Graham Lakes near Lake Orion: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Graham Lakes falls in Oakland County, part of Michigan. It stands 935 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 22 acres — small enough to read in one session. Start from Lake Orion, 2.4 miles down the road. Sterling Heights sits 17 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Graham Lakes

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Oakland County: bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Graham Lakes is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 70°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. That shapes the year on Graham Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Shoe Lake is 0.4 miles off. Ask locally about Graham Lakes if anything is unclear.