Lake Sinclair Fishing: Multi-Species Techniques

Lake St. Clair’s Triple Threat

Walleye, Smallmouth, and Muskie in One Epic Day

What happens when two seasoned anglers set out on Lake St. Clair with one mission—to catch a walleye, a smallmouth bass, and a muskie in a single day? You get what they call the Lake St. Clair Triple Crown, and this one’s a wild ride from start to finish.

The stars of this adventure? Captain Joel Piatek of Fish Head Sport Fishing Charters and Billy Rose Jr. of Rose Marine. Armed with decades of local knowledge, a fully loaded Lund 219 GL, and enough gear to outfit a small army, they tackle one of the most versatile and bountiful fisheries in North America. And trust us, Lake St. Clair does not disappoint.

Morning Glory: Walleye Bottom Bouncing in the River Systems

The day kicks off in the deeper river systems feeding Lake St. Clair. Joel and Billy are bottom bouncing—an old-school technique that’s as effective as it is underrated. They're targeting walleye using heavy bottom bouncers to keep their rigs snug to the bottom, working the current like pros.

Boat control? It’s everything. Joel’s glued to his remote, managing the boat’s autopilot and speed, threading a fine line between current seams and drop-offs. One second he’s watching the sonar; the next, he’s shouting “Fish on!”

And these aren’t dinks. We’re talking quality eater-sized walleye, some even pushing four pounds—a true bonus for mid-summer fishing.

Midday Mayhem: Smallmouth Bass Take Center Stage

As the sun climbs higher, the walleye bite cools down, but the action is just heating up. Billy connects with a massive smallmouth on a jerkbait, and just like that, the guys shift gears to leg two of their Triple Crown.

They work the edges of newly emerging weed beds, alternating between jerkbaits, Ned rigs, and tubes. Green pumpkin, anyone? It’s like flipping a switch. Boom—double hookup. Joel and Billy are grinning like kids on Christmas morning.

Pound for pound, nothing fights like a Lake St. Clair smallmouth. These bronzebacks leap, dive, and refuse to surrender. And for Joel and Billy, it’s not just about catching fish—it’s about reminiscing. Childhood memories of chasing bass all summer long come flooding back. This isn’t just fishing. It’s coming home.

Afternoon Finale: Trolling for the Elusive Muskie

With the sun high and the wind down, it’s time for the final boss: muskies. These apex predators are notoriously fickle, especially with over two-thirds of the lake’s deeper, cooler Canadian waters off-limits due to border closures. Still, Joel’s confident.

Out come the custom planer boards and trolling rigs. They’re covering water now, running a spread that would make a tournament crew jealous. Joel’s got it dialed: Mercury Verado 400 in the back, remote-controlled kicker on the side, iTroll system fine-tuning every inch of throttle and steering.

These guys are working like a pit crew—but with rods instead of wrenches. It’s precision trolling, and every pass could bring the fish of a lifetime.

And then… it happens. Rod tip dips. Reel screams. Muskies don’t nibble. They smash.

This is why they came. This is the dream.

The Triple Crown: Not Just About the Fish

What makes Lake St. Clair so special isn’t just the sheer numbers or trophy potential. It’s the variety, the scenery, the camaraderie, and the sense of timelessness you get on the water.

Joel and Billy didn’t just catch fish—they told a story. One of grit, adaptation, childhood memories, and a shared love of the great outdoors.

From bottom-bouncing walleyes to smallmouth that brawl like boxers, and muskies that haunt every cast or troll, Lake St. Clair remains a world-class fishery where multi-species dreams come true.