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

• Overview

  This water sits in Oakland County, Michigan. Height above sea level is 1,004 feet. Surface area runs to about 23 acres — small enough to read in one session. The closest town, Lake Orion, is 1.4 miles away. Sterling Heights is the closest city, 19 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bailey Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Oakland County records list bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Bailey Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 70°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bailey Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a mapped slipway roughly 0.9 miles away. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A pier or jetty stands 0.9 miles away, which helps on a crowded bank. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Howell Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Bailey Lake.