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Late Fall Fishing Frenzy on Lake St. Clair: Baits, Bite, and Big Fish Action
Good morning, anglers—Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, November 15th, 2025, Lake St. Clair fishing report. Sunrise came at 7:19 AM, and sunset’s at 5:15 PM, so make the most of your daylight. It’s a crisp upper-30s to mid-40s kind of morning, with northwest winds ticking up at 8–12 mph. The lake’s got some steady chop and no real tidal influence to worry about, but that wind stirs baitfish near structure and keeps predator fish on the hunt longer under these thick fall clouds.
Fish activity is peaking at first light and right before dusk—so if you’re thinking about hitting the water, time your trip to maximize those windows. Overcast skies today mean bigger bass and muskie are foraging well past sunup. Michigan DNR reports smallmouths are still stacked shallow and on mid-depth flats—8 to 15 feet is the ticket around shrinking weed beds. This week, boats from Belle Hump and the Mile Roads have reported mixed catches of 15 to 30 bass, many 3–5 pounds apiece. That’s classic St. Clair November action. Largemouths are also roaming a tad deeper than the last month, making a play for the final feed before things freeze up.
Now, for the muskie maniacs—the late fall bite is heating up. Trollers working big rubber Bulldawgs and Bondy Baits along the South Channel and Anchor Bay edges are reporting several muskies in the 40-inch club, with two confirmed over 50 inches just this past five days according to Michigan Fishing Nation TV. Target the breaks and deep weedlines, especially under these thick clouds; big crankbaits in perch and firetiger are drawing major strikes.
Walleye anglers are doing damage around the Detroit River mouth and near Metro Beach. Chat from dock crews and recent TV segments suggest fresh stringers are coming in from 3/8-ounce jigs tipped with minnows or paddletail plastics—especially where fast current meets cover along spillways and points. Chrome and chartreuse crankbaits are filling coolers by noon. Don’t overlook the perch bite: they’re bunched up tight to deeper weeds, 16–22 feet, and best found around Grassy Island or just inside Anchor Bay. Waxworms or live emerald shiners on a drop-shot are fooling plenty.
Best performing baits right now?
- For smallmouth: Goby-pattern Ned rigs, blade baits, tube jigs, and shad-colored jerkbaits like the Megabass Vision 110 or Lucky Craft Pointer. Local pros, including Kevin VanDam, vouch for jerkbaits in clear November water and fast blade presentations on windier days.
- For muskies: Large Bondy Baits, Bulldawgs, and rubber paddletails in perch or firetiger. Troll or cast along main lake breaks and river channels for a shot at a trophy.
- For walleye: Chartreuse or orange jigs tipped with minnows, deep-diving crankbaits, and split-shot rigs near dropoffs.
- For perch: Live emerald shiners, waxworms on small jigs, and drop-shot rigs around weed beds.
Two hot spots for instant action today:
- The Mile Roads stretch, especially near the 9 and 12 Mile launches—bass are schooling heavy in those flats.
- Anchor Bay and the South Channel edge—find muskies lurking on weedlines and perch below suspended bait.
Dock launches and marinas are open, but water temp is low 40s, so layer up and keep safety gear close—hypothermia risk is real if you go overboard. Water clarity has improved after last week’s blow settled loose weeds, so fish should be easier to track on your finder.
Before you launch, do a double gear check—wind today could challenge boat control and break loose light setups, and keep live bait fresh for finicky walleye and perch. Stay mobile, target moving schools, and you could be landing 25-plus fish by midafternoon if you stay on them. As local legend Mark Rose notes from majorleaguefishing.com, November can deliver epic days on St. Clair—sometimes it’s zero, sometimes it’s fifty, so keep grinding.
Thanks for tuning in! Hit that subs
Published on 1 month ago