Fishing Lake Oakland in Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Oakland County, Michigan, sits Lake Oakland. The bank is 955 feet above sea level. The water covers around 312 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. On our Oakland County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Waterford, is 2.6 miles away. Sterling Heights is the closest city, 19 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lake Oakland

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lake Oakland that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 22°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice clears near late March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Lake Oakland runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. A ramp at Lake Oakland Boating Access is mapped half a mile away. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Woodhull Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Where Lake Oakland is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.