Mercer Lakes Fishing Guide, Hillsdale County, Michigan

• Overview

  Mercer Lakes is one of the Hillsdale County waters in Michigan. The bank is 1,076 feet above sea level. The closest town, Manitou Beach-Devils Lake, is 6.6 miles away. The nearest city of size is Ann Arbor, 39 miles away. Others close at hand: Ames Lake within 1.8 miles, 2 miles out stands Bloomer Lake, Lombard Lake within 2.3 miles, 2.7 miles out stands Blood Lake and Moon Lake within 2.8 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Mercer Lakes

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Hillsdale County include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Anyone new to Mercer Lakes should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 22°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid usually goes in late March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Averages suggest open water from about late March through to roughly mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. At Mercer Lakes the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Ames Lake, 1.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Mercer Lakes.