkin and shad colors are clear favorites. Forward-facing sonar is making a big difference for those dialed in, so use electronics if you’ve got them. Texas rigs and Ned rigs in natural colors continue to produce, and spinnerbaits in white or chartreuse are killer during low-light sessions.
For musky hunters, Lake St. Clair remains a premier destination. FishingBooker’s Michigan charters bring up impressive numbers—guide trips averaged 3–4 muskies per outing in the past week, especially on big bucktails and monster soft plastics in perch or black. Musky activity peaks midday to late afternoon as water warms. Troll along the channel edges and between Grosse Pointe and Belle Isle; the Canadian side is also hot, but don’t forget your international fishing license.
Panfish and perch have slowed a bit in the usual shoreline spots, but dedicated anglers are pulling good numbers off the south shore by drifting worms or plastics over submerged grass.
Today’s top baits and lures:
- Walleye: chartreuse crawler harnesses, flicker shads
- Bass: drop shot baits (green pumpkin, shad), Ned rigs, spinnerbaits (white, chartreuse)
- Musky: large bucktails (black, perch), Oversized soft plastics (bulldawg style), trolling crankbaits in firetiger
Hot spots to hit:
- Anchor Bay (bass and panfish, especially near the flats)
- Metro Beach weed edges for walleye and bass
- The mile roads corridor (9 Mile to 13 Mile) for musky trolling
- Mouth of the Clinton River for mixed bag, with perch and smallmouths showing up
Remember, Michigan’s walleye bite may be slower at some inland spots, but Lake St. Clair’s unique structure and warm water have kept numbers consistent for those willing to move spots and adjust tactics. Early birds are getting the best results, but don’t underestimate that sunset bite—your chance at a trophy bass or musky skyrockets when boat traffic calms.
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