Fall Fishing on Lake St. Clair: Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Top Lures for a Successful Day

As of October 7, 2024, Lake St. Clair is offering some exciting fishing opportunities, despite the transitioning fall weather. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Tidal Conditions
The weather is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 62 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 48 degrees. Sunrise is at 7:43 AM, and sunset will be at 6:47 PM. Lake St. Clair, being a freshwater lake, does not have tidal changes, so you can focus on other environmental factors.

### Fish Activity
Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair, particularly in the New Baltimore area where fish are active in shallow water. Top water baits have been working well, indicating that the bass are eager to strike surface presentations. Largemouth bass are also biting, with swim baits proving effective.

Yellow perch action has been decent, especially near the dumping grounds, the Grosse Point area, and within the metropark area. Anglers have had success using ultralight setups with light line (4- to 6-pound test), spinners with soft plastic baits, smaller artificial lures, and night crawlers. Sitting crawlers and bait fish on the bottom of the channel have produced the best results for perch.

### Best Lures and Bait
For smallmouth bass, top water baits such as Spooks and other surface lures are recommended. In deeper waters, using Great Lakes finesse drop worms, especially those with a green pumpkin and purple flake color, has been effective. For largemouth bass, swim baits are the way to go.

For yellow perch, ultralight setups with spinners, soft plastic baits, and night crawlers are ideal. Bait fish and crawlers on the bottom of the channel are also highly recommended.

### Hot Spots
- **New Baltimore Area**: This spot has been good for smallmouth bass in shallow water.
- **Dumping Grounds and Grosse Point Area**: These areas are producing decent yellow perch catches.
- **Metropark Area**: This is another good spot for yellow perch, with some catches reported here as well.
- **Bolles Harbor and Sterling State Park Boat Launch**: These areas have seen some perch activity from the docks.

Overall, Lake St. Clair is offering a mix of shallow and deep water fishing opportunities, making it a great time to get out and enjoy the fall fishing season.