Simpson Lake Fishing near Orchard Lake, Michigan

• Overview

  Oakland County in Michigan is where Simpson Lake sits. Beyond the shoreline you have pine and birch. This is a pocket water of some 14 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Orchard Lake sits 1.5 miles from the bank. Sterling Heights sits 16 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Simpson Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Oakland County cover bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Simpson Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 72°F on average, January about 23°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late March. Ice clears near late March and comes back about late December in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Simpson Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. Fishing from a pier is possible 90 yards away. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Harris Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Simpson Lake locally before you travel.