Go to a print-friendly version of this page Listen now | Download MP3. Lake St. Clair Metropark (586) 463-4581. Lake St. Clair Bass Fishing Discussion in 'Lk. Here you'll find a shallow basin-style lake that holds smallmouth on weed patches, rock piles and subtle bottom contours. They can also be dangerous. Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes and in many places 5 pounds is where trophy smallmouths begin. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. In my experience, the best water is the one that you decide to fish. Sight Savvy: Different styles of bow sights each have their strengths—and weaknesses. Drop-shots presented to deeper areas of isolated cover work when summer heat moves fish deeper. You'll find plenty of areas to target including weed beds and rocks. The lake is towered over by magnificent rock formations formed from dolerite columns. Access to these waters is abundant and easy. Not a … There's just something about a day at the ballpark. Often referred to as the “Sixth Great Lake,” St. Clair is a heart-shaped lake that roughly covers about 430 square miles and has an average depth of 11 feet. Latitude and Longitude of lake st. clair. Lake St. Clair has an average depth of around 10 feet with a constant influx of cool water from Lake Huron. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. Boating. Cast a tube (green pumpkin is a popular choice) and drift until you hit fish. By Seamus on 4/10/2020) • Views (400) Johnnies Highway. Like so many Michigan waters, 4-pound fish are pretty common and you'll wear your arms out on 2- and 3-pounders once you get dialed in. We're heading south again along the eastern shore. You can find licenses at hundreds of retailers or buy them online. Photo by Jeff Simpson. Western basin smallies come in a blotched pattern that enable them to hide among the rock piles while Lake St. Clair smallmouth are usually more of a barred pattern that serve them well when lying in wait among the many weed beds found in the lake. But when it comes to smallmouth fishing, you'd be hard pressed to find one more accommodating than Traverse City. Lakeside Fishing Charters (586) 260-0010. Here's how to take it one step further and actually catch bass. Boat Tech This is where you'll find answers to questions about boating products. Then we'll head north into the land of the Sleeping Bear. Cloudflare Ray ID: 5fd03435686fc6f8 Our final stop is the lake that put Michigan's smallmouth fishing on the map: Lake Erie. Fishing. This one simple trick will trigger more bass strikes on a jerkbait during the fall months. It's vast, deep and cold. However, this lake of 430 square miles of surface area, is responsible for nearly 30% of the sportfishing catch of the Great Lakes and 50% of all the sportfishing that takes place in the Great Lakes. You'll encounter big fish. Each detailed map provides depth, contours, structure, boat ramps, and updated fishing information. There is a shipping channel that runs right down the center for … Latest Fishing Spots. Photo by Tony Hansen. St. Clair Light N42 27.908 W82 45.270 While not exactly in the center of the Lake, the St. Clair Light is central to the landmarks that let us know where we are on Lake St. Clair. Here you will find the latest fishing spots, ledges, reefs, rocks, and shipwrecks that are around Lake St Clair. The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more efficient fin designs, glide technology and allows the boat to be moved in any direction. ), it boasts a gorgeous expanse of pure sand that ranges from ankle to waist-deep and creates the perfect area to anchor the boat and float the day away. Mullett is known for producing higher numbers of fish while Burt is revered for giving up huge smallmouth. Surrounded by the Great Lakes - Lake Huron to the north and Lake Erie to the south, Lake St. Clair is dwarfed in size and legend. This region produces more tart cherries than any in the world and produces some exceptional wines. It is roughly halfway between the mouth of the St. Clair river and the head of the Detroit River. Lake St. Clair (Michigan/Ontario) It’s a shallower bite for smallmouth in early to mid-fall on Lake St. Clair, home waters of Gerry Gostenik at Great Lakes Bass Fishing Guide Service. