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

• Overview

  Out in Oakland County, Michigan, sits Tomahawk Lake. It sits at 1,014 feet above sea level. It covers about 10 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Oakland County list. Nearest place of any size is Milford, 6.2 miles away. Ann Arbor is the closest city, 29 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Tomahawk Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Oakland County, recorded fish include bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Tomahawk Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 70°F in July and bottoms out near 22°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Tomahawk Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Fishing from a pier is possible 0.9 miles away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Gourd Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Tomahawk Lake if anything is unclear.