Fishing Townsend Lake in Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Oakland County entry here is Townsend Lake, in Michigan. It sits at 951 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 28 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. About 1.2 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. The nearest place of any size is Waterford, 1.2 miles away. Sterling Heights sits 21 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Townsend Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Oakland County, recorded fish include bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Townsend Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 22°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. Climate averages put the opening at about late March and the closing near mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Townsend Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Van Norman Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Nothing on Townsend Lake should be assumed from this page alone.