"Lake St. Clair Delivers Smallmouth Bass and Perch Amid Transitioning Weather"

As of October 11, 2024, Lake St. Clair is offering some exciting fishing opportunities, despite the transitioning weather.

### Weather and Tidal Conditions
The weather is cooling down, with temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s, which is typical for this time of year. There are no significant tidal changes to note, as Lake St. Clair is a freshwater lake connected to the Great Lakes system but not directly influenced by ocean tides. Sunrise was at around 7:45 AM, and sunset is expected at about 6:45 PM.

### Fish Activity
Fishing has been decent, especially for smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Smallmouth bass have been active in shallow waters, particularly in the New Baltimore area. Top water baits have been working well for these bass. For yellow perch, 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. The perch action has been reported as decent near the dumping grounds, the Grosse Point area, and the metropark area.

### Types and Amounts of Fish Caught
Yesterday saw a fair number of smallmouth bass and yellow perch caught. While specific numbers aren't available, the action has been consistent enough to keep anglers engaged. No walleye were reported, but largemouth bass were biting on swim baits.

### Best Lures and Bait
For smallmouth bass, top water baits are recommended. For yellow perch, using ultralight setups with spinners, soft plastic baits, smaller artificial lures, or night crawlers has been effective. Sitting crawlers and bait fish on the bottom of the channel have also produced good results.

### Hot Spots
- **New Baltimore Area**: This spot has been good for smallmouth bass in shallow waters.
- **Dumping Grounds and Grosse Point Area**: These areas have seen decent perch action.
- **Metropark Area**: Another good spot for catching yellow perch.

Overall, Lake St. Clair is providing a good mix of fish species to target, especially as the cooler temperatures start to bring more fish into shallower waters.