Smallmouth Bass...Lake St. Clair

[MagikSmallie]

Smallmouth Bass and the Clear Waters of Lake St. Clair in Michigan : Hobie Fishing

[mhall]

Ok now I'm drooling on the keyboard again thank alot Magik, lol....

[JUSTINHALL]

Fishin in Lake St. Clair is amazing, if you have never done it before you have got to go. The water is beautiful and the fishing is amazing. I was actually headed up there this weekend but decided to go to Destin instead. If you time it right just as the may fly is hatching is just spectacular. The hatch is a little behind schedule because of water being cold from Northern winds blowing down from Lake Huron so there is still time. If you got any vacation days or time to go trust me you will love it. 100+ days of small mouth is not hard to do when the timing is right and a 2 lb small mouth will pull like a 4 pounder down here it is amazing how strong the fish are up there from the oxygen rich cold water. There are plenty of 4,5,6 and 7 pounders to be caught as well. It’s and absolute must if you like bass fishing or any fishing in general it’s just an awesome fishery.

[MagikSmallie]

Ok now I'm drooling on the keyboard again thank alot Magik, lol....

I was with AJ (The author of the article) on this kayak trip we took in May. I was the only one who didn't get a personal best SM, because I managed a 7.04# a couple of years ago from up there! . I make at least 3-4 trips a year up there!

[Blueranger]

Just got back from St. Clair. What a first time trip. Last Tuesday we had 63(low count because of North winds at 20+) Wednesday we had 157( 156 smallies and a 37" Pike). On Thursday we had 103 smallies. Friday we had to come home. But we are ready to go again. St. Clair was on my bucket list, but now it is going to be a regular yearly trip. YOU have to go if you have never been.
On tip: take your tackle with you and drift socks, because it is hard to find there.

[00SKEETER]

Just got back from St. Clair. What a first time trip. Last Tuesday we had 63(low count because of North winds at 20+) Wednesday we had 157( 156 smallies and a 37" Pike). On Thursday we had 103 smallies. Friday we had to come home. But we are ready to go again. St. Clair was on my bucket list, but now it is going to be a regular yearly trip. YOU have to go if you have never been.
On tip: take your tackle with you and drift socks, because it is hard to find there.

Cant wait to go. Had another baby a few months ago so it won't be this year but I do plan on going next year. I assume you find some big flats with scattered grass and go to work....right?

[MagikSmallie]

Cant wait to go. Had another baby a few months ago so it won't be this year but I do plan on going next year. I assume you find some big flats with scattered grass and go to work....right?

yup pretty much...you can almost launch anywhere on the US side and idle out and start fishing literally almost anywhere, the entire lake is more or less one big flat with weeds and grasses of varying species all over....obviously some spots are better than others and take some time to learn. But all in all its a very easy place to get started fishing on.

[kentuckykingfisher]

Sounds amazing. I'd like to plan a trip next year. Do you guys have any suggestions on lodging?

[JUSTINHALL]

I stay on the north side on the river. I like fishing the river as well and the restaurants you can drive your boat up to and eat, Johny Leggas etc. There are quite a few hotels on the river but the one I stay at is
Sea Port Inn
7623 River Road
Cottrellville, MI 48039
(810) 765-4033
This is not the nicest hotel on the river by any means but they have a dock there and I can leave the boat in the water tied up and run and extension cord to it to charge up the trolling motors. I don't know of any others that you can do that, you have to load and unload every day. Its a very old couple that own it and operate it and always love a few bags of perch or walleye when I come back in. The state ramp is just 2 miles down the road.
The other I have stayed at is Anchor Inn but they don't have a boat dock. If you want to stay closest to where you fish for smallies at you stay in Mt. Clemens near the mile rds is where the small mouth mostly are.

[kentuckykingfisher]

I stay on the north side on the river. I like fishing the river as well and the restaurants you can drive your boat up to and eat, Johny Leggas etc. There are quite a few hotels on the river but the one I stay at is
Sea Port Inn
7623 River Road
Cottrellville, MI 48039
(810) 765-4033
This is not the nicest hotel on the river by any means but they have a dock there and I can leave the boat in the water tied up and run and extension cord to it to charge up the trolling motors. I don't know of any others that you can do that, you have to load and unload every day. Its a very old couple that own it and operate it and always love a few bags of perch or walleye when I come back in. The state ramp is just 2 miles down the road.
The other I have stayed at is Anchor Inn but they don't have a boat dock. If you want to stay closest to where you fish for smallies at you stay in Mt. Clemens near the mile rds is where the small mouth mostly are.

Thanks for the info. Ill have to look at that place because having the dock would be really nice. Not to worried about staying at a real nice place just somewhere that's safe to sleep lol

[BRS]

Just got back from St. Clair. What a first time trip. Last Tuesday we had 63(low count because of North winds at 20+) Wednesday we had 157( 156 smallies and a 37" Pike). On Thursday we had 103 smallies. Friday we had to come home. But we are ready to go again. St. Clair was on my bucket list, but now it is going to be a regular yearly trip. YOU have to go if you have never been.
On tip: take your tackle with you and drift socks, because it is hard to find there.

Do you use light tackle to fish this lake and what type of baits work best? If I were to go it would be the first time for me so I appreciate all the info.

[GeoFisher]

I stay on the north side on the river. I like fishing the river as well and the restaurants you can drive your boat up to and eat, Johny Leggas etc. There are quite a few hotels on the river but the one I stay at is
Sea Port Inn
7623 River Road
Cottrellville, MI 48039
(810) 765-4033
This is not the nicest hotel on the river by any means but they have a dock there and I can leave the boat in the water tied up and run and extension cord to it to charge up the trolling motors. I don't know of any others that you can do that, you have to load and unload every day. Its a very old couple that own it and operate it and always love a few bags of perch or walleye when I come back in. The state ramp is just 2 miles down the road.
The other I have stayed at is Anchor Inn but they don't have a boat dock. If you want to stay closest to where you fish for smallies at you stay in Mt. Clemens near the mile rds is where the small mouth mostly are.

Can I do it and be safe in my 19 ft aluminum tracker.........PT190.......90 horse.

Later,

Geo