public lake?

[Jefferson]

So I know a small lake surrounded by a fence(one big part knocked down) and see roads to access the lake locked up with gates. The internet is telling me its public, but I cant seem to find any land ownership records anywhere. Yes I tried it last summer and it produced 3.5lb largemouth and some nice pike. Any ideas on finding out more info on it. Got a 50/50 guilty conscience about it. Knock a nearby door? Make a call? Any tips? Stuck on land for now and its a great find.

[fiker]

Most counties have their plat maps on line now.  Try that.

[djkimmel]

You CAN believe everything on the Internet! Oui?

If you can get into it from a road end at a stream that flows into it that might work but the definition is very old for 'navigable' stream or river, and does not apply automatically to every river and stream. I'm not sure even if every stream or river has to be navigable if it is commonly recognized as a public water?

Normally, a lake is considered public if it has an inflowing and outflowing stream or river that is public (most of them, but the navigability might come into it). If the lake is completely surrounded by the land of one owner, and does not have public stream/river access it may be private. Some associations get around this through having the lake completely surrounded by the association property but I don't believe this always overrides the inflowing and outflowing stream/river deal?

I will say that when I had access to a lawyer who was very knowledgeable about this in the past she told me the best thing I could do was go into the lake, get arrested and challenge it in court, one lake at a time. She would help (maybe). I decided to not try that method... I no longer have access to her either.

Make sure you're clear about lake identity/location, and then call the MDNR, starting with the closest office first, to ask if they have any information on public access for the lake. That has worked for me in the past a few times.

Public road ends at the lake shore can be the only public access on some lakes but the locals will sometimes try to block access.

Of course, my GreatLakesBass.com disclaimer is in force - I'm not a lawyer, and none of the stuff I post can be taken as legal advice or language. I already know from personal experience that saying some of this stuff to a landowner who is yelling at you from shore won't have much effect... good thing there are 11,000 lakes in Michigan!

[Jefferson]

Thanks! Great info. Probably gonna call. Couldn't find anymore online. There's only one property within half a mile of the place. That's why the broken fence stumped me.

[thedude]

do a google search for the name of the county along with "GIS" that should get you an online parcel map with owner details. "public access" will typically show up as belonging to a parks dept, county or state or the DNR.  If it is not clearly marked however you should probably still contact whomever shows as the owner.

[Got Fish??]

 The state DNR takes trade on public lands for a privet lands and donations of privet land too the DNR. It may be that the land is  public. But not yet on a plot map. Contaced the DNR, they will give you your answer