Lake St Clair

[johnmyers]

Never fished St Clair, where would be a good place to start for smallmouth. Have a Lund 2025 Pro V that will be fishing out of. Thanks for any help

John

[TOXIC]

What time of year?  

[Craigholland]

If you go in the spring  look for a bunch of boats, where you see hoards of boats you will find smallies.

[johnmyers]

Thanks spring and summer

[J.Vincent]

So much good water on St Clair....and those fish move around so much it's difficult to say .....but if I were new to the Lake I would get myself a drift sock and start off in Anchor bay . It's not difficult to reach from the Metropark launch and there are plenty of smallmouth in that bay during pre-spawn all the way through post spawn. Tube jigs rigged with teardrop shaped jig inserts , mojo rigs with Senkos and Lipless Crankbaits should be all you need for a good day on the water. 

[TOXIC]

Spring, all of the normal spawning grounds....Little and Big Muscamoot bays, the Mile Roads and Selfridge will keep you more than busy.  Summer you need to move out deep and find the deeper weed lines.  Dropshot, Ned rig, Fluke, Senko and SPRO Little John cranks.  Never go out in the spring without a Jerkbait and a tube either.  

[redmeansdistortion]

Muscamoot Bay is on fire during May and early June.  I have the most success on crawfish and chartreuse colored tube baits.  Once the water heats up and the party folk get out there, it dies down considerably.  It's such a good spot you may be catching one after another, seriously.  I don't have a boat so I throw on my waders and go out there.

[johnmyers]

Thanks that will help

[bayvalle]

7 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

So much good water on St Clair....and those fish move around so much it's difficult to say .....but if I were new to the Lake I would get myself a drift sock and start off in Anchor bay . It's not difficult to reach from the Metropark launch and there are plenty of smallmouth in that bay during pre-spawn all the way through post spawn. Tube jigs rigged with teardrop shaped jig inserts , mojo rigs with Senkos and Lipless Crankbaits should be all you need for a good day on the water. 

Is there a permit required to park the trailer at the S River Rd ramp?

[J.Vincent]

I’m not sure what the fee is , but there is a daily fee for both Harley Ensign and Selfridge...both offer close access to Anchor Bay 

[22RangerZ520R]

A few more months and I'll be up there again, can't wait!  Areas already mentioned above are a good start. 

 

I've been making the annual pilgrimage up there for 10 years now, 2018 was my best trip yet...  Spent 9 days up there and I caught 27 smallies that were 5lb+, two of those were 6lb+.  Four days I had a five smallie bag that went 25lb 12oz or greater with my PB five smallie bag one day going 27lb 12oz!

[Smalls]

Go anchor your boat about 75-100 yards from the end of 9 mile pier. I’ve caught a 6 pounder or two there. 

[Mastermarsh]

For your first time to LSC stick to the area between 9 mile road to the 400 club or in front of the Metropark, mostly target the 6-10 foot range from April to the spawn in June. They are super aggressive during that time, so if you cover water you will find the fish. Be cautious of the weather as well, the waves pick up quickly with an east wind. Don't overlook the phenomenal largemouth fishing in the canals that time of year if the weather/wind isn't cooperating. I caught my Michigan PB largemouth (6.11) and smallmouth (7.4) on the same day last spring. Tube, Jerkbait, Lipless crank, DT6, or swimbaits are my goto for finding em. 

[Fishin' Fool]

On 1/22/2019 at 12:04 PM, johnmyers said:

Never fished St Clair, where would be a good place to start for smallmouth. Have a Lund 2025 Pro V that will be fishing out of. Thanks for any help

John

John,

The migration of the fish takes them shallow in the spring mainly 5 to 8 fow then as summer comes the fish will move deeper to follow the bait and deeper weed beds and rock piles. Summer fish will be found from 12 to 20 fow. The recommended baits are all great let me add that moving baits such as lipless cranks, swimbaits and underspins work well. As the spawn happens and tubes, ned rigs, hula grubs, senkos work well.

[redmeansdistortion]

One thing I didn't see mentioned, don't forget about the Detroit River.  I catch hogs right off the piers on Belle Isle even in the dog days of summer.  It's very fast moving so you will need to use heavier baits.  I got my PB last July right from a pier throwing a 3" yellow grub on a 1/2oz jig head.

[TOXIC]

14 hours ago, Fishin' Fool said:

John,

The migration of the fish takes them shallow in the spring mainly 5 to 8 fow then as summer comes the fish will move deeper to follow the bait and deeper weed beds and rock piles. Summer fish will be found from 12 to 20 fow. The recommended baits are all great let me add that moving baits such as lipless cranks, swimbaits and underspins work well. As the spawn happens and tubes, ned rigs, hula grubs, senkos work well.

Just a fact to note, if you go back into the moot, you won't find any depth over 3 foot.  Only a concern for a deep V.  

[redmeansdistortion]

4 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Just a fact to note, if you go back into the moot, you won't find any depth over 3 foot.  Only a concern for a deep V.  

It has been half a decade since I fished Muscamoot, but at that time, I could wade most of the way across.  There's also some very good pike action out there.  For some reason, most of the pike I catch there tend to go airborne.  I've never had that happen in any other body of water when it comes to pike.

[johnmyers]

I appreciate all of you who have responded to help me on this. Hope you all do well this spring

John