Autumn Smallies and Muskies Thrive in Lake St. Clair's Transition Season

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Lake St. Clair fishing report for Wednesday, September 24, 2025. We were greeted today by classic early-fall Michigan weather—partly cloudy skies, a light west wind at 8-10 mph, and air temps hanging in the low 60s at sunrise. Water temps in the main lake are holding steady in the mid-60s, and you can feel that autumn chill creeping in. Sunrise hit at 7:18 AM this morning, and you’ll have daylight to fish right up to 7:27 PM. No tides here on Lake St. Clair—that’s Great Lakes living for you—but the wind’s moving enough water to shake up bait schools and keep predator fish hunting. According to Bassmaster, this transition period has the smallmouth bass fired up, with the Elite Series pros recently weighing impressive bags during their championship run on St. Clair just a few weeks ago. Reports from the field earlier this week had lots of bass in the two- to four-pound range being caught, with several topping five pounds for those folks dialed in on the bite. The hot action has centered around the deep mid-lake flats and main channel edges. Ryder’s Point and the Mile Roads area have been steady producers for both numbers and size—classic fall spots as smallies bunch up and chase baitfish. Musky chasers found good action north of Anchor Bay, with fish up to 48 inches coming off bucktails and big rubber baits as water clarity improved. Perch reports are finally improving in Bell River Hump and around Grassy Island, with a fair number of 9- to 12-inch keepers mixed in among the little guys. Now let’s talk lures and bait. Bass anglers are cleaning up on fast-moving search baits. Burning medium-diving crankbaits like the Strike King 5XD or the Damiki DC 300 is flat-out triggering reaction strikes out on those deeper flats—Bassmaster’s recent coverage showed pros cranking up true giants this way. Ned rigs and drop shots rigged with goby-style plastics are always a sure bet, and don’t forget a classic tube bait in green pumpkin if the crankbait bite slows down. For musky, it’s prime time to throw large double-bladed bucktails in silver/chartreuse or perch patterns. Pounders and big Medusas are also moving true trophy fish. Perch are hitting on live minnows and small chartreuse jigs, especially mid-morning after things warm up a notch. A couple of hot spots to check today: - Drop anchor near the Metro Beach weedlines—smallies and occasional largemouth are pushing bait up into the shallows there. - Drift from the 9-Mile Tower out toward the St. Clair Light for a shot at both big bass and bonus walleye, especially with a little chop on the water. Remember, invasive species are still a concern, so clean, drain, and dry your gear to keep sea lampreys and snakeheads at bay, as highlighted by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Michigan DNR. Not only does it protect our fishery, but it keeps this lake legendary. Thanks for tuning in to your Lake St. Clair fishing report. Don’t forget to subscrib This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.