Willet Lake, Michigan: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Willet Lake lies in Hillsdale County, in Michigan. It sits at 1,076 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 46 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Supplies mean a trip to Jonesville, 9.9 miles off. Spring Arbor lies 11 miles off, Vandercook Lake another 11 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Willet Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Hillsdale County list bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie and warmouth. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Willet Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 22°F to 71°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly mid December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Willet Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Spencer Lake is 1.7 miles off. Check the position on Willet Lake before loading the car.