Hemlock Lake Fishing near Harrison, Michigan

• Overview

  Hemlock Lake lies within the bounds of Clare County, Michigan. Height above sea level is 1,089 feet. It runs to roughly 26 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Some 9.3 miles away sits Harrison, the nearest settlement. For a city, Grand Rapids is 76 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Hemlock Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, pink salmon, northern pike and black crappie. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Hemlock Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 68°F in July and bottom out at 19°F in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan any trip to Hemlock Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Perch Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Hemlock Lake should be assumed from this page alone.