Pickerel Lake Fishing near Pinckney, Michigan

• Overview

  You will find Pickerel Lake in Livingston County, Michigan. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. Small at around 19 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Livingston County list. Pinckney is the closest town at 3.7 miles. The nearest city of size is Ann Arbor, 16 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Pickerel Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 71°F and January near 22°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about late March through to roughly mid December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Pickerel Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping shows a ramp about 170 yards from the shore. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. A recognised fishing place sits half a mile away. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Crooked Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Pickerel Lake before loading the car.