Lily Lake Fishing near Harrison, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Lily Lake falls inside Clare County. The bank gives way to rolling bush. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Clare County standards. Start from Harrison, 4.9 miles down the road. Clare is 11 miles and Gladwin 12 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Clare County include bluegill, largemouth bass, pink salmon, northern pike and black crappie. The county list is broader than any single water. At Lily Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 19°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about mid December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Lily Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Bass Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Lily Lake.