How to fish for Lake ST. CLAIR SMALLMOUTH in Spring.

Spring in Michigan is a special time; a thaw from winter's freeze, the smell of fresh air, and smallmouth season on Lake St. Clair! This video walks you through how to be a more successful smallmouth angler in the spring on Lake St. Clair!
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Rod: Abu Garcia Veritas 7' MH (Baitcast)
Reel: Abu Garcia Revo STX 7.1:1
Line: Sunline 15lb Sniper
Jighead: DIrty Jigs Tackle Matt Stefan Guppy Head (Tenn Shad)
Swimbait: Strike King Rage Swimmer (KVD Magic)
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"Yikes"
Instrumental by Homage
• Free Drake Type Beat /...

[@jamieblair8915]

Always love your videos M. Cross!

[@MichaelCross]

Jamie Blair thank you!

[@michiganfishingadventure4915]

Really nice video, my favorite fishing spots on Lake St. Clair. Thank you for the tips!

[@MichaelCross]

Michigan Fishing Adventure hope it puts a few more fish in your boat. Everything from 400 club down to the Detroit River have so many great areas.

[@davidfelix6469]

Genius! Appreciate your help!!!

[@MichaelCross]

Thanks for checking out the channel! Hope you catch’em. Tight lines!

[@FotillaOctoZilla]

Pumping me up for this spring!!!! man o man am I ready 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@MichaelCross]

Grizz xD only a couple months away! Can’t wait!

[@FotillaOctoZilla]

Idk if it makes a difference but there hasn’t been any ice fishing out there really so there’s probably so much more bait for the fish to eat...

[@Radec74]

Goby colored tubes at the mile roads 🔥

[@MichaelCross]

Paul G Indeed. I’ll be out there tomorrow hosting a HS Bass Team in my boat. Hope the water isn’t too muddy.

[@versatileoutdoors9187]

AWESOME!!!!! Makes me want to head south!

[@MichaelCross]

Versatile Outdoors do it!! Its like no other lake I’ve ever fished. What a resource!

[@glenndaugherity6187]

Great vid Michael !!

[@MichaelCross]

Glen Daugherity thanks Glen. Should get better once this weather stabilizes.

[@fishingwithgoby1998]

I fish that area with a buddy alot. Thanks for the tips brotha!!!

[@MichaelCross]

Goby bryant gladly! Hope it puts some fish in the boat for you.

[@clarkewi]

Catch and release - that's cool.

[@MichaelCross]

Let'em go, let'em grow. Lake St. Clair also has a closed season until the middle of June for harvesting bass (not sure why anyone would want to keep one though)

[@rkramer49]

Awesome work Mike, It really is a special place when you figure it out.

[@MichaelCross]

Ron Kramer indeed! The best smallmouth lake in.the.country! It’s a blessing and curse; blessed to live so close, cursed you can’t fish it more!

[@rkramer49]

@@MichaelCross We are lucky to have it in our backyard. I am actually closer to Erie but do not mind making a little drive in the spring. Tight Lines sir!

[@MichaelCross]

Ron Kramer I moved here from MN reluctantly but it didn’t take but one outing on LSC and I was sold. #puremichigan need not look any further than that lake! Now if we could just have the whole lake to ourselves past Memorial Day like we do in April and May it would be great! LOL

[@rkramer49]

@@MichaelCross No doubt, I fished the American Opener Tourney a couple of years ago and it was a circus after noon. My TR196 was Airborne most the day from pleasure boat wakes....lol

[@justinhermansen8317]

Was just out at st Clair a week ago water was muddy but got my pb smallmouth 4.5 pounds. Great video brotha!

[@justinhermansen8317]

Caught her on a red eye Shad yo yoing it slow

[@MichaelCross]

Congrats! As water warms into the 50’s a lipless is a great option.

[@296skipweld]

Good video

[@MichaelCross]

Thanks! Appreciate the comment and you checking out the video.

[@advertisingonly]

Great video. I’ll be there all of next week. Coming up from Oklahoma.

[@MichaelCross]

Landen Cole you’re coming at the right time!

[@advertisingonly]

Michael Cross sweet!

[@kfm7846]

You provide some very useful videos and tips. I live in Oregon and go to Lake St Clair at least once a year for a week to fish with some of my friends from NC. We always have a blast with catching a lot of big smallmouth. Your videos have helped a great deal to flatten the learning curve in fishing this great smallmouth haven. A quick question, if you only had one week to fish LSC, when would that be and why? Thanks for your valued You Tube channel!

