This is just a reminder that the Spring/Summer Michigan Crappie Camp will be held on the weekend of June 6th & 7th at "Sandy Beach Campground" on Hardy Pond.
Link for your convenience:
http://www.countyofnewaygo.com/ParksAndRecreation.aspx
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This is just a reminder that the Spring/Summer Michigan Crappie Camp will be held on the weekend of June 6th & 7th at "Sandy Beach Campground" on Hardy Pond.
Link for your convenience:
http://www.countyofnewaygo.com/ParksAndRecreation.aspx
Im in. My wife and daughter, as well as my old man and my mom, will be there also.
Was playing around on the website for Bruin Lake and looks like the reservation calendar goes out as far as May as of today. If it works like I think, then later next month you may be able to reserve for June. I was trying to coordinate campsites on the campground map with google earth maps, but there seems to be some dissimilarities, so not sure if I'm looking at the same sites going from one maps to the other. I may have to plan a side trip next run to the east side of the state.
Count us in again too, think spring!
As of today you cannot start your reservations in June. It will let you start them in May and stretch out to June though. I suspect that the beginning of next month will be open for reservations. I'll continue to check. Also, in my opinion, the best area is Sites 90 through 126. They are over a small rise and furthest away from the park entrance in a grassy area overlooking the lake and close to the fishing pier.
Currently it shows those sites as closed but I suspect the reason is because they are doing some construction work in and around that area as we speak.
I'm trying to think of some ideas for door prizes for the upcoming event. If anyone would like to take up the challenge of helping to collect a few door prizes, please let me know. One of the thoughts I had was a "swap meet" style. Every single one of us make and use different things out on the lake. From Don and Carol's fish counters, fishing rods, poured jigs, Flytyer ties flies and jigs, lanyards, crawler harnesses.... we all make something or have stuff that others don't or have never seen. Might be a neat idea for each of us to make up a couple of things and put it on the table.
The joke has always been "I go shopping in Don and Kevin's boat", the trueth is, we always look at other peoples rigs to see their setup and find out if they have anything we have never seen or heard of. This might be a good chance to intruduce that "stuff we make" that no one else has or can get.
Any Ideas, please throw them out for the group.
Count Off Shore in for some prizes, maybe even something new we've been working on if it's ready by then ;-)
Good thoughts Rich. Plenty of time for everyone to ponder what they might be able to contribute. As I said in post #3 the campground map doesn't match what you see if you view the campground in Google or Bing maps satellite view. We will be over in the Fenton area for Thanksgiving thru the weekend, and will actually be staying at my sisters house on Lake Chemung in Howell. It looks like the campground is actually open as you can make reservations for November. I am going to make that side trip and get a first hand look at the sites. I'll post my report after the holidays for those interested.
A light went off in my head just now...I know, amazed me too! Rich posted that they were doing construction in the loops that hold sites 90-126, and I posted that I was having difficulty coordinating satellite maps with the campground map. I'll bet they are rearranging the layout of the sites. I guess I'll know more after this weekend. I did try calling the number listed for information at Bruin lake, but got no answer.
Michigan spent some money on Bruin Lake campground. The whole bottom end has been reworked with new layout/roads/paved sites/limited access sites. The reservation site map is accurate, so don't rely on the satellite maps. Here's some pics.
Attachment 180661Attachment 180662Attachment 180663Attachment 180664Attachment 180665Attachment 180666
All the sites are level with some being a bit deeper than others. Many have an extra slot for vehicle/boat trailer. The boat launch has eight parking slots total, but there is a visitor parking/overflow area just across the road.
Thanks for the pictures Don.
I was going to be over there last week (with a camera) but the ice didn't cooperate!
I utilize the overflow parking quite a bit. This gives the closer spots to people that have a hard time walking. Of course, most folks don't care about that stuff....
Looks like a nice place.
Dar and I are planning on it,I would also like to invite my grandson and my son in law if they can make it, also I would be glad to make some jigs as prizes.
That's great! Will be good to see you again. We can always use more prizes also.
Anyone get reservations yet or are we still too far out?
I just tried and it will let you place a reservation arriving Wed. 6/3 at the earliest. I suspect each day that goes by will add a day on the reservation site. You cannot however reserve any sites in loops 90-126. I have not gotten a response back from the email I sent to the DNR recreation division on when those sites will be opening up. Rich, you have any info?
