East Crooked Lake Fishing near Brighton, Michigan

• Overview

  Within Livingston County, Michigan, you have East Crooked Lake. Elevation runs to 935 feet. At some 248 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Size puts it in the front rank of our Livingston County list. 3.6 miles away sits Brighton, the nearest town. Beyond it, Howell at 5.9 miles and Pinckney at 8.1 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on East Crooked Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Livingston County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie, pink salmon and yellow perch among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On East Crooked Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 70°F in July and bottom out at 22°F in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late March. On average, late March opens the water and mid December closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to East Crooked Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Launch at East Crooked Lake Boat Launch, half a mile from the water. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Clifford Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on East Crooked Lake before loading the car.