Hardwood Lake in Barry County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hardwood Lake sits in Barry County, out in Michigan. Height above sea level is 801 feet. It runs to roughly 28 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Middleville sits 3.5 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Wayland lies 6.2 miles off, Caledonia another 6.5 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Hardwood Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Barry County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Hardwood Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. The lid tends to go about late March and return around mid December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Hardwood Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Leeks Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Hardwood Lake before loading the car.