I don't. Glad you tried as that was on my list of things to do today. Worst case scenario is we can make reservations and then contact them and find out when the sites (currently closed) will be open. They can move us if we ask. I tried to get a group of sites however, because they do online registration, I would have had to pay for each one individually in order to ensure we were all together.
I would caution that there may be a charge involved in changing sites once booked. There is a non-refundable fee of $8 for each reservation, and that may be something that you will pay twice for if changing sites. I tried to find something on the DNR reservation website, but couldn't. I hate calling places and getting hung in the never-ending menu and put on hold, so I for one am not going to call any phone numbers. Sure wish someone would reply to the email...
I checked this morning and you are now able to reserve sites for June 6th and 7th.
It appears the sites down by the fishing pier might be closed during that time. I attempted to place my reservation today however someone forgot their password! I was looking in the area of site 11.
Don, what area were you looking at? I am flexible and would prefer to be in the area that is condusive to getting larger rigs in and out of.
What sites are we trying to get? I checked a little while ago, might be too early yet?
After being there and seeing the layout, I would prefer to be in the newly remodeled area due to the ease of navigating with a bigger rig. I was on the website yesterday playing around and if you put in your trailer size, it lists some of the sites in yellow which indicates "restrictions". The restriction is that your rig is too big for those sites. For us with 35' trailers, it eliminates somewhere around 80% of the sites in all of the campground. Now that doesn't necessarily mean you can't reserve that site, but you own your decision if you get there and can't fit, so I caution people to make sure your good with your choices.Quote:
Originally Posted by wicklundrh
I have the phone number of the regional office in East Lansing, I just haven't mustered the courage to call a government office...I might pop a cork if they start handing me around. I was sort of holding off until we found out when they plan on opening up 90-126. I didn't see anything else that they needed to do, however maybe they have something to do in the bath houses yet. :dono
I called the Pinkney recreation area this morning and asked about sites 90-126. The lady I spoke with said that they are still working on the sites and do not have a timeframe for when they will be made available to the public. I specifically asked if they would be ready for the summer time and she said "I hope so".
She said that the best course of action is to check their twitter feed on Michigan.gov. Sometimes I cannot stand this technology driven world. I don't use facebook, mybook, or myspace, or outerspace, I have no idea what twitter is, don't know how to get to it, and don't much care to follow what most people have to say on there. Although I find myself entertaining, I doubt very highly whether people want to know that "I just woke up from a nap" or "I'm headed to the shed". But I digress....
So, I guess we are at a crossroads here.
There is an easy fix for the twitter issue. On the michigan.gov/pinckney the bottom right corner of the site they have the twitter feed for easy reading. You can even post questions to it and review past posts. Though not much in there about possible completion dates, but i did see past posts about delays due to unforseen issues for the campground or cg as they have abbreviated it.
Yeah that's good to know. Rich I think that there are probably two ways to go with this. People that are going to camp need to decide if they want to place a reservation now in the areas that are open, or wait and keep an eye on the website for the new sites. Either way it's not likely that we will be able to group together, but that's not as big a deal as it might seem. It would be nice not to have to pay to change sites, but I think that's probably unlikely.
I think your right Don. We could wait all winter for those to open only to find out that they are booked. The biggest thing is for people that are interested in that Cabin. I didn't check on it as of the other day but I suspect that it will fill up quickly.
Well, I've been just reading the posts waiting to see what the decision is. I really don't want to get down there and find out my reserved site is too short? Nor do I want to pay twice because I made a bad pick. YD and I have close to the same sized rigs. So do we wait till the larger sites are open? Or what do you guys recommend?
Larry,
It looks like Sites 1-24 are some of the bigger sites. I did look today and they have opened a few more sites that have previously been closed. They have also changed a few things around and are no longer showing sites 90-126 as being "red". They show in yellow (not reservable). You still cannot book them however for the dates we would like.
Thanks Rich, I was on their site the other week. I couldn't figure out much. I guess I;ll wait till you have a definite area we can get into with the bigger rigs.
Just went back on the DNR reservation site and not sure what you are talking about Rich. Nothing looks diff. than last week when I was on it. Sites 90-126 still show up as red after entering all my info. There are 11 sites in the north loop and 20 in the middle loop that show green. 127-135 show red also in the middle loop. All the rest show yellow (restrictions). Funny thing is that when I click on a restricted site and open up the pictures/info. page I can't figure out why it shows restrictions. I even tried changing the size of my trailer and it still show restricted and will not let you reserve it. I then tried reserving them on the earliest day that you could, and still same results. I finally removed the check from "reservable online" and all the sites turn green. Evidently those sites that match your criteria but still remain yellow are non-reservable.
