Lake of the Hills Fishing in Isabella County, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Isabella County, Michigan, sits Lake of the Hills. The surface lies 915 feet up. With some 82 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. A shoreline of some 3.1 miles keeps the choices simple. Size puts it in the front rank of our Isabella County list. The closest town, Lake Isabella, is 3.7 miles distant. Grand Rapids sits 62 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake of the Hills

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Records held for Isabella County cover johnny darter, white sucker, rainbow darter and rock bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of Lake of the Hills decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 69°F and January at 20°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. 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. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It holds true on Lake of the Hills more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. Sherman Section 12 Hunt Club runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Perch Lake is 0.5 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Lake of the Hills.