Lake St Clair 9 Mile Road boat ramp now open to anyone

[Erie660]

I launched at 10 mile Saturday morning. The ramp is not as big as Crocker but just as good in my opinion.The parking is not as big as crocker but if you are there early you will not have a problem.

If you launch at 10 mile make sure you have all your safety equipment in order because that is where the coastguard station is and they were checking all boats before launching. I was checked on the water Friday by the coastguard and Saturday at the ramp. I have an inspection sticker now so I hope I am good for the year.

[Skulley]

I launched at the library on Saturday. East in and easy out. About 100 boats out there. Didn't see any Coast Guard out. It's always nice to see them cruising around when you're out there.


BD.                     

[Team houston]

Launched at St. Jean Sat. No problems.

[Skulley]

Was there an attendant at St. Jean??  Is it still $10 to launch???


BD.                     

[red68prostreet]

Used the 11 mile ramp this past wed. The attendant told me the ramp is suppose to be for St. Clair shores residents but that Mon thru Thurs he would not turn away anyone unless for some reason the lot was getting full. He did say Fri, Sat & Sun might be a problem for a non-resident. It sure was neat to have the blue & purple wall right there coming out of the canal. We did fairly well catching 48 in approx 7 hrs. Rock bass are moving into the beds left by the smallies as we caught 30 plus of those as well.

[djkimmel]

The rock bass are on beds bigtime out there! You must have talked to 'that guy' that always has to be behind or contrary. I was at a meeting yesterday morning and I'm pretty sure I listened to his mayor talk about all the interesting things they are learning about the amount of demand for access and how far away some of it is coming from since they opened their ramps to the public. He was asking for ideas and help to find MORE PARKING.

I am not completely sure if the mayor of St. Clair Shores specifically mentioned all 3 ramps or just one so I will probably try to confirm with his office next week. I had several reliable sources for all three being public now.

I confirmed that ONLY 9 Mile Road boat ramp is open to everyone with the City of Saint Clair Shores Parks and Recreation today (5/29/2012). Sorry about the confusion. I had good sources but should have called the city to be absolutely sure before posting. Map and permit information is in the top post on this thread. Guess the mayor must have mentioned only 9 Mile and I missed the reference. Sorry about any confusion.

[Revtro]

The guy at the 11 Mile ramp said the same thing to me regarding non-residents the other day when I asked him.  I did go buy a permit.  They made me show residency.  So I guess that means the permits are for residents. 

[Team houston]

That time, there was no attendant when we launched but he was there when we got back. The next two times they were there very early 5:45am. it is still $10

[djkimmel]

This is more than a little disappointing and embarrassing. I had a rep for a major public group and several residents I can normally count on tell me that all 3 boat ramps at 9, 10 and 11 Mile Roads are public. It also came up at the Lake Erie / Lake St. Clair citizens advisory committee meeting and several group reps their repeated the same information.

I normally double-check any information at the source but I was busier than normal and figured the people who stated this are normally accurate because they know the right local people but I just called the City of St. Clair Shores Parks and Recreation office and the lady there told me it is ONLY the 9 Mile Road public access site. I guess I was too happy and willing to see some really good positive news to share with everyone.

I apologize for getting everyone excited and causing some potential issues. I will update my original post and put out some clarification out about this. I did tell the P&R lady that I was very happy to hear the Mayor of St. Clair Shores tell people at the meeting Thursday how opening the ramp (I thought he said ramps but thinking back he may have mentioned 9 Mile early in his discussion) opened his eyes to the great demand and potential for attracting many more visitors to the area. I told her I hope that carries through to opening up all 3 ramps to the public.

She acknowledged that they are aware of the demand and the lack of public access in that long stretch of lake but 'at this time it is only the 9 Mile boat ramp.'

Oh well, baby steps I guess. The City of St. Clair Shores Parks and Recreation website is http://scsparksrec.net/. Phone number 586-445-5350. I'm not suggesting people call them and ask them to open all the ramps. A bunch of calls might not help but eventually, a way may present itself to expand the opportunity hopefully. The 9 Mile Ramp has the most parking anyway.

