Moon Lake Fishing near Manitou Beach-Devils Lake, Michigan

• Overview

  Out in Hillsdale County, Michigan, sits Moon Lake. The setting is rolling bush. With some 31 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. You are 7.8 miles from Manitou Beach-Devils Lake. The big place round here is Ann Arbor, 38 miles distant. Water in the same corner: Blood Lake out at 0.4 miles, Lombard Lake sits 0.8 miles out, Perch Lake out at 1.3 miles, Crystal Lake sits 1.7 miles out and Lake Somerset out at 1.9 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Moon Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Hillsdale County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Moon Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 22°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late March. The water is typically free of ice between late March and mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Moon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Blood Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Moon Lake before loading the car.