Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Walleye Blitz, Smallmouth Rebound as Spawn Approaches

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for this beautiful Sunday morning, May 18, 2025.

The walleye bite is absolutely on fire right now across the entire Lake St. Clair system. Folks have been loading up on limits from the Detroit River all the way up through the St. Clair River. You've got options on how to catch 'em too - some guys are jigging, others are drifting, and plenty are pulling nightcrawler harnesses. If you're a night angler, the whipping bite has been hot and heavy as well.

For the smallmouth bass enthusiasts, things have been a bit of a roller coaster lately. After a slowdown in early May due to high winds muddying the water, the bite has picked back up as we've moved into the pre-spawn period. Water temps are hovering around 58 degrees, with bass staging in shallow areas. The middle of Anchor Bay has been productive, and anglers have also reported success near Memorial Park and the 9 Mile area.

Lure-wise, the Great Lakes Finesse 2.5" Juvy Craw has been absolute money for smallmouth. Paired with a light line and finesse tactics in shallow water, you'll be in business. The Sneaky Underspin swimbait from the same company has also been getting crushed when the fish are more aggressive.

If you're heading out today, I'd recommend hitting the mouth of the South Channel with nightcrawler harnesses for walleye. For smallmouth, focus on shallow staging areas with clear water. A medium-heavy spinning setup with that Juvy Craw or a tube jig will do the trick.

Hot spots to check out: Garrett Samill's clients have been crushing limits in both the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, so either of those are solid bets for walleye. For smallmouth, the 9 Mile area and Memorial Park have been consistent producers.

Rod and reel recommendation: A 7'3" to 7'6" medium-heavy spinning rod will handle most of what Lake St. Clair throws at you, whether you're tossing swimbaits for smallmouth or jigging for walleye.

Conditions look decent today, and with the spawn activities in full swing, there's no better time to get out on the water. The fish are there for the taking, folks - just gotta find 'em!

This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and good luck out there on Lake St. Clair today!