it's bushman time again

[Frank]

I think it's time for bushman again.   what do you guys think?   last year the weather was horrible but dk  still managed  a 20  inch bass.   for those that don't know,  this is a row boat or canoe only lake and is catch and release for all species.   what day shall we pick?   and we should not put me in charge of blast off as I am pretty slow getting there it seems

[djkimmel]

Can we line up some high school football players to carry any boats larger than a canoe?

[Frank]

 now that's an idea.   besides,  when you really need to get to the other side of a ten acre lake you might as well do 70.

[djkimmel]

I thoroughly enjoyed my fishing partner last year but carrying that boat up that long hill at the end was something else. I think we just need to invite a few big teenagers to fish with us. I want to save my energy for 2 20+-inchers this year!

Fish smarter, not harder.

Besides, it's good to get kids out fishing!

[Frank]

didnt you see my trick?

[djkimmel]

Yes. I think our boat was too long and/or too wide. Can't remember. I was roomy and pretty stable though. Which is good... because I'm clumsy. Especially in chilly, windy rain. I forget all about that when a 20 inch largemouth bass smashes my frog though!

[djkimmel]

Since this is a special event, I think you should repost it in the General Discussions board at the top and put out some ideas about possible fishing event dates.

[dartag]

Di you have to lift the boats over a fence. I have a 14ft flat bottom with a trailer and wheel dolly for the front of the trailer.  Could we use the trailer to take the boats down to the lake.   Looked at the lake on Google earth but could not figure out where you launched.     

[djkimmel]

There's a couple places you have to go up and/or over a fence or wall-type obstruction. You park in the lot and then carry everything in down a long path to a dock/canoe/kayak access site.

The first obstacle is a moderately tall fence around the parking lot (and the whole park along that stretch) so anything has to be lifted over that. There is an opening for people to walk through but it is blocked by another short fence so no one is able to drive or trailer anything down that path. You can walk through it carrying something over your head.

Frank figured out a way to get a narrow boat in off the road and under another dock/walkway through a narrow opening.

If you go there, make sure you have an Oakland County parks pass before you enter because they will write you a ticket and you have to pay the ticket even if you go to the office or one of the locations some miles across the county later after they open the same day to buy one. They say because that's 'how everyone does it.' Not. I used to go early into the state parks all the time before they put up some of the vending machines or dispensers and fish, then buy a pass on the way out or mail payment for one depending upon the circumstances. Never had to pay the ticket as long as I did that. In the past I have also paid a time or two on the way out of a Metropark - been a while and the nice lady for Oakland County said, 'that can't be true...' whatever...

I did try to edumacate the nice people at the nearby park office later that day about ways to make your parks more convenient and friendly to all users. Not sure I made a dent? My patience for bureaucracy (also known as anti-common sense) was short that afternoon. Probably would take a more concerted effort, maybe by a resident.

They don't open up the nearest park until later in the morning but I was told that 'sometimes' the hidden office opens 'early' I think 8am or 8:30am and if you know how to find it in the trees down a side gravel road you can go buy a pass there first. It would be a lot more convenient and visitor-friendly if they put up dispensers. Not everyone lives there or buys an annual pass ahead of time.

It is a very nice park and a cool, different, interesting set of lakes. I plan on going back and try again. Preferably with a lighter boat, or some teenagers when it isn't blowing, freezing rain. Really nice place for canoes and kayakers. There are the walkways that I believe shore anglers can fish from.

PS: BIG pike in there too! So hang out to your expensive stuff...

[Frank]

here are my available dates
labor day
9-15
9-22
9-29
weekdays

as far as access, from oakhill rd there is a fishing dock thing.  i put in a 12' row boat at the road and i can slide it under that dock and climb over while doing so.  i think a 14 would work but i havent tried.

Frank

[djkimmel]

I know 9/29 I will be busy over in Muskegon at the Toyota All-Star but I'll check the other dates. Moving this up into General Discussion to see if we can get some anglers together.