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Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Early Winter Action, Perch Bonanza, and Walleye Hotspots
This is Artificial Lure with your Lake St. Clair fishing report.
We’re sliding into solid early‑winter patterns now. Ice is starting to form in the canals and back bays, but most of the open main lake is still boat and shore game. Always check thickness with a spud and follow local ice reports before you step off the seawall.
Weather-wise, local forecasts around Harrison Township and St. Clair Shores are calling for cold, light winds and a mix of cloud and sun. Air temps are hovering in that mid‑20s to low‑30s band, which keeps fish willing but a little sluggish. Sunrise is right around 8 a.m., with sunset near 5 p.m., giving you a short but productive window. The lake doesn’t have true tides, but wind pushes water levels; a light west or southwest wind today should help keep current moving just enough along the Mile Roads and the river mouths.
Solunar and fishing-time calculators for St. Clair Shores are flagging the late morning and last couple hours of light as the prime bite windows, with a secondary bump right around mid‑afternoon. That lines up with what locals have been seeing the last week.
Recent catches:
• Perch have been the main story in the canals off Harrison Township and around the Metro Beach area. Buckets of 8–11 inchers, with some 12s mixed in, for guys who sort through the dinks.
• Walleye action has been steady in the shipping channel edges and the mouth of the Detroit River. Most boats are boxing a handful of good eaters per trip, with the occasional 8‑pound class fish.
• Smallmouth are more of a bonus fish now, but a few die‑hards dragging slowly along deep breaks are still sticking 3–4 pounders.
Best baits and lures right now:
For perch:
• Live emerald shiners or fatheads on a simple perch rig or drop-shot, 6–10 feet in the canals and 15–20 on the outer edges.
• Tiny spoons or tungsten ice jigs tipped with waxies or spikes if you’re fishing through early ice or straight down off the docks.
For walleye:
• Bright jigging raps, blade baits, and 3/8 to 1/2‑ounce hair jigs tipped with minnows along the channel edges.
• At night or low light, slow‑trolled crankbaits in natural shad or perch patterns are still taking fish in the river and lower lake.
For smallmouth:
• It’s all about finesse now. Ned rigs, tubes, and compact swimbaits dragged painfully slow on deep rock and along the old shipping channel. Think natural green pumpkin, goby, and smelt colors.
Couple of local hot spots to circle:
• The 9‑ and 10‑Mile areas off St. Clair Shores: good perch action, plus a shot at walleye during the low‑light windows.
• Metro Beach and the surrounding canals in Harrison Township: first safe ice and late‑season open water both load up with perch and the odd pike.
If you’re chasing walleye specifically, work the American side of the shipping channel edges or slide down toward the mouth of the Detroit River and vertical jig.
Michigan DNR continues to remind everyone to check current regulations and ice safety guidance before heading out, and keep an eye on any posted advisories for limits and access.
That’s your Lake St. Clair rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.
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Published on 7 hours ago