Leisure Lakes in Sangamon County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Leisure Lakes lies in Sangamon County, in Illinois. It sits at 584 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Sangamon County standards. The town to know is Chatham, 3 miles out. For a city, Springfield is 9.9 miles off. Close by you have: Lake Loami at 5.3 miles, Lake Commanche at about 9.8 miles, Lake Springfield at 9.8 miles, Cilca Lake at about 14 miles and Waverly Lake at 15 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Leisure Lakes

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Species logged across Sangamon County include green sunfish, bluegill, white crappie, largemouth bass and tadpole madtom. The county list is broader than any single water. Leisure Lakes gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 76°F; by January the average is down near 25°F. A lid forms in a hard winter only. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Anyone fishing Leisure Lakes regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Lake Loami is 5.3 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Leisure Lakes for certain.