Maxfield Lake in Livingston County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Livingston County, Michigan, this is Maxfield Lake. The bank is 945 feet above sea level. Roughly 68 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Bank access stretches around 1.2 miles in total. Nearest place of any size is Milford, 6.8 miles away. Beyond it, Brighton at 7.2 miles and Howell at 10 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Maxfield Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Livingston County include bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Maxfield Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 70°F; the cold one sits at 22°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Anyone fishing Maxfield Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Silver Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. For Maxfield Lake in particular, ask before you travel.