Lake Somerset Fishing near Manitou Beach-Devils Lake, Michigan

• Overview

  Lake Somerset is one of the Hillsdale County waters in Michigan. What surrounds it is pine and birch. The water covers some 172 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline length is close to 3.3 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. Size puts it in the front rank of our Hillsdale County list. The town to know is Manitou Beach-Devils Lake, 7.3 miles out. The big place round here is Ann Arbor, 36 miles distant. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Lake Somerset

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. The county list is broader than any single water. On Lake Somerset the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 22°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. On Lake Somerset the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is a ramp at Boat Launch, half a mile out. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. 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 Perch Lake, 1.7 miles out. What applies at Lake Somerset may have changed since it was mapped.