Smallmouth Bass

New Baltimore, Michigan, provides an excellent base for chasing Smallmouth Bass in Lake St. Clair. Unlike some other Great Lakes fisheries, St. Clair offers extensive shallow flats and near-shore structure where smallmouth thrive. Prime time is generally from late spring through fall. During the pre-spawn (late May-June), look for smallmouth staging near spawning beds in the shallows. As the water warms, they move to slightly deeper structure like rock piles and weed edges. A very effective local tactic is to use drop-shot rigs or tubes around these structures. The slightly stained water in Anchor Bay can also help your presentation. Public access is available at the New Baltimore boat launch, but be aware of potential congestion on weekends. Lake St. Clair smallmouth are known for their fight, often putting up a tough battle even for experienced anglers. Don't be surprised if you hook into a few bonus largemouth as well.