St Clair in October

[fishhound]

Hey guys,

Im planning a trip up to Sr Clair at the beginning of October. Havent been there but one time and am wondering what the fishing and weather is like that time of year. I hear it can get pretty windy but the fishing is great. Any help is appreciated.

[djkimmel]

Weather can go just about any way you imagine from 'like summer' to cold and wet. Fishing is really, really good though you have to know many fish like smallmouth bass are moving a lot that time of year towards deeper, more stable water. If you find a key place they are moving through or holding at you can catch some of the biggest catches of the year if not the biggest. It's more likely you will need to fish in or very near the lake rather than the river channels depending upon surface water temps.

I love fall fishing for bass in Michigan. Just have to pack t-shirts and jeans all the way to near winter clothing with good wet weather gear. If you can stay dry you can fish the whole time. And you might hit Indian summer.

Don't forget the deeper canals off the lake if the weather is really icky. Some hold good largemouth bass and big, big panfish.

[Got Fish??]

The fish move south that time of year. South of Grosspiont to the mouth of the Detroit River. The  weather changes out of know where that time of year. Keep an  eye on the horizon. Check your  weather report before setting out. If you don't have a Canadian  permit, make sure you know where the US waters end. Or it can cost you a lot of money and head aces.

[fishhound]

Thanks very much guys! I hope I get to come up there and see what it is like first hand. What kind of baits should I be bringing?

[djkimmel]

Green pumpkin type tubes. Spinnerbaits. Crankbaits. Suspending jerkbaits including some that get down a little deeper. Drop shot so you can check to see if the tube or drop shot is working better each day.

Bring some Super Spooks in case we have Indian Summer or you are lucky enough to get around bunched up minnows high in the water column. (Expect big muskie to show up when least expected.) You can try topwater if you get into fairly calm conditions and the water hasn't dropped a lot in temp recently. The fish will be able to see it from a long way away. Even if they don't keep smacking it, might help you find a big school.

Blade baits if we are having an early 'winter.' Water temps close to 50 or lower can mean blade bait beatdown.

[Skulley]

I have found the fishing in the fall especially in October to be along the south shore of the lake in Canadian water from Peche Island to Mitchell Bay. A Canadian/Ontario license won't be expensive. Get the 15 day permit and you can get it on line at the MNR website.



BD.                   

[fishhound]

I really appreciate the feedback. You hear alot of things from people about that area but its nice to hear it from guys from up that way. ARe there special regulations for Michigan or Canada that might be different from where I'm from? Like flares, having so much anchor rope or something like that. I fished Champlain once and they had some funky rules.

[djkimmel]

There are Michigan safety equipment requirements summarized in the Handbook of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities (2013 edition PDF 5.25MB from www.michigan.gov/boating), and additional Great Lakes including for boats longer than 16 feet. Michigan safety equipment, along with some USCG addition equipment, is listed starting on page 28. There are child PFD requirements under many conditions in case you or anyone is bringing children. If you bring manual/auto-inflatable PFD's and don't also have an additional type I, II or III PFD's in the boat, the manual/auto-inflatables only count if you are wearing them at all times.

16 ft or longer boat needs additional throwable type IV PFD and most local sheriff deputies, and probably Coast Guard, will tell you it needs a rope and should be 'readily available.' There's an online Michigan Boating Course & Certification Exam you can check out and take but as long as you were born before 1996, I believe, you aren't required to take it. There are some differences for PWC users but again, mostly targeted at at young users.

You will need a type B-I readily available fire extinguisher for boats under 26 feet. See the guide for the various requirements that apply for various boat types and lengths. Ontario has similar requirements so if you follow Michigan/U.S. Coast Guard you are all set with the average fishing boat (not a yacht).

Pay particular attention to visual distress signals and noise producer requirements on federally controlled water, which of course all of the Great Lakes and Connecting Waters (St. Marys River, Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River) are under U.S. Coast Guard federal control. Also, many inland rivers up to the end up their reasonably navigable channel also fall under federal control. On some major inland rivers that can be quite a way up the river. Make sure your flares are not expired. I believe Michigan and U.S. Coast Guard still only require 3 flares but see Ontario next and know that 3 can easily not be enough when you actually need them!

