Episodios

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

    Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Walleye Blitz, Smallmouth Rebound as Spawn Approaches
    May 18 2025
    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!
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    3 m
  • Lake St Clair Fishing Report: Smallmouth Surge, Walleye Trickle, and More

    Lake St Clair Fishing Report: Smallmouth Surge, Walleye Trickle, and More
    May 17 2025
    Good morning anglers this is Artificial Lure with your Lake St Clair fishing report for Saturday May 17 2025.

    The sun rose this morning at 601 AM and will set at 859 PM giving you a full day to chase fish on the water. Weather’s shaping up seasonal with light winds and temps in the low 60s early, warming up into the 70s by midday. Some patchy clouds are drifting through, but overall it looks like a comfortable day to be on the lake. There’s no real tidal swing on Lake St Clair but wind direction can move water and stir up clarity especially after a blow.

    Water levels are up after a recent stretch of winds, and the water is slightly stained in spots especially in Anchor Bay and along the Mile Roads. After last week’s high wind muddied things up, clarity is starting to come back especially on the west and south shores. Water temps are now hovering around 58 degrees which has the smallmouth in classic prespawn mode.

    Smallmouth bass are the main attraction right now and they’ve been on fire when you find them shallow. The bite was a little tougher right after the blow a week ago, but things are picking up as the water clears. Anglers are reporting solid catches in the middle of Anchor Bay, along the Mile Roads, and near the mouth of the Clinton River. Fish are staging and starting to move up to beds. Look for active smallmouth in 4 to 7 feet of water around scattered rock and emerging weedbeds. Most fish are running 2 to 4 pounds with some bigger bronzebacks showing up—five-pounders have definitely hit the nets this week.

    Best lures lately have been the Great Lakes Finesse Juvy Craw and Sneaky Underspin with a swimbait trailer. Tube jigs and small swimbaits in green pumpkin or shad colors are also top picks. Finesse presentations on spinning gear are getting it done, especially when the bite is finicky in clearing water. Remember to work your baits slow and let them soak in promising spots.

    A few random largemouth bass are mixed in with the smallies, especially in the thicker weeds inside the bays. Perch catches have slowed but you might find a few near the Metropark and the weed edges off Harley Ensign. Walleye reports from the channel mouths are sporadic but a few anglers trolling crankbaits just after sunset have picked up some nice eaters.

    Hot spots for this weekend include the Mile Roads from 9 Mile to 13 Mile, the flats off Metro Beach, and the mouth of the Thames River on the Ontario side for those with proper licenses. The middle of Anchor Bay has also been good for those drifting or casting tubes.

    That’s your Lake St Clair report for May 17. Get out there and enjoy the spring bite. Good luck and tight lines!
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    3 m
  • Smallmouth Staging on Lake St. Clair: Finesse Tactics and Pockets of Clearer Water

    Smallmouth Staging on Lake St. Clair: Finesse Tactics and Pockets of Clearer Water
    May 16 2025
    Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with the local word on fishing Lake St. Clair for Friday, May 16, 2025. Sunrise hit today around 5:58 am and sunset will come at 8:51 pm, giving you a long window to get lines in the water. There’s no meaningful tidal swing on St. Clair, but be mindful of wind—lately, it’s been stirring things up and that’s been muddying the water in some spots, especially after recent high-wind events.

    Water clarity is spotty, and that’s made smallmouth bass a bit finicky in areas, but folks working the middle of Anchor Bay and north around Memorial Park and the 9 Mile area have been pulling some nice fish when they locate pockets of clearer water. The bite’s definitely slower after the winds, but persistence is paying off[1][3].

    Smallmouth are mostly pre-spawn and staging shallow. Finesse tactics have been outperforming bulkier presentations. Anglers are doing well with a Great Lakes Finesse 2.5 inch Juvy Craw, light line, and long casts using a medium-heavy spinning rod. Tube jigs and dropshot rigs with natural-colored plastics have also gotten results. If you find yourself in dirtier water, try a brighter or slightly larger presentation to stand out[5].

    Largemouth bass are getting active in some of the weedy bays and marinas. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits are worth tossing when the sun’s out, especially near structure. If you’re chasing panfish, the reports are thin, and no recent perch activity has been noted in the usual haunts[1].

    Hot spots to try today are the middle of Anchor Bay for smallies, focusing on 7 to 10 feet of water near the breaks, and Memorial Park down to the 9 Mile area. Shallow flats near Harley Ensign DNR launch have given up fish on calmer days. If the water’s muddy, move around until you find cleaner pockets—the action has been much better there.

    Weather today is mild, with light west winds early increasing as the day goes on, temps in the high 60s to low 70s, and partly cloudy skies. If the wind picks up this afternoon, try to find some shelter behind points or marinas where the water will be less stirred up.

