Early Season Walleye — What's Working Right Now
Early-season walleye on the St. Clair River is one of the best fisheries you'll find anywhere in the Great Lakes — and right now, the bite is on. After spawning runs come through the river, fish stage up in predictable spots that anyone who knows the system can pattern. Here's what we're seeing on the boat this week.
Where they're holding
The river itself is the main player this time of year. Post-spawn fish are sliding back through the channels around Harsens Island, parked behind current breaks, weed edges, and bottom transitions. Specifically, we're finding consistent action:
Shallow Flats — slack current holding post spawn fish
Up-river of the Flats — where underwater structure breaks the flow
Eddies — fish hold tight, eat aggressively
Deep holes — deep impressions in large flats allowing rest out of the current
As water temps creep up, schools start sliding into Lake St. Clair itself. We'll move with them — the LSC walleye program kicks in hard once that transition happens.
What's working
This isn't a complicated time of year if you fish it right. The fish are here and there hungry!
Jigs and minnows- stinger hook earns its keep on short biters. Color choice changes day to day, but black/natural body and gold/natural body have been consistent. Don't overthink it.
Casting in slack current can really take off this time of year! Jig and plastic or even blade baits could be the choice of the day
We adjust per trip. Some days you're vertical jigging in 24 feet, some days you're casting shallow flats. Reading water is the job.
What to expect
Half-day trips right now are putting clients on consistent eater-size walleye — your 18 to 22-inch fish — with a chance at the occasional bigger river giant. Multi-species trips are also picking up perch and the early bass bite, which is fun if walleye gets stubborn.
The window for this kind of action is short. Once water temps push past spawn-recovery and fish slide out into Lake St. Clair, the program changes completely. If you want to get in on the river bite, the next few weeks are it.
Ready to fish?
We've got open dates this month and weekends are booking out. All charters include rods, tackle, bait, and fish cleaning — just show up ready to fish.
Or call 810-278-3389 and we'll talk through what trip makes sense.
See you on the water.
— Captain DakotaFancy Fish Charters · Harsens Island, MI