Fishing at Fourmile Lake, Washtenaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  Within Washtenaw County, Michigan, you have Fourmile Lake. The surface lies 876 feet up. It measures some 254 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The shoreline runs about 3.2 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Washtenaw County list it sits near the top for size. Chelsea at 2.9 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Ann Arbor, 12 miles distant. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Fourmile Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Washtenaw County cover bluegill, largemouth bass and rock bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Fourmile Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 71°F for July and 22°F for January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly mid December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan any trip to Fourmile Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Expect 0.9 miles away in from where the car goes. Chelsea State Game Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Nordman Lake is 2.4 miles distant. For Fourmile Lake in particular, ask before you travel.