Fishing at Leaf Lake, Newaygo County, Michigan

• Overview

  The Newaygo County entry here is Leaf Lake, in Michigan. It sits at 846 feet above sea level. Small at around 16 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Baldwin sits 11 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Then White Cloud, 15 miles, and Fremont, 19 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Leaf Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Newaygo County include largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Leaf Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 20°F in January up to 69°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about mid December in a typical year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Leaf Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Walkup Lake is 0.7 miles off. None of that is settled for Leaf Lake in what we hold.