Podcast Episode Details

Late Fall Bite on Lake St. Clair - Weather, Hotspots, and Top Lures for Autumn Fishing

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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 hefty bags and monster bass, with clean drops and scattered weed beds holding solid fish.
- Campau Bay (a little further out) turns up big perch and the odd walleye on structure.
- Don’t sleep on the long points and irregular sandbars just off the main channels; baitfish are stacking up and some true giants have been caught by anglers rolling tubes and Ned rigs across the flats.

Remember to cross-check local DNR regulations before launching, and keep an eye on the forecast as cold fronts push in. Safety first, especially in late season conditions.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Lake St. Clair report! Subscribe to stay sharp for your next trip—and don't forget to check back in for the next update.

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Published on 1 month, 1 week ago