Fishing on White Lake

Fishing Advisories

The Michigan Department of Community Health, which issues fish advisories for all water bodies in Michigan, indicates that the levels of contaminants in White Lake are relatively good in comparison to other inland lakes, and especially good in comparison to rivers and the Great Lakes. The current statewide advisory more than adequately provides safeguards for consumption of fish from White Lake. Information regarding advisories and consumption of fish is available at www.michigan.gov/fishandgameadvisory

December-January Report

There is no safe ice at this time, so those anxious to go ice fishing will need to wait a bit longer.  Safety first!!! Most docks are put away, and if not there is a good chance that we will see them floating in the spring. Ice is unforgiving, and is one of the strongest forces of nature. Ask Mitchell's Marina as they repair their docks every spring from the ice damage.

Currently, fishing is almost non-existent on White Lake, due to the early spring conditions we have been experiencing. Yet it has been cold enough to keep a thin layer of ice on the surface. I remember about 20 years ago White Lake never froze over during the winter. Nature will decide this again this year, but the odds are we will have the snow and freeze everyone expects. The only question is when.

If you are a true fisherman and not patient, try going to the Ultimate Fishing Show in Novi the weekend of January 12-15th. This will give you a little fix of the year ahead for fishing techniques. I recommend it.  I have attached below some information on ice fishing that you may be interested in. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Starting December 1st, the spear fishing season for Northern Pike and Muskellunge began on all waters through the ice, except designated trout lakes, designated trout streams, and other specific waters. No Muskellunge spearing is allowed on Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, the Detroit River, or the St. Clair River. Many anglers will try their hand at this historical method of fishing until the season concludes on March 15th.

Spear fishing is often much different from general ice fishing. Anglers will cut larger holes in the ice and fish from tents or small shelters commonly called shanties. The shanty blocks the light, allowing anglers to see down into the water in order to spear the fish.

Anglers who spear fish generally dangle decoys or large live baits (such as suckers) in the water to attract their target fish. They utilize spears that typically have a substantial weight to them and have seven to nine tines on the end of a seven-foot handle.

For additional information on ice fishing in Michigan, including spearing, please check out this detailed article: Ice Fishing - The Coolest Sport Around

November Report

If you have been following some of my articles, you may recall that I contacted the MDNR with some questions about fishing for walleye on White Lake. They have since sent me a couple of replies via e-mail, and a full fish survey report from 2007. One of the e-mails is below:

Hopefully you have by now received the copy of our latest fisheries survey on White Lake.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about what it contains.  The survey catch of 12 walleye, for a catch per unit effort of about 1 fish per net lift, is fairly typical of the walleye lakes in this area.  It indicates there is a fair fishery present, but not so many they would be easily caught.  I would recommend trying live bait like leeches or crawlers drifted slowly along the drop-off areas of the lake, but no deeper than about 15-20 feet.  You might also try casting minnow-like jerk baits or crank baits over the shallow, sand/gravel flats late in the evening or at night.  Good Luck.

Jeffrey Braunscheidel
Fisheries Biologist
Lake Erie Management Unit
MDNR Fisheries Division

My conclusions in review of the survey data, as well as my conversations with Mr. Braunschedel of the MDNR, are as follows: Thousand of walleyes have been planted in White Lake over the last 20 years, in hope of improving the fishing on White Lake, as well as adding a non-native sport fish to our lake. The success rate has been dismal at best. The survival rate of the walleye planted is less than 0.1%. This means that over 99% of all walleyes planted in White Lake are basically bait food for other fish, or just die naturally due to other complications.

This is normal for most in land lakes in Michigan, according to my discussions with the MDNR. This also explains why the chances of catching a walleye when you fish our lake are so remote. Further discussions indicated that our success rate for walleye survival can be improved, but we need to provide a better environment for the fish for them to reproduce naturally. I will discuss this more in a future article.

October Report

I sent the following e-mail to the Michigan DNR Fisheries Division (Attention Jim Dexter - Acting Chief):

To whom it may concern:
I am a long time resident on White Lake of Oakland County.  I am a very active fisherman on White Lake and write a monthly fishing report for publication in the White Lake Citizens League monthly newsletter.   I have been fishing White Lake for 25 years now.  I can count on one hand the number of walleyes I have caught while fishing White Lake. I have just visited your website for fish stocking and noted that in June of 2009 43,000 walleyes were stocked, and again in 2010 41,000 fry were planted.

