Fishing at Highland Lake, Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Highland Lake falls in Oakland County, part of Michigan. The bank is 1,017 feet above sea level. The water covers some 59 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 1.5 miles on foot. Milford is the closest place, 5.3 miles off. It is 27 miles to Ann Arbor, the nearest city. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Highland Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Oakland County list bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Highland Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 71°F in July and bottom out at 22°F in January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Anyone fishing Highland Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Murray Lake, 0.8 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Highland Lake for certain.