Round Lake in Oakland County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Round Lake falls in Oakland County, part of Michigan. Height above sea level is 974 feet. About 8 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Oakland County list. The town to know is Lake Orion, 2.8 miles out. The big place round here is Sterling Heights, 17 miles distant. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Round Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Oakland County records list bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Round Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 22°F and July at about 70°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That shapes the year on Round Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. A pier or jetty stands 120 yards away, which helps on a crowded bank. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Lake Sixteen, 0.4 miles away. Check the position at Round Lake before loading the car.