White Lake has been stocked with walleye for many years, yet my personal experience has shown very limited results in catches.  I understand that White Lake may not be conducive of reproducing walleye naturally, but one would think that the large stocking of these fish over the last 20 years would produce some better catch results.

Note, I am not just a representative sample of one person, for I talk to many people who live and fish White Lake with similar results.  The MDNR does monitor through trap netting from time to time progress of fish development.  When was this last done?  What were the results?  Please note, I will gladly volunteer my time to assist the MDNR with any future actions if required.  Please let me know what I can do.   

I will update you upon response from the MDNR.

Meanwhile... Fishing on White Lake for pike and large mouth bass is booming now. The fish are very hungry and getting ready for winter. I personally caught 3 keeper fish last week, and noted upon cleaning that their stomachs were empty. In view of this it is easy to conclude that they will not stay that way, for their life is that of survival. I have been using live bait (small blue gill and minnows) on a large hook. The response has been very good. Try this in front of your water front. You do not have to go far.

Late Summer Fishing

Fishing on White Lake has been very productive if you know the methods that work this time of year. Live bait seems to be a good choice. I caught 3 fish (2 bass and one pike) inside of 10 minutes using small blue gills on a hook and bobber. I did not even leave my dock. The fish are everywhere. I suggest that you focus on one area that is your favorite and keep working it. The fish are there.

I have also had some luck trolling with lures that do not sink much below the surface so they do not catch many weeds. The pike love to strike in the weeds. Their eyes are located such that their best vision is upward. You may get lucky and get a nice bass too. I got a 3 1/2 pound large mouth bass a couple of weeks ago and had it had for dinner. Just great.

The cooler weather is coming so enjoy the fun. Patience is key. Early morning or dusk are the preferred times.

Summer Fishing

Summer fishing on White Lake is in full swing. The water temperature is very warm, and will probably get warmer as August approaches. Currently the temperature is 78 degrees on the surface. This means that the fish are going near the bottom where the water temperature is around 54 degrees. The problem with fishing the bottom is that you are in competition with the lake vegetation. The Starry Stonewort has been quite an issue in that it is floating around the water unattached, and you catch it with your lures. White Lake has been chemically treated to try to disperse it, but it is persistent. The WLCL is doing the best they can, and they are working with the DNR to help them.

Bass fishing has been very active on the lake, with many good catches of large mouth bass. A couple of Sundays ago there were a couple of boats that had limited out their catches with bass. They were using some bright spinner baits and casting around the weeds in the southwest section of the lake. Pike have been a bit slow, but are there if you want to try to catch a keeper. Almost any lure will work for pike.

Has anyone caught a walleye this year? I have not seen any catches of walleyes on White Lake in a few years. Let me know if anyone has had some success. Enjoy the nice weather and keep fishing.

Late Spring Fishing

Spring is here and the fishing is HOT on White Lake. Yes, if you can get out between the rain storms, wind, clouds, and whatever nature has to offer, the fishing has been very good. Pike are very aggressive now and are hungry. Be ready to for some fun. Personally, I have been catching keeper pike just about everywhere. A rapella lure works very well. I have not had any luck with walleye. If you do please let me know.

Bass season opens Saturday morning of Memorial Day Weekend. The bass are spawning and are on the bed nests. I caught and released one 3 1/2 pounds a couple of days ago.

The water temperature is in the mid 60's and this means it is the premier time for great fishing on White Lake. As the water temperature rises, the fish will head for cooler water and sit on the lake bottom. Currently the fish are suspended and very active. Have fun.

Early Spring Fishing

March has come and gone... finally! And spring fishing will be upon us soon. As of Sunday April 3rd the ice has essentially cleared off of White Lake. We can log this past winter as brutal, with some of the thickest ice I have ever seen and cut through. Personally, my ice fishing this winter was one of the worst on record - without one catch. I will have to do some homework for next season so I can get better at this. I did note though that the thicker ice does block the oxygen flow, and fish are not active without this stimulus.

