Lower Crooked Lake Boat Launch

That $7 launch fee is no joke — they actively ticket. Pay at the box before you back in, and keep your receipt visible on the dash. I've seen people get hit with $100 fines even when they claimed they paid, so take a photo of your receipt too.

Seven trailer spots is all you get, and on summer weekends they're gone by mid-morning. There's no real overflow area, so if you're not there early, you're out of luck. Best bet is a weekday or crack of dawn on Saturday.

The courtesy dock has exposed bolts sticking up from the planking. Wear shoes with decent soles and watch your step — it's an ankle-wrecker, especially when wet.

The launch sits a good ways off the main road, which sounds nice until you're trying to pull a trailer back out into traffic. Sight lines aren't great, and cars come through faster than you'd expect. Swing wide and be patient.

Lower Crooked Lake is genuinely a gem — clean water, good fishing, and way less pressure than the bigger Barry County lakes. The launch itself is bare-bones and the parking is frustrating, but the lake quality makes up for it if you can get a spot.