Fishing McGinnis Lake in Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  McGinnis Lake lies in Oakland County, Michigan. It stands 1,010 feet above sea level. It covers about 24 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest place of any size is Ortonville, 4.6 miles away. The big place round here is Sterling Heights, 30 miles distant. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on McGinnis Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Oakland County: bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of McGinnis Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 22°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to McGinnis Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Wildwood Lake is 0.9 miles off. Signs at McGinnis Lake carry more weight than any list.