Lilley Lake Fishing in Newaygo County, Michigan

• Overview

  Michigan holds Lilley Lake, in Newaygo County. The water sits 863 feet up. With some 61 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The whole outline is near 1.3 miles, and most of it is walkable. It is among the larger waters listed here for Newaygo County. Baldwin lies 7.6 miles from the water. The big place round here is Grand Rapids, 58 miles distant. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Lilley Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Reported across Newaygo County: largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and johnny darter. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Anyone new to Lilley Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 68°F and January near 20°F on the long-run figures. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. From about early April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Lilley Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A jetty or pier is mapped about 0.9 miles from here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Sisson Lake is 0.4 miles off. For Lilley Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.