Late Summer Lake St. Clair Fishing Forecast - Big Smallmouth, Musky, and Largemouth Action

Lake St. Clair’s Spirit was restless this morning under a starlit Michigan sky as sunrise crept in quietly at 6:50 a.m., with sunset expected at 8:20 p.m. Temperatures are sitting in that perfect late-August pocket—mid-60s at dawn, climbing into the low-80s by afternoon. Winds are light this morning, but expect a bump to 12-15 mph out of the southwest after lunch, which might churn up those classic St. Clair chop lines. Tidal influence is all but absent here, so aside from wind, you’re contending with local weather and that legendary freshwater current.

Fishing has been red hot, with tournament buzz and big catches showing up in all the right spots. Just yesterday, Team YETI’s Avena and Connell clinched a slot in the Challenge Cup Knockout Round, putting 18 measurable smallies on the board—their best went 4 pounds, 1 ounce and they racked up over 39 pounds total on the day fishing the St. Clair River. That southern half produced 50 bass totaling 112 pounds, 5 ounces across just four teams. Word from Connell is the magic was swapping between a black Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm and a green-pumpkin Rapala CrushCity Salted Ned Roll, with the winning stretch dialed in near current seams and scattered cover[The Bass Cast, 2025-08-26].

Drop shot rigs have absolutely dominated, especially around river current edges, ferry docks, and anywhere seawalls break up flow—Team O’Reilly Auto Parts credited the Berkley PowerBait Flat Worm and Z-Man Finesse TRD in green pumpkin for keeping bites steady along the St. Clair River, with Ron Nelson boating 17 quality smallmouth for over 30 pounds on his Ned rig that got chewed up along the pilings[The Bass Cast, 2025-08-26].

Lake-side, local anglers pulled in big largemouth clips, with one tournament showing a fourth-place finish at over 21 pounds for five fish, all caught working slow and steady along inside grass lines where the water runs clear and bait balls pulse near drop-offs[Instagram/Cash for Bass Tournament]. Bondy Baits in pearl have put up several fine musky, especially for those dialing in the deeper holes and subtle submerged points east of the Metropark—Jay and Rodger boated a beauty on the Bondy Royal Orba just this week[Instagram/Bondy Bait Company].

Hot spots today:
- **Mile Roads:** Classic staging areas near the 9 Mile and 13 Mile Roads edge are loaded with bait and cruising smallies.
- **Metropark Points:** Consistent catches on big largemouth and musky—try the inside weed lines and transitions.
- **Ferry Dock Stretch:** River current meets structure; worth a revisit as proven by the pros. Even if it’s just for a few casts, those edges can light up, especially with wind pushing bait up against pilings.

Best Lures & Baits:
- **Drop Shot with Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm (Black or Green Pumpkin):** Scoring big numbers and size in both river and lake spots.
- **Ned Rig (Z-Man Finesse TRD, Green Pumpkin):** Perfect for working pilings, seawalls, and finesse bites.
- **Rapala CrushCity Ned Roll:** New and getting results—fish it slow with subtle hops.
- **Bondy Royal Orba (Pearl):** Musky favorite for deeper drops.
- **Football Jigs (Black/Blue or Green Pumpkin):** Ideal for larger bass holding near rocky transitions, especially as the day warms and fish slide deeper.
- **YUM Spine Craw:** Excellent flipping option for Bassmaster Elite regulars; try it on wood or heavy grass.

Natural baits (if you prefer) are less dominant than artificials right now, but classic nightcrawler tipped on a Carolina rig or minnows under a slip bobber can still tempt stubborn walleye and bonus perch out from the weed beds.

Quick tips: Fish stay shallow early, especially during the golden hour right after sunrise, before easing deeper when wind picks up and sun gets high. The bite tapers off toward sunset but stays steady for musky and big largemouth until dusk.