The mayor did say he now realizes they need to find more parking and he appealed to those present at the meeting Thursday to partner in figuring out ways to accomplish more parking and shoreline access.

I apologize for the confusion.

[djkimmel]

The guy at the 11 Mile ramp said the same thing to me regarding non-residents the other day when I asked him.  I did go buy a permit.  They made me show residency.  So I guess that means the permits are for residents.  

Did you buy your permit at the ice arena (City of Saint Clair Shores parks and recreation office)? Is your permit for one specific ramp or all ramps? I'm guessing maybe residents can get one permit for all ramps and non-residents go to the city parks and recreations office to get the permit for 9 Mile Road only based on my discussion today with the lady at that office.

[djkimmel]

One other piece of signs of gradual improvement - John at Sportsmens Direct told me that the MDNR has said they will start opening the large grassy area off the side of the Clinton River Cutoff public boating site (Crocker and Jefferson next door to his tackle shop) for overflow parking when regular parking is full.

That ramp fills up fast on weekends. John says the MDNR said they will not leave it open but open it when the regular parking it full. Not sure if that applies to weekdays, weekends only? I will eventually see if I can get more details from the MDNR person who supervises all their ramps on Lake St. Clair.

I have not confirmed this with the MDNR myself yet but hopefully it is accurate. It's one more small step towards more public access on Lake St. Clair.

[djkimmel]

Here's a link to some information about the City of Saint Clair Shores boat ramps though it has not been updated to show public access at 9 Mile Rd or the $100 permit for that ramp only for anyone - it does show hours of operations: http://scsparksrec.net/parksrec/boatramps.htm

[TimH]

I bought a pass from the SCS Civic Arena (Parks Department) and have launched at 9mile all but once.  The one time I launched at 11 mile, there was no one in the booth when I got there, but there was someone when I left.  The guy had a fit that I had launched there because it is for SCS residents only.  Only the 9 mile ramp is for nonresidents.  Having the sticker for 9 mile is real nice and has svaed me money already.  I have only had once issue at 9mile and that is when a booth attendant told me it was an expired pass.  I told him no, its a 2012, to wich he replied, yeah but its 2013.  After a brief discussion he appologized and said he had lost track of time.  Everytime I see him now, we have a good laugh about what year it is.

[djkimmel]

Jeez! He sounds a little like me! So very sorry about the confusion earlier on the other two ramps. I was told my multiple people who are normally on top of these things. I usually check with the source before posting and this is one more lesson why I should always do that no matter what.

[Revtro]

Yeah Dan, that's where I bought my permit.  It is non-ramp specific for residents of SCS.  I can use it at any resident ramp.

[djkimmel]

It's progress anyway. I just wish I hadn't confused a bunch of people. Who knows? Maybe it will spur them to open up more spots?

[fiker]

I/we have used the 11 mile launch behind the Library several times this year.  We just paid the $10 and we were never asked where we live. 

I have used Blossom Heath in past years and I don't like it.  I"m not real fond of St. Jeans either.

[djkimmel]

I'm not crazy about those two either. I think if you're a clean cut, normal looking person you don't have any problems launching at 11 Mile. On the other hand, if you're a little shifty like me, you'll have trouble every time you try something like this. So I'm glad at least 9 Mile is open to even the likes of me!

[Revtro]

I'm not in love with St. Jean's, but I do launch there a lot during the late summer because it's a great location.  Most people don't like how steep it is.  I wouldn't mind that so much if they would just put normal size docks in.  I think the docks are the worst part of that ramp.

[Skulley]

I'm not in love with St. Jean's, but I do launch there a lot during the late summer because it's a great location.  Most people don't like how steep it is.  I wouldn't mind that so much if they would just put normal size docks in.  I think the docks are the worst part of that ramp.

Me either but it is in a great location when fishing the south shore. Location is the best part.


BD.