Best Lakes for Fishing Near Detroit
Michigan
23 fishing lakes within driving distance of Detroit, Michigan, ranked by water quality and fishing-specific filters. Filtered for documented fish species (3+) and public access. Ranked by water quality and species diversity.
Within reasonable driving distance of Detroit sit 23 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is A.
Filtered for fishing, the nearby-lake list narrows further. fishing-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twin Lakes | Oakland | A | 30.4 mi | 5 ft | - |
| 2 | Ore Lake West Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | A | 39.8 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 3 | Cordley Lake Central Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | A | 43 mi | - | - |
| 4 | Silver Lake | Washtenaw | A | 47 mi | 11.5 ft | - |
| 5 | Pleasant Lake Northwest Basin; Freedom Township | Washtenaw | A | 47.6 mi | 5.8 ft | - |
| 6 | Tamarack Lake North Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | B | 43.5 mi | 7 ft | - |
| 7 | Base Line Lake Northeast Basin; Hamburg Township | Livingston | B | 43.7 mi | 10.5 ft | - |
| 8 | Portage Lake South Basin; Dexter Township | Washtenaw | B | 45.1 mi | 13 ft | - |
| 9 | Pleasant Lake | Oakland | NR | 24.4 mi | 9 ft | - |
| 10 | Pleasant Lake; West Bloomfield Township | Oakland | NR | 24.5 mi | 9.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Sylvan Lake; Sylvan Lake Township | Oakland | NR | 24.9 mi | 9.5 ft | - |
| 12 | Sylvan Lake | Oakland | NR | 25.1 mi | 9.5 ft | - |
| 13 | Otter Lake | Oakland | NR | 25.7 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 14 | Twin Lakes | Oakland | NR | 30.5 mi | 5 ft | - |
| 15 | Cranberry Lake | Oakland | NR | 34.8 mi | 7.3 ft | - |
| 16 | Round Lake | Oakland | NR | 35.1 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 17 | First Sister Lake | Washtenaw | NR | 38.4 mi | - | - |
| 18 | Second Sister Lake | Washtenaw | NR | 38.6 mi | - | - |
| 19 | Clark Lake | Livingston | NR | 41.7 mi | 12 ft | - |
| 20 | Tamarack Lake | Livingston | NR | 43.5 mi | 8 ft | - |
| 21 | Silver Lake | Washtenaw | NR | 47.1 mi | 11.5 ft | - |
| 22 | Pleasant Lake Central Basin; Freedom Township | Washtenaw | NR | 47.3 mi | 7.2 ft | - |
| 23 | Silver Lake | Genesee | NR | 48.3 mi | 12 ft | - |
Other activities near Detroit
Where to stay near Detroit
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Detroit — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near Detroit
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Detroit?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Detroit — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.