Boating in Michigan

[madhatter160]

Re: Boating in Michigan

Anytime you can be on the water in the boat is a good time...

My wife and I purchased our first boat last year and because we didn't know a lot of lakes we bought a Michigan fishing book, I believe they have four different books for the whole state. It shows all the lakes, and actually has fairly good depth charts. This book has been great for us to explore new places...It is called the Sportsman's Connection Fishing Map Guide, it was 19.99

Looks like their website is www.scmaps.com I think we got ours at Gander Mountain...

Good Luck, and safe boating.

Another resource for lake maps is the Michigan DNR. Inland Lake Maps

They have maps available to download as .PDFs. Not sure how often they're updated, but it's nice to have some idea of the shoreline and bottom contours.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Boating in Michigan

Not sure how often they're updated

LOL many of those contour maps were from surveys done back in the late 30s

Surprisingly they remain accurate in most cases, -/+ a few feet

I've been printing those for years to find the deep spots before I head out fishing and I agree...it's a great resource.

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: Boating in Michigan

A vacation "Biking/hiking" Thats sounds like work! not R&R

Sounds like fun/excersize to me. The best part is that my fiance and I will be together for 10 days straight. Thats what I'm most looking forward too. Who cares what we do really!

Don't let that stop you...there's a boat rental where you can get set up with a 14' tinny and check out the huge reservoir.

It's actually best to rent a boat like that if yours is bigger since it flooded a forest back in the 30s and it is notoriously bad for hitting stumps/submerged trees.

It's like 9,000 acres in size so lots to explore, my grandpa lived in Rogers City and it was one of his favorite fishing spots back in the day.

Thats a great idea too. Might have to look into that. I know we plan on heading to Alpena for a day to see whats around there, so its not that far out of reach, and yea with stumps etc...My boat is kinda big, and I'd rather not hit any of them! LOL

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Boating in Michigan

Anyone who's into boats should stop at this Shipwreck museum in Alpena if you have an hour or two to kill.

Very interesting stuff there on all the shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary up there.

 

[Billdc]

Re: Boating in Michigan

Don't let that stop you...there's a boat rental where you can get set up with a 14' tinny and check out the huge reservoir.

It's actually best to rent a boat like that if yours is bigger since it flooded a forest back in the 30s and it is notoriously bad for hitting stumps/submerged trees.

It's like 9,000 acres in size so lots to explore, my grandpa lived in Rogers City and it was one of his favorite fishing spots back in the day.

My aunt and uncle owned the store right by that boat rental in the 70's( not sure if they owned the boat rental too or not). I always liked Long Lake on 23 north of Alpena, water skied there alot as a kid. I don't remember a alot of shallows/stumps there and it would be nice with a bigger boat.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Boating in Michigan

My aunt and uncle owned the store right by that boat rental in the 70's( not sure if they owned the boat rental too or not). I always liked Long Lake on 23 north of Alpena, water skied there alot as a kid. I don't remember a alot of shallows/stumps there and it would be nice with a bigger boat.

I agree...Long Lake is about 10 minutes from our cottage on Lake Huron and it's a perfect lake for skiing. The water sure stays warmer than the big lake and plenty of room to run

Those little shops always have good fishing tips too

The nice thing about the "sunrise side" of the state up north is the quiet and lack of tourists everywhere like the west side of the peninsula.

 

[sillyhilley]

Re: Boating in Michigan

if your still looking for places to go boating, look at www.MichiganInteractive.com. This will show all inland lakes and water depth and so on...

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Boating in Michigan

Michigan Interactive (www.fishweb.com) is a great resource that I have used frequently.

It is not all that complete though. I know of dozens (several dozen) of lakes that do not have maps on that particular website. The ones that aren't on there are mostly in the sourthern half of the Lower Pennisula.

 

[sillyhilley]

Re: Boating in Michigan

I think most southern lakes are murky at best, i see you have been to torch. elk lake connects to torch,through elk rapids,and elk lake is very nice and has a nice blue/green color to it. if you head north on elk lake on the west side is an awesome sand bar low key and great for kids with 2% of the boats on the sand bar opposed to torch sand bar, and elk sand bar is pg rated...

