Lake St. Clair was recently named the best bass lake in the country by Bassmaster Magazine.
Lake Erie fishermen pose with their best bass catch of the day. Photo: New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
Many bass anglers considered St. Clair to be the underdog, but according to Bassmaster editor James Hall, an emerging largemouth fishery helped it secure the top spot.
“It is truly amazing how much a fishery can change in the span of 12 months,” Hall said in a release. “But based on the metrics we use to create the list and rank the lakes, Lake St. Clair deserved the title.”
The magazine uses catch rate data from state wildlife agencies and surveys from fishing tournaments. It also consults professional anglers and outdoor writers to finalize a list of the 100 best bass fishing lakes.
Lake Erie also made the top ten, with the magazine citing its record-breaking smallmouth population.
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, smallmouth bass are the most frequently caught fish species in Lake Erie, and fishing trips for smallmouths make up about 25 percent of all Lake Erie fishing trips for the entire year.
Both Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair are popular tournament spots for Elite Series professional fishermen.
The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open was held on Lake St. Clair last July, and participants caught two tons of bass in just three days.