Colby Lake Fishing near Perry, Michigan

• Overview

  Colby Lake is a Shiawassee County water, Michigan side. It lies 866 feet above sea level. The water covers some 38 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Size puts it in the front rank of our Shiawassee County list. Nearest town is Perry, 5.2 miles off. The big place round here is Lansing, 13 miles distant. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Colby Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Shiawassee County include bluegill, northern pike, largemouth bass, pink salmon and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Colby Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 70°F, while January sits near 21°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The open-water window runs from around early April to about mid December in an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Colby Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Moon Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Colby Lake should be assumed from this page alone.