Lee Lake in Saint Joseph County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Saint Joseph County in Michigan is where Lee Lake sits. The water sits 856 feet up. It runs to roughly 44 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 1.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Sturgis is the closest place, 2.7 miles off. For a city, South Bend is 45 miles off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lee Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Saint Joseph County cover bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Lee Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 22°F to 72°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late March. The water is typically free of ice between late March and mid December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lee Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Lee Lake Boat Launch provides a boat ramp about half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Williams Lake, 0.5 miles away. What applies at Lee Lake may have changed since it was mapped.