Fishing Stony Creek Lake

Stony Creek Lake offers solid fishing pressure in Macomb County's only public access inland lake, but heavy angling limits the size of most species. Bluegills dominate the catch at 63% by numbers but average just 4.8 inches with a poor Schneider's Index rating of 2.25 — only 28% reach keeper size and few exceed 7 inches despite average growth rates. The problem isn't growth but age structure: 83% of bluegills are age-4 or younger, getting harvested as soon as they reach decent size. Black crappies provide better action, especially in spring, though they grow well below the state average with a growth index of -1.4. This lake holds the current state record white crappie at 19.5 inches caught in 2000. Largemouth bass fishing is good but only 3% reach the 14-inch minimum size limit — again, heavy harvest pressure removes fish before they mature. The walleye fishery built Stony Creek's reputation as one of southeast Michigan's best inland walleye destinations, with fish growing 1-2 inches above state average, but missed stockings from 2006-2009 due to VHS concerns reduced numbers significantly. Recent stockings in 2010-2012 should restore this fishery to its former quality. The lake's shallow structure — 40% less than 10 feet deep — supports abundant aquatic vegetation including invasive Eurasian watermilfoil and starry stonewort. Large carp averaging 6 pounds make up over 20% of the fish biomass, and there's a small but dedicated group of carp anglers. Channel catfish up to 28 inches provide an underutilized opportunity, though DNR recommends discontinuing stocking due to accumulated biomass. The 23-foot deep hole near the south dam offers the best structure for larger predators, while the extensive shallow northeast arm provides prime habitat for panfish and bass spawning.