Lepley Lake Fishing near Colon, Michigan

• Overview

  In Michigan, Lepley Lake falls inside Saint Joseph County. The bank is 850 feet above sea level. It covers about 17 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Saint Joseph County. You are 3.2 miles from Colon. It is 50 miles to South Bend, the nearest city. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lepley Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Saint Joseph County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch and black crappie. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Fish Lepley Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 22°F and July at about 72°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages suggest open water from about late March through to roughly mid December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Lepley Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a slipway at Long Lake Boat Launch, roughly half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Long Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Lepley Lake locally before you travel.