Fishing at Rose Lake, Lapeer County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Lapeer County entry here is Rose Lake, in Michigan. This is mixed forest ground. It covers about 17 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. 7.4 miles away sits Imlay City, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Sterling Heights, 38 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Rose Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Lapeer County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, pink salmon and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Rose Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 70°F in July and bottoms out near 21°F in January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Rose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. 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. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Stanton Lakes at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Rose Lake locally before you travel.