← Hillsdale County

Bird Lake

πŸ“ Hillsdale County, Michigan

Bird Lake is a fishing water in Hillsdale County, Michigan (Lake Erie management unit).

29
Fish species
1
Boat launches
βœ“
Public access
Conditions today D 47/100 Below-average Last stocked Apr 29, 2025 Rainbow Trout, 1.5 years ago Keeper size (estimated) No estimate Not enough size data Access 1 boat launch Public access

πŸ“Š Fishing Conditions

The fishing conditions score rates how favorable Bird Lake looks for the day you pick (today by default), from 0 to 100. It adds up five things: how recently the lake was stocked, the moon phase, the season, how many game and panfish species live here (such as rainbow trout, yellow perch and golden shiner), and the size of the lake. It does not include the weather forecast. The cards below show how many points each factor contributed.

D
47/100
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Conditions score

Below-average, consider a different lake or time of day.

🎣 Stocking
Last stocked Apr 29, 2025
Last: Apr 29, 2025
πŸŒ– Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous
Feeding bonus
πŸ‚ Season
Fall feeding frenzy
October
🐟 Species
4 species recorded
Game & panfish
πŸ“ Lake Size
Size unknown
Surface area

Fishing Tips for Bird Lake Today

Fall fish at Bird Lake are feeding heavily before winter. Match the forage: shad, crawfish, and perch patterns work well.

πŸ“Š Fishing Pressure

Fishing pressure is our estimate of how busy Bird Lake is likely to be today. It looks at the day of the week, the time of year, and whether the lake has been stocked recently, because fresh stockings tend to draw anglers. Lower pressure usually means more room to work the water for rainbow trout, yellow perch and golden shiner.

High estimated pressure today
Weekend Peak season Popular stocking lake

Expect other anglers. Arrive early or fish early morning for best results.

Estimate based on day of week, season, and recent stocking. Not a live crowd count.

πŸ””
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πŸ“… Best Time to Fish Bird Lake

Combined bite activity across all 29 species in this lake.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

πŸ“ Fishing Regulations

Statewide general rules for the species found here. Individual waters can have exceptions (special size limits, closed seasons, trout lake types), so check this lake's listing in the official DNR Fishing Guide before heading out.
SpeciesMin sizeDaily limit
Rainbow Trout8" (most inland lakes)5 trout, max 3 over 15"
Yellow PerchNone25
Redear SunfishNone25 sunfish combined
πŸ“… Stocking Timeline 5-year history
8 Stocking events
65,050 Fish stocked
1 Species
551d Since last stock
714d Longest gap
Rainbow Trout 65,050
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Today
Qty / event
Apr '17
May '18
Apr '19
Apr '21
May '22
Apr '23
Apr '24
Apr '25

πŸ“‹ Bird Lake Stocking Records

Date Species Quantity Size
Apr 29, 2025 Rainbow Trout 5,887 7.2"
Apr 30, 2024 Rainbow Trout 9,356 7.6"
Apr 25, 2023 Rainbow Trout 7,694 6.8"
May 10, 2022 Rainbow Trout 8,101 6.5"
Apr 9, 2021 Rainbow Trout 8,498 6.3"
Apr 26, 2019 Rainbow Trout 8,497 7.1"
May 2, 2018 Rainbow Trout 8,499 7.5"
Apr 27, 2017 Rainbow Trout 8,518 6.7"
Mar 21, 2016 Rainbow Trout 8,500 7.6"
Apr 23, 2015 Rainbow Trout 8,892 6.4"
Apr 9, 2014 Rainbow Trout 8,798 6.4"
May 6, 2013 Rainbow Trout 9,200 7.0"
Apr 3, 2012 Rainbow Trout 9,099 6.7"
Apr 11, 2011 Rainbow Trout 9,399 6.1"
Apr 6, 2010 Rainbow Trout 9,399 6.8"
Apr 14, 2009 Rainbow Trout 9,800 6.4"
Apr 14, 2008 Rainbow Trout 8,697 7.2"
Apr 2, 2007 Rainbow Trout 8,050 6.5"
Apr 3, 2006 Rainbow Trout 8,495 6.4"
Apr 20, 2005 Rainbow Trout 10,998 7.2"
Apr 5, 2004 Rainbow Trout 9,988 7.0"
Apr 22, 2003 Rainbow Trout 8,498 6.2"
Apr 1, 2002 Rainbow Trout 8,500 5.9"
Apr 3, 2001 Rainbow Trout 8,500 5.9"
Apr 4, 2000 Rainbow Trout 8,500 6.1"
Showing 25 of 36 stocking records, newest first

* Records shown are from our database. For the most current data, visit the Michigan DNR directly.

πŸ“… Stocking Forecast

Based on 36 historical stocking events at this lake. Next likely stocking window: Mar.
Peak Stocking Months
Apr Mar May
Most Stocked Species
Rainbow Trout Redear Sunfish

* Forecast is based on historical DNR data and is not a guarantee of future stocking.

βš“ Bird Lake Boat Launches (1)

One public access site is listed for Bird Lake. Select a launch for details. Details come from the Michigan DNR boating access data and can change, so check posted signs on site. See all Hillsdale County boat launches.

Bird Lake Paved ramp Fee required 1 trailer lane 7 parking
Amenities
Vault toilet, Boating pier, AIS signage, Accessible parking, Accessible pier, Accessible restrooms
Hours
Open at all times
Phone
517-780-7866
Record updated
April 2026
Full details πŸ—Ί Directions

πŸ’‘ Angler Tips for Bird Lake

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🌀 Current Bird Lake Weather Conditions

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