[@MichaelCross]

Thanks for checking out the channel and kind words! If I personally had one week to fish LSC each year it would be mid-April. By then the weather stabilizes some (slightly warmer/tolerable), water temps are likely in the mid-to-upper 40's and fish should be moving in. Prior to April, water temps are generally low 40's or less and cold weather. That said, May is the most popular because the weather is really nice, some fish are looking to spawn, and you can get them all over the laker. It's also the busiest time of the year and bass boats everywhere.

[@marksnakebit5395]

Great video, great tips. if you want to make George famous 0:37 he needs more air time. Lol

[@MichaelCross]

mark snakebit 😂 He’s already famous enough!

[@TeamJesusOutdoors]

Looks like you had the whole Western shore to yourself. Nice!

[@MichaelCross]

Team Jesus Outdoors Ha! I didn’t include a clip but at one point I counted 15boats within a 1/2mile, including a few boats move right in. LSC in the spring at its finest... and worst.

[@TeamJesusOutdoors]

Yeah, it's definitely no secret!

[@secretsquirrel4822]

I'm hoping to make it over there in the next week or two!!!

[@MichaelCross]

Secret Squirrel it should keep getting better. Let us know how you do!

[@alannoneman9497]

My bad, I saw you went into great detail on the baits. Thanks

[@MichaelCross]

All good. Thanks for checking out the video and channel.

[@t-rigtv1547]

Hey man I loved the video I am going up to lake st Clair this week to target small mouth witch I have never done is this method still working

[@MichaelCross]

T-Rig TV hope you are having a great trip. Fish are easily 3-4 weeks behind this year and should have waves of spawners coming up. This pattern is mainly a pre-spawn deal but the same locations can apply, just different tactics. The bug hatches are just kicking off too.

[@alannoneman9497]

Just curious what weight and size jigheads and length of swimbaits you were using. Love St. Clair!

[@MichaelCross]

I usually use 3/8-1/2oz jig heads and 3.8-4.3 size baits. As pressure has picked up I've started downsizing to 3.3 and 1/4oz heads though.

[@rjbassfishingtravel2041]

Nice job Mike! I'm headed up north in two weeks. The days I wanted to go to St. Clair it had awful wind. Tight lines from Rick

[@MichaelCross]

R & J BASS FISHING CHANNEL the winds have been rough (figuratively and literally).

[@MichaelCross]

Good luck up north. I’ll be watching for videos. What lakes are on the docket?

[@rjbassfishingtravel2041]

@@MichaelCross , Mike I won't be putting anymore videos out. It's not worth the trouble for what you get in return. I will still be taking photos and posting reports. You can find those on Facebook page Tri-State Fishing (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana) fishing reports. People post their reports and videos on there. Your welcome to post your videos on there too. It will probably help the views a little. facebook.com/groups/174579556761458/ The lakes could change depending on the weather. Lakes on the list right now are Fife, Green, Walloon, Lake Michigan, Crooked, and couple hidden smaller ones. That could change as we get closer to it.

[@MichaelCross]

R & J BASS FISHING CHANNEL I hear ya. I gave up the idea of doing the KZbin thing for anything but fun. With family, work, and life responsibilities, I do what I do now for myself and the fun of it first. I’ll be up on Walloon later in August. Hopefully Crooked or Charlevoix again too.

[@rjbassfishingtravel2041]

@@MichaelCross it just took too much time in set up and takes away from the actual fishing. I have one year recorded, and I'm good with it. Jim isn't sure if he is going to continue or not. You said you will be up there in August. I'll be there with my wife and some family the last week in August. The way I'm planning this trip is to have a back up lake for each one I fish. If one doesn't work out I can skip over to another. Crooked is going to be a back up for Lake Michigan.

[@Moosedigger]

I have a crew of 6 guys and 3 boats. We got shut out of our place we go in Canada last year and likely this year so we are going to try st clare. So, I am looking for a nice lodge with a private boat dock, ect on the lake. Any recommendations? Thanks

[@MichaelCross]

Thanks for checking out the video. Being shut out of Canada has been a big kink in plans for a bunch of guys. As for lodging on the lake, there isn't much for staying on the lake. VRBO/AirBnB would probably be the best chance of finding something right on the lake. A dock may be challenge too. Wish ya luck!

