St. Clair Info Needed

[gonfishn]

Have a trip planned to to go to St. Clair in about two weeks..Knowing nothing about the lake and since its so huge an area am needing any info you can give me.. So far my trigger point is Roseville Michigan but am open to any suggestions on where to put in at<br /><br />Also info needed on cabins or staying areas to rest my arm at night..I am fifty miles south of Columbus Ohio and and don't mind driving six or seven hours to find a good launch site<br /><br />Need fishn lisense info such as, do I need State and Canada Plastic to fish. This Lake is known as a very good musky Lake.. Any help would be Appreciated from here..

 

[Bigfun]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Can't help you much, here's a web sight with some good info that might help. www.glangler.com <br /><br />You will need a license for only the state if you stay within boundary.<br /><br />If my memory is right, I read that the fishing is good on Mi. side early in spring/summer. After that their is some migration toward the Can. side.<br /><br />Mostly a trolling fishery, from info. i've received. <br /><br />Good luck, I look forward to your fish report.

 

[DaleT]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Well as far as the fishing aspect goes, I've tried a few times for Musky, with no luck. So I can't offer much advice there. <br /><br />One place you may want to look into for launching is Metrobeach. Metrobeach <br />If your heading out from Roseville it is about a 15-30 minute trip depending on exactly where you're going from. What would've been the best location(9 mile pier), for launch, is currently shut down so don't bother with that.<br />There are several hotels along I-94 and nearby, you may even want to head towards the Anchor bay region. <br /><br />One word of caution, if you end up near Selfridge ANG be sure to stay a good deal away.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[DaleT]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Just as an added thought, you may want to head int Lakeside Tackle, 10 Mile and Jefferson. This establishment is a family owned and the people are quite knowledgable. <br /><br />As for the license you can check the following site for more info.<br /> Michigan DNR

 

[ufm82]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Gon,<br /> I have been fishing St. Clair for a long time and can tell you that you are in for a treat IF you know what to do. <br /><br /> St. Clair can be a awesome fishery. I have made numerous "trips of a lifetime" up there. I'm talking 50 fish days. I'm talking 50 fish days where 45 of the bass are 2 lbs. or better. I have caught muskies, pike, walleyes, smallmouth and largemouth bass and channel cats up there.<br /><br /> If you are staying in Roseville, there are lots of places to stay. Run due east on 13 Mile road 'til you hit the lake. Go north to the first publuc ramp you come to. ( about 5 or 6 miles up.) Once you launch, you will be within a 10-15 minute run to the "Mile Road" area. This section of the lake has a huge weedbed out from shore about 1/4 mile. The depth is 8-9 feet and is a great place to drift and drag tubes for bass. Shallow cranks will drum up pike and an occasional musky. I have also hit walleyes out there on deeper cranks, although the weeds are annoying.<br /><br /> There is ample shoreline structure if you are a LM fisherman. The water here is very shallow so you have to be careful, but the bass are there. <br /><br /> The Anchor Bay area is popular for musky and has been a good producer for me. My best was a few years back at a little over 40". I like drifting and casting big Rapalas up there near any unusual structure I can find.<br /><br /> St. Clair is a big bowl. Very shallow and clear. It can whip up quickly like Erie, so be careful. I have been blown off the lake several times and it is always fun trying to run 5 or 10 miles back to the ramp in 4 foot waves that were just a ripple an hour before. Also, the season up there for bass doesn't open until the 3rd Saturday in June. You can fish for anything but bass. I know that many people go out with cranks, etc and claim they are musky fishing and get away with bass fishing, but if you are dragging tubes or rubber anything, the DNR guys will ticket you.<br /><br /> Great place to go. I go to St. Clair twice a year and have yet to have a bad year there. It is a fantastic fishery. You can got to a site called the Lake St. Clair Network and get some info as well. <br /><br />Have a blast.<br /><br />UFM82

 

[gonfishn]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Appreciate the info..From I can gather Anchor Bay looks like the spot for my first time up..<br /><br />UFM82..where do you stay when you go up? Thought on the line of a resort or cabin near or on where we will be fishn. This is short one,like two or three days. Hear so mush about great Musky fishn on St Cair that another Musky addict and I are headn up there up the 12th of April.<br /><br />Btw I see you are from The Cincy area..My roots are in Chillcothe and fish Ceasars Creek and Cowan at times in the summer.. Thanks Again for the help and the places not to stay..

