Fishing at Forest Lake, Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Forest Lake lies within the bounds of Oakland County, Michigan. This is lake country bush country. Roughly 64 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The outline is close to a simple bowl, without much in the way of bays. The closest town, Sylvan Lake, is 1.8 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Sterling Heights, 14 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Forest Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Forest Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 23°F in January up to 72°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late March. Ice clears near late March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Forest Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Signs at Forest Lake carry more weight than any list.