Maltby Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Michigan, Maltby Lake falls inside Livingston County. Everything around it is rolling bush. With some 32 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 0.8 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. The closest town, Brighton, is 2.9 miles away. Then Whitmore Lake, 3.7 miles, and South Lyon, 6.6 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Maltby Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie and pink salmon. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Maltby Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 22°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. That is the shape of the year on Maltby Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. A pier or jetty stands 160 yards away, which helps on a crowded bank. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Dibrova Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Maltby Lake locally before you travel.