Walsh Lake near Chelsea: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Walsh Lake sits within Washtenaw County in Michigan. The surroundings are pine and birch. It covers about 10 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Washtenaw County are larger. The closest town, Chelsea, is 3.2 miles distant. It is 18 miles to Ann Arbor, the nearest city. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Walsh Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Washtenaw County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass and black crappie. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Walsh Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 22°F in January and 71°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count the season from break-up, usually late March. Ice clears near late March and comes back about mid December in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Expect Walsh Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is a slipway on the shore, 100 yards from the water we list. Parking is close: a car park sits 140 yards from the bank. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Cassidy Lake is 0.7 miles distant. For Walsh Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.