Fishing Mill Pond in Hillsdale County, Michigan

• Overview

  Mill Pond stands in Hillsdale County, Michigan. The setting is pine and birch. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Hillsdale is the closest town at 0.6 miles. Jonesville is 5.3 miles away, with Reading at 8.1 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Winona Lake some 1.2 miles off, 1.2 miles away is Barber Lake, King Lake some 1.5 miles off, 1.6 miles away is Baw Beese Lake and Third Lake some 2.2 miles off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Mill Pond

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Hillsdale County include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Mill Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 71°F in July and bottom out at 21°F in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late March. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mill Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. The slipway at Baw Beese Lake Public Boat Launch is half a mile away. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Winona Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Mill Pond.