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. Tasmania - Leeawuleena (Lake St Clair) National Park Program Five: 24 December 2004. fished rock piles looking for smallies, all we found were 4-5# largemouth. With 275,000 surface acres of fishable water, Lake St. Clair offers smallmouth bass plenty of area to gang up and feed. We are the #1 source for Lake St.Clair Fishing Reports, Ice Fishing, Lake St. Clair News, Lake St.Clair Boating, Michigan Fishing and Michigan Hunting. While the lake has a maximum depth of more than 300 feet (yikes! The lake only averages 10 feet deep, As the sun set, the views on Lake St. Clair were breathtaking! PWC & Jet Boats Discuss Personal Watercraft and Jet Boats here. Photograph by Aaron Peterson. ", Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, near Traverse City, offers great hiking and wonderful opportunities to enjoy the beach. Michigan is home to some 11,000 inland lakes. Summer playbook: Ready for a little summer fun the whole family can enjoy? Photo by Jeff Simpson. Tucked at the base of Mission Peninsula, this wisp of land that separates Grand Traverse Bay into its East and West Arms, Traverse City is a special place. Lake St. Clair is the favorite haunt of many anglers because of the size and number of Walleye in these cool clear waters. An annual nonresident license is an affordable $68. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Finding fish is pretty simple. Report post; Posted August 20, 2010. Cast to these dark spots and you'll find bass. Photo by Jeff Simpson. Be sure to get there early. Both Burt and Mullett offer exceptional smallmouth fishing. It has the largest delta in the Great Lakes system. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. ... welcome to Lake St. Clair Lodge. Several excellent inland lakes, including Hubbard, Grand and Long lakes, offer top-notch smallmouth fishing. This waterway passes through three other lakes along the way including Burt and Mullett. In most parts of the country, a 5-pound smallmouth earns "fish-of-a-lifetime" status. But big fish live here and few have ever seen a lure. Now that you know you might screw it up the next time a big fish bites, let's fix it. Lake St. Clair fall smallmouth fishing. About 90 minutes north, you'll find Burt and Mullett Lakes‑ the largest inland lakes in Michigan. Find those patches of cover and you'll encounter fish. Sight fishing at this time of year can be insane. Water clarity is intense with visibility easily surpassing 20 feet. Lake St. Clair has consistently ranked as one of the top smallmouth fisheries in the country. Standard smallmouth offerings are preferred, which means spinnerbaits and tubes. Change up your baits until you find one that starts getting strikes then stick with it. a shallow water smallmouth paradise. During June, smallmouth move into shallow reefs to spawn. I spend the most time in 8 to 11 feet. At Torch Lake, you can pull your boat up to a giant sandbar to lounge then use it as your starting point for some fun tubing. He hooked the record fish on a green grub. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Located along the shore of Lake Michigan about 30 minutes from Traverse City, this park was voted by viewers of ABC's Good Morning America as the "Most Beautiful Place in America. Eric Sharp is a fantastic writer in the field of smallmouth bass fishing on Michigan waterways. We found 10 secret (and proven) catfish baits that have the staying power to attract catfish... Want to test the outer limits of your shooting skill? I haven't heard if the rock piles on the Belle River Hump are on yet. It is the diversity in topography, scenery and experience that defines Michigan's fishing and a smallmouth trek "around the horn" is as good as it gets. Fuel Dock Price Watch Keep an eye on gas prices around Lake St. Clair! |   Simply cast to any dark spots in the water. It's an odyssey into a state where lakes love to live. The maritime history of the Great Lakes is special and unique. Comerica has a ton of family-friendly activities throughout the park and you'll want to take them all in before the first pitch. Licenses are affordable and simple to find. LSC-034. And those that do grow those fish big — Real big. Macomb Center for Performing Arts This cozy town serves as the gateway to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and views of the massive Mackinac Bridge, which connects the two peninsulas, are spectacular. For the most part, it's. Lake St. Clair has become a world renowned smallmouth bass fishery. This is big water and you'll need to use caution when the wind kicks up – particularly if the wind comes from the east. You'll find a historic downtown filled with specialty shops where you can sample the town's famous taffy and fudge. Field-proven big-game arrows for lethal hunting results. Founded in 1852, Traverse City is an eclectic mix of history and future. Lega's Bistro (810) 794-5525. But keep