Gillen Springs, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Gillen Springs is set in Lake County, Michigan. The surface lies 791 feet up. The water measures roughly 16 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Head to Baldwin, 8.9 miles away, for anything you forgot. Scottville lies 15 miles off, Hart another 20 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Gillen Springs

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Lake County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, white sucker and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Gillen Springs that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 20°F in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. The lid tends to go about early April and return around mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Gillen Springs.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Hill Lake is 0.9 miles off. Confirm before you fish Gillen Springs.