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Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Muskies on the Move, Smallies and Perch Bite Strong
Artificial Lure here with your Thursday morning Lake St. Clair fishing report, October 30, 2025.
Another unseasonably warm fall day is on tap for Southeast Michigan, with the forecast calling for patchy morning fog burning off to partly cloudy skies, mild temperatures in the mid 50s, and a light southwest breeze by afternoon. Sunrise is at 7:57 AM, with sunset at 6:33 PM. No real tidal change here—being a Great Lake—but water levels are steady, and visibility is excellent in most spots according to the latest check from the locals on the water.
Angler traffic picked up this week with the muskies moving into their fall patterns. Water temps are hanging just above 50°F, meaning the muskie bite is starting to heat up as we edge closer to that magic 48-degree mark that gets the giants snapping. Reports from Outdoor News Michigan confirm that the best muskie action is just around the corner, with several boats pulling multiple mid-40 inch fish in the channels and around the Mile Roads. Trolling big rubber baits—think Bull Dawgs and soft plastics in perch and fire tiger—produced the most consistent results. Topwater lures have been a little slow, but large jointed crankbaits like the DepthRaider or Grandma continue to tempt a few cruisers.
Smallmouth bass are keeping folks happy too. According to Major League Fishing, the deeper breaks at the mouth of the Detroit River and the flats around Anchor Bay remain hot thanks to clear water and active baitfish. Most catches this week ranged between 3 and 5 pounds, but a couple of six-pounders were reported. Ned rigs, tubes, and drop-shot rigs with goby or minnow imitations worked best; some locals are getting aggressive takes on white spinnerbaits and chatterbaits like Z-Man Jack Hammer, especially on breezy days.
Perch and walleye numbers are up, with mixed bags coming from the South Channel and directly off Grosse Pointe. Perch limits are showing up for patient anglers on emerald shiner minnows and drop-shot rigs, with the best bite in 20-25 feet of water. Recent outings brought reliable perch up to 12 inches and scattered walleye running 18 to 22 inches on trolling harnesses with chartreuse blades. Piloting the weed edge near Metro Beach Metropark, anglers scored decent size bluegill and crappie using waxworms beneath slip bobbers.
Recommended hot spots:
- **Mile Roads Dropoff**: Consistently producing trophy muskies and good action for big smallmouth right at transition depths.
- **Anchor Bay Flats**: Known for steady smallmouth and perch action; cover water with tubes or Ned rigs for maximum effect.
Best baits and lures for these conditions would be:
- Bull Dawg and Medussa for muskies
- Ned rig, tube, and drop shot setups for smallmouth and perch
- Emerald shiner minnows for perch and walleye
Live reports from Lake St. Clair Fishing Report Daily on Spreaker say muskie anglers have been pulling multiple trophy fish just yesterday, with a few groups limiting out on perch early in the morning. Seasoned guides recommend working edges of weed beds as they start to die off, where forage is concentrated and predators are hunting actively.
That wraps up today’s Lake St. Clair local report. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for the latest updates and local tips.
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Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago