Not sure if Charles Dickens ever fished Lake St. Clair, but from a tourism perspective, the site of the 2019 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship might seem like a tale of two cities. Takeoff, weigh-ins and expo will take place in Harrison Township on St. Clair’s northwest side, but the Detroit host and its Canadian neighbor, Windsor, Ontario, offer a potpourri of destination delights.
First, a look at what anglers can expect.
Tournament waters
St. Clair is dwarfed by surrounding great lakes; in particular, Huron to the north (reachable through the St. Clair River) and Erie to the south (linked by the Detroit River). Nevertheless, this 430-square-mile lake holds its own with a unique identity, and no lack of beefy brown bass.
With average depths of 11 feet (deepest 27), St. Clair differs greatly from the smallmouth factory to its south, in that this its shallow bowl-like makeup lacks the distinct contours of its neighboring giant. With a buffet of shiners, perch, crayfish and invasive gobies, there’s no lack of food, but Michigan Elite angler Chad Pipkens expects a challenging event.
“It will still be warm, and this is one of the trickier times to fish this lake because the schools are broken up,” the Holt, Mich., pro said. “There will still be schools of fish, but some will be shallower and some will be deeper; it’s just finding where the bait is.
“That time of year, things are changing even more than normal with the baitfish moving and the bass moving too. You might find them one day, but they could move the next.”
Pipkens believes anglers will likely employ a diverse array of reaction and drop baits. Essential, he said, will be a mobile mindset.
“The big thing is just trying to find little groups of fish each day,” Pipkens said. “There will be some mega schools out there, but I think it will be more about moving around.”
While Pipkens has personally seen an eye-opening sack of largemouth, he doesn’t think that route is dependable enough, or sustainable enough to merit much competitive attention.
“The smallmouth are so healthy on St. Clair, so to go out there and catch 17 to 20 pounds multiple days is just so much more likely than it is to do that with largemouth,” he said.
Motor City meeting
Described by thrillist.com as “One of America’s most fun cities,” Detroit juxtaposes its rich automotive history against a welcoming blend of activities and experiences. Founded in 1701 by French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, metro Detroit encompasses approximately 2,000 square miles, divided into five destination districts:
Downtown: Hip and happening, this popular gathering place offers a trio of Vegas-style casinos; classic theaters; edgy eateries; museums celebrating art, music, maritime and African-American history; and an intriguing blend of modern architecture, Art Deco buildings and Prohibition-born speakeasies pouring locally crafted libations. A walkable international riverfront, along with the Greektown, Eastern Market, The District Detroit, Corktown and Midtown neighborhoods are among the local favorites.
Oakland: Home the Detroit Zoo and Sea Life Michigan Aquarium, this upscale suburb is about 30 minutes by car from downtown. Check out the Village of Rochester’s collection of shops, restaurants and parks tucked along tree-lined streets. Kids will enjoy the giant indoor Lego playground.
Macomb: A half hour northeast of downtown, Detroit’s “East Side” attracts the water enthusiasts with marinas, yacht charters, a stellar beach and restaurants overlooking Lake St. Clair and the a 982-acre Belle Isle Park located on the U.S. side of the Detroit River. You’ll also find a baseball stadium, performing arts center and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, which offers glimpses into the lives of one of America’s most iconic automotive families.
Greater Novi: Billed as “trendy, friendly and green,” this area 30 minutes northwest of downtown offers an array of activities from hayrides, bowling and golfing, to lessons of courage, strength and righteousness at the Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus. Elsewhere, take the wheel at JD Racing Indoor Karting or visit TreeRunner Adventure Park for zip lines and obstacle courses in the treetops.
Make time for historic Downtown Plymouth, where an eclectic mix of shops and eateries surround the fountain-centered Kellogg Park town square.
Dearborn/Wayne: Wrapping around Detroit’s downtown, this ethnically diverse area offers a diverse assortment of international culture and cuisine. Visit the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, experience Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland — the world’s largest Christmas store — and swing by Motown Museum (aka “Hitsville USA”) — home of the world-famous Studio A, where legends like The Temptations and Marvin Gaye recorded with the Funk Brothers. Visitors enjoy the rolling hills of Hines Drive, as well as the downtowns of Wyandotte and the Grosse Pointes
Tour time: First-time in town? Short on time? Detroit offers several options to familiarize yourself with the local landscape through guided tours. From yachts and river boats to segways, bikes and walking tours, these informative trips will help you dial in your personal interests for private visits. Find tour listings at VisitDetroit.com.
Get around: Don’t want to bother with parking? Detroit offers multiple public transportation options from the elevated Detroit People Mover light-rail system, to the QLine streetcar, multiple bus lines and bike or scooter rentals. VisitDetroit.com.
Canadian connection
Looking south from Downtown Detroit, you’ll see the Canadian gem known as Windsor, Ontario.
Wait, south?
Yep, that’s no typo; Windsor marks the only border crossing where entering the U.S. mainland from Canada means traveling north. A relatively easy trip across the Ambassador Bridge, or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel running beneath the Detroit River delivers U.S. visitors to an immaculately manicured waterfront dressed with multiple parks, artwork and historical/cultural elements.
Sites to see, on and off the waterfront, include:
Windsor Sculpture Park: More than 30 large-scale contemporary sculptures enliven the waterfront. Among them Tohawah (twin 38-foot-tall swans), Tembo (family of bronze elephants), Inukshuk (traditional Inuit form of balanced stones symbolizing safe tundra routes).
Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens: Honoring the city’s former mayor, the site’s centerpiece is a magnificent fountain and reflecting pool.
Coventry Gardens: Stunning floral designs provide a beautiful backdrop for the Peace Fountain floating off the sea wall. With 67 nozzles shooting 15,000 gallons of water a minute as high as 70 feet, the fountain’s nighttime illumination is one of Windsor’s top attractions.
Queen Elizabeth Sunken Gardens: Located in Jackson Park, a rose garden complements a memorial to Canada’s WWII veterans.
Freedom Tower: Standing in the Civic Esplanade, monument honors the Underground Railroad and those who assisted southern slaves seeking freedom in Canada.
Caesars Windsor Casino: Windsor’s only casino sits along the waterfront overlooking Detroit.
Willistead Manor: Steeped in elegance with exquisite furnishings, the 16th Century Tudor-Jacobean style English manor house was built in 1904 by Edward Chandler Walker — son of Hiram Walker, who founded the famous distillery located in Windsor.
Amherstberg: About 18 miles south of Windsor, this riverfront town’s charming parks and quaint downtown and historical military elements — Fort Malden (National Historic site) and Kings Navy Yard — are well worth the drive.
Early fall should offer pleasant conditions for fishing and sightseeing, so make time for Detroit and Windsor. At the tournament’s conclusion, some will have had the best of times; others the worst of times (literature, people); but all who visit this delightful area will certainly have an enjoyable time.