Fresh Lake St. Clair Fishing Reports

Detroit River Walleye Report: The Vertical Jigging Bite is On! The 2026 walleye run on the Detroit River is officially in full swing, and the action has been a grind with the cold snaps but we are working hard and getting our guys their fish. If you’ve been waiting for the "good old days" of river fishing, they are happening right now. The Conditions Water clarity has stabilized nicely over the last week. We are seeing anywhere from 2 to 4 feet of visibility depending on the wind. Water temperatures are hovering in the mid-40s, which is the "sweet spot" for aggressive pre-spawn and spawning walleye. The Bite Vertical jigging remains the name of the game. We’ve been finding the most consistent success in 18 to 40 feet of water. The fish are stacked on the gravel transitions and along the edges of the shipping channels. Top Producers: 3/4 oz to 1 oz jigs are necessary to keep your line vertical in the Detroit River's heavy current. 2 ounces in wind and if you can't find bottom Colors: Chartreuse, "Antifreeze," and orange/brown copper flake have been the hot colors this week. Pro Tip: Don't forget the stinger hooks! The bite can be subtle, and those extra hooks are turning "short strikes" into fish in the cooler. The Catch We are seeing a fantastic mix of "eaters" (15–20 inch males) and some true trophy-sized females. Most trips are resulting in 15 plus fish, with plenty of action to keep everyone on the boat engaged. As an added bonus, we've even seen a few incidental Silver Bass and the occasional silver fish showing up to keep things interesting. Plus a few musky. Looking Ahead The next two to three weeks are historically the best of the entire year. As the water continues to warm slightly, expect the fish to become even more aggressive. We will be switching to trolling in the next several weeks. We will switch to LSC on May 19 Captain’s Note: The river is busy this time of year! Ensure your vessel is equipped with all necessary safety gear and remember to respect the "downhill" drift of other anglers. Ready to get in on the action? The Detroit River walleye run is a bucket-list experience for any serious angler. Book your seat soon—the freezer isn't going to fill itself!

Yesterday was an all out grind until we found some active fish in the afternoon and then it was game on.

Cool day

Dodged the rain for a quick evening trip and found some good fish. Only kept enough for dinner but upper river is heating up!

The water had cleaned up and its go time! Late start this morning and limited to the Michigan side but Kelly still got her first detroit river walleyes!

Still cold and muddy but fish are starting to enter the river. Fishing improves daily. We were out for about 4 hours and found a little area to fish. We managed 3 when most others got skunked