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Chilly Fall Bite Heats Up on Lake St. Clair: Muskies, Smallmouth, Walleye & Perch Crushing Lures
Lake St. Clair anglers woke to blustery fall conditions on Friday, November 14th. We're seeing classic November weather: chilly air (low to mid 40s this morning), crisp westerly winds around 10–15 mph, and patchy clouds are moving in. According to the National Weather Service, expect a high near 52°F by mid-afternoon and winds picking up a bit, so dress for spray and layers. Sunrise was at 7:20 a.m., with sunset coming early at 5:12 p.m.—make those casts count before dark.
Lake St. Clair’s tide is minimal as ever (we get just inches of change between high and low), so fish patterns are driven by wind, water temp, and light. Recent fronts and colder water have kicked off the late fall bite, especially for *muskies*, *smallmouth bass*, *walleye*, and *yellow perch*. According to Lake St. Clair Fishing Report Today on Spreaker, last week saw an uptick in catches—with both muskies and smallmouth bass numbers heating up, and walleye schools moving into river mouths and outer points.
Locals are reporting some real slabs: multiple muskies in the 40-inch class landed in the Anchor Bay area this week, with plenty of photo-worthy releases and some hefty bass caught on the St. Clair River and north channel edges. Walleye numbers are up, too, with boat anglers pulling in limits near Metro Beach and around the mouth of the Clinton River. Perch are schooling tight to deeper weeds—find ‘em at 16–22 feet.
The best lures lately have been classic fall fare:
- For **smallmouth**: Jerkbaits like the Rapala Shadow Rap and tube jigs in green-pumpkin are money—for a bite that’s fast and furious, especially in sunny stretches. According to Kevin VanDam’s picks for Lake St. Clair, jerkbaits excel in clear water right now, so don’t hesitate[VanDam Picks Three Lures for Easter Weekend].
- For **muskie**: Big rubber baits—Bulldawgs and Medussa have been getting crushed. Troll or cast around breaklines off Strawberry Island.
- For **walleye**: Chartreuse or orange jig tipped with a minnow is getting hammered near the river mouths. Trollers using deep-diving crankbaits in fire-tiger and blue-silver have filled coolers by noon.
- For **perch**: Live emerald shiners or waxworms on a drop-shot or small jig—especially near Grassy Island and deep weed beds.
Hot spots to try:
- **Metro Beach area**: Walleye in the morning, smallmouth cruising points midday.
- **Anchor Bay and the North Channel**: Muskies and perch—watch for baitfish balls on your finder and work 12 to 25 feet deep.
Word from majorleaguefishing.com is that November can mean 10 fish a day—or 50, if you find active water and stay on the move. Target rock piles, submerged weed edges, and breaks; start shallow in the morning, slide deeper as light fades.
Live bait is picking up, but artificial lures are putting up numbers. Stupid tubes, blade baits, and vibrating jigs have turned finicky bass into biters—especially when the wind kicks. Michigan Fishing Nation TV just ran a segment showing big walleyes being jigged up on the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers over the last week.
Before you launch, check your gear—wind creates tough chop, and it pays to keep it simple and reliable. Marina services on Lake St. Clair offer easy boat launch with transient slips for those making it a day trip, as Good Sam RV reviews confirm. Water clarity is above average after last week's blow settled some floating weeds.
Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake St. Clair fishing report. Subscribe for local insight and tips all season long!
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Published on 1 month ago