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

• Overview

  Carus Lake sits within Oakland County in Michigan. It sits in lake country bush. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Oakland County are larger. The town to know is Wolverine Lake, 1.4 miles out. Sterling Heights is the closest city, 21 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Carus Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Oakland County, recorded fish include bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Carus Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 72°F in July and bottom out at 23°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. Open water usually runs from late March until about mid December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Carus Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Hawk Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Carus Lake before loading the car.