Late Fall Bass, Muskie, and Perch Bite on Lake St. Clair

This is Artificial Lure, your local fishing expert coming at you with the Lake St. Clair, Michigan narrative fishing report for Wednesday, November 26th, 2025. We’re kicking off the day with crisp late autumn air — forecast highs right around 42°F, lows near 33°F, and a sunrise at 7:36 AM with sunset at 5:06 PM. The skies are mostly clear early but clouding up by afternoon, so pack layers and expect a chilly bite. Winds out of the west have been aggressive the past few days, still pushing 12-18 mph; as seen in recent Major League Fishing coverage, these conditions can push baitfish and smallmouth bass into tighter groups along protected edges. Lake St. Clair does not have real tides but does get wind-driven current and occasional seiche action, especially on big blow days. According to local solunar tables, the hottest bite windows today fall between 8:30–10:30 AM and 2:15–3:45 PM — prime times for targeting bass and perch near structure and grass lines. Water temps running about 43-46°F, which means fish are still actively feeding but beginning to stage deeper. Fish activity has been on the upswing, especially for **smallmouth bass**. Major League Fishing’s recent Stage Six event saw pros hauling strings of 40-plus pounds, with the best catches coming off drop-shot rigs in 15-18 feet, near transition spots between cabbage grass and sand, particularly on the north Canadian side and the American “Mile Roads” area. Berkley PowerBait MaxScent baits in green pumpkin and watermelon-red magic made a huge splash; don’t overlook the Flatnose Minnow or Lil’ General. Ned rigs in goby and natural shad tones are also pulling solid numbers. Fluke-style soft plastics like Strike King Z-Too in “Arkansas shiner” have been hot, especially where large perch schools roam. For the musky chasers, footage from last weekend showed big fish moving on large trolling lures like Bondys and rubber swim baits. The wicked winds made boat control tough, but those sticking close to Banana Island or the mouth of Anchor Bay had luck in 12–15 feet, focusing on inside turns and steep drops. Walleye and perch are both making a good showing right now according to local guides and the latest Lake St. Clair Fishing Report Today podcast — jigging with minnows and Gulp soft plastics near Metro Beach and the 400 Club has put limits in the boat, especially early and late in the day. The areas around the mouth of the Clinton River and up toward Grassy Island are also holding fish. For panfish and perch, small jigs tipped with waxworms or spikes have been the ticket. Look to the slightly deeper weed beds — especially off the “Grosse Pointe Shores” and near the St. Clair Light. Live minnows are setting the bar for bigger perch. A couple of local hot spots to put on your radar: - **The Mile Roads** (between 12 and 15 Mile on the American side): Consistent bass and perch action, especially just outside the weed edge in 14–16 feet. - **Anchor Bay (Banana Island area)**: Musky, walleye This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.