Wildwood Lake in Washtenaw County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Washtenaw County, Michigan, is where Wildwood Lake sits. Height above sea level is 899 feet. It measures about 84 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.8 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Nearest place of any size is Whitmore Lake, 2.2 miles away. South Lyon lies 7 miles off, Brighton another 7.8 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Wildwood Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Washtenaw County list bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass, black crappie and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Wildwood Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in January up to 71°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. The open-water window runs from around late March to about mid December in an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Wildwood Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. Rick's Bait Shack is the mapped fishing point, half a mile out. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Mud Lake, 1 mile out. Ask locally about Wildwood Lake if anything is unclear.