Fishing King Lake in Hillsdale County, Michigan

• Overview

  King Lake sits within Hillsdale County in Michigan. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. It measures about 27 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 0.9 miles on foot. The town to know is Hillsdale, 1.7 miles out. The nearest city of size is Ann Arbor, 53 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on King Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Hillsdale County cover bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of King Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 71°F in July and bottom out at 21°F in January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late March. The season between ice runs from about late March to mid December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on King Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Mill Pond, 1.5 miles out. Check the position at King Lake before loading the car.