Leisure Lake in Shiawassee County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Shiawassee County in Michigan is where Leisure Lake sits. Land around it is lake country bush. The water covers some 50 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 2.2 miles in total. On our Shiawassee County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Durand, is 3 miles away. Swartz Creek lies 6.8 miles off, Corunna another 8 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Leisure Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Shiawassee County, recorded fish include bluegill, northern pike, largemouth bass, pink salmon and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Leisure Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 21°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly mid December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That is the shape of the year on Leisure Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Hemingway Lake at 7.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Leisure Lake locally before you travel.