Secord Lake Ramp

[gmetime24]

My buddy and I are thinking about heading to Secord Lake on Saturday and we have never been to this lake. I was just wondering where the public ramps are and if they are nice paved ramps or what. Any help is appreciated...thanks

[t-bone]

Fished there a couple weeks ago. We launched from the west side of the lake off of Pineland Drive. It is a single boat ramp with a long, narrow path to back your boat down to a cement ramp. It's around 4082-4096 Pineway Dr.

Secord lake has crazy boat traffic and is a narrow river system - so take your time stay in channels, watch for stumps, and pontoons with 300hp engines.

[djkimmel]

Is it Pineland or Pineway or ??

[djkimmel]

I'm betting it is Pinecrest Drive? Or maybe Pinehurst Drive or Pineland Pt?

I thought the newer MDNR ramp was on the West Arm off of W River Drive? State Boat Launch drive/circle something like that not far off M-30. I never launched there because I haven't fished it since about the time that ramp went in or was fixed. I was told that is the best ramp.

I know the old MDNR ramp way up on the East Arm of the lake was bad last time I launched. Almost didn't get out. Soft. There was a broken concrete, steep ramp at the little party store / campground nearby on the East side that I launched at a few times. Unless it has been fixed since I was last there (quite a while ago) that one was doable but rough. I'd shoot for the West Arm DNR ramp. I don't know about the ramp t-bone is referring to? Used to launch at the marinas near the dam on the East side. I think someone told me they are more expensive now and not always available?

Even on Google Satellite there's about 100 boats seen racing up and down the lake!?!

[gmetime24]

Thanks for your input guys. I planned on going slow until I learned the lake better but is it ok to cruise up and down both arms or is there a certain point where I need to slow down?  I noticed all the boats on google earth and thought maybe since the holiday weekend just past the boat traffic might not be as bad.

Is this lake even worth trying when its packed or should we just try somewhere else?

[Baybass]

Drive 15 more miles and go to Sugar Springs.  great fishing, no wake till 11am .  You will have a much better time.  This time of year is crazy great on Sugar. 

[djkimmel]

There are bars and points that stick out quite a ways on Secord covered in stumps in a few places on the main lake so you need to know where that channel swings. My knowledge is out of date on the fishing but I loved fishing it later in the fall but it is a challenging to real challenging lake for many anglers. I never caught a ton of bass from it but some big ones. I've only fished it in the early to late fall.

How is the ramp situation at Sugar Springs now? All done and easy to use?

[Big dreams]

The main ramp for Secord is off from Pinecrest.  I have been fishing it for the past two weeks to prepare for our last club tournament which is tomorrow (Saturday).  I found a few spots however, the boaters there are not very friendly.  As it was noted earlier in this thread, the lake is narrow.  I had one boat fly by and it left a huge wake.  Nearly caused me to hit the back of a pontoon. 

Seems to be another tough lake like Small Wood which is right under it.  I grew up on that lake and have a hard time not getting skunked. 

Sugar Springs seems to be a good lake to hit up.  The no wake law really helps out.

Whichever you choose, let us know where and how you did.

[bob620]

I was up in Gladwin last week,  Wednesday thru Saturday morning.The ramp is on West River road.If you are coming up on I-75 you get off at M-61, head west on M-61 to M-30,head North on M-30 to West River Rd,turn east[rh. turn]you will see a boat launch sign about a mile or so down ,turn left.I think it is a great launch,it has everything a fisherman needs.A ramp, dock, and clean toilet.I was on Lake Lancelot only, last week  [Sugar Springs],Secord Lake would have been impossible to fish or safe to fish.The lake is a Zoo from Memorial weekend to Labor Day weekend,or later if the weather stays warm.If You launch early on the weekend there will no problem but after that the people will be getting their Pontoons,speed boats,ski boats,and jet skies out for the season.Had a guy park his truck and trailer at the dock,walk to his cottage and drive his boat to the dock and load his boat on the trailer.This was over a hour and think there was nothing wrong with this.I was going to move his rig out of the way,but he took the keys with him. Anyway,there is a sign that says Pinecrest M30 at the corner,but I think that was named for the sub at the end when it was developed back in the 70s.My family had a house on the east side of the Lake for 40 yrs.until we sold it 10 yrs ago.Oh the fishing is picking up on Sugar Springs.There was an article in bass master magazine about Secord in the 90s,you might want to get a copy of that article.Good luck! ps make sure you pay the 7 dollar launch pass at sugar springs they will tow your rig away!
                                                          bob620

                                                                  bob620   

[djkimmel]

I thought the best ramp was the newer one off W River Rd. I don't know anything about the one off Pinecrest?

[bob620]

Dan,The ramp is on west river rd.Pinecrest m30 is the name of the sub division.


                                              bob620

[bob620]

Dan,the other dnr ramp is off Finkbinder rd.

                           bob620

[Baybass]

The ramp at Sugar is still broken at the end so keep your motor up until you clear the dock (don't want to catch that big piece of concrete in reverse with your prop).  Just be careful and you will be fine. As for Smallwod run up the river towards the Secord dam, like all the lakes on this chain stay in the channel  and take it slow. Another fun lake is Wiggens over by Gladwin,  some huge Largies on that lake and less pressure. 

[djkimmel]

Dan,the other dnr ramp is off Finkbinder rd.

                           bob620

That must be the one I almost didn't get out of years ago. My trailer sank into the bottom. Have they fixed it up at all?

[bob620]

Dan,I have not been to that ramp in years. Since they put the new ramp in there, been no reason to go there.   

                                                           bob620

[djkimmel]

That's what I figured. I would be amazed if they did any major improvements on the other ramp. I'll have to drive by it some day or call someone up there who might know. Just out of curiosity. Probably won't make it back up this year for a late fall trip. Used to go every October but it's been a while. My kind of lake in October.

[cameraguy]

Isn't there a marina on Secord that will let boats launch?
There are two lakes in Sugar Springs; Lancer and Lancelot. Lancer is the bigger of the two and has nice ramps run by a nearby Butman Township office. Lancelot is private.
I think Bob Gwizdz wrote an article for Bassmaster about Smallwood Lake. There could have been an article about Secord but I don't recall seeing one.

[t-bone]

We did our weigh-in at one of the guys mom's house on Secord and then had a BBQ on the back porch. We sat and ate dogs while watching the craziness on the lake. I've never seen so many pontoons drive so fast and a lack caution. You need to be careful out there and it pays to bring your butt seats because the waves from the boat traffic can be worse than fishing Erie.

[djkimmel]

That's one reason I've only fished it in October so far.

I think Gwizdz did write about Smallwood. Still haven't made it to that lake. So many lakes. So little time... cameraguy, you got any contacts on Lancelot anymore? We sure had fun that one afternoon!

[cameraguy]

Uh, no.