Mandon Lake Fishing near Wolverine Lake, Michigan

• Overview

  Mandon Lake sits in Oakland County, out in Michigan. Height above sea level is 935 feet. With some 29 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 1.1 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Wolverine Lake sits 4.7 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Sterling Heights, 22 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mandon Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Oakland County include bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Mandon Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 22°F in January and 71°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Look for the thaw near late March; the fishing lifts straight after. 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. It sets the rhythm of the year at Mandon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Round Lake is 0.4 miles off. Rules at Mandon Lake are worth checking on the day.