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

• Overview

  Set in Oakland County, Michigan, this is Valley Lake. The bank gives way to mixed forest. With some 38 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Ortonville lies 5.2 miles from the water. Holly lies 5.5 miles off, Clarkston another 7 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Valley Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Oakland County list bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Valley Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 70°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly mid December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Valley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Wildwood Lake, 0.4 miles out. Check the position at Valley Lake before loading the car.