    Get out there, stay mobile, and keep an eye on the weather. Good luck and tight lines from Artificial Lure!
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    3 m
  • Smallmouth Bass Surge in Lake St. Clair, Walleye Action Heats Up Amid Varied Temperatures

    Smallmouth Bass Surge in Lake St. Clair, Walleye Action Heats Up Amid Varied Temperatures
    May 14 2025
    LAKE ST. CLAIR FISHING REPORT - May 14, 2025

    Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your mid-May fishing report for beautiful Lake St. Clair.

    The lake is really heating up, both literally and figuratively! Water temperatures have been quite varied across the lake, with readings around 60 degrees along the mile roads in the southern portions, while the northern areas up by Muskimoot are still running cooler in the low 50s or upper 40s[1]. This temperature differential is creating a unique situation where we've got smallmouth bass in all stages of spawn.

    Speaking of smallmouth, they've been the star of the show lately. While there was a bit of a slowdown reported in early May near Memorial Park and the 9 Mile area[3], that's changing fast with our recent warm weather. The pre-spawn movement has been in full swing, with many fish staging in shallow water[5]. I expect with today's temperatures, they'll be extremely active.

    Walleye action is also picking up nicely, according to recent reports[4]. These toothy predators are starting to feed more aggressively as the water warms.

    For those targeting smallmouth, light line and finesse tactics in shallow water have been producing results. The Great Lakes Finesse 2.5" Juvy Craw has been a hot bait, with tube jigs also accounting for some bigger fish[5]. I'd also recommend trying drop shots with goby imitations in 8-15 feet of water along weed edges.

    Some hot spots to check out today include the area near the 9 Mile Road access, Memorial Park shorelines, and if you're up for a bit of a run, the shallows near Muskimoot are worth exploring as those cooler waters start to warm up. With our recent warm spell, I'd focus on areas where you can find that magic 55-60 degree water.

    With the bass in various spawn stages, you'll likely find some still spawning, plenty staging to spawn, and even a few post-spawn fish moving to secondary structure[1]. This weekend's warm forecast should trigger a major spawning movement, so get out there while you can!

    Remember to respect the resource, practice catch and release on those spawning smallies, and take plenty of pictures of your trophies. The fish are there for the taking if you put in the time and effort.

    Tight lines and see you on the water!

    Artificial Lure
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    3 m
  • "St. Clair Smallmouth Bite Heating Up as Water Clears, Perch Scarce But Promising at Grand Haven"

    "St. Clair Smallmouth Bite Heating Up as Water Clears, Perch Scarce But Promising at Grand Haven"
    May 12 2025
    Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for this fine Monday morning, May 12th, 2025.

    Folks, let me tell ya, the smallmouth action has been a bit of a roller coaster lately. About a week ago, the high winds stirred up the water and muddied things, causing smallmouth catch rates to drop around Anchor Bay. Those fish were still hanging in the middle of Anchor Bay, but they weren't as eager to bite as they had been earlier in the spring.

    The pattern's been similar since early May when reports showed slower smallmouth fishing near Memorial Park and the 9 Mile area. But don't you worry - as the water clears up, those bronzebacks should get more active again.

    Looking at recent catches, we've seen smallmouth in pre-spawn mode, staging in the shallows. Some decent largemouth have been mixed in too - one lucky shore angler pulled in two largemouth and a couple of sheephead (one measuring 24 inches!) using tubes at Harley Ensign launch just a couple weeks back.

    For you smallmouth hunters, the Great Lakes Finesse 2.5" Juvy Craw has been producing well in the shallows. Tube jigs are still the bread and butter around here - they've been landing some of the bigger fish. Light line and finesse tactics are your best bet right now, especially if you're fishing shallow water.

    Hot spots to try today? I'd hit the middle of Anchor Bay first thing this morning. If that's slow, cruise over to the 9 Mile area. The water should be warming nicely with these May temperatures, and those smallies will be getting more aggressive as they prepare to spawn.

    No perch reports to share, unfortunately. They seem to be playing hard to get right now on St. Clair. If you're after perch, you might want to head over to Grand Haven where they've been having some luck in 50-70 feet of water using spikes, wigglers, and minnows.

    Weather-wise, we're looking at typical mid-May conditions - keep an eye on those winds as they can change the bite in a hurry on this lake.

    Remember, folks, the smallies are in transition mode between pre-spawn and spawn, so be patient and work those shallow flats. The tube bite should improve as the water warms through the day.

