"We've had luck with just about anything in the tackle box," park manager Willis Bennett said. "Soft plastics, crankbaits -- they'll all do well at Hawk Island."

When the lake was opened to fishing in 2000, people immediately started catching 6- and 7-pound largemouths, and Bennett caught a 21-pound flathead catfish. Park officials realized the potential for this old gravel pit, so they added fishing piers and a swimming area. During the same year, 2,000 largemouths measuring 12 inches were stocked, along with a subsequent planting of 500 pounds of bass ranging from 2 to 5 pounds each. This fishery was well under way from the get-go, and smaller stockings have maintained it. However, be aware that Hawk Island's bass are catch-and-release-only.

The park is on Cavanaugh Road between Pennsylvania and Aurelius avenues. The park gates open at 6 a.m. from May 15 through Aug. 15 and at 7 a.m. from Aug. 16 through September. A fee is required on the weekends and holidays. Rowboats are available for rent at the park. Call the Ingham County Parks Department at (517) 676-2233 for fishing information. If you are a tourist, call the Greater Lansing Visitor's Bureau at 1-888-2LANSING.

* * * If you live near one of Michigan's big cities, don't let the dog days of summer get you down, because there's good bassin' not far away! "We've had luck with just about anything in the tackle box," park manager Willis Bennett said. "Soft plastics, crankbaits -- they'll all do well at Hawk Island."

When the lake was opened to fishing in 2000, people immediately started catching 6- and 7-pound largemouths, and Bennett caught a 21-pound flathead catfish. Park officials realized the potential for this old gravel pit, so they added fishing piers and a swimming area. During the same year, 2,000 largemouths measuring 12 inches were stocked, along with a subsequent planting of 500 pounds of bass ranging from 2 to 5 pounds each. This fishery was well under way from the get-go, and smaller stockings have maintained it. However, be aware that Hawk Island's bass are catch-and-release-only.

The park is on Cavanaugh Road between Pennsylvania and Aurelius avenues. The park gates open at 6 a.m. from May 15 through Aug. 15 and at 7 a.m. from Aug. 16 through September. A fee is required on the weekends and holidays. Rowboats are available for rent at the park. Call the Ingham County Parks Department at (517) 676-2233 for fishing information. If you are a tourist, call the Greater Lansing Visitor's Bureau at 1-888-2LANSING.

* * * If you live near one of Michigan's big cities, don't let the dog days of summer get you down, because there's good bassin' not far away!