Elkhorn Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Elkhorn Lake in Oakland County, Michigan. The ground around here is mixed forest. The water covers some 44 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Some 1.9 miles away sits Lake Orion, the nearest settlement. Sterling Heights is the closest city, 18 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Elkhorn Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Oakland County include bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Elkhorn Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 70°F on average, January about 22°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Elkhorn Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Square Lake is 0.4 miles off. The position on Elkhorn Lake is worth confirming on the day.