Lake St. Clair

Some say that Lake St Clair is the finest urban fishery in the country. Located just 2 miles east of Detroit, this shallow portion of the Great Lakes system stretches from Michigan into Ontario. There are few places where you can indulge in world class angling within sight of one of America’s largest cities, and this is one of them. Take your pick of Lake St Clair fishing charters and come aboard for an experience you can’t forget!

Known For

Lake St Clair is home to a variety of game fish, the most popular being Muskellunge, Walleye, and Smallmouth Bass. You can catch many species year-round, even in winter when the lake is covered in ice. Many local charter boats run from April through early December, at which point anglers trade in their boats for ice shanties.

The peak season for Musky runs from June through October, when anglers hook into trophy-sized fish. In fall, it’s not uncommon for Musky tournament boats to catch and release 15-20 fish in a day! Anglers on Lake St Clair have the additional perk of catching Northern Pike in the same waters, a species which rarely coexists with Musky.

The Walleye fishing on Lake St Clair is also excellent. In spring, close to 3 million of these fish appear. Anglers often catch 8-10 lb Walleye in March and April, and are likely to complain if they catch anything smaller! Walleye ranging from 2-7 lbs are common throughout the rest of the year. The best Walleye fishing on the lake is rumored to be on the Ontario side.

Lake St Clair is also known for some of the best Smallmouth Bass fishing in the world. Two-to-three lb fish aren’t uncommon in these waters. Smallmouth are at their peak from May to August.

You can also expect world class fishing in Lake St Clair when it comes to Perch, Bluegill, Catfish, and Carp. If that’s not enough to make you haul out your tackle, wait until you hear what’s biting in the St Clair River a few miles upstream! Each spring anglers flock to these waters for some of the best Great Lakes Sturgeon fishing around—and they do it at night. You can hook into several fish in a single trip, some of them weighing over 50 lbs.

Need to Know

Getting there

Conveniently located just outside of downtown Detroit, you can get to Lake St Clair by car or by bus. A Southeast Michigan SMART bus runs from Detroit to Lake St. Clair Metropark every 20 minutes, where you’ll find plenty of marinas and charter boats.

Regulations

Lake St Clair fishing charters typically include everything you need except a local fishing license. Anglers age 17 and above need to carry a MI fishing license when fishing on the US side of the border. It’s common for charter boats to cross over onto the Canadian side of the lake when the best fishing is available there, so you may also want to buy an ON license to keep your options open. If you plan to fish in Ontario’s waters, all anglers in your group should bring their passports, and anyone age 18 and above will need an ON license. Trips that cross the international border usually include a fuel surcharge on top of the charter price.

You can target many species year-round on Lake St Clair, but it may not always be legal to keep your catch. Be aware of size and bag limits for your target species if you intend to keep your catch. Hiring a local charter boat is recommended so that your guide can help you follow regulations while you focus on the fun part: fishing!

Lake St Clair Fishing Techniques

It’s common to jig for Walleye early in spring, and then to switch to drifting or trolling crankbaits.Trolling with traditional foot-long Musky lures in October will bring you the biggest Muskies of the season. Anglers drift 4” minnows and round gobies for Sturgeon. Bass bite a variety of lures, but crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and flipping jigs are the most popular presentations.

In winter, a little Lake St Clair ice fishing can bring you Pike, Walleye, Perch, and more!

Budget

Fishing charters on Lake St Clair vary widely in price depending on your interest and how much time you spend on the water. Multi-species trips that last between 2 and 4 hours cost $200-$350, while six-hour trips are typically $375-$400. Eight hour trips range from $350-$500.

If you’re committed to landing a particular species, you can book a specialized charter. These tend to cost a bit more, but your captain will pull out all the stops to get you that trophy fish. Lake St Clair Musky fishing charters are all the rage, and these can last anywhere from 6 hours to several days. Musky trips on the lower end of the price range cost about $500, while 8-12 hour trips usually cost more than $1,000.

Whether you’re in it for a trophy or just a chance to discover everything Lake St Clair has to offer, you can look forward to world class angling!