Bridge Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bridge Lake stands in Oakland County, Michigan. It sits in mixed forest country. About 21 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Nearest place of any size is Clarkston, 2.8 miles away. Waterford is 5 miles away, with Ortonville at 7.1 miles. Others close at hand: Softwater Lake some 0.6 miles off, Susin Lake within 0.9 miles, Wau-Me-Gah Lake some 1.4 miles off, Knox Lake within 1.4 miles and Dixie Lake some 1.5 miles off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Bridge Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Bridge Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in January up to 70°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan any trip to Bridge Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Softwater Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Bridge Lake.