Ontario generally goes by whatever safety requirements Michigan requires if you are a U.S. citizen but there are a few exceptions which vary by boat type, makeup and length. I believe they require an approximately 50 foot buoyant line tied to the throwable lifebuoy (for boats 19'8" to 29'6") while I have only been told it is required in Michigan - but it is great advice regardless. They say they require 1 watertight flashlight and 6 Canadian-approved flares but the flares requirement is only for certain boats (sleeping quarters) and big water.

Ontario/Canada also requires either a 'manual propelling device' OR an anchor and at least 15m (~50 feet) of rope/cable/chain. Both are very good advice on the Great Lakes. They also require a bailer or manual bilge pump - more great advice. I have personally experienced how good all of these requirements are when you suddenly need them! Make sure you check out the Canadian requirements because there are slight differences than U.S. that might help you be sure you have it all covered.

You will hear many people tell you that flare guns are illegal in Ontario but when I have searched their official sites and asked their law officers I am told this is not true. While they are very strict about actual firearms they do not consider a flare gun a firearm. They don't actually recommend flare guns though - they mention type A, B, C, and D including parachute and multi-star. I carry some type C handheld, some type B rocket flares (big waves, open water, oh #$%@#$% situations) and some type D orange smoke flares for bright days. I also carry a cheap, large orange plastic signal flag as a last resort especially for Saginaw Bay, Lake Erie and Lake Michigan.

If you a souped-up, hopped-up hotrod outboard or something even more aggressive, there is a 90-decibel noise limit in Michigan that I'm not sure ever gets enforced or maybe 90 decibels is really loud because there are some roaring boats out there quite often!

Michigan state water speed limit is 55mph inland or within 1 mile of shore on the Great Lakes. More than 1 mile offshore on the Great Lakes, there is no speed limit in Michigan waters. I am not aware of a specific speed limit for Ontario/Canada waters through they have a similar no wake/low speed with about 100 feet of shore limit. Michigan's no wake rules are a little more extensive and there are many local township and county exceptions though the Detroit River is the most complex with a patchwork of 100, 300 and 1000 foot no wake zones. In Ontario most no wake zones are marked by traffic-like signs on shore.

You can potentially be boating and fishing in 3 territorial waters - U.S./Michigan, Walpole Island (First Nation Indians) and Ontario/Canada. Walpole uses many Ontario/Canada regulations but does have their own fishing license if you fish within their territory. You would need an Ontario AND Walpole license to fish their water because it is considered both. Since much of their waters closes in mid-September to fishing mostly because of their extensive duck hunting leases, you may not need to worry about that. Most of their territory is from the Canadian edge of the shipping channel near land/South Channel/St. Clair River to Chenal Ecarte and across the lake into Mitchells Bay. They close all of the smaller channels and outside of the shipping channel for duck hunting but some people still like to fish the edge of the shipping and South channel that time of year. They will let you fish the edge of the channel now as long as you don't see duck hunters.

Tip: if you don't expect to keep any or much fish to eat, you can buy a nonresident Conservation license from Ontario to save a bunch of money. It allows you to fish, but with a reduced creel limit for all fish. You have to first purchase a 3-year Outdoors Card for Ontario now that identifies you in their system (except for 1-days licenses I believe) to buy fishing and hunting licenses. Then you can add the various licenses. You can buy the Card and license together the first time. Go to ontario.ca/outdoorscard to start a purchase online or call 800-667-1940. You can actually print your fishing license from the purchase online and they will mail your Outdoors Card to you. Doing this early before you visit is way easier than trying to get an Ontario license locally. Walpole fishing licenses are available from a couple sources on the U.S. side. You can search the website for information on that or ask for more info if you think you need that.

If you think you might hook the muskie of a lifetime in Michigan waters (there are a bunch out there) you can only keep 1 per year now and you need to get a free muskie tag with your Michigan nonresident fishing license first.

