Hills Lake Fishing near Evart, Michigan

• Overview

  Hills Lake lies in Mecosta County, in Michigan. Elevation runs to 1,007 feet. It covers about 10 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Mecosta County list holds plenty of bigger water. Head to Evart, 10 miles away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 59 miles distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Hills Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Mecosta County include bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass and black crappie. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Hills Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 19°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Hills Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Upper Evans Lake is 1.1 miles off. Treat Hills Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.