Fishing Lake Charnwood in Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Lake Charnwood is one of the Oakland County waters in Michigan. Height above sea level is 827 feet. Small at around 8 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Oakland County standards. 2.7 miles away sits Troy, the nearest town. Bloomfield Hills lies 3.2 miles off, Rochester Hills another 3.9 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Charnwood

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Oakland County, recorded fish include bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Lake Charnwood the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 72°F and January about 23°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly late December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Lake Charnwood around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Vhay Lake at 2.5 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Lake Charnwood may have changed since it was mapped.