Is there a launch on one of these lakes? I want to do some panfish fishing and a little bass fishing and have heard good things about these two lakes I will try another lake in Oakland or Livingston counties if anyone has a suggestion. I fished Kent last week, but I want to keep away from Bowfin.
There used to be several private launches around that chain (I'm not sure if any of them are open any more). The only DNR launch is in the river channel, just off Big Portage Lake (by the bridge). It doesn't open until 8:00 am.?
There is a public launch on big portage off of mcgregor road with a limited number of spaces so if you go on the weekends get there early. There also is a Launch on zukey lake if you want to avoid all the no wake to get up to Zukey and Strawberry Its at the zukey lake marina and I think it costs something ridiculous like 20 bucks to launch and they lock the gate by 5:30 in the afternoon. Good luck!
Thanks fellas, I really didn't want to drive to Big Portage just to launch and navigate all the way up to Zukey & Strawberry. $20.00 bucks is too much to launch. I'm going to fish in Oakland County today, so it may be Kent, Woodland or Lower Pettibone. I heard the ramp at Lower Pettibone is dangerous though. Since I'm by myself, I'll have to play it safe. I appreciate the report. Have a good weekend.
I know that the Zukey Lake marina is really expensive. I know on the lake by my house they usually do pretty good for panfish. It is Crooked Lake, just west of Brighton and the DNR launch there is not too bad. There is one little hole if you get off to the side but straight on it is pretty good: LINK TO MAP (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=42.545176,-83.846369&spn=0.016473,0.040255&om=1). The launch is at the end of Challis Rd. and it is connected by a channel to Little Crooked.
Thanks for the info. on the Crooked Lakes. When this rain passes, I'll try the Crooked Lakes or Woodland. I 've got paper maps of those lakes.
If you go to Crooked when you come out of the channel keep a little to the left. Off to the right it is about 6" deep with a rock bottom, found this out the hard way last year. The panfish guys I have talked to fish the flats down the right out of the launch, but I think that if you go straight across the lake into the SW corner of Big Crooked it is better. There, the cove behind there, or the north shore of the big lake. The back lake is much more shallow with a hump off to the north of the first island and a hole in the far south of the lake that should be good. Also the water between the lakes has a lot of potential.
If it ever stops raining, It will probably be Crooked, I ve only got paper maps though. I 've got two Gps systems on the boat with Navionics Hot maps but neither has Crooked ,Woodland, Lower Pettibone, Big Portage, Little Portage or Zukey. I do have Strawberry though. I've got me some Wax Worms and just want to catch a mess of panfish and chill.
watch out for the Pike on crooked its loaded with em