Hartwig Lake in Oakland County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Oakland County, Michigan, sits Hartwig Lake. It sits at 925 feet above sea level. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Oakland County list. Goodrich at 4.3 miles is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit Ortonville (4.4 miles) and Holly (6.6 miles). The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Hartwig Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Oakland County cover bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Hartwig Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 22°F to 70°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly mid December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Hartwig Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Algoe Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Hartwig Lake as something to verify.