Fishing Harris Lake in Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Harris Lake is one of the Oakland County waters in Michigan. The surface lies 883 feet up. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Oakland County. Supplies mean a trip to Orchard Lake, 1.3 miles off. Sterling Heights sits 16 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Harris Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Oakland County records list bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Harris Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 23°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late March. Climate figures give an open season running late March to late December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Harris Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Simpson Lake is 0.2 miles off. Check the position on Harris Lake before loading the car.