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Boating in Michigan

Interesting... I also launch at Riverside Park on the Grand River. Difference being that I launch at the one just north of downtown Grand Rapids. and head upstream. When I saw mxzeatr's post I thought he was launching at the same place I was. Another good spot here in Kent county is Wabasis Lake. Also have good camping there at a reasonable price. Even have a docking area to tie the boat off while you are camping.

http://www.accesskent.com/CultureLeisureAndTransit/Parks/campground.htm

TerryMSU

I guess I missed the rebirth of this thread. We lived in Hudsonville and used to launch routinely at Riverside and ski the gravel pit up the river a bit. I learned to slalom and barefoot there. We also launched from there, as teenagers, and trekked up Lake Michigan to Muskegon for some fireworks one time.

Great memories!

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Boating in Michigan

I think most southern lakes are murky at best, i see you have been to torch. elk lake connects to torch,through elk rapids,and elk lake is very nice and has a nice blue/green color to it. if you head north on elk lake on the west side is an awesome sand bar low key and great for kids with 2% of the boats on the sand bar opposed to torch sand bar, and elk sand bar is pg rated...

Thanks for the tip on Elk Lake.

There are plenty of very nice lakes in the southern portion of the lower pennisula. I think that the person that runs the Michigan Interactive site is based in the North.

 

[Ki Ki]

Re: Boating in Michigan

Michigan boater here too! No better state in the USA for boating in my opinion.

Anyone know a good mechanic, at a good price in Mid-Michigan area? Or maybe just someone that knows a bit about outboards that would work on mine for a decent price.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Boating in Michigan

Thanks for the tip on Elk Lake.

There are plenty of very nice lakes in the southern portion of the lower pennisula. I think that the person that runs the Michigan Interactive site is based in the North.

My brother, and a few members here, live around Brutus Lake and the surrounding upper Lower Peninsula lakes. I think part of the Oops crew lives up there, if I remember right.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Re: Boating in Michigan

I have posted a bunch of new stuff in my blog.

Take a look if you are interested.

http://michiganboater.blogspot.com/

I'm from Allendale and have no experience of where to go when boating... your blog is extremely helpful thanks!!

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Boating in Michigan

I'm glad it has been helpful.

I have a lot more to post about. I haven't taken much time this summer to keep it all up to date.

Where have you been using your boat?

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Re: Boating in Michigan

I haven't really been anywhere with it other than I put in at pigeon lake and went into lake Michigan. I plan on trying out the grand hopefully this weekend. Your blog defiantly has given me ideas of where to go next year though.

 

[mjdh_80]

Re: Boating in Michigan

I can't believe I missed this thread this summer. We're from Geand Rapids area also and were looking for places to go this past summer. We have been out to Dumont lake a few times and alway enjoy it there (except when our cooler got stolen while we were on the water). I would like to say everyone in Michigan should make it a point to get their boat put on torch lake. We ran into a lot of problems getting there and back, but it was still one of the best weekends ever!
We go out on reeds lake in east gr a few times a year also. Mostly early and late season is best for that and you will probably have to parallel park your truck and trailer. I am deffinately going to booark this thread and check it when we are looking for somewhere to go.
Since we have quite a few people on here we should get a meet together next summer.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Boating in Michigan

I'm glad you found the thread now.

I have a lot of things to add that I plan to get to in the next few months. I saw quite a few snow flakes yesterday. I guess it is time to actually winterize the boat now. Too bad. I planned to get one more outing in this year.

 

[grunt]

Re: Boating in Michigan

semper fi fellas,
im new to this sight but i think its gonna be awesome, i got some plans im working on for my spring break and i wanna get as much info as i can before embarking. i have a 1950's aluminum starcraft, might be a speedyqueen, not sure. i have a 15 hp mercury 4 stroke with a piranha prop and extra blades and a stabilizer fin. it goes really good, i can pull tubes and kneeboards and stuff. I plan on launching in lower michigans west coast, maybe west basin municipal marina. from there, cruising north along the coast line maybe a mile off-shore or whatever it takes to get around the break waters. once i reach petoskey i plan on heading northwest to tuck in behind beaver island, once there i can head between squaw island and garden island and head straight for point patterson where we have 80 acres of private land 1/2 mile up gould city road. once there i will be packpacking for a few days so i will bring appropriate gear on the minimal side. So, lets talk!

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Boating in Michigan

grunt,

I posted on your other thread. As I said over there, I don't want to discourage adventure, but your plan has me a bit concerned.

I have had some crazy thoughts about doing stuff like this and have actually done a few things that were probably a little crazy in and around the Great Lakes.

I have to admit that your idea is a bit of a stretch. I really think you would need to go from port to port and even then you can get stuck between ports and find yourself in a really bad situation fast.

The amount of time required to cover that distance in that small of a boat really would require 4-5 days of perfect weather. That is hard to come by and if you are forced to keep a schedule you will likely never make it.