Here, again, we have an embarrassment of smallmouth riches. With the Detroit cityscape as a backdrop, you'll target the thousands of rock piles and reefs that litter the floor of Lake Erie. The Lake St. Clair Network is a local social network for Lake St.Clair and surrounding waterways such as Detroit River, Clinton River, Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The final event of the 2015 regular Bassmaster Elite Series on Lake St. Clair. 1. So find a spot to park the boat, grab some tickets and take in a game. It has the largest delta in the Great Lakes system. This time we're heading to Alpena on the east side of the state. You could fish the rock bars on Askins Point and out from Pikes Creek on the South shore. When the water temps drop into the 40's the Smallmouth bass school up in large groups on isolated rock piles and humps on Lake St. Clair and Erie. A visit to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary will give you a glimpse into that past – and a glimpse into the lake thanks to the popular glass bottom shipwreck tour. And while not all of those waters hold fishable populations of smallmouth bass, many do. Michigan is home to some 11,000 inland lakes. St. Clair Light N42 27.908 W82 45.270 While not exactly in the center of the Lake, the St. Clair Light is central to the landmarks that let us know where we are on Lake St. Clair. The Great Lakes are a treasure. All of the fisheries mentioned here can be accessed via a state park. Lake St. Clair’s 430 square-mile basin holds some of the largest smallmouth bass in the country. Pay attention when running and keep an eye on your sonar and you'll be fine. The lake only averages 10 feet deep, • I've caught fish over four pounds in both lakes and wouldn't be able to choose a favorite between the two if my best crankbait depended on it. The phrase "gin clear" simply doesn't do it justice. No trip to Michigan would be complete without a visit to Mackinaw City. Cast to these dark spots and you'll find bass. Often referred to as the “Sixth Great Lake,” St. Clair is a heart-shaped lake that roughly covers about 430 square miles and has an average depth of 11 feet. Mullett has more "traditional" cover whereas Burt requires you to find more subtle holding areas. Sailing Discuss anything directly related to sailing here. ... welcome to Lake St. Clair Lodge. This cozy town serves as the gateway to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and views of the massive Mackinac Bridge, which connects the two peninsulas, are spectacular. As difficult as it may be to hit a lake and do something other than fish, Torch Lake deserves some special attention. Lake St. Clair is a famed smallmouth fishery in the middle of the Great Lakes. Lega's Bistro (810) 794-5525. From there we'll curve our way around the tip of the mitt and, finally, head back south to Motown. An annual nonresident license is an affordable $68. From small lakes where the paddling is easy to large open waters, Michigan offers a wide assortment of smallmouth fisheries, all of which are excellent. Find those patches of cover and you'll encounter fish. The bass weighed 9.33 pounds and was 24.50 inches long. Increase a lure’s effectiveness by pairing it with the ideal reel speed. In 2015, Hubbard Lake produced the new state record – a 9.33-pound beast. Photo by Tony Hansen. Not a … We've almost completed our tour of smallmouth nirvana, and we're going to close with a crescendo. But the fishery is hardly the only gem of the state. You'll find a historic downtown filled with specialty shops where you can sample the town's famous taffy and fudge. It is roughly halfway between the mouth of the St. Clair river and the head of the Detroit River. Again, dragging a tube will get you in fish. Sight fishing at this time of year can be insane. It is one of those rare places where hip, young families mix freely with history-loving retirees. • Better yet, the areas with some of the finest fishing also happen to be some of state's most scenic and family-friendly places to visit. At Torch Lake, you can pull your boat up to a giant sandbar to lounge then use it as your starting point for some fun tubing. Fishing. Licenses are affordable and simple to find. The material was bunched up in a 2- to 3-foot high pile along the seawall behind Henninger’s house. Cast a tube (green pumpkin is a popular choice) and drift until you hit fish. If you're looking for bigger water, Lake Huron is renowned for its smallmouth fishing and Thunder Bay is one of the state's more overlooked smallmouth fisheries. But, trust me, there's more great water to explore and it's time to get moving. Lake St. Clair Metropark (586) 463-4581. Summer playbook: Ready for a little summer fun the whole family can enjoy? Wrapping up Fishing Lake St. Clair! 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