Fishing at Vhay Lake, Oakland County, Michigan

• Overview

  Look for Vhay Lake in Oakland County, Michigan. Around the bank it is lake country bush. It covers about 18 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Bloomfield Hills sits 0.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Sterling Heights, an 11 miles drive. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Vhay Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Oakland County include bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Vhay Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 23°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late March. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at late December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish Vhay Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Cranbrook Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Vhay Lake before loading the car.