Kirkwood Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Kirkwood Lake sits within Oakland County in Michigan. It sits in mixed forest country. This is a pocket water of some 7 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Oakland County standards. Supplies mean a trip to Franklin, 2.1 miles off. The nearest city of size is Sterling Heights, 14 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kirkwood Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Oakland County records list bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Kirkwood Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 72°F; the cold one sits at 23°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. From about late March to around late December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That is the shape of the year on Kirkwood Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Wing Lake, 0.7 miles out. Signs at Kirkwood Lake carry more weight than any list.