Hatt Pond Fishing in Leelanau County, Michigan

• Overview

  Look for Hatt Pond in the Leelanau County part of Michigan. It stands 597 feet above sea level. This is a tiny water, and one quiet approach covers all of it. Most waters listed here for Leelanau County are larger. For a base, Greilickville sits 18 miles out. Green Bay sits 108 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Hatt Pond

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Leelanau County records list alewife, rock bass and yellow perch among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Take Hatt Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 68°F in July and bottom out at 22°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. That is the shape of the year on Hatt Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Parking is close: a car park sits half a mile from the bank. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Hidden Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Hatt Pond for certain.