Belle island state park

[Got Fish??]

Now that the island is a state park. Do you think a four or six bay  boat ramp with docks should  be built  on the island to launch  boats? If they were, would you use them?

[Manxfishing]

It would be a great site

[VinceR]

I would definitely use them. With a continuous LEO presence (both DNR and MSP), I would feel fairly confident about parking my truck there.

There was talk about it, but it has died down a bit. I will keep pressing my DNR contacts for more info on whether it's still in the plans. 

[dartag]

Would make fishing the lower river much nicer. 

[fiker]

Why not launch at erie metro to fish the lower river?

[dartag]

Sorry Rick.  I should have said Lower lake or Upper Detroit river.   Getting old so I get confused these days.   Knowing the DNR it will probably be a long time. 

After buying 1/2 the land needed to move the launch on my lake they missed out on the other 1/2 due to bureaucratic arguing.  Looks like the launch is going to stay where it is for now.  Having to cross the road to park after launching is a pain I have put up with for 30 years.

[Skulley]

Right now I don't think we are going to see a ramp on Belle Isle for awhile.  Rumor has it that the State of Michigan is making attempts to acquire the St. Jeans launch from the City of Detroit and make that a DNR launch.  They would only have to replace the docks at that point.  Stay tuned because I think we are going to know what's going to happen with that by the end of 2015.  You have to remember that not only is Belle Isle now a Michigan State Park but there is also William Milliken State Park and there isn't enough room to put a launch there.  And rather than build a new launch site, it would be more cost effective for the State to acquire St. Jeans and make improvements.  It was actually said that the City is not willing to let the St. Jeans launch go.  The St. Jeans launch site actually turns a profit for the City.  I launch there about a dozen times or so a season.  I've luckily never had any trouble there and the attendant has always been good to me as I always give him a walleye if I catch one.  If you do that, he will keep an extra eye on your vehicle.  Maybe that's why I haven't ever had any issues.


BD                        

[djkimmel]

Not sure about the latest status of St. Jeans? It was supposed to be dredged this year an extra 2 feet, only get one new longer pier and generally get cleaned up. But no definite talk about improving security. I have not heard any talk about the state actually buying it or taking over seriously in a while.

We had a meeting some time ago with various fishing groups, Ron Olson and other MDNR Parks staff and Rodney Stokes - the Governor's recreation point person in Detroit - that went fairly well. We all mentioned security as the lynch pin for heavy use of that ramp. Last I heard Detroit was keeping ownership but that could have changed since I haven't asked for an update in a few months.

A modern Belle Isle boating access site is not a dead issue. It's just going to take some time and work to keep it on the forefront and moving. Lots of interest. B.A.S.S. staff has toured the Park with MDNR staff once or twice. We keep talking about it. There are some obstacles of course but we keep addressing them and trying to move forward. It's not a real fast process, especially considering the extra complexities involved.

Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation and MUCC, along with other groups, are committed to moving it forward. If you're not a federation member (either, or, or both), you should be. So much more potential with bigger numbers behind the various tasks and challenges ahead of us.

[Skulley]

I just knew you would chime in with some more info djkimmel.  I appreciate it.  I am a Federation Member and I would encourage all those who are not, that are on this site, join and stand and be heard.  It would be great to have a launch on Belle Isle.  It is an excellent location to access LSC's south shore.  Great fishing there after the season in Canada opens.  Thanks for the additional info. As always DK you get the inside scoop. 


BD                      

[Got Fish??]

I just don't   see St Jean's as a safe and profitable site . I believe   the island has better potential .

[Team houston]

St. Jeans is fine. I launch there many times every year.

[fiker]

If St. Jeans were improved with new docks and a little dredging and a security guard on duty all day it would be great. 
Usually when I go there the guard that was there in the morning is gone by the time I come back around 2 or 3. 

[Skulley]

I just don't   see St Jean's as a safe and profitable site . I believe   the island has better potential .

You may not find it to be safe but I think you're safer at the actual launch site than you are traveling down Connor Ave to Jefferson. I've never had a problem there. With the launch being on boundary waters, there are usually border patrol officers there throughout the day. I think with them being present as often as they are, you're safer there than you have ever been.

During this Detroit bankruptcy, the city had to make all their financial records public. It showed the operating costs of the launch site versus what the revenue of the site was. They made a profit as the revenue far exceeded the operating costs. That means profit. It's probably why the city is not willing to give up without a fight. Remember the emergency manager proposal was defeated on a vote by the people and Snyder with the stroke of a pen put it in place against the will of the people...........just like RTW.

St. Jeans is fine. I launch there many times every year.

I've never had an issue there. It's a great location for access to LSC's south shore.

BD.                        

[peterman9000]

Seeing the boarder patrol is a regular occurrence for me at St Jeans too. They must get a laugh at watching people try and use the half-submerged docks.  I only launch there when I've got a partner.

[djkimmel]

There should be 1 new dock anyway this year, and dredging. I guess I have to get an update on the status of that since I haven't checked in a few months. I haven't heard of any changes but that is an ever evolving area...

As far as security, I know enough people who have suffered major loss there that I only launch there with a group when I know someone someone I personally know will be at the ramp the whole time watching. The one time I launched alone I was anxious all day BEFORE my friend called me to tell me about his break-in the day before. I came back to some unsavory characters hanging out with nothing better to do, and that didn't help.

I imagine it would be a lot better if border patrol sat there all day every day. Maybe they could take the launch money too?

[kram1982]

There is security at the St Jeans Launch?  I was there last summer and the place is a death trap.  The guard booth was ransacked and no sign of any security whatsoever.  I turned around and went back to 9 Mile to launch.  I wouldn't have taken a chance of launching my boat there, I wouldn't have wanted to lose my trailer and or truck.  I would love to see if turned into a DNR launch though, better security and would hope it gets cleaned up.

[djkimmel]

It is not monitored or manned consistently apparently. Maybe more than it seems because some people launch there fairly often. From what little I've launched there it is inconsistent and not always safe, much less so than any other ramp I've launched at around the lake. Always a good idea to put valuables out of sight at any boat ramp though as a general precaution.