Fishing Herendeene Lake in Benzie County, Michigan

• Overview

  Benzie County, Michigan, is where Herendeene Lake sits. The setting is mixed forest on every side. The water covers some 39 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. For supplies, Greilickville is 11 miles out. Green Bay sits 107 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Herendeene Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Reported across Benzie County: yellow perch, rock bass, smallmouth bass and white sucker. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Herendeene Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 20°F to 68°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan any trip to Herendeene Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a fishing water. The slipway at Herendeene Lake Boat Launch is half a mile away. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Fuller Lake is 0.3 miles distant. Confirm access to Herendeene Lake locally before you travel.