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

• Overview

  The Oakland County end of Michigan holds Shiawassee Lake. This is rolling bush ground. Surface area runs to about 21 acres — small enough to read in one session. Bank access stretches around 1.0 miles in total. Clarkston at 5.1 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Sterling Heights, 27 miles distant. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Shiawassee Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Oakland County include bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Shiawassee Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 70°F for July and 22°F for January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near mid December in autumn. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. It holds true on Shiawassee Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Big Lake is 0.8 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Shiawassee Lake.