Note that game fish fishing is not allowed on White Lake during the spawning season - through the month of April. Yes, you can fish for pan fish like blue gill or sunfish, but don't get caught with a walleye, pike or bass. The DNR has fines starting at $300 per fish if you are caught. This gets very expensive.

The water temperature is currently about 33 degrees. If you go out in the lake now you will note how clear the water is in the spring. I recommend that you get your fishing tackle and boat ready for a great May of fishing.

January/February Fishing

It is 5 degrees today as I write this report. The ice has been on White Lake since December 1st of last year. I measured the ice thickness as of February 2nd and it was 24". So if you do not have a power auger you have some work ahead of yourself. I personally have a manual auger that I use, and it takes about 5 minutes to make a nice 8" hole through the ice. If you are a bit cold prior to doing this, you will not be after! Also, the lake is covered with a thick blanket of snow now, and is very challenging to walk unless you walk on the snowmobile trails. I recommend that you really dress warmly and in layers prior to going out on the lake, since it does not take long before hyperthermia can set in.

My observations currently indicate that there is little risk of falling through the ice - even where there is the presence of springs or soft spots - since the ice is very thick. Do not let this give you too much comfort though, since the ice is still cracking, and there are stress cracks throughout the lake. As the temperatures rise and springtime approaches this dynamic of nature will be more apparent.

So, how is the ice fishing going? I have been out a numerous times and at different locations on the lake. My catching success has not produced anything to report. I have tried minnows, grubs, jigs, pike minnows, and other artificial lures without much success. I have a portable fish finder that I use after boring a hole through the ice and it has indicated that the fish are plentiful. The main issue currently is that the oxygen in the water is very low right now due to the thick ice. Because of this, the fish are very slow and are not moving much. They do not seem to have any interest in eating - very lethargic so to speak. If you are having better results drop me a note at fishing@wlcl.org and let me know. Good fishing.

November/December Fishing

Burr... We are waiting for the ice to form and freeze on White Lake so we can test our skills for ice fishing. November was a very trying month for fishing on White Lake. The gales of November presented some real challenges. If you did not put your boat away, and braved the elements, there was some fishing going on. The few who did brave the weather accounted for some good catches early in the month. The fish were feeding to fatten up for the long winter ahead of them. This is very natural for fish. The bluegills and sunfish left the canals in October with the change of water temperature. This can be a tip for you for the winter: canals are not very productive in the winter.

Most people on the lake this time of year have been focusing on winterizing their boats for use next year. Docks need to be removed or one chances the ice removing the dock for them during a thaw. This can be a lose-lose situation for all.

One final reminder - Christmas trees are not good for the lake. Please recycle your tree with the garbage pickup and not in the lake. I am looking forward to some great ice fishing in January. Happy Holidays!

Late Autumn Fishing

It is official... the lake has turned over, autumn has arrived, and fishing success is spotty at best. The "lake turning over" relates to the temperature difference from top to bottom. In the spring and summer, the water temperature is much warmer at the top surface than at the bottom. In the autumn - as the air temperatures cool - the opposite happens, and the temperature at the bottom is actually warmer than at the top. Eventually the top surface freezes, ice forms, and this element of nature confirms what I just said.

So, what does this mean for fishing success? Well, the bait fish have moved out of the canals and into the lake. Don't waste your time in the canals now. The fish are hungry, and feeding to prepare for winter. The water temperature currently is basically the same from top to bottom, so the fish are not just sitting on the bottom. They are suspended into all depths, and are where the bait fish are. If you can locate the bait fish, you will find the keepers.

On a final note, people on the lake are putting their boats away into storage for the winter now, so fishing has not been too active. This time of the year, most people miss the best fishing of the year, but for good reason. The weather is not too cooperative, and you need to dress accordingly. Good Luck!

October Fishing

It is prime time for fishing on White Lake. The water temperature in early September dropped from 84 degrees to 67 degrees in a matter of a week. Today the water temperature is in the upper 50's. Wow! What difference from the hot days of summer to the cooler days of autumn. The fish are no longer sitting on the bottom but are suspended and feeding. Your opportunity for success has never been better. These conditions should continue through the month of October.

