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Welcome to Lake St. Clair, a legendary spot on the map for any freshwater angler. Nestled between Michigan and Ontario, this massive 430-square-mile lake is a world-renowned bass fishing paradise. While it’s famous for monster smallmouth, it also hides a secret: an incredible population of big largemouth bass. If you’re looking to catch more and bigger bass, this is the place to be. This guide will break down everything you need to know, from telling the bass apart to what to cast and where.
Why Lake St. Clair Is a Bass Fishing Hotspot
So, what makes this lake so special? It’s all about the food and the environment. Years ago, invasive zebra mussels made the water incredibly clear. This was great for smallmouth, who hunt by sight. Then, another invasive species, the round goby, showed up and became a perfect, protein-rich snack for bass. The result? A lake full of big, healthy, and aggressive fish.
- World-Class Smallmouth: Lake St. Clair is famous for its smallmouth bass. The average fish is a hefty 3 pounds, but catching one in the 5- to 6-pound range is a real possibility, especially in the spring.
- Secretive Largemouth: Don’t overlook the largemouth! While they get less attention, the lake’s canals and weedy bays hold trophy largemouth bass, with some giants reaching up to 10 pounds.
Smallmouth vs. Largemouth: Know Your Target
To succeed on Lake St. Clair, you need to know who you’re fishing for. Smallmouth and largemouth act very differently and live in different neighborhoods.
| Feature | Smallmouth Bass | Largemouth Bass |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Hangout | Open water, rocky areas, and sandy flats | Shallow canals, weedy bays, and around boat docks |
| Behavior | Roam in big groups, actively chasing down prey | Prefer to hide near cover and ambush their meals |
| Favorite Snacks | Gobies, crawfish, and perch | Bluegill, shiners, and anything that swims by their hiding spot |
| Where to Find Them | The main lake, Anchor Bay, and Belle River Hump | Canals near St. Clair Shores and the Metropark |
Your Season-by-Season Game Plan for Lake St. Clair
Bass change their behavior throughout the year, so your strategy should too. Here’s how to find and catch them from spring through fall.
Spring (Late April – May): The Season of Giants
This is go-time. The bass are moving shallow to spawn, and they are aggressive and at their heaviest.
- What to Do: Look for bass in shallow flats and canals. If the water is a bit dirty, a fast-moving crankbait or a noisy rattle trap is a great choice. In the super clear water, a twitching jerkbait is deadly. Once fish are protecting their nests in a few feet of water, you can’t beat a slowly fished drop shot rig.
Summer (June – August): Going Deep for Big Bites
After the spawn, the bass move to deeper water to rest and eat.
- What to Do: Start your search in 10 to 15 feet of water, especially around the edges of weed beds. This is the perfect time to drag a tube jig along the bottom to look like a goby—the smallmouths’ favorite food. A drop shot rig or a deep-diving crankbait also works wonders for finding schools of fish offshore.
Fall (September – October): The Feeding Frenzy
As the water cools down, baitfish move shallow, and the bass are right behind them, eating everything in sight.
- What to Do: Fall can be the best time of year for action. Look for schools of feeding bass in 8 to 15 feet of water. A spinnerbait, crankbait, or even a topwater lure can lead to some unforgettable days on the water as bass fatten up for winter.
Mapping the Hotspots: Where to Find the Fish
While bass are always on the move, these spots are consistent producers.
Prime Smallmouth Hangouts
- The Mile Roads: This famous shoreline has a perfect mix of flats, weeds, and drop-offs that hold fish all year.
- Anchor Bay: Located on the north end, this huge bay is known for having tons of quality smallmouth in its grass and sand flats.
- The Belle River Hump: A classic offshore spot that attracts big schools of smallmouth in the summer and fall.
Top Largemouth Spots
- St. Clair Metropark: The canals here are full of docks and weeds—a perfect home for largemouth.
- St. Clair Shores Canals: This maze of canals offers endless shoreline cover where largemouth love to hide and ambush prey.
The Only Lures You Really Need
You don’t need a tackle store in your boat. Master these few lures, and you’ll be ready for anything Lake St. Clair throws at you.
- Drop Shot Rig: If you could only have one technique, this would be it. A small, soft plastic worm on a drop shot is the best way to catch bass here, deep or shallow.
- Tube Jigs: A simple 3- or 4-inch tube in a natural color like green pumpkin perfectly imitates a goby, and smallmouth can’t resist them.
- Jerkbaits: When the water is clear in the spring and fall, a suspending jerkbait that you can twitch and pause is an amazing tool for getting aggressive bites.
Getting Ready for Your Trip: Licenses and Guides
Before you hit the water, make sure you have a valid Michigan fishing license. Getting one online is quick and easy. Also, be sure to check the current size and possession limits to help keep the fishery great for years to come.
If you’re new to the lake or just want to learn faster, consider hiring a local guide. They spend hundreds of days on the water and can put you on fish fast. It’s a fantastic way to learn the lake and have an amazing experience, especially when you’re planning a trip.
