Prince Lake Fishing Guide, Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Within Oakland County, Michigan, you have Prince Lake. Elevation runs to 994 feet. The town to know is Lake Orion, 2.3 miles out. It is 17 miles to Sterling Heights, the nearest city. Not far off: Indian Lake after 0.4 miles, Graham Lakes just 0.6 miles, Shoe Lake after 0.7 miles, Heart Lake just 1 mile and Tamarack Lake after 1.2 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Prince Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Oakland County cover bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Prince Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 70°F; by January the average is down near 22°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Prince Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Prince Lake Boat Launch is the mapped launch, some half a mile from here. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Indian Lake, 0.4 miles away. Ask locally about Prince Lake if anything is unclear.