Hey guys we have the same problem at Crappie1 and YD. Long rig. I am not so sure I want to be in BFE I think the fun comes from being together. I am not that good of a fisherman...lol
All:
I'm glad we started this early enough so that if we ran into problems we might be able to adjust on the fly.
Based on the information I have been seeing, Bruin Lake might not be feesible for our spring/summer camp. We cannot ensure the sites are available (that are needed for most of our members). Plus, Like many have said, part of the fun is being together.
It doesn't appear that many (if any) have set reservations yet. This might be a good thing. I was hoping to get everybody there to fish a new body of water, but I don't want to risk participation because of accomidations or location. Besides, in doing the research, the simple fact is that not many people are from this side of the State.
With that, I propose that we (together and colectively) try and come up with a new location for the Spring/Summer camp. We already have the date!
I know that many people missed the opportunity to fish Hardy/Croton last year so that could be a possibility. I'm open to anything. Please post below on any questions, comments, or suggestions.
I really would like to have another good camp like we had at Houghton lake and just feel like now might not be the right time to go to Bruin.
Rich & YD, if something opens that's big enough for us? Post it here. Thanks. I can't make any sense out of that Pinkney site. Doesn't seem as though you can reserve anything. Thanks
OK, I figured it out. I'm on site 11. Will be there Thurs. through Sun. Go to the Bruin Lake site. It will say Available/Partial Availability. Fill out all your information and click on the Partial Availability. It will bring up the map and all the sites are on it. Some Red some yellow, and open ones are green. Had no problem at all. Hope it works for everyone.
Too late. Crappie 1 made reservations this afternoon. He must not have seen this post before he reserved. I wouldn't be so concerned about everyone being in the same location in the campground Rich. The camps down south have people spread all over from motels and cabins and even in different campgrounds that are close to the lake. As long as we have a central location (like a pavilion, or campsite) where the action is going to take place, all will be good.
Mind you, I wouldn't mind doing Hardy again. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a season pass for vehicles and boat. I really liked dipping the trees! We can see what everyone else post on this thread, but I'm pretty sure Larry won't like having to forfeit his $8 dollars (or whatever the non-refundable fee is) to cancel his reservation.
I never seen this post about going someplace else. So are we done with Bruin Lake?Quote:
Originally Posted by wicklundrh
I will go were ever you guys decide
It's cancelled.Quote:
Originally Posted by yankee doodler
Same here. I'll go where ever it's decided on
Wife and I have been doing a little research.
How bout Randall Lake(chain of lakes, 7 lakes total) in Coldwater? Waffle Farm (wafflefarm.com) campground(225 sites of all sizes), pavilion, 48' wide boat launch, fish cleaning station, arcade, mini golf, driving range, club/group area, swimming beach, playground, basketball court.
JUST west of 69, exit 16, for easy off highway access.
“Randall Lake is one of a chain of seven lakes that is known for its quality panfish fishing, especially crappies,” said Southern Lake Michigan fisheries biologist Scott Hanshue. “During our 2000 survey we netted 216 crappies and 61 percent, or 130 of them, were considered ‘legal’ size. They ranged from 1 to 12 inches and represented 10 different age-classes.” Those are all signs of a very healthy crappie lake.
Randall Lake, at 513 acres, is actually composed of three separate basins collectively referred to as Randall Lake. The other two are North and Cemetery lakes. All feature clean, clear water, extensive weed growth and plenty of crappie forage. Fed by the Coldwater River, the chain is located in central Branch County near Coldwater.
Spring crappies on Randall Lake can be found along the copious points, weedlines and coves that characterize the lake. Most anglers use a run-and-gun approach covering a lot of water as thoroughly as possible until they make contact with an active school of fish. Many crappie addicts use small jigs and tubes that allow them to fish quickly without re-baiting all the time. Some of the best action is along the north side of Randall Lake where the spring sun warms the shallows beginning right after ice-out in March. Most of the specks will average 10 inches, but crappies topping 16 inches aren’t unheard of.
For information on lodging and bait shops in the area, contact the Branch County Tourism Bureau at 1-800-968-9333 or online at www.discover-michigan.com."
Read more: Michigan's Crappie Hotspots
This southern location, would allow some of our indiana brethren to join us as well. Maybe increasing our attendance.