Find a Fishing Buddy in Detroit
Michigan
Detroit sits on one of the greatest freshwater fisheries in North America. Lake St. Clair, just upriver, is widely considered the best smallmouth bass fishery in the world for sheer numbers and a top muskie destination — Great Lakes-strain muskie with some of the highest catch rates anywhere. The Detroit River hosts a spring walleye run that brings millions of fish through, one of the biggest walleye migrations on the continent, and yellow perch fill in through the fall. MyFishingBuds connects Detroit-area anglers so you can share a boat on St. Clair, drift the walleye run, or find a partner who knows the river's drifts and the lake's weed edges.
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When to fish Detroit
The year kicks off with the legendary Detroit River walleye run in March and April, when millions of walleye push up from Lake Erie to spawn and anglers drift jigs through the current. Smallmouth bass fishing on Lake St. Clair is spectacular from June through fall — the lake's clear water and vast grass flats hold enormous numbers of three-to-five-pound fish. Muskie season peaks in the summer and fall, with St. Clair giving up big fish on casts and trolls. Yellow perch fishing is strongest in the fall, and winter brings ice fishing on the lake's bays when conditions allow.
→ Today's best fishing times in Detroit (sunrise, sunset & moon)Top species
Where to fish
- 📍 Lake St. Clair
- 📍 Detroit River
- 📍 Western Lake Erie
- 📍 Clinton River
- 📍 Lake Erie Metropark
Local tips for Detroit
Lake St. Clair Metropark and the launches around the lake's south end put you on the smallmouth flats fast. For the spring walleye run, the Detroit River launches at Elizabeth Park (Trenton) and Lake Erie Metropark are the classic access points — expect boat traffic during the peak. Handheld sonar or a buddy who has the lake's grass edges marked is the difference between a slow day and a hundred-fish day on St. Clair. The Clinton River holds steelhead in the cooler months for shore and wade anglers.
🪪 Michigan fishing license
Anglers fishing in Detroit need a valid Michigan fishing license. Resident, non-resident, and short-term options are all available — see our complete state-by-state guide for current 2026 prices and direct purchase links.
See Michigan license prices →Detroit fishing FAQ
Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake St. Clair or the Detroit River?▾
Yes. Michigan requires an all-species fishing license for anglers 17 and older, valid across the state's lakes and rivers. Note that the international border runs through Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River — your Michigan license covers US waters; the Canadian side requires an Ontario license. See our Michigan license guide for current prices.
When is the walleye run on the Detroit River?▾
March and April. Millions of walleye migrate up from Lake Erie to spawn, and anglers drift-jig the current from Trenton down to Lake Erie Metropark. It is one of the largest and most accessible walleye runs in North America — check current Michigan size and bag limits before you keep fish.
Is Lake St. Clair the best smallmouth lake in the country?▾
It is regularly ranked at or near the top for numbers of smallmouth bass. The lake's clear water, expansive grass flats, and forage base produce huge quantities of three-to-five-pound fish, best from June through fall. It is also a premier muskie fishery in the same water.
Can I fish from shore around Detroit?▾
Yes. The Detroit RiverWalk, Belle Isle, Lake Erie Metropark, and the Clinton River (for steelhead in the cooler months) all offer shore access. A boat opens up the St. Clair smallmouth flats and the main walleye drifts, which is where a fishing buddy with a rigged boat is worth the most.
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