[@claytonbrown1735]

When would you recommend me coming up to lake st.Clair for a trip for some smallmouth

[@MichaelCross]

Thanks for checking out the video. All depends on what time of year you’d prefer. The spring fishing is probably the most popular because they are shallow. Late April through early June is generally preferred with the more consistent weather (and warmer) by mid-may being preferred by some. That said, the bite is pretty good before and after, just a little less consistent. Summer is great for deeper fishing; video gaming, etc.

[@ryanpaulsen5603]

How often do you catch walleye mixed in with the smallies?

[@MichaelCross]

Not too often. There are a few areas I’ve caught some ‘eye on a crankbait or jerkbait but they are definitely fewer and far between.

[@ryanpaulsen5603]

@@MichaelCross thanks, I ask because we were getting smallies and walleye mixed together, but the smallies were all smaller. We were targeting walleye so that was all good, just found it interesting.

[@livingsurvival]

1/0 hook on the Matt Stefan?

[@MichaelCross]

Good question. I used the 3/8th ounce 3/0 head. All of the Dirty Jigs Tackle swimbait heads are perfect out there. I use the Matt Allen head in 3/8, 1/2, 3/4oz when fishing more open water out there. The standard "swimbait jig head" is a perfect combo between the guppy head and Matt Allen head (w/60deg line tie). I use the guppy with 3/0 for 3.2-3.8. The swimbait head for 3.8-4.3 and Matt Allen head for 4.3-4.8 baits.

[@livingsurvival]

Michael Cross thanks for the reply. Was out there for the first time in my kayak today. Fished a tube with no success. Really want to learn more.

[@MichaelCross]

@@livingsurvival at least you're getting out there! Stay after it, it will start to click soon. Where are you launching you kayak from?

[@livingsurvival]

Michael Cross grosse point park but not launching there again since I have to lug my kayak to the water. Might try daysail or alter rd. Dunno. New to the area.

[@MichaelCross]

Living Survival welcome to the area! One area you could probably navigate easily with a kayak and be in productive water is to launch out of the Selfridge DNR launch. Just to the south and north of the launch site are good in the early season. It doesn’t get as much traffic as the mile roads either.

[@jakeharlick5862]

Any advice in finding these rock piles in the first place? New to fishing the lake and haven’t figured it out yet.

[@MichaelCross]

Jake Harlick hey there Jake. First, thanks for checking out the video. The best advice I could give is mark a waypoint when you catch a fish, or feel something on bottom. Before you leave or go to a new area, go through with a side scan graph. Without that technology, finding these piles will be tough. Part of it, is just putting your time in fishing and graphing. Keep after it and you’ll be crushing it soon enough!

[@jakeharlick5862]

I do have the technology which is also new to me, so still learning that as well. Appreciate the response.

[@MichaelCross]

Jake Harlick On LSC, it’s impossible to scan everything if you want to fish. I found a good balance of fish, catch fish, mark a waypoint, then scan a few passes, keep fishing. If you have waypoints already, that’s a good start; just start scanning around those.

[@jakeharlick5862]

I just picked up a boat and it came with lowrance unit, but there’s no waypoints in it yet. I know some areas and landmarks from my parents having a boat as a kid, but now I have the means to fish the lake. I’ve been out twice and managed 1 fish, so just trying to absorb information and build my knowledge base on what’s going on out there. As well as how to use my electronics to my benefit as I’ve never used them before

[@MichaelCross]

Jake Harlick congrats on the boat. What kind of boat did you get? What mode of Lowrance units did it come with? Don’t get discouraged, each outing you learn something; whether it’s what’s working... or eliminating what isn’t. Before long you’ll have it narrowed down.

[@Michael-kt6fr]

Smallmouth Bass the size of Carp in Lake St Clair, it’s a gas. Especially on 4 pound ultra light tackle.

[@MichaelCross]

Michael nothing like’em! It’s an addiction for sure!

[@jakefloore9009]

Hey Michael. I am new to fishing. My dad and I bought a Cobia center console last year and we have accomplished learning how to fish for Walleye. We love bass fishing, but don’t know how to effectively do it in Lake St. Clair. It’s a long shot, but I was wondering if you would be interested in going out with me and showing me the ropes. Would be a good video for your viewers and you’d be helping out a fellow fishermen. If you’re interested, let me know how to contact you and we can arrange something. Let me know how much it would cost because I know time is valuable. Thanks! Jake Floore

[@MichaelCross]

Jake Floore first, congrats on the new boat! That’s always exciting. As for bass fishing, I fish LSC usually early season (April-May) and then later in the fall (October-November). Once they start moving off-shore I know a bit about what the deal is but just don’t spend enough time to track the schools from year to year (less structure fishing and more finding the schools). That said, I’d be more than happy to connect come next spring. I can also refer a number of great guides that I know and are on them all year.

