Lake Lancer Boat Ramp Closed for about 2 Weeks from 6/2/2010

[djkimmel]

Talked to Bob at the Sugar Springs lake association and Shirley, Butman Township supervisor and was told the township public boat ramp on Lake Lancer will be closed for repairs for about 2 weeks from 6/2/10. If you plan on fishing there, you should confirm the ramp is back open before you head out to Sugar Springs (near Gladwin).

You can contact Butman Township at 989-426-4351, but wait the two weeks first. Shirley seemed pretty confident they would be done on time.

There is an MDNRE ramp but it carry in boats only, no actual ramp. The only other ramp is for association members only.

[bob620]

Dan,I was up there a couple weeks ago,met a guy from Midland who was very upset since he had bought a season pass to launch his boat.I believe those people will do anything to keep people out of there that are not part of sugar springs.They have a problem accepting that the Sugar river was dammed to make the lake.They fought the DNR for years to keep the ramp from being built there.I think the DNR should take it back and manage just like any other DNR ramp on a public lake in our State.If it sounds like I am bitter,well I am,lets say a gimpy,take advantage of someone to put money in his wallet, made a lot of runs to pick trucks that did not have to be towed.

[djkimmel]

I'm aware of some of the history there. I have spoken at more public access-related public meetings than probably any other type. Always the same type of people there and usually the same problems trying to get a new public access just about anywhere.

I got a call from the association. Thought I was putting on a tournament which I'm not. Not sure which event he was talking about but I figured any time a ramp closes on a nice lake during the spring/summer months I better let people know.

I got ahold of the township supervisor. She was friendly and positive. She said the backhoe was already out there working. It took a while to get the permit for the ramp, but they have it now and she seemed very confident the work would only take two weeks.

The association person also said he expected the ramp to only be down until the end of June at most. I'm going to go with the township supervisor since it is their ramp. I guess if it is down still into July, I'll call the township and ask for an update. She seemed sincere and confident though so I'll take her at her word.

[bob620]

Dan,thanks for the reply.They towed a brand new truck that I had at the time and put some dents and scratches on it.This is when you had to buy a daily pass at the local store.It must of blown off the dash board when I got out of the the truck since it did not have any of the sticky stuff to stick it on inside of the  front window.It was on the floor laying there.State police were notified and all points bulletin was put up nationally.That township supervisor got his behind turned inside out.But I sure like that lake to fish,and it gives me a really nice place to go when I take the Wife up to her Mother and Dads up in Gladwin county.

                                           Thanks Bob Galloway

[djkimmel]

Towing a vehicle seems overzealous, but I understand how these things sometimes happen. Hopefully, it won't happen again. Haven't been on the lake in a long, long time. I think I've only been there once or twice. Had a lot of friends who fished it a often in the past.

I fished the little lake once because I knew someone who had a relative living there. We did really good. No more access to that one now since the relative no longer lives there. Good thing we have a lot of lakes.