Fishing at Schmitt Lake, Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Look for Schmitt Lake in the Oakland County part of Michigan. The land about it is pine and birch. At about 32 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 1.0 miles on foot. Nearest place of any size is Waterford, 5.5 miles away. The big place round here is Sterling Heights, 26 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Schmitt Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Oakland County include bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Schmitt Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 22°F in January and 70°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan any trip to Schmitt Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Meyers Lake, 0.9 miles out. Check the position at Schmitt Lake before loading the car.