in mind this is Lake Michigan. Lake St. Clair is a famed smallmouth fishery in the middle of the Great Lakes. Luigi's Original Restaurant (586) 468-7711. Over 480+ Lake St Clair Fishing Spots Download Lake St Clair Fishing Map. • “As the sun set, the views on Lake St. Clair were breathtaking!” Plan your own trip here. The material was bunched up in a 2- to 3-foot high pile along the seawall behind Henninger’s house. A smallmouth excursion in Michigan is much more than a fishing trip. Your IP: 112.213.87.45 Michigan's smallmouth bounty stretches from south to north, west to east. Again, dragging a tube will get you in fish. The rocky bottom can produce incredible fishing action, but it can eat a prop in a hurry. As bass retreat from summer's warm weather it's time for 'football season. From there we'll curve our way around the tip of the mitt and, finally, head back south to Motown. All of the fisheries mentioned here can be accessed via a state park. There are scores of port cities along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Love the real toads I can fish all day for the big bites or get skunked trying any suggestions on when, lake or detroit river? Weather is a big concern this time of year, so watching the forecast is critical. This time we'll stop in Au Gres, a beautiful port town that just happens to offer excellent access to Charity Island in Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay. St Clair, Dale Hollow, Kentucky Lake, CenterHill, Shafer lake,In. At 19 miles long, Torch is Michigan's second-largest inland lake and is noted for its impossibly clear, blue water. The 'camo patterns' of the fish vary due to the structure they live and ambush prey from. © 2020 Outdoor Sportsman Group. When the water temps drop into the 40's the Smallmouth bass school up in large groups on isolated rock piles and humps on Lake St. Clair and Erie. We're not talking about a single lake here and there. Lake St Clair … And while not all of those waters hold fishable populations of smallmouth bass, many do. A 4-pounder is a "good" one and you should find several in a good day with fish over six pounds far from uncommon. But, trust me, there's more great water to explore and it's time to get moving. Lake St. Clair has consistently ranked as one of the top smallmouth fisheries in the country. But I don't consider the place I'm about to tell you about "most parts of the country." Simplify breakfast or brunch for a crowd by making this savory venison chorizo quiche recipe. . These smallies differ from their relatives in nearby Lake St. Clair. St. Clair Light N42 27.908 W82 45.270 While not exactly in the center of the Lake, the St. Clair Light is central to the landmarks that let us know where we are on Lake St. Clair. You could fish the rock bars on Askins Point and out from Pikes Creek on the South shore. As difficult as it may be to hit a lake and do something other than fish, Torch Lake deserves some special attention. A visit to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary will give you a glimpse into that past – and a glimpse into the lake thanks to the popular glass bottom shipwreck tour. Mullett has more "traditional" cover whereas Burt requires you to find more subtle holding areas. And waters range from big water to small, from Great Lake to big lake to small lake to river to stream. The American side of the lake close to the shipping channel has an abundance of fish during most of the year, and bottom bouncers along with crawler harnesses seems to work wonders with the Walleye in this area. Subscriber Services. More than just a place to fish, Michigan offers great family fun. Finding smallmouth isn't terribly difficult. During the spring, these rocky grounds attract thousands of smallmouth. Photo courtesy JP DeRose, Breaking Boundaries Yesterday, I was on Lake St. Clair—just outside of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario—and it was cold, rainy, and windy with water temperatures in the high 40s. With the Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system, anglers have ultimate kayak control... A mock whitetail scrape is easier—and cheaper—than you might think. Once you find them, it's hard to beat a drop-shot rig for targeting specific fish-holding cover. Increase a lure’s effectiveness by pairing it with the ideal reel speed. Piles of sludge have washed up on St. Clair Shores coastline. ', Give a Gift   If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. The Lake St. Clair Network is a local social network for Lake St.Clair and surrounding waterways such as Detroit River, Clinton River, Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Lakeside Fishing Shop (586) 777-7003. Three-day licenses are just $30 — a true bargain by any measure. This is Michigan. You'll never run out of water to cover. I've caught fish over four pounds in both lakes and wouldn't be able to choose a favorite between the two if my best crankbait depended on it. Now we'll head up and over the tip of the northern Lower Peninsula. For a great family meal, be sure to stop into Darrow's. Both arms of Grand Traverse Bay hold exceptional populations of smallmouth. You'll find miles and miles of rocky reefs around the island; all of which can be loaded with smallmouth. Situated between two Great Lakes, Lake Huron to the north and Lake Erie to the south, Lake St. Clair is truly a legendary bass fishery. Plan your next fishing and boating adventure here. Leaving the Traverse area will be tough. With the Detroit cityscape as a backdrop, you'll target the thousands of rock piles and reefs that litter the floor of Lake Erie. 1. We've almost completed our tour of smallmouth nirvana, and we're going to close with a crescendo. From small lakes where the paddling is easy to large open waters, Michigan offers a wide assortment of smallmouth fisheries, all of which are excellent. Michigan's state park system is second to none and many of the parks can serve as convenient and picturesque launching points for a day of fishing. The only thing anglers need to remember is that the season is catch-and-immediate-release until May 28 or June 18 depending on the body of water you're fishing. Some of the best action of the year occurs in July and August while working weed edges, gravel bars, rock piles, and hidden shipwrecks in the main lake. The Saginaw River holds plenty of smallmouth as well. Detroit's Comerica Park is home of the Detroit Tigers and is one of the best facilities in all of Major League Baseball. Those blackish areas are created by submerged vegetation and rock. In 2015, Hubbard Lake produced the new state record – a 9.33-pound beast. If someone had asked me last week if this would. And, make no mistake, getting in the water is a top priority. As winter approaches the Smallmouth of St. Clair head to their winter haunts. Finding fish is pretty simple. St. Clair and St. Clair River' started by jdhogfisher, Apr 22, 2018. Lakeshore District. • Better yet, the areas with some of the finest fishing also happen to be some of state's most scenic and family-friendly places to visit. All Rights Reserved. Tom admires a fine Lake St. Clair smallmouth caught in fairly cold water. Virtually in the shadow of the Motor City, Lake Erie offers excellent smallmouth fishing. The previous record, a 9.25-pound smallmouth, was caught on Long Lake. Topwater lures like this are a popular choice for fishing smallies near the surface. Little Camille's By the Bay (586) 725-4866. You'll need a cartridge that lives up to... Five top spots for hot smallmouth action this autumn. ... deep pile dressing gowns, you can reflect on your achievement as you sit on the cabin veranda with a perfect Pinot or a cheeky Cab Sauv. But the fishery is hardly the only gem of the state. Located north of Traverse City, Torch just might be the most spectacular lake you'll ever step foot in. in numbers on offshore rock piles and humps while the ... Lake St. Clair. As mentioned in the article, fall may be your best chance to catch a 5 lb smallmouth bass as they have all had the summer to fatten up! This time we're heading to Alpena on the east side of the state. I've found them deeper, but they are harder to find and move a lot out there. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. It is roughly halfway between the mouth of the St. Clair river and the head of the Detroit River. Photo by Jeff Simpson. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. The bass weighed 9.33 pounds and was 24.50 inches long. Photo by Jeff Simpson. Here, again, we have an embarrassment of smallmouth riches. Quiet, uncrowded fishing is what you'll find on many of Michigan's lakes no matter what the season. Want to explore more of Michigan? And if there is a better state for smallmouth bass fishing than Michigan, it has yet to reveal itself. If you need some video evidence, check out the Major League Fishing event that took place there. We'll start on Michigan's "West Coast." Fishing activity stays consistent throughout the entire summer! As beautiful as the setting is, the Native American lore for which the dunes are named is just as incredible. Michigan's smallmouth fishing is revered by many anglers as the best of the best.