Chilson Impoundment in Livingston County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Chilson Impoundment is a Livingston County water, in Michigan. The surface lies 915 feet up. Surface area is around 100 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The whole outline is near 1.5 miles, and most of it is walkable. The nearest town is Brighton, 4.3 miles away. Then Pinckney, 5.9 miles, and Howell, 7.3 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Chilson Impoundment

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie, pink salmon and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Chilson Impoundment the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 22°F in January and 70°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. Break-up sits around late March on average, with the water closing again about mid December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Chilson Impoundment runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Little Appleton Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Chilson Impoundment may have changed since it was mapped.