South Commerce Lake near Wolverine Lake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Oakland County end of Michigan holds South Commerce Lake. The water sits 906 feet up. Roughly 119 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline comes to about 2.3 miles, small enough to learn in a day. On our Oakland County list it sits near the top for size. Head to Wolverine Lake, 1.7 miles away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Sterling Heights, 24 miles distant. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on South Commerce Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Oakland County cover bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work South Commerce Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 23°F in January up to 72°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. From about late March to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. It holds true on South Commerce Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Bass Lake, 0.7 miles out. Check the position at South Commerce Lake before loading the car.