Fishing at Leisure Lake, Dodge County, Nebraska

• Overview

  The Dodge County end of Nebraska holds Leisure Lake. The ground round it is lake country bush. The water covers some 41 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It lies lower than most water we list in Nebraska. Start from Fremont, 2.1 miles down the road. Beyond it, Arlington at 9.8 miles and Valley at 13 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Leisure Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Dodge County include freshwater drum, bluegill, common carp, gizzard shad and black crappie. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Leisure Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 21°F in January up to 76°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid March. In an average year the thaw lands around mid March and the freeze near mid December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Leisure Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. A rest area sits about half a mile from the water. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Check the position at Leisure Lake before loading the car.