There is also a free sturgeon tag you can get from some license dealers if you think you might try to target them - it is estimated there are more sturgeon in Detroit River - Lake St. Clair - St. Clair River system than all the rest of the Great Lakes combined. If you hook one by accident (uncommon for most types of anglers) you are okay as long as you let it go - you just need the tag if you plan to actually try to catch one - done mostly at night, mostly in the North Channel. There's a chance you will see some jumping especially in the channels on hazy or dark days. Guaranteed if you are in the North Channel after dark. I'm not kidding. Just try it. Had one almost land in my boat the first time I did it!


You can expect to possibly see MDNR Conservation Officers (uncommon), local Macomb County Sheriff patrols, U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard, US Border Patrol on shore and on the water, Walpole Indian water patrol (very rare and unlikely if you don't fish their part of the lake much of which is closed in October), Ontario MNR (very rare), Ontario Marine Patrol (pretty rare), US Fish & Wildlife (very rare to interact with them) and U.S. Military if you do something very suspicious in Anchor Bay near Selfridge National Guard base (pretty much doesn't happen anymore though you may see lots of jets and cargo planes coming and going, or doing touch and go's).

In general, if you are just fishing and not looking up to no good you rarely meet any of these people. If you fish way up the river near Port Huron the U.S. there was an area around the Bluewater Bridge you were not allowed to fish in. Been awhile since I've been up there so I don't know if that is still the case but the anglers who have tried in the past found out quick they had to leave.

I'm assuming your boat is under 26 feet in length. If not, there are some no wake areas that only apply to boats over 26 feet in the St. Clair River channels and along the shoreline with a couple mile stretch centered on 9 Mile Road (inside large reef in front of many marinas and the tallest building on the lake - 9 Mile Apts - called the Nautical Mile area of the lake).

Carry some extra outboard oil in a container in your boat. Consider that cell phones don't always work even on Lake St. Clair. I have a VHF radio with a regular antenna that can usually reach other boats 6 to 20 miles away line of sight. Some people do buy and carry portable VHF radios but their range is limited so you are not guaranteed you can contact another boat, especially in October or later. Have a thought out reboarding plan for your boat, especially if you don't have a ladder. Don't go out with a limited amount of boat gas. There are significant areas of the lake where boat gas is not readily available.

Too many people boat on the Great Lakes without proper forethought and preparation. That is why one of the most lucrative industries has been the various tow and salvage companies. Their fees are not cheap. Salvage is usually $100/foot if your boat sinks or is considered a recovery job. Tows can start at $400 and go up into the many thousands. October on is the time of year things risk can be higher and the number of people around to possibly help, or time to get to you much longer. The U.S. Coast Guard will usually not come get you unless you are sinking or life is in danger. Canadian Coast Guard is similar though people have had mixed results with their willingness to tow your boat or help with boat problems.

In many cases, if you are not physically sinking (that usually does not include swamped although late in the year in bad conditions it may), capsized and/or peoples lives are in danger, local and federal authorities may advise you to contact one of the marine tow-salvage companies. If you run aground and are not hurt or going to drown, you will be calling salvage and paying some serious bucks. So get a good map(s)/chart(s), and watch the navigation signals and signs. And never expect the other guy to turn. The U.S. Coast Guard requires that ALL captains act to avoid collisions. There are many boaters out there who have never taken boating classes or know any of this stuff, which is why the tow companies have been lucrative in the past particularly before gas prices went high. I like to try to help GreatLakesBass.com members and visitors fall into the exception to this category!

DISCLAIMER: GreatLakesBass.com cannot guarantee all of this information is accurate and complete. Any boater / angler has their own personal responsibility to know the local fishing, boating and other legal requirements of whatever waters/territory they visit and fish/boat on, and based on their citizenship. All of the information above is subject to change without notice on GreatLakesBass.com. Boaters and anglers should always visit the official websites of the various local, state, provincial and national government units of the area they travel to or through before their travel.

[djkimmel]

Now that you are prepared to boat and fish, comes the part about this being international waters. If you are absolutely sure you will not leave Michigan/U.S. waters to fish Ontario/Canada/Walpole waters you can skip the following information. Otherwise, read on:

If you plan to boat across the International border (you are responsible to know where this is - maps/charts) you must stop your boat as soon as you cross the border and/or as soon as you have a cell phone signal the first time that day and call 888-CANPASS (226-7277) to report to a Canadian Border Services agent. They will ask you your name, DOB, nationality, passengers' similar info, boat registration number, and possibly ask other questions such as purpose, destination, etc. They do usually know where you are at, at least as far as crossing the border or not so don't try to call before you cross. You don't want to tick them off. The first call is a little longer, and calls each day after that usually go faster because you will be in their system. If they do not require you to physically report to an officer at some location, they will give you a report number that you keep with you for that day in case you are asked to provide it.

