Late Fall Lures on Lake St. Clair Deliver Bites for Smallies, Walleye, Perch, and Trophy Pike

Artificial Lure here—good morning, anglers! It’s Sunday, November 9, and we’re talking Lake St. Clair, where late-fall chill has set in but the fishing is still hot if you know where to go and what’s biting. Sunrise rolled at 7:13 AM today, with sunset coming quick around 5:32 PM. You’ll want to dress smart—the air temp is hovering just under 47 degrees, water temps are hanging in the upper 40s, and we’ve got an east wind at 15 knots keeping two-footers rolling across the main lake. The barometer’s steady but starting a slow drop, so expect the weather to get a bit squirrelly later in the day. Tides don’t play a factor here, but those changing pressures and wind shifts sure do. **Smallmouth bass** are bunched up tight on rocky points and deeper flats. If you’re looking to connect with a chunky bronzeback, locals are crushing it on the Mile Roads reefs—9 and 11 Mile are top of the list. Word from Captain Billy Howe’s crew out of the Detroit River is multiple smallies between 18 and 21 inches, some cracking 4 pounds. Blade baits in silver or gold are hard to beat this week, but don’t shy away from natural tube jigs, a 4-inch green pumpkin tube, or a dark swimbait worked slow right over the submerged humps. The Berkley Chigger Craw is a solid pick for jigs. Late afternoon? Swap to a deep-diving crankbait or a suspending jerkbait for that reaction strike as the sun dips, just like tournament pros recommend when the bite toughens up. **Walleye** anglers are piling up catches from the mouth of the Detroit River up the shipping channel. Most folks are vertical jigging heavy chartreuse or pink blade baits, others trolling husky deep divers or jigging live emerald shiners near bottom dips. Try the deeper cuts east of Grosse Pointe and up by the Metropark for several eaters per drift. **Perch** action has been up and down, but keepers are coming in for the patient crew parking near Strawberry Island. Best bet is a classic perch rig baited with small spottail shiners or a bit of worm. Limits take time, but passing up dinks, it’s doable to boat a couple dozen slabs. **Northern pike** are prowling weedlines around Anchor Bay and the south shore—cast big, flashy spoons or toss suspending jerkbaits parallel to the drops. Muskie maniacs are stretching their luck with big rubber baits—fire tiger and walleye patterns—trolling slow from St. Clair Light to the Belle River hump; heard of several beasts 36–45 inches over the weekend. Live bait is the ticket in the cold: Emerald shiners for walleye and perch, and large suckers or lively shad if you’re chasing big pike or muskie. Local bait shops are well stocked—don’t forget to downsize presentations and slow your roll. A couple of hot spots for today: - **Mile Roads (9 & 11 Mile reefs)** for aggressive smallmouth bass. - **Windmill Point** remains a steady producer for walleye. - The **Strawberry Island drop** is perch central right now. - For a shot at trophy pike, work the **Anchor Bay weedlines**. - If you