Long Lake Fishing near Holly, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Oakland County, Michigan, sits Long Lake. Around the bank it is mixed forest. It runs to roughly 34 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 1.6 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. For a base, Holly sits 4 miles out. Clarkston follows at 7.4 miles, then Fenton at 7.8 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Oakland County, recorded fish include bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Long Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 70°F and January reads 22°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Long Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Kirby Lake, 0.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Long Lake is worth confirming on the day.