Bullhead Lake Fishing in Hillsdale County, Michigan

• Overview

  Bullhead Lake belongs to Hillsdale County, Michigan. It sits in lake country bush country. Surface area is around 31 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Head to Jonesville, 2.1 miles away, for anything you forgot. Ann Arbor is the closest city, 52 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bullhead Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Hillsdale County: bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Bullhead Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 21°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. Open water usually runs from late March until about mid December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Bullhead Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. North Sand Lake at 2.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Bullhead Lake are worth checking on the day.