Fishing Scotch Lake in Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Scotch Lake belongs to Oakland County. This is rolling bush ground. At roughly 13 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Nearest town is West Bloomfield Township, 3.5 miles off. It is 20 miles to Sterling Heights, the nearest city. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Scotch Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open biodiversity records for Oakland County list bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Scotch Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 71°F and January reads 22°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late March. Average temperatures cross freezing around late March in spring and again near mid December in autumn. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. That shapes the year on Scotch Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Cross Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Scotch Lake if anything is unclear.