Alderman Lake in Oakland County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Oakland County entry here is Alderman Lake, in Michigan. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. The water measures roughly 14 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Head to Milford, 4.2 miles away, for anything you forgot. Wolverine Lake follows at 9.3 miles, then Wixom at 9.4 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Alderman Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Oakland County list bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Alderman Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 22°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Alderman Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Harvey Lake is 0.5 miles distant. Check the position at Alderman Lake before loading the car.