[@jakefloore9009]

Michael Cross definitely! Just let me know who to contact. Would love to connect next year. Appreciate the help!

[@MichaelCross]

Jake Floore a couple of the best guides operate through Marcel’s Guide Service. Jayson Tiedeman Fishing on Facebook operates through Marcel. He’s a great guy and will put you on fish. Tell him I sent you.

[@boobler2626]

As a Michigander.. Step 1. Drop line in water Step 2. Reel.in fish😂

[@MichaelCross]

Yes and yes! #puremichigan

[@elPezcador312]

How does that boat handle on those really crazy days?

[@MichaelCross]

I have a ‘05 Triton TR186 and have truly loved it. I do pick and choose the days I take it out on the big water however. In the spring and fall you can get into a decent bite relatively shallow which affords better protection than mid-summer. If you’ve been on LSC on moderate windy days or hot summer w/boat wakes, you know the pain trying to run in it. I have resigned myself to avoid those types of days.

[@elPezcador312]

I was curious as I'm looking to get a boat soon. Leaning toward the 19-20ft range, but would love to get an ~18ft to fit it in a single space. But yessir, LSC can be rough. She's claimed a few rods of mine years back, was fishing in 4-6ft waves near the shipping canal.

[@MichaelCross]

If you plan to fish the big water, bigger is always better. They still take a beating BUT it will be slightly more comfortable and able to cut waves better (vs slapping them). That said, I am definitely happy with my 18.5’ rig. It’s great for inland lakes and can manage the big water when needed. Tip: most 19 & 20ft bass boats actually measure about the same length when you fold the tongue. Check each year, model, etc as the storage lengths vary by brand, year, model.

[@geostrong3606]

When u making more videos sir

[@MichaelCross]

Thanks for reaching out and noticing it’s been quiet… I’ve got so much footage but not enough time to edit like I’d like. I post regularly on Instagram: @MC_WRK2FSH if you’d like to follow there. I’m hoping to have more content coming this year!

[@geostrong3606]

@@MichaelCross ok sounds good

[@faikrahib1]

Kinda new to fishing st clair, all the spots I caught em on the past month are dead.. I think the fish are full of mayflies because I see them surfacing, but can't get em to bite. Mainly fish by the miles roads. This ever happened to you? What do you do?

[@MichaelCross]

Faik Rahib first, thanks for checking out the channel and video. As for finding the fish this time of year, after the spawn wraps up, the fish head deep to their summer haunts. This period is notably one of the hardest periods to find fish because of 1. The Mayfly hatches (fish aren’t as hungry), and 2. They haven’t schooled up yep and are all spread out over 11-17fow. When they are shallower, it condenses them into a small area, now you just have to cover water to find where they are. Crankbaits are my choice for covering water but all the standard baits like spybaits, plastics, dropshots, etc are right up there. And remember; “there today, gone tomorrow.” They are moving everyday deeper and deeper following bait out to 16-20fow.

[@MichaelCross]

Ps. Watch my other video, kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmOXd59-ltSrpZY I filmed it in early July. Shows me throwing a crank to find fish and then slowing down.

[@faikrahib1]

Thanks for the response! I’ve seen all your videos, but in that video from July I didn’t see you struggling so I thought it was just me lol! I’ll have to keep covering water and finding structure out deep.

[@MichaelCross]

Faik Rahib it was a good day last July... plus it’s Canada. Those fish haven’t seen a lure in 8 months. I also struggled the first part of the morning but kept moving. A little bit of humble pie/perspective, I had a tournament a week ago and only had 12lbs for my best 5. I only caught 9-10 fish all day.

[@faikrahib1]

Michael Cross What was the winning bag? Would you say whoever won got lucky and found an aggressive school?

[@kentyler966]

Water temp and depth please?

[@MichaelCross]

Hi Ken. Are you asking what the water temps are and depths they are at currently or in this video? This video was filmed in the early spring, pre-spawn, period. The fish are currently post-spawn.

[@darekchildress7648]

Do you guide?

[@MichaelCross]

I don’t guide but know a bunch of really great guides on the lake. If you’re looking for someone, shoot me a DM on my Instagram or Facebook page (links on my channels main page).

[@ajstevens1037]

Just perch fish 🤣🤣 you'll catch them till annoyed

[@MichaelCross]

Lots of truth to that, especially come summer months.