Fishing at Heart Lake, Lake County, Michigan

• Overview

  Heart Lake is one of the Lake County listings for Michigan. It sits at 751 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 15 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Baldwin sits 12 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Scottville (17 miles) and Manistee (22 miles). Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Heart Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Lake County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, white sucker and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Heart Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 68°F and January near 20°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Heart Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. The water borders Sauble Township Community Gardens, so reserve rules are likely to apply. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Alice Lake, 0.2 miles out. None of that is settled for Heart Lake in what we hold.