Fishing Pontiac Lake

Pontiac Lake's fishing is dominated by stunted bluegill that average just 5.2 inches with only 2% reaching acceptable angling size above 6 inches. The bluegill population ranks 1.3 on a 7-point scale - classified as "very poor" - with most fish noticeably emaciated and weighing 28% less than similar-sized fish from Lake Orion. Carp dominate the lake's biomass at 65% of total fish weight, though recent reproduction appears minimal with only three fish under 17 inches collected. Largemouth bass provide the best fishing opportunity with 19% of the population above the 12-inch minimum, though growth rates are below average with a -1.2 growth index. Electrofishing after dark yielded 62 bass in 1.25 hours, but weak 1991 and 1992 year classes and an absence of 12-14 inch fish suggest recruitment problems. The lake reaches 34 feet deep with thermocline between 16-28 feet, and dissolved oxygen supports fish to 18 feet during summer. Over 60% of the 585-acre lake is 5 feet deep or less with fibrous peat bottom and scattered sand. Chemical treatment eliminated the nuisance milfoil problem in May 1992, which should help the stunted bluegill situation since dense vegetation had been a major factor limiting panfish growth since the mid-1970s. Northern pike are scarce with ice fishing activity declining since 1988, while channel catfish numbers remain low but those present average over 21 inches. The lake was completely restocked in 1982 following a winterkill during dam repairs, and walleye stocked in 1990 showed very poor survival. With intensive residential development around most of the shoreline except for one mile of state-owned property on the north side, fishing access is primarily from the state recreation area boat ramp and fishing pier on the east end.