Rods, Reels and Tackle
TOP 10 BAITS & PATTERNS: (REPOST from MLF)
On JULY 2, 2023, Lake St. Clair was dominated by smallmouth and the drop-shot. All 10 anglers who made it to the Championship Round relied on a drop-shot (while mixing in a few other techniques along the way) to register Top 10 finishes on one of the best lakes in the country.
Here’s a look at the top baits and how the pros strategized their fishing on Lake St. Clair.
1. BASS PRO Jordan Lee – 47-3 (10)
Lee was incredibly consistent and impressive at St. Clair, winning the Berkley Big Bass award all four days he fished and narrowly missing having the best bag each of his competition days. It was a strong week for Lee, who was clearly on better-than-average fish.
Lee relied primarily on a drop-shot with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow in watermelon red magic but also mixed in a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Lil’ General. He used a ½-ounce tungsten weight for the drop-shot and threaded the bait on a 2/0 straight-shank hook.
2. BASS PRO Alton Jones Jr. – 46-10 (10)
Like others, he focused on the drop-shot rig to catch his bass on St. Clair.
“I caught almost all of my fish on a drop-shot rig with either a Geecrack Imo Kemushi, Geecrack Revival Shad, or a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm in green pumpkin or goby colors,” Jones said. “I tried some baitfish colors, but they wouldn’t seem to eat them for me. I was threading the baits on #1 straight shank hook and would use a 3/8-ounce tungsten drop-shot weight when it was windy and a ¼-ounce anytime it was calmer.”
3. BASS PRO Jacob Wheeler – 43-12 (10)
Wheeler fished a new Rapala Ned rig bait called the “BLT” in green pumpkin watermelon and goby colors. He rigged the bait on a drop-shot rig, threaded on a No. 2 VMC Redline Series Finesse Neko Hook and added a 3/8-ounce VMC Tungsten Tear Drop Drop Weight. “I used the green pumpkin watermelon color when it was cloudy and went with the goby color more when it was sunny,” Wheeler said. “The key was fishing the bait where the grass tailed off because those places harbored the baitfish. The smallmouth wanted to be close to the grass but not in it. The other deal was anywhere you could find a transition
Cell Phone
You will need to bring a Cell Phone that has a digital camera in order to use the TOURNEY X mobile APP for submitting your catches. Make sure you have a phone sim that works internationally.
TourneyX® has been tested by hundreds of tournament directors and thousands of anglers across the country. There is no other system that makes managing tournaments easier. Your phone will need to be able to use the cell services in Canada.
Will my Phone work in Tecumseh, Ontario?
Mobile phone service, or cellular, or cell phone service in Canada is the same as the U.S.A., but different from that in the rest of the world. If using your phone from home, roaming charges can be expensive. Check with you service provider if they offer any roaming packages. You can also purchase a USA cell SIM in the USA and Canada. NOTE: we cannot confirm that these sims are compatible with your carrier or phone as some phones are carrier locked. Please check with your provider to see if you can purchase an international or overseas pass or if phone sims other than your carrier will work.
Wet Weather Gear
We recommend that you bring wet weather gear and layers to accommodate for shifting temperatures and possible wet weather.
What is the average temperature in June?
Located in the far south of Ontario, close to the American border and the City of Detroit, Michigan, the Windsor-Essex Region enjoys the warmest climate of any of Ontario’s cities. The Windsor-Essex Region is actually located at the same latitude as northern California and enjoys seven months of short-sleeve weather. The average temperature reaches above 50°F (10°C) 223 days of the year.
Average Temperatures
| Month | Avg. High | Avg. Low | Av. Hours Sunshine | Av. Days Rainfall | Av. Days Snowfall | ||
| °F | °C | °F | °C | ||||
| June | 79.4 | 26.33 | 57.2 | 14.00 | 9.0 | 11 | 0 |
| July | 83.4 | 28.56 | 61.1 | 16.17 | 9.5 | 10 | 0 |
Source: Environment Canada
Windsor-Essex region weather facts
- The Windsor-Essex Region enjoys a sunny climate; its summers usually have a generous number of warm or hot sunny days.
- The Region enjoys four distinct seasons, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors with such activities as swimming, scuba diving, pond hockey & cross-country skiing, hiking on trails, bird watching.
- The climate in the Windsor-Essex Region area lends itself to a picturesque environment; just imagine the natural beauty of having water on three sides of your community, as is the case here. We are surrounded by Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River.
The Great Lakes ensure the Region has mild winters with very little snowfall, and long warm summers. This temperate climate provides one of the longest growing seasons in Canada, extending from April to October.
