Lake St. Clair
With 32 miles of beautiful Lake St. Clair coastline, Macomb County offers access to great ports of call, rivers to navigate, waterside restaurants to discover, anchorages to drop a hook, fantastic places to swim and amazing places to fish!
Lake St. Clair is truly the heart of the Great Lakes. It has more than 430 square miles of fresh water and 160 miles of shoreline. The average depth is 10 feet, with a maximum depth of only 21 feet. The lake is one of the best freshwater fisheries in North America and also one of the busiest recreational waterways in the Midwest.
Angling
“St. Clair is the greatest small-mouth bass fishery on the planet.”
-Kevin VanDam, Bassmaster pro
For decades, Lake St. Clair has been renowned as a world-class fishing destination thanks to its unique geographic proximity within the Great Lakes basin. The swift flowing St. Clair River brings clean, cold and nutrient-rich water into the lake, where it is channeled in a wide delta consisting of the North, South and Middle Channels, plus the main shipping channel. These nutrients spawn bait fish which, in turn, spawn bigger fish – fish big enough to catch the attention of anglers worldwide.
If high adventure and big fish are what you seek, look no further than Lake St. Clair. Whether you are looking to snag muskellunge, small-mouth bass, yellow perch, walleye, giant channel catfish, pike or large-mouth bass, Lake St. Clair has it all!
Fishing Charters
Renting a fishing charter is the ideal choice for anglers looking to maximize their success in a short amount of time. Let these experienced captains lead you to the most popular fishing hot spots!
Leisure Cruises and Yacht Charters
From dinner cruise ships to chartered yachts, there are several options available for cruising Lake St. Clair in style. You can find everything from educational tours and live entertainment to strolling dinners and private events.
Recreational Watersports
Lake St. Clair is the perfect spot for recreational watersports! Whether you want to enjoy kayaking, standup paddle boarding, jet skiing, sailing or something else there’s multiple places to access the lake. And the best part is you don’t even need to own personal equipment to get in on the fun and excitement with multiple rental options available. A list of access points, a map of routes and information for rental companies can be found below.
Access Sites and Routes (Open to the Public)
-Clinton River Cut Off (DNR)
36080 Jefferson Ave, Harrison Two, 48045
-Lake St. Clair Metropark
31300 Metro Parkway, Harrison Twp, MI 48045
-Harley Ensign ( DNR)
33135 S. River Rd, Harrison Twp, MI, 48045
-Selfridge Launch, (DNR)
29028 William P Rosso Hwy, Harrison Twp, 48045
-Brandenburg Park
50050 Jefferson, Chesterfield, MI, 48047
Access Sites and Routes (St. Clair Shores Residents Only)
-North Boat Launch
Lac Sainte Claire Ramp, 27600 Jefferson Ave, St Clair Shores, MI
(At 11 Mile and Jefferson, behind City Hall and the Library)
-South Boat Launch
Blossom Heath Ramp, 24800 Jefferson Ave, St. Clair Shores, MI
(South of 10 mile, behind Blossom Heath )
Lake St. Clair Paddling Routes Map
Rental Companies
Walkable Downtowns
Positioned along the northwest shore of Lake St. Clair, downtown New Baltimore is a bustling hub of activity and one of Macomb County’s finest historic and walkable downtowns. The streets are lined with restaurants and shops, offering unique dining and shopping experiences. Travelers are welcomed by car, bike, boat or foot to enjoy wonderful attractions, including a newly expanded waterfront park. Walter and Mary Burke Park features a fishing pier, public beach, paddleboat rentals, transient marina, playscapes, sheltered and open picnic areas and much more.
The Nautical Mile, St. Clair Shores
With a bevy of waterfront restaurants, unique shops and full-service marinas, the Nautical Mile District in St. Clair Shores is sure to delight both boaters and land lovers alike. Supported by the Nautical Mile Merchants Association, this area features several popular events and festivals each year. The mile-long stretch along Jefferson Avenue between 9 Mile and 10 Mile is also a thriving nightlife destination where you can find over a dozen signature restaurants as well as live musical entertainment and dancing. With seven major marinas, more than 2,700 slips and more than 30 marine supply stores, the Nautical Mile perfectly caters to the boating lifestyle.