Fishing Spots Near Flint: Our Top Picks

If you’re interested in fishing in and around Flint, Michigan, you’ll find a plethora of opportunities waiting for you. You can enjoy shore fishing, pier fishing, and boat fishing at a variety of parks and lakes throughout this part of the state.

Keep in mind that everyone 17 years of age or older must have a valid fishing license to fish in Michigan. Those under the age of 17 do not need a license, but they are still required to observe all applicable rules and regulations.

Seven Lakes State Park

14390 Fish Lake Road, Holly

Image via Unsplash by Brady Rogers

Seven Lakes State Park covers over 1,400 acres and includes around 230 acres of water. The landscape originally featured the namesake seven lakes, but a dam was installed which created one massive lake and a great expanse of shoreline for visitors to enjoy. Interestingly, the park does still feature seven lakes, but most are smaller, and Big Seven, also known as DeCoup Lake, dominates the park.

The Seven Lakes Loop trail is the most popular route for anglers. From here, you’ll find plenty of places to cast your line from the shore. Bass fishing is particularly good if you begin early in the season. Later in the year, weeds begin to choke the water in some areas.

Dickinson, the second-largest lake in the park, is another popular choice for fishing. This lake has a boat launch and floating pier so you’ll have more options for fishing. Some of the fish that you may catch include smallmouth and largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, walleye, northern pike, tiger muskie, and yellow perch.

Bray Road Fishing Site

5030 Bray Road, Flint

A favorite among locals, the Bray Road Fishing Site is a peaceful destination that’s perfect for a quiet afternoon of fishing. You can catch pike, bass, catfish, and walleye. A walkway from the fishing spot leads across the river and provides access to Stepping Stones Park and Stepping Stone Falls. Parking is conveniently available, making this a quick and accessible choice.

Flint River

The Flint River offers some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the state. You can access the river at numerous locations, including the Bluegill Boat Ramp on Coldwater Road, Walleye Boat Ramp on Henderson Road, Millville Landing, Rotary Park, and Crampton Park. In addition to bass, the Flint River has bullhead, carp, catfish, northern pike, sucker, walleye, sunfish, crappie, and yellow perch. Minnows and artificial bait are recommended.

Holly Recreation Area

8100 Grange Hall Road, Holly

Holly Recreation Area covers over 8,000 acres and includes four lakes and a boat launch. Heron Lake is the largest of the lakes here, covering 132 acres. The lake is open to kayaks, canoes, and boats that have quiet electric motors. Since this is a prime spot for fishing, all boaters are expected to keep their sounds and speeds low so as not to disrupt others.

Families with children can take advantage of the Fishing in the Parks program available at Heron Lake. Fishing poles and tackle are provided for participants. An Explorer Ranger nature specialist guides young anglers through the basics of fishing. This is a free program that offers an excellent introduction to this activity.

If you want an even quieter fishing experience, head to Valley Lake, Lake McGinnis, or Wildwood Lake. These are wake-free areas, so you’ll have all the peace that you want for hours of undisturbed fishing opportunities. In Holly Recreation Area, you can expect to find northern pike, walleye, muskies, crappie, bluegill, sunfish, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass.

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Ortonville Recreation Area

5779 Hadley Road, Ortonville

Ortonville Recreation Area covers 5,400 acres and features several lakes and streams that are home to pike, perch, and bass. Big Fish Lake is the largest lake on the property. Here you can expect to catch carp, catfish, crappie, and sunfish as well. The lake does have a designated swimming beach that you should avoid when fishing. You will find a fishing pier, several sites for accessible shore fishing, and a boat launch if you’d like to head out on the water.

Algoe Lake and Davison Lake have boat launches as well. There are excellent shore fishing opportunities at Mud Lake, Round Lake, and Tody Lake. With so many fishing spots to explore, you may want to stay on-site and enjoy the outdoor recreation for more than just a day. Ortonville State Recreation Area has a rustic first-come, first-serve equestrian campground with 25 sites. You can also rent the Pines Cabin, which has a vault toilet, grill, and propane heat.

Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area

3871 Hard Road, Metamora

The centerpiece of Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area is the 80-acre Lake Minnewanna. Two fishing docks and a boat launch are available for your fishing adventures. Rowboats and canoes are available to rent as well. The lake has a marked swimming beach on one side. Fishing in Lake Minnewanna, you can expect to find carp, crappie, catfish, largemouth bass, yellow perch, sunfish, and northern pike. Worms, minnows, and artificial bait are recommended.

If you’re interested in an extended fishing trip, this is an excellent destination for it. The park has 214 modern campsites for a comfortable camping experience. You’ll enjoy modern restrooms, flush toilets, and hot showers. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, fire pit, and electricity. A camp store is located on-site as well to help you stock up on anything you may have forgotten.

Highland Recreation Area

5200 Highland Road

Highland Recreation Area offers several fishing opportunities, including four lakes with boating access. Alderman Lake and Lower Pettibone Lake have fishing piers as well. The area can get boggy, so boaters should stay vigilant about their surroundings. Canoes and kayaks are the best choice for navigating these surroundings. The lakes are home to crappie, bass, bluegill, and pike. The park features day-use areas for swimming, picnicking, volleyball, and horseshoes as well.

Did we include your favorite fishing spots on our list? If we missed a great destination for fishing around Flint, contact our team at Applegate Chevrolet and let us know! We want to make sure we’re always giving our customers the best local recommendations.

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