Lake St. Clair Fishing Report: Smallmouth Stirring, Walleye Slow but Improving

Lake St. Clair anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your local fishing report for Sunday, April 20th, 2025. The spring chill continues to hang around, with clear mornings starting in the low 40s and highs pushing just north of 50 by midday. Sunrise today hit at 6:44 AM and you’ll have daylight until about 8:16 PM, so there’s a good window to get lines wet. Water temps have been slowly climbing, now steady at 44 to 45 degrees in most shallows. That rise has the fish waking up and starting to move in, especially for those targeting bass and perch. Fishing activity overall is still somewhat slow, but things are picking up for the determined crowd. Smallmouth bass are the most active target lately. Reports from Muskamoot Bay and at the mouth of the South Channel show smallmouth coming up in 6 to 9 feet of water. Anglers drifting and casting tubes in goby patterns or smaller soft swimbaits are having the most luck. Some folks are finding them deeper—up to 15 or 16 feet—by slow trolling crankbaits through the channel edges. The afternoon hours, when the sun has warmed the flats, have been best for bites. Walleye are a tougher ticket right now. The bite is slow but improving at the mouth of the Detroit River and out into deeper water. A handful have been taken by those jigging with bright blade baits and minnows, but you’ll have to work for them. Perch action is still behind schedule too, but a few have been found in the weedy pockets off Metro Beach and up the north shore near Fair Haven. For bait, stick with the basics. Medium fathead minnows on a jig head work well for both perch and walleye. For bass, tubes and Ned rigs are getting hit, along with jerkbaits—something with a little flash to catch their eye in that cold, clear water. Hot lure colors are still green pumpkin, chartreuse, and natural shad patterns. If you’re deciding where to go, here are a couple hot spots to try today: Muskamoot Bay is your best bet for smallmouth, especially in the 6 to 9 foot range, and the mouth of the South Channel is producing for both bass and the occasional walleye. Don’t overlook the weed edges around Metro Beach for late perch, and if the wind’s calm, the deeper breaks off 9 Mile Road launch can surprise you. In summary, the fishing is still coming alive, but patient anglers working slow presentations are landing some nice smallmouth and the occasional walleye. Bundle up, keep an eye on the water temp, and don’t be afraid to move around to find the fish that are ready to bite. Tight lines from Artificial Lure—see you on the water. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.