Fishing at Minnow Lake, Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Look for Minnow Lake in the Oakland County part of Michigan. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. At 11 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Bloomfield Hills is the closest place, 2.4 miles off. Franklin is 3.4 miles and Sylvan Lake 3.5 miles. What else is close: Sodon Lake lies 0.5 miles on, Chalmers Lake 0.7 miles off, Gilbert Lake lies 0.9 miles on, Island Lake 1.2 miles off and Wing Lake lies 1.3 miles on. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Minnow Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Oakland County include bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Minnow Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 23°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. In an average year the thaw lands around late March and the freeze near late December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. That is the shape of the year on Minnow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Sodon Lake, 0.5 miles out. What applies at Minnow Lake may have changed since it was mapped.