St. Clair Fishing Report

We’ve never seen such a lousy spring for fishing.  Cold, wet, cold, torrents of rain and mud and yuck!  However, if the weather man is to be believed, the upcoming weekend will be improved (Sunday’s high temp will be 81 but still a chance of storms) and likely a decent Monday Memorial Day holiday for a fishing getaway.

Smallmouth bass season is not open yet.  But catch and release anglers are having a field day despite the weather.  Anglers fishing in the shallows and along the seawalls from Grosse Pointe Park all the way up to Selfridge AFB are reporting up to 50 fish a day.  Don’t forget to play then quickly and release them ASAP. 

And remember, the MDNR had been in Anchor Bay last week doing fisheries research there.  We don’t know for sure if their effort is concluded so please heads up for that.

Best baits for bass?  Lakeside Fishing Shop, a Lake St. Clair Tourism Initiative sponsor, is selling tube baits in various colors.  We spoke to Justin in the shop today.  Justin specializes in bass angling and is a big catch and release guy.  He  says the Cruncher brand tube baits are selling well in the Baby Goby color (#701).  Rig these baits with a 3/16-oz. jig head with a 60-degree angled eye.  All you do is slide the jig heads through the tube bait and the eye pops out the top of the bait all set for you to tie it on and go fishing.  

Justin tells us the best times to catch big bass is the early morning.  As the water clears this weekend, get out and toss tube baits for big smallies.

Below is the Cruncher tube bait all rigged and ready to go.

Tube baits are great for bass. Rig them with 3/16-oz. jig heads.