Make sure you read the parts about what is acceptable identification for Canada and the U.S., and bringing children into Canada if it applies from the link below. U.S. Citizen: If you do not have an enhanced drivers license from Michigan, Washington, New York or Vermont, you need either your passport; or a government-issued photo ID AND a certified copy of your birth certificate - one you purchase from a county clerk, not one you make on a copy machine. Remember you may have to meet BOTH Canada and U.S. acceptable ID requirements. If you have different citizenship then you will need to visit the official U.S. and Canada border agency websites for more information.

Read this particular post in another thread - part Entering or Arriving in Canada to get previously detailed information about various border crossing programs and requirements for various citizens. A similar disclaimer applies to this information too. Read the entire single post because other requirements can apply if you actually 'land' in Canada which will require you physically report to both Canada and to U.S. Customs when you return back to Michigan/U.S.

You do not generally have to physically report back to U.S. Customs if you are a U.S. citizen upon return from Canadian water if you did not 'land' - anchor, touch Canadian soil, tie off to a Canadian dock, boat, marina, or take on other passengers or goods from a Canadian or foreign source in Canadian waters. If you touch U.S. soil during the day after getting your CANPASS report number, and then recross the International border by water into Canada you again need to call 888-CANPASS to report again.

DO NOT PICK UP SCUBA DIVERS DRAGGING PACKAGES!! Okay, odds are rare but they did recently bust a guy swimming across the St. Clair River at 1am near Marine City. There was a pipe-like waterproof container involved that contained a large amount of an illegal substance. He is in need of a lawyer... The key part of this is persons at Selfridge National Guard base were able to remotely observe and confirm him swimming in the river so he had a nice U.S. welcoming committee when he reached shore! They have some stuff out there so... don't make it obvious where your best fishing spots are! There's probably some agent sitting in a dark room somewhere who likes to fish watching you!!!

[djkimmel]

One final topic that I usually forget since it does not apply to me - I'm not really up on other states either because of that, but in Michigan driving under the influence of alcohol is the same on water as on land. You can't have an alcohol level higher than .08 and they will not be happy if they see the boat driver with an open container. Since I'm a teetotaler (though I'm known to drink coffee to excess on early rising) I'm not exactly sure how the open container works in a boat versus a car.

Illegal in a car at all for anyone so I'm assuming it is the similar in a boat, at least under power. Maybe not anchored or not under power, but someone else will have to chime in on how that works in a boat. I am 99% sure about the boat driver not having an open container or an alcohol level >= .08.

For Canada, I would say if you plan on crossing the International border, don't have alcohol in the boat. They are more strict I understand, and I have heard, but not confirmed that you need a bathroom facility (possibly a large container) equal to or greater than the amount of alcohol on the boat that can be used for relief and dumped back on shore at the proper waste dumping facility.

I am completely lax in this area of knowledge due to my lack of alcohol consumption. If this is an area of interest to you, make sure you know both Michigan and Ontario regulations through official sources before you put any in a boat you are in. It has never been allowed in bass tournaments at all so I don't think I've seen alcohol in a boat more than once or twice ever (pretty sure those were salmon trolling trips decades ago?) due to my past tournament participation and lack of personal use.

The Canucks are really strict about firearms, alcohol and their environment.

So, I've covered what seems like a ton of complex and confusing topics and information, but sometime during your first day on Lake St. Clair you will have completely stopped thinking about all this and you will know the trip was worth it! Enjoy!

[djkimmel]

Here's a little more information related to some of the above with some extra helpful tidbits to know about no power-loading at Michigan boat ramps, and that riparian rights are a little different in Canada than in Michigan. Odds are you will not get into any areas in Canada where that part applies but if you are in Canada and you see "No Trespassing" signs related to water, I recommend you avoid the area. Again, from past, personal experience... oh boy

[Rangerman]

Great info for a first timer or anyone fishing LSC and the Great Lakes, Thanks. Now get in gear and give a full report of motels that have down and out rooms so you can back up to them and unload not too close to down town Detroil Again thanks for the help on LSC most likely headed back up another 7-10 days in October this year also. We had a better than great spring trip.

