At Oakland County Parks, every week is a celebration of outdoor recreation. But June 1-9 is a special week—National Fishing & Boating Week—created to bring together all fishing and boating enthusiasts to learn about new spots and destinations. This week is used to raise awareness about sustainable fishing and preserving and protecting our recreational water spots.

Oakland County Parks offers superb destinations for fishing and boating. The county itself is home to five watersheds, all of which support unique fishing opportunities. The lakes within Oakland County Parks are some of the last remaining undeveloped lakes in the area. Their pristine state allows for protection and preservation of aquatic habitats, shorelines and water quality.

Inland lakes boast many fish species that can be targeted by anglers. Oakland County Parks’ lakes mainly support warmwater fisheries. Some of the most common fish found in these waters include Large Mouth Bass, Bluegill, Pike, Perch, and catfish.

A notable lake protected and preserved by Oakland County Parks is Upper Bushman Lake, located at Independence Oaks County Park outside Clarkston. Upper Bushman supports a robust fishery of twelve species and is unique because of the size of its fish, with many growing to sizes above the state average. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has put in place catch and immediate release guidelines at Independence Oaks – North to protect these fish.

Oakland County Parks freshwater program is critical to protecting the ecology of the region. This program monitors fisheries, aquatic habitats and water quality throughout the county. Oakland County Parks also facilitates stormwater monitoring within the parks and implements projects to restore, enhance and expand aquatic habitat.

There are many options for anglers on these beautiful, protected lakes. The park system offers close-to-home fishing at seven parks: Addison Oaks near Rochester, Groveland Oaks in Holly, Highland Oaks in Highland, Independence Oaks in Clarkston, Orion Oaks in Orion, Pontiac Oaks in Pontiac and Rose Oaks in Holly. Participants will need a daily park pass or a vehicle permit for entry at these parks except for Pontiac Oaks.

Pontiac Oaks features the shorelines of Creger Lake and Upper Silver Lake with water access for kayaking, canoeing and fishing provided through a new dock and boat launch. Orion Oaks offers a wheelchair accessible fishing pier off Joslyn Road. 

Boats and kayaks are available to rent at Addison Oaks; pedal boats and kayaks are available to rent at Groveland Oaks. A boat launch for non-motorized boats is located at Independence Oaks. A small boat launch is provided for non-motorized boats at Orion Oaks.

View a map of fishing opportunities in Oakland County at OaklandCountyParks.com.

For information on other events, visit OaklandCountyParks.com. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Oakland County offers residents quality, affordable housing in welcoming neighborhoods with access to parks and recreation, public transportation, and healthy food as part of the Livable Neighborhoods goal in our five-year road map. Follow the Oakland County Executive Office on Facebook and X for updates and visit our dashboard to see the progress being made to ensure Oakland County is All Ways, Moving Forward. Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and services year-round.