Fishing at Halfmoon Lake, Clare County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Halfmoon Lake falls inside Clare County. Height above sea level is 1,152 feet. The water covers some 25 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 1.2 miles in total. The nearest place of any size is Harrison, 6.5 miles away. Houghton Lake is 14 miles and Prudenville 14 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Halfmoon Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Clare County cover bluegill, largemouth bass and pink salmon. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Halfmoon Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Halfmoon Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Bluegill Lake is 0.4 miles distant. The position on Halfmoon Lake is worth confirming on the day.