Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Smallies on the Move, White Bass Showing Up

This is Artificial Lure bringing you the Lake St. Clair fishing report for Saturday, May 10, 2025, straight from the heart of Michigan waters.

Sunrise hit this morning at 6:09 am and sunset will be wrapping up the day around 8:44 pm. We’re coming off a spell of high winds earlier in the week, which muddied the lake and pushed down the smallmouth catch rates these last couple of days. The water’s clearing up, though, and with stable weather setting in today—mostly sunny skies, light winds, and temps reaching the low 60s—it’s shaping up for a solid day on the water[1].

Bass are still mostly in pre-spawn mode, hanging around shallower flats and staging areas. Smallmouth bite has been hit or miss: anglers worked hard for their catches earlier this week, but the fish are fired up when you dial in the right spot. Anchor Bay and the 9 Mile area have been producing when conditions are right. Around Memorial Park, folks are reporting some action too, especially during late morning as the water warms[1][4].

Recent catches: The focus remains on smallmouth bass, with a few anglers reporting bonus largemouths mixed in. No new word on perch, but that’s usual for this time of year. White bass are starting up along shorelines, bringing some excitement for those fishing from the bank[2][4].

Best lures: Go with finesse presentations. The real winner this week has been the Great Lakes Finesse 2.5 inch Juvy Craw, especially on light line and a medium spinning rod—perfect for those staging smallmouth in 4 to 8 feet of water. Tube jigs are also solid choices, and don’t overlook drop shot rigs if the bite is pressured or slow. If you’re getting into the white bass near shore, small spinners and twister tails in white or chartreuse are the ticket[5].

Bait: Artificial lures are out-fishing live bait right now for bass, but if you happen on a perch or are after panfish, try minnows or wigglers under a float.

Hot spots: Middle of Anchor Bay has seen some fish moving through when the water clears. The 9 Mile area is always a favorite for smallmouth, and Memorial Park is a good starting point if you’re looking to fish from shore or want to launch a kayak[1][4].

No tides to worry about on Lake St. Clair—it’s a freshwater flow-through lake fed by the St. Clair River and draining to the Detroit River, so water levels stay fairly consistent.

That’s your Lake St. Clair rundown for today. Good luck, tight lines, and if you find a hot school of smallies, remember to handle those fish with care—spawning is just around the corner and we want them back next year.