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

• Overview

  Dollar Lake is one of the Oakland County waters in Michigan. It sits at 971 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Oakland County standards. Supplies mean a trip to Clarkston, 0.8 miles off. The big place round here is Sterling Heights, 22 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Dollar Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Oakland County include bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Dollar Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 70°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. At Dollar Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Middle Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Dollar Lake as something to verify.