Farewell Lake Fishing Guide, Hillsdale County, Michigan

• Overview

  Farewell Lake sits in Hillsdale County, out in Michigan. The surface lies 1,033 feet up. The town to know is Vandercook Lake, 9 miles out. Spring Arbor lies 9.1 miles off, Concord another 10 miles. Nearby, in order: Fox Lake within 0.3 miles, Hinman Lake just 0.6 miles, Pine Hills Lake within 0.7 miles, Round Lake just 0.8 miles and Spencer Lake within 1.2 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Farewell Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Hillsdale County include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Farewell Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in January up to 71°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. Averages suggest open water from about late March through to roughly mid December. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Farewell Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Launch at Pine Hills Lake Boat Launch, 0.9 miles from the water. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. Toilets show in mapping about 0.9 miles away. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Fox Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Farewell Lake may have changed since it was mapped.