Long Lake Lapeer County

[MBell]

Hey,
This lake is less than a mile from my house, but the gate is never open.  According to the dnr and various other publications is has a large public boat ramp.  I've contacted the dnr and yet to hear anything and was wondering if any of you guys knew what was up. 
Thanks,Matt

[djkimmel]

That's odd. And kind of disturbing. Maybe I can find something out next week.

[ronhuntfish]

The gates do not open untill July 4th.
The DNR manages that lake for the birds, geese mainly.  It is a decent size lake but is also a no gas motor lake.  The ramp has cement, but it is not what I would call a 'large' ramp.  It has been a while since I fished it, but I used to fish it A LOT when I was in my teens and early twenties. 
I don't think that they put much, if any, effort into managingthe fishing. Like I said, they manage it for the birds, so they keep people off of it early and late in the year so the birds are not disturbed. 

Some history on the lake:  At the NE end of the lake used to be the location of the summer home of Mr. Vernor of the Vernor's Ginger Ale fame.  In the Early part of the 1900's, not sure exactly, his cottage burned down.  My dad can remeber back in the fifties all that was left was some stones/pavers from the front porch and the chimney. Also there were stone steps going down to the lake.  I can remeber the steps and the porch from the early eighties.  At some point, he gave/sold his property to the State of Mich.  All the property surrounding the lake is basically a nature preserve, not open to hunting, or even walking on I don't think.  Most of the adjacent property is state land.
If you drive down Vernor road around the north side of the lake, you might be able to see some remains of his old place, not sure though. It is just a little past (east of) the DNR facility.
Now I'm thinking I should drive by there, since it's been a long time.
There are also a handfull of smaller lakes near there that are ok fishing.  Most are reletivily hard to get to and have ok to poor access.

[MBell]

Thanks for the info, if I get anything back from the dnr I will post it.  I fished cedar lake quite a bit this summer, that lake gets a ton of pressure.  Cedar is fun, but no fish my biggest was only 13" and I caught well over 100 largemouths out there this year.  If there was any quality fish out there I would have ran into a few, the only keeper I ever saw was in a shore fisherman's bucket and only about 1.5lbs. Know anything about fish lake, is it public?  I can get my boat in there as well just never got around to it.  Anyone know if it's ok to take a gas motor on a no gas motor lake as long as you don't use it?
-Matt 

[djkimmel]

In the past, you could not take a gas motor onto such a lake whether you ran the motor or not. Same as if they have a horsepower limit, you can't take a larger motor even if you say you'll only go no-wake.

That's why I worked hard years back with others on some popular lakes to change them from electric only to slow no-wake instead, so any angler could fish them. More fair. When we flipped Sleepy Hollow from electric only, a bunch of other lakes went that way too because the only real solid goal had been to keep them quiet fishing lakes.

Been a loonnnggg time since I had that discussion with MDNR recreation people. I guess I didn't know there were really any such lakes left in Michigan in the lower more-populated parts of the state. Surprise.

If the MDNR has other purposes for a lake, such as studies, water quality test, sanctuary, it would be harder to get a change in the format. Not impossible, but harder. It usually depends on how the locals feel.

[ronhuntfish]

I always thought it meant no gas motors even if you don't use it, but then I have seen people with them on their boats. 
I've had the same experience with the other lakes around there, lots of fish, but all dinks.  I did catch about a 23 inch largemouth out of Fox Lake, but again, that was many moons ago. You also had to carry your boat to the water then.
My experience with Fish lake is lots of pan fish, mostly small. 
Now that my kids are getting a little older, I may have to try these lakes this summer.  You rekindled my intrest again!

[MBell]

Just got a response from the dnr, all they said was to call the livonia office.   
-Matt

[djkimmel]

Well... guess you'll be giving Gary Towns or one of his guys a call - one of these numbers if  you don't already have them (others might want to write these down for later too):
734-953-0241  main I think
734-432-1267

[Skulley]

Never heard of this one......how many are there?     Long Lakes in Michigan.


BD       

[Dan]

There's a Long Lake just north of Interlochen which is a little southwest of Traverse. A big lake with some great smallmouth, walleye and mushie fishing.

[ronhuntfish]

Drove by Long Lake in Lapeer yesterday. It's open for ice fishing now. Not sure how long they keep it open though.  There were about 5 or six vehicles in the parking lot.

[MBell]

I was one of them, I've talked to a few people out there and no one knows anything.  They said when the gates open it's open.
-Matt