[fishhound]

Thanks for all of the info. I am definitely going to be printing out the regs when I head up there. Last thing I need to do is end up in a canadian jail for having the wrong flavor vienna sausages! In all seriousness though I really appreciate it.

[djkimmel]

Maybe watch the movie Canadian Bacon before you visit. Might provide additional helpful information...

You know... considering Canadian 'bacon' may be some kind of National meat... Vienna sausages may be illegal to 'import?!?'

[djkimmel]

Great info for a first timer or anyone fishing LSC and the Great Lakes, Thanks. Now get in gear and give a full report of motels that have down and out rooms so you can back up to them and unload not too close to down town Detroil Again thanks for the help on LSC most likely headed back up another 7-10 days in October this year also. We had a better than great spring trip.

I'm not completely sure if this is a nice reply or not?!? Usually I get yelled at for being too wordy... but here you are wanting me to type EVEN MORE??

I'm jealous of all these October trips! Guess I better call a few friends and set some stuff up myself.

I've never had any problems staying at any of the hotels/motels from around the Mile Roads, Anchor Bay and up to Algonac or even north of there. I usually look for inexpensive or stay with someone else who has already picked the place to say and  is helping me cut costs. I've stayed at a bunch of them but it is scattered over a long time and things do change.

I'm not up on the small places where you can park right outside the door since I haven't stayed at any of those types in a long, long time. There are a few. Maybe someone else can pipe in with recent updates.

One of the more convenient hotels for bass boats is The Concorde Inn at 44315 GRATIOT AVE, CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI 48036-1355, 586-493-7300, www.concordeinn.com

I don't have any connection to them but I have stayed there with other people during bass tournaments and bass fishing-related activities including last May and I like that they added a number of long bass boat trailer parking spots along one side of their building including nearby outside plugs. They also have a really big parking lot with lots of space to maneuver in unlike some places where driving a bass through becomes a challenging obstacle course game. Some anglers stay there just for that convenience. They aren't real cheap but they are inline with most of the other hotels around.

I stayed this past weekend at the Microtel on 13 Mile Rd just off of Little Mack Ave. Got a nice room discount through my wife's employee discount programs. There were 7 or 8 Bassmaster Elite Series pros staying there. The parking lot was small and tight. If they had been packed, it could have gotten real interesting. Not sure how the pros were plugged in? I saw cords but didn't check where they were plugged in. I always ask these types of key questions before I make reservations.

I wouldn't recommend the Baymont nearby right now. I've stayed there several times and never had a problem in the past though it has a reputation. They had some outdoor plugs so it worked but they are now making everyone unhook their boat even if there is room to park, and an acquaintance recently had his boat stolen from the lot at night. He did not have a hitch lock on which I use 100% no matter where I'm parking.

You don't hear about theft a lot over there even at the places that look less reputable, but it does happen occasionally so taking simple precautions is always recommended. Don't leave electronics out on the boat overnight. Lock the compartments. Cover the boat if you can though many people don't. And use a hitch lock or other mechanisms to make it more difficult than just backing up, closing the hitch and driving off. I've never had anything stolen in that area despite fishing there for almost 30 years.

[Rangerman]

Looks top drawer BUT don't think it is in my budget for a 7 plus day stay Thanks anyway. We stay at a motel in Warren but it has been sold.

[djkimmel]

That time of year there should be more space at many of the hotels. I've stayed at the Victory Inn a number of times with events. It is cheaper than many of the others and shows it some but so far I've never had any problems when I've stayed there. Some people shy away from it but it has met my budget a few times. The parking can challenging in the summer and early fall but several times we got quite a few of us with big bass boats in there for events like the Big Ten Championship. I think we have always had to run a cord from our room through the window to charge.

A Victory Inn
1 N River Rd, Mt Clemens, MI ‎
(586) 465-2185

It's close by the main ramps.