Fishing Leg Lake in Leelanau County, Michigan

• Overview

  Leg Lake lies within the bounds of Leelanau County, Michigan. The surface lies 617 feet up. It is low-lying compared with other Michigan water we list. The closest town, Charlevoix, is 19 miles away. Beyond it, Elk Rapids at 21 miles and Bellaire at 23 miles. Nearby alternatives: Mud Lake just 1.7 miles, Garthes Pond a shade over 2.5 miles, Bass Lake just 7.5 miles, Mougeys Lake a shade over 7.8 miles and Harwood Lake just 13 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Leg Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Leelanau County records list alewife, rock bass, yellow perch, Chinook salmon and lake whitefish among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Leg Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 67°F and January near 24°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Leg Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. The water borders Kehl Lake Natural Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Mud Lake, 1.7 miles out. Check the position at Leg Lake before loading the car.