Freshwater Fishing.
The Detroit River spring walleye run between March and May is one of the better-known walleye fisheries on the Great Lakes — fish staging upstream from Lake Erie through the river channel to Lake St. Clair.
Lake St. Clair carries muskie, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch through the open-water season.
Both waters fall within Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 19.
The brief.
Detroit River and Lake St. Clair fishing falls within Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 19; an Ontario fishing licence is required, and FMZ 19 species seasons and limits apply.
The spring walleye run on the Detroit River runs March through May, with fish staging upstream from Lake Erie. Lake St.
Clair is a known muskie and smallmouth water through summer and fall; yellow perch are available through the open-water season. Windsor is one of several access points on a fishery shared with Tecumseh, Lakeshore, Amherstburg, and the US Detroit/Trenton shoreline opposite — the river channel is international, and both Canadian and US licences apply on their respective sides.
2. places.
- 01
Detroit River
FMZ 19; spring walleye run (March–May), smallmouth bass, yellow perch; international shipping channel between Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie.
- 02
Lake St. Clair
FMZ 19; muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch through the open-water season; access via Lakeview Park Marina.
Today's read.
Cool but comfortable for layered effort · light winds · clean air.
By the book.
- 01Ontario fishing licence required; FMZ 19 species seasons, limits, and slot rules apply for walleye, smallmouth bass, muskie, and yellow perch.Source ↗
- 02The Detroit River is an international border water; Canadian licences apply on the Canadian side and US licences on the US side, with the international channel as the boundary.Source ↗