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"Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Bite On As Temps Drop and Winds Settle"
Alright, folks, this is Artificial Lure coming at ya live from the heart of the Great Lakes, bringing you the real lowdown on what’s biting around Lake St. Clair today, Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025.
Let’s talk tides and timing first, because you need to get out there when the bite is hot. Lake St. Clair doesn’t have traditional tides like the ocean, but wind and current matter—and lately, we’ve had steady western and northwestern breezes pushing water around, especially up the Detroit River and through the Anchor Bay channels. That means there’s a bit more current than usual, and that’s got the fish up and moving. Your best windows today are early morning, around right now, and again in that magic last hour before sundown—with sunrise at 7:51 AM and sunset at 6:38 PM, remember that October light is fleeting and the bite can shut off quick after dark.
Weather-wise, we’re in that classic fall swing—crisp mornings, temps in the low 40s, warming up to the mid 60s by afternoon. There’s a little chill in the air but the water’s still holding in the mid-50s, and the sun’s shining after a windy weekend. The storm that blew through Saturday knocked a few boats off the lake, but things are calming down now, so expect smooth(er) water and less chop compared to the last couple days. The Daily QP report says perch, bass, and pike are already fired up, hitting weed edges and deeper structure, and muskie are prowling for a meal, especially near the main lake basins and canal mouths.
Now, let’s talk fish. The last few tournaments—like the Tackle Shack event Michiana Outdoors News just reported on—saw some serious bags come in. Jonathan Brock and Christopher Martin sacked up over 25 pounds of smallies in a single day, mostly on Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits fished in 2 to 5 feet of water. Big fish honors? That went to Mason Alverado and Mike Ganger, with a monster 7.45-pound smallmouth caught on a crankbait in the Detroit River. And if you’re targeting walleye or perch, the bite is solid, especially trolling or drifting in 10-18 feet around weedlines and channel mouths. Muskie hunters are seeing action too, mostly on big rubber baits, jerkbaits, and bucktails—those fish are aggressive right now, chasing anything that moves.
So what’s working best? For bass, stick with finesse swimbaits like the Crush City Mayor, 2.8” Keitech, and Spark Shad. Drop-shot rigs and tubes are always reliable, especially when the bite gets tough, but when the sun’s up and the water’s clear, those smaller, subtle presentations are scoring big. For walleye and perch, minnows are always a winner, but don’t overlook small plastics on jigheads—chartreuse and pink are bringing ’em in. Muskie? Go big or go home—double-bladed bucktails and big swimbaits are your best bets, especially working the deeper edges or rocky drop-offs.
Now, let me drop a couple hot spots for you. First: The south end of Lake St. Clair, between Metro Park and the mouth of the Clinton River, is stacked with smallies right now, especially on those shallow flats and inside edges of weedlines. Second: The Detroit River, especially around Belle Isle and the canals—the current’s pushing bait, and bass and walleye are stacked. Third: Anchor Bay, up near the north end. It’s a little dicey with this wind pattern, but if you can get in there, the perch and pike action is hot, especially around structure. If you’re muskie hunting, don’t sleep on the main lake weed edges and the drop-offs just south of the shipping channel.
A quick word on gear and etiquette: Barbless hooks are getting more popular, and for good reason—easier on the fish, easier on your fingers, and you’re helping keep these lakes productive for years to come. And always check regs before you go—DNR’s got all the latest on limits, size, and seasons.
Alright, that’s a wrap—sun’s up, wind’s down, and the bite is on. Thanks as always for tuning in, and if you want more of
Published on 1 month, 4 weeks ago