Oxbow Lake Fishing near Waterford, Michigan

• Overview

  Oxbow Lake sits within Oakland County in Michigan. The surface lies 935 feet up. At some 283 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 3.7 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It ranks high for size among our Oakland County listings. Start from Waterford, 4.8 miles down the road. Sterling Heights is the closest city, 24 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Oxbow Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Oakland County names bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Oxbow Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 22°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around late March on average, with the water closing again about mid December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. That shapes the year on Oxbow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Cranberry Lake, 0.8 miles out. Check the position on Oxbow Lake before loading the car.