Fishing at Hintz Lake, Dickinson County, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Hintz Lake falls inside Dickinson County. The water sits 1,135 feet up. Supplies mean a trip to Gwinn, 19 miles off. Further out sit Norway (23 miles) and Quinnesec (23 miles). Other water within reach: Pickerel Lake 3.3 miles away, Norway Lake at 4.7 miles, Marsh Lake 5.5 miles away, Gene Pond at 5.8 miles and Mud Lake 7 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Hintz Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Dickinson County names bluegill, walleye and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Take Hintz Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 13°F to 65°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hintz Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Pickerel Lake, 3.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Hintz Lake carry more weight than any list.