On another note, the weeds are down in most areas where the last lake treatments were applied. I recommend you try some of these areas, since you might be surprised. If I had some luck... so can you. I cannot recommend any specific bait right now since the fishing is hot. Almost anything will work if you have the patience right now. Go for it.

Late Summer Fishing

Where are the fish? If you are like most fishermen this past August (yes... we are in September now), you could not help but ask this question. The fish catching has been very slow for most fishermen. The heat of August and the water temperature are the answers. Fish like most humans prefer to be in a cooler climate during the heat of summer, so they lay more on the bottom of the lake or in the deeper spots. Personally I have fished the lake on a number of days in August and my success rate has been poor at best. Even the northern pike are laying low, which is very unusual, but this only tells one that the water is just too warm for activity.

Okay, let's get more positive... Autumn is coming and with it cooler temperatures. The fish are hungry, and they will need to fatten up for winter - so look out! Better days are ahead for better catching success. If you are to catch fish this Labor Day weekend, I recommend fishing the deep water off of Dawson's Island on the east side. The water is deep and the fish plentiful.

July Fishing

The water surface temperature on White Lake is 84 degrees. Summer has definitely arrived! If you are a swimmer, you will note that the water temperature below the surface of the lake is always cooler. The fish know this only too well. Most fish prefer a temperature in the mid 60's, so if our lake is warm at the top, the fish will be deeper. This is the case right now, and fishing is a bit slow since the fish are deep and resting near or on the bottom of our lake.

The deep holes are a very popular place for fish to school or gather, since they prefer the cooler water. If you fish the canals or shorelines, you will note that shaded areas can be a very productive place to fish, since the fish are out of the sun. The best productivity for fishing on our warm days is early mornings or late evenings. The fish are much more active during these times, and fishing success has proven this time and time again. If you have a fish finder/locator, you can watch this effect by monitoring your screen during these times. The screen will be mostly blank, and then as the sun sets you will see the fish rise from the bottom like they are magically appearing out of nowhere. Hold on to your fishing pole for the fun will soon begin.

I hope this helps you better understand why fishing this time of year can be a bit more challenging. The best success for fishing during the day, with the fish lying on the bottom, is with live bait. Minnows or night crawlers are always a favorite, although leeches and crayfish are also a good choice. Casting is a preferred method on White Lake, since you can better control your location for the area you are fishing. Trolling this time of year can be more difficult due to weeds.

Personally my success fishing this month has been limited. My best success has been with live bait caught in the lake, and then used as bait for larger fish. This method can be very successful if you have the patience and time. As a matter of fact, you never know what you will catch... I caught a 15 pound Snapping Turtle a week ago! I released him, but he put up one heck of a fight. Northern Pike and the Large Mouth Bass are more dominant catches with this method.

On a final note, a friend of mine wanted to know if hot dogs work as bait. The answer is... YES. A good buddy of mine uses hot dogs for bait to catch Bass with much success. Meat is bait for these fish and they don't discriminate. I find it a bit out of the ordinary to fish with hot dogs, but if it works... why not?

June Fishing

The water is warm and the fish are active. Early morning or late evening fishing is recommended. Patience is key because the weed growth is up now and the fish are hiding. But this is not all bad... The main preditors are hungry, and are looking for the small fish to feed on. This means that if you focus on the edge of the weed beds you will have some success.

To best attract the fish, I recommend a faster moving artificial lure, or live bait in conjunction with moving the lure or bait. Live minnows are a great bait, but don't discount the night crawlers. Note - the price of minnows is much less today than night crawlers. Meijer is probably the cheapest for night crawlers: 20 for $3.

On another note, in my last report I stated "Don't be too surprised if you hear or see a large splash in the water near you - it's only a Carp dispersing its eggs." Some people are concerned about Carp in our lake. Although they not a big game fish, Carp provide an ecological balance to our lake. Carp are bottom feeders and help keep the bottom of our lake clean. Yes, they are not what we would consider a glamour fish, but they are there for a reason and have been for many years. They are huge in size, and may have been gold fish at one time from someone's fish tank! Oh well, don't worry - they are a fresh water fish that we have lived with for thousands of years, and will for many more years to come.

