Best Lakes for Fishing Near Detroit
Michigan
21 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 21 measured lakes, a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend.
Filtered for fishing, the nearby-lake list narrows further. fishing-specific signals, fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion, interact with the water-quality readings in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sylvan Lake | Oakland | 24.9 mi | 10.3 ft | - |
| 2 | Twin Lakes | Oakland | 30.4 mi | 5 ft | - |
| 3 | Ore Lake | Livingston | 39.8 mi | 9 ft | 81 ft |
| 4 | Crystal Lake | Washtenaw | 40 mi | 12.5 ft | - |
| 5 | Cordley Lake | Livingston | 43 mi | - | 31 ft |
| 6 | Pleasant Lake | Oakland | 24.5 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 7 | Cranberry Lake | Oakland | 34.8 mi | 8.5 ft | 25 ft |
| 8 | Tamarack Lake | Livingston | 43.5 mi | 7 ft | 34 ft |
| 9 | Bloomfield Lake | Oakland | 22.7 mi | 3.5 ft | - |
| 10 | Otter Lake | Oakland | 25.7 mi | 10.3 ft | 70 ft |
| 11 | Lake Angelus | Oakland | 28.7 mi | 13.3 ft | - |
| 12 | Round Lake | Oakland | 29.4 mi | 10.5 ft | 15 ft |
| 13 | Twin Lakes | Oakland | 30.5 mi | 6.5 ft | - |
| 14 | Rainbow Pond | Oakland | 31.1 mi | 3.5 ft | - |
| 15 | Mud Lake | Oakland | 31.3 mi | 11 ft | - |
| 16 | Cranberry Lake | Oakland | 34.8 mi | 8.5 ft | 25 ft |
| 17 | White Lake | Oakland | 34.9 mi | 13 ft | - |
| 18 | Round Lake | Oakland | 35.1 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 19 | Crooked Lake | Oakland | 35.5 mi | 11.5 ft | 60 ft |
| 20 | Clear Lake | Oakland | 35.6 mi | 11 ft | - |
| 21 | Cedar Lake | Oakland | 35.7 mi | 11 ft | - |
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.