Middle Lake Fishing near Clarkston, Michigan

• Overview

  Set in Oakland County, Middle Lake is a Michigan water. It sits at 961 feet above sea level. At roughly 24 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. 0.7 miles away sits Clarkston, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Sterling Heights, 22 miles away. Nearby, in order: Dollar Lake 0.2 miles away, 0.6 miles away is Deer Lake, Parke Lake 0.9 miles away, 1 mile away is Greens Lake and Sans Souci Lake 1.2 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Middle Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Oakland County: bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Middle Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 70°F and January reads 22°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. The lid tends to go about early April and return around mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It holds true on Middle Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. The nearest car park is 130 yards from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Dollar Lake is 0.2 miles distant. None of that is settled for Middle Lake in what we hold.