Fishing at Pleasant Lake, Washtenaw County, Michigan

• Overview

  Pleasant Lake is set in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Beyond the shoreline you have mixed forest. It measures about 207 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. At about 3.1 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. On our Washtenaw County list it sits near the top for size. Some 5.7 miles away sits Manchester, the nearest settlement. Ann Arbor is the closest city, 12 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Pleasant Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Washtenaw County include bluegill, largemouth bass and rock bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The near bank of Pleasant Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 71°F and January near 22°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around late March to about mid December in an average year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That shapes the year on Pleasant Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. Public data records a pier about 0.9 miles out. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Silver Lake, 1.7 miles out. Treat Pleasant Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.