Safety First

HOOK & SINKERLine

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Lake St. Clair is a Hot Destination for Fishing Enthusiasts

One would be hard-pressed to ind a St. Clair Shores resident without at least one ishing experience – and it likely took place close to home. Whether it was spending a sunny afternoon at the edge of a pier waiting for a tug on the line or anchoring the boat to try their luck in deeper waters, many locals have fond memories ishing in the waters of Lake St. Clair and the connecting waterways.

What Makes Lake St. Clair Unique

“The beauty of Lake St. Clair is that you can enjoy it all year long,” says Kevin Backus, owner of Mr. Muskie Charters in St. Clair Shores. Backus refers to Lake St. Clair as the premier muskie lake in the world, and as number one in the country for small mouth bass. There’s also no other place in the world with over six million walleye, he says, which spawn in the Detroit River each spring.

Why are there so many ish in Lake St. Clair exactly? “It’s a very shallow basin lake that is sand- and clay-based,” Backus says. “It’s shallow, clear and holds bait, and it’s ideal for spawning.”

In fact, Michigan.gov states: “At only 430 square miles in surface area with an average depth of 11 feet, Lake St. Clair is far smaller and shallower than the Great Lakes, but is incredibly productive, hosting one of the largest sport isheries in the world. Nearly a third of the entire annual Great Lakes sport ish catch is pulled from the waters of the lake.”

Best Fishing Spots on the Lake

The best places to ish, Backus says, all depends on the time of year and the species you’d like to ish. “Even though it’s shallow, it’s not a consistent depth,” he says. “So, the best ishing spots will change depending on the time of year. Anchor Bay is great for bass, perch or muskie in the spring. But when the water warms up, the ish move out to bigger waters.” The shipping channel (the main vessel route across Lake St. Clair) and the “Dumping Grounds” (located on the border in U.S. waters, near the southern end of the lake) are also good spots, according to Backus. 24 the shores

St. Clair Shores resident Matt Trombley, who rediscovered his love of ishing seven years ago, takes his boat out on Lake St. Clair to ish three to four times per week “as soon as the ice is gone.”

“April/May is prime walleye season in the Detroit River and St. Clair River,” Trombley says. “That’s when the water temperature is just right. They are biting like crazy. Then you get a lot of bass isherman in May and June. There are three kinds of bass in these lakes – small mouth, large mouth and white bass.” According to Trombley, the time to catch white bass is short. We call it ‘the white bass window’ – it’s right around Memorial Day. They are in a big school, and they are spawning. You can catch them on a bare hook. The best place to catch them is in the Trenton Channel. Look for the birds feeding on the minnows, and the ish will be there.”

For those who want to target ish in deeper waters, techniques such as vertical jigging and bottom bouncing (also called trolling) can be used. For those who may not own a boat or want to gain experience, hiring an expert such as Backus is an option for entertaining clients or hanging out with family and friends.

St. Clair Shores resident Matt Trombley, with a Tiger Muskie. Photo courtesy of Matt TrombleyKevin Backus’ boat on Lake St. Clair. Photo courtesy of Kevin Backus/Mr. Muskie Charters

Best Shore Fishing Spots

“May and June are the best time to catch ish near the shore,” Trombley says. “That’s when they are spawning in the shallow area.” For the beginner, Trombley simply recommends a hook, worm and bobber. “You’ll catch a blue gill, perch, littler ish. You can catch the red-headed stepchild, the largemouth bass, in rocky shallows of places like Veterans Memorial Park. There are tons of them.”

For those who may not be familiar with the various ishing spots in St. Clair Shores, the city has four parks accessible to residents. (Don’t forget to purchase a park pass from the Parks & Recreation Department for a nominal fee). First, the 9 Mile Pier, which is also open to non-residents, is located at Jefferson and Nine Mile, behind the Chapaton Pumping Station. “That’s a fun peninsula, it gets you way out into the water,” Trombley says. “It’s about eight to 10 feet of water. You can cast far out there and catch pike and bass.”

Next, the ishing pier at Blossom Heath Park, just south of Ten Mile, is currently under construction and inaccessible to residents currently. “Due to the pier expansion project, there is currently no access to ishing at Blossom Heath,” says St. Clair Shores Parks and Recreation Director Henry Bowman. “We hope for the project to be done by July.” Bowman also noted that while resident passes are required to enter the park, the Blossom Heath ishing pier is open to the public.

Lastly, Lac Saint Claire Park at 11 Mile Road/Jefferson and Veterans Memorial Park at Masonic/Jefferson are great ishing spots and both require park passes.

For those looking to venture a little further from home, Trombley recommends Lake St. Clair MetroPark, DNR Selfridge Public Boat Launch and DNR Harley Ensign Launch – all in Harrison Township. The Detroit RiverWalk downtown and Belle Isle are also go-to spots.

Why Fishing?

“For most people, they just enjoy the peacefulness of the water,” Trombley says. “In the summer, I’m out there from 6-10 a.m. “My greatest memories are not the biggest ish on Lake St. Clair but the sunrises...For some people, they just want that Facebook picture. It’s a great memory. And some people are very serious ishermen – they want 50 ish. I fall in all those categories. Some days I’m like – I’m going for the muskie. [There are] a lot of different ways to approach it. I also enjoy taking beginners out on the water on my boat. That is one thing that I enjoy the most.”