Twin Lake Fishing Guide, Hillsdale County, Michigan

• Overview

  Twin Lake is a Hillsdale County water, in Michigan. This is pine and birch country. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Hillsdale County standards. Hillsdale is the closest town at 4.6 miles. Ann Arbor is the closest city, 50 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Twin Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Hillsdale County include bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Anyone new to Twin Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• 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. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late March. The water is typically free of ice between late March and mid December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Expect Twin Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Deer Lake is 0.4 miles distant. None of that is settled for Twin Lake in what we hold.