    That's the word from Lake St. Clair this morning. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines to ya, and I'll catch ya on the water!
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    3 m
  • Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Bass, Panfish, and Walleye Bites in Unsettled Conditions

    Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Bass, Panfish, and Walleye Bites in Unsettled Conditions
    May 11 2025
    Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your local fishing report for Lake St. Clair on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

    We’ve had a week of unsettled weather—high winds rolled through, kicking up the water and making things muddy in a lot of the usual smallmouth haunts. That has slowed smallmouth bass catch rates a bit, but folks are still pulling in fish, especially in the middle of Anchor Bay, Big Muskamoot Bay, and over in Ford Cove, with most of the action coming in shallow, around 5 to 7 feet of water. With these conditons, darker colored lures seem to be the ticket, but green and yellow have also been hot[5][1].

    For you panfish fans, bluegill and crappie are biting on live bait in Ford Cove, and crappie are being caught from the canals near Selfridge. If you’re after walleye, the bite is decent in front of the Metropark—trolling crawler harnesses has been key. Those going after largemouth bass in the canals near Selfridge are doing very well, with bass hitting just about anything you throw at them[5].

    Water temps are holding steady thanks to the lack of any serious cold fronts in the forecast. Water clarity is up and down depending on where the wind blew last, so you may want to try searching for clearer patches if you’re not getting bites.

    The weather is mild today, with a gentle breeze and highs expected in the upper 60s to low 70s. Sunrise was at 6:06 am and sunset will be at 8:44 pm, so there’s a full day of fishing ahead. No tidal swings here, just keep an eye on any afternoon wind if you’re heading out in a smaller boat.

    Here are a couple of hot spots to try today: Anchor Bay in 5 to 7 feet is still holding fish, especially if you’re chasing smallmouth. Big Muskamoot Bay and Ford Cove are both producing well for a mix of species. If you like working canals, the Selfridge area is a sure bet for bass and panfish[5][1].

    Best lures right now are darker soft plastics and crankbaits for bass, while green and yellow jigs can also produce. For panfish, try live bait like worms or minnows. Walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses trolled slowly in the Metropark area.

    That’s the report for today—good luck out there, and remember, the early angler often beats the wind. Tight lines!
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    3 m
  • Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Smallies on the Move, White Bass Showing Up

    Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Smallies on the Move, White Bass Showing Up
    May 10 2025
    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.
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    3 m
  • Lake St. Clair Bass Bite Keeps Anglers on Their Toes Amid Shifting Weather Conditions

    Lake St. Clair Bass Bite Keeps Anglers on Their Toes Amid Shifting Weather Conditions
    May 9 2025
    This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for Friday, May 9th, 2025. The early May bite is keeping us on our toes, with changing weather shaking up the fishing scene.

    The weather this morning started off brisk but is warming up quickly, with highs expected to reach the mid-60s by afternoon. Winds have been a factor, especially earlier this week; they muddied up the water and slowed down the smallmouth bass bite, but as the water clears, we’re seeing activity pick back up. No tides to worry about on the lake, but wind direction has been pushing debris into some shallow bays, so keep an eye on water clarity as you choose your launch spot. Sunrise was at 6:11 AM and sunset will be around 8:44 PM, giving you a long window to get after them.

    Smallmouth bass are still the main target, but catch rates have been up and down. With water temps hovering in the high 40s to low 50s, we’re right in the thick of pre-spawn. Fish are staging shallow, especially on rocky flats and near spawning areas. The bite can be tough in stained water, but once you find a pocket of clearer conditions, they’re aggressive[1][4][5].

    Best lures this week have been finesse presentations. The Great Lakes Finesse 2.5-inch Juvy Craw worked on a light spinning setup is a local favorite, especially for those sticking to the shallows. Tube jigs and Ned rigs in natural craw patterns are putting fish in the boat too[5]. If you prefer moving baits, try small jerkbaits or swimbaits fished slow. On bright days, switching to green pumpkin or watermelon colors can make a difference. Some anglers are still picking up bonus largemouth bass as a bycatch near shoreline weeds[5].

    As for bait, while artificial lures are the top choice, minnows and nightcrawlers can still pull a few bites if things slow down.

    Recent catches from the Anchor Bay and Big Muskamoot Bay areas include solid smallmouth in the 2-4 pound range, and a couple of random bigger fish pushing five pounds. No noteworthy perch to report, and walleye chatter remains quiet[1][4].

    For hot spots, try the middle of Anchor Bay and the rocky flats off Memorial Park. If the wind lays down and water clears up, the 9 Mile area can be dynamite, especially mid-day when the sun warms those rocks[1][4].

    That’s the scoop for today. Good luck out there—keep your drags set, stay safe, and maybe I’ll see you on the water. This is Artificial Lure—tight lines!
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    3 m
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