Fourmile Lake

If you are getting ready to fish Fourmile Lake, keep the first plan simple. This lake is in Washtenaw County. It covers about 250.9 acres. The deepest recorded spot is 18 feet. On a first trip, I would use the wind, water color, visible cover, and any signs of bait to decide where to spend time on Fourmile Lake.

Fishing at Fourmile Lake

Start where two habitat types meet: weeds and open bottom, rock and silt, shade and sun, or a flat and the first meaningful drop.

Spring usually favors protected water that warms and holds forage. Summer pushes the search toward shade, healthy vegetation, current, and dependable depth. Fall cooling can bring feeding fish back toward breaks and shoreline cover.

At Fourmile Lake, I would begin with a moving bait to find active fish, then follow with something slower around the best cover. If the search bait never gets a reaction, change depth before cycling through a dozen colors.

About This Water

A lake-specific profile for Fourmile Lake in Washtenaw County reports a fisheries survey from 1996 and vegetation coverage around 4.7 percent. That combination gives us a more useful picture than the lake name alone: it is a mapped basin with both biological sampling and measured plant habitat.

Fish Species

The current record for Fourmile Lake in Washtenaw County lists Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch. That is a starting point, not a promise that every species is common in every season or every part of the basin. For largemouth bass, compare shallow cover with the first firm edge before assuming the fish moved deep. A small jig is a clean way to locate the active panfish depth. Stocking is kept separate from present-day abundance: the record lists Northern Pike and Redear Sunfish. A release confirms fish were placed here, not that they survived, reproduced, or remain common today.

A balanced rod and line make bites easier to detect and reduce unnecessary fight time. Have pliers ready before the fish reaches you, and return released fish promptly rather than sorting out equipment afterward.

How I Would Fish It

• Check fresh water. Inflow can add oxygen, color, current, and food, especially after rain or during summer heat.
• Compare inside and outside edges. Fish may tuck deep into cover under bright skies and slide to the outer edge when light fades.
• Downsize before giving up. A smaller profile can turn followers or light bites into hooked fish without forcing a complete location change.
• Use contrast with purpose. Natural colors fit clear water, while stronger contrast helps fish locate a lure in stain or heavy vegetation.
• Mark the exact clue. Remember the depth and habitat, not merely the place where the fish happened to bite.

Give a pattern enough time to be tested, not enough time to waste the day. A move of fifty yards to a new edge can matter more than a complete run across the lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start fishing?

Start at the strongest nearby transition between cover and open water, then compare it with the first meaningful depth change. Let the first bite or visible forage activity decide where to spend more time.

When should I change spots?

If Fourmile Lake is not showing bait, bites, followers, or healthy cover after a fair try, change depth or move to a different type of water. Do not stay put only because the spot looks good.

What should I check before the trip?

Confirm current size and possession rules, examine the weather window, and note whether rising or falling water may affect cover and current. Old trip reports cannot replace those checks.