Late Spring Fishing

The surface water temperature as of May 6th was 64 degrees. Northern Pike and Walleye season is now open (as of April 30th). Personally I have not caught a Walleye in over 3 years. In a future article I will discuss this, and how to best fish our lake for Walleye. Northern Pike and the Largemouth Bass are very active now. The Bass are currently on their nesting beds, and they protect their young from any predators (other fish).

Note: Bass season does not open until Memorial Day weekend. Mitchell's Marina is having a major Bass tournament that weekend. If interested, you should contact Mitchell's for more information.

The canals are full of green algae blooms, and are almost impossible to fish. Until chemical treatment is applied, your success will be very limited in the canals. The WLCL has been notified of this condition.

I fished the lake on May 6th for little less than 2 hours. The catch was 3 Bass and 2 nice sized Northern Pikes. Not a bad day! Weeds are still very low in the lake, and this makes fishing now very productive at times. Be aware that the lake water level is not as high as most Springs, and the sunken island can present some real issues to your boat and propellers if you are not careful... Fishing on the drop-offs around the sunken island is a recommended area. My Lowrance Fish Finder shows a lot of activity in this area (see the catch mentioned above).

On a separate note, Bluegill, Crappie and Catfish are very plentiful in the lake, and their sizes are getting bigger. The large Pike population in the lake is helping to keep the small Bluegill population down, and therefore game fish are gaining in size. The lake Carp will soon be entering the canals to spawn. Don't be too surprised if you hear or see a large splash in the water near you - it's only a Carp dispersing its eggs.

Early Spring Fishing

Just a reminder... Fishing for bass, walleye, and pike game fish is not allowed during the month of April due to fish spawning and regulation from the DNR. The only fishing allowed is for pan fish, like blue gill and crappie. Walleye and northern pike fishing is allowed starting the first week of May. Bass fishing starts the last week of May.

The "ice off" date for White Lake this year was recorded as Friday March 19, 2010. This is not the earliest ever but it was early.

Spring Fishing Tip: So, you want to catch some fish early in the season? This is great time for fishing since the fish are hungry from the long winter, but remember that the water is still cold. Your catching success will have to take this into account. The fish move very slowly in the early spring, so your lures will have to move slowly too. A fast moving lure will have little if any success. Live bait - like minnows - usually works well in the shallow water on the edge of a drop off (the shallow water is warmer and this is where the fish will be).

Mitchell's Marina is hosting an Opening Day Bass Season Bass Tournament. If you're interested in participating in this fishing tournament drop by Mitchell's for more info.

On another note, a great tool to better understand where the fish are in White Lake is a sonar fishing finder. I purchased one this winter to replace one I had. This is probably one of the most valued tools that I can recommend for the fisherman, but remember it still does not guarantee that you will catch fish. This is still up to you!

Ice Fishing

The ice this year is about 18" thick. If you need some exercise, manually auger a few holes through the ice! For the best fishing locations locate weed structure. The weeds are way down this time of the year - at the bottom 2 feet. Fish in about 10-14 feet of water - deeper water may not have the necessary weed structure. Use minnows or Finnish pimples and jig very slowly, or just use tip-ups with a minnow. The fish are very plentiful... hungry but very slow. Exercise patience. Some days are better than others - but that is fishing. White Lake is a great fishing lake.

Safety First: As the ice eventually thaws, it will melt around the perimeter of the lake first. Exercise extreme caution if you decide to walk on the ice with these conditions. You can break through the ice, and endanger not only yourself but also others. Be smart.

Ice shanties: Please note that as of March 1st all ice shanties must be removed from the lake ice daily. The Michigan DNR will ticket owners from this date forward if any shanties are not removed from the lake.

Game fishing (pike, walleye, bass) is not permitted on White Lake during the month of April due to fish spawning. Bass fishing is not permitted until Memorial Day weekend.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) Information

Fishing Website

Angler Information

Licenses, Seasons, and Permits

Michigan Fish and How to Catch Them

Send your comments and questions to fishing@wlcl.org