 

[ufm82]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Hey Gon,<br /> Depending on when you are goinf, it can be tough to find a spot to stay. I have used the Super 8, Microtel, Econo-Lodge and a Baymont for my stays. The Microtel is a great place- about $50 a night and they have outside outlets to plug your boat into for the night. The bad thing is they fill up quick during the early part of the season just for that reason- they take care of the fisherman. <br /><br /> Super 8 is decent but parking can be tough if there are a lot of guys there. We had to park along the street last year when we were there. Not a big deal, but I would rather have the boat in the lot. We had to haul batteries into the room because we didn't have 400 feet of extension cord. LOL<br /><br /> There is a place in Fairhaven which is on the top side of Anchor Bay- Holiday something or other. I've never stayed there and can't vouch for it but it is on a canal and you can park your boat there. I think it's a little Mom&Pop kind of place- no website but I think you can find it if you search the web. <br /><br /> The nice thing about Roseville is that it is right near one of the best areas on the west side and it is close to the lake. Easy access as well. Basically two turns and you are at the ramp. Prices there are decent and you have no problems finding eats. Most of the regular restaurants are right there and there is a Meijer right there as well if you need some basic tackle. There are also several tackle shops there along the coast as well. They can help with whatever you need. <br /><br /> One secret- you can murder the smallmouth up there if you aren't afraid to use live bait. Drop 3" or 4" minnows down in the weeds with just enough weight to get the bait down. The smallies will kill them. I watched a guy catch 7 fish in 10 casts last time we were up there. 2 of the fish were 3lbers easily. He ran out of minnows just as we were pulling up by him and had to leave. We don't fish live bait and had to do the tubes- we caught 3 fish in 1/2 an hour. The minnows were the HOT ticket. Just rig them with a 3/0 light wire circle hook so you don't gut hook them. They will inhale the minnows. <br /><br /> Have a blast! St. Clair is a great place. If you can't catch fish up there, you can't catch fish anywhere.<br /><br />UFM82

 

[gonfishn]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Leavn Sunday night for three days of gator fishn..Can anyone help me out on weather predictions and water temps on St Clair for next week? <br /><br />You know I just had to go and buy a couple more of those miracle lures.. Only spent 30 bucks for two this time..Had to fill up sleeve..Yes MellowYellow I got another Grandma lure..But just could not resist that purty Ernie that jumped from the rack into my hand..

 

[DaleT]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Sorry about the delay. <br /><br />Try the following site for the forecast and water conditions. If you scroll alltheway down there are to links, marine forecasts and water reports.<br /><br /> Harsens island

 

[gonfishn]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

ReallY Appreciate it Dale..Looks like rain and snow showers are in the forecast..So we are I am afraid putting it off for at least two more weeks..Water temps on most of lake still in the high 30s and with some river spots in the low fortys..<br /><br />Need At least 43 Degrees to have any kind on success..Thanks again..

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

understand GF, but still it's too bad you gotta wait.<br />another grandma huh? still ain't getting my purple<br />one

 

[DaleT]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

If there is anything more you need help with let me know and I'll do my best to assist.

 

[billburb]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

may be late on this one but i live 10 min from st clair love it try bottom boncing in the north channel for walleye stright out from deckors landing the north cannel is like stright out from metro park a bit north check the maps if you lanch there takes like 15 min to cross but worth it water seams alot cleaner i myself would not depending on boat size of the day i would just drive to deckers landing to launch you can catch all kinds of fish there and the bays around it alot of fun also i just started going to the trenton channel elizabeth park launch just down the river a bit is a worm water discharge super great fishin try it not to far from where you are talkin about i myself like casting rather then drifting always alot of peps drifting for walleye limiting out me i am it if for the fun not to eat so any big fish is what i want ) try the storm 3" wildeye swim shad color may not belive it but carp aligator gar walleye large smallmouth bass white bass peach pike sheephead bowfin all eat this fun to cast allso steelhead (north channel) like it even drifted with it for walleye boncing it off the bottom try it out and let me know ) no musky tho still working on that one ) going to put one of the 6" ones the planner board soon if ya can in june there are a ton of white bass in the trenton channel good for the kids they will love it so will you trust me and try it one day sorry about the typing a bit late and no good at it good luck

 

[gonfishn]

Re: St. Clair Info Needed

Thanks Bill..Looks like St Clair May have to wait until June now..Have the Ohio roundo in May then its off to Minn for three weeks of fishn on at the homestead..thanks again..Right now I am headn to my favorite Musky grounds...