Lake Lavine Boat Launch

Five trailer spots is all you get. On summer weekends, if you're not there by 8 AM, you're parking on the grass shoulder and hoping nobody blocks you in. Weekday mornings are a different story — you'll practically have the place to yourself.

At 87 acres, Lake Lavine doesn't have room for ski boats and fishing boats to coexist comfortably. Expect a couple of residents running ski boats way too close to anglers, especially on Saturday afternoons. Early mornings before the ski crowd wakes up are your best window.

One lane, no dock, so launching and loading is a one-at-a-time affair. Not usually a problem given how few people use it, but if you show up the same time as someone else, somebody's waiting. The ramp itself is basic but functional — fine for aluminum boats and small bass rigs, but I wouldn't drag anything over 18 feet down here.

This is a spring-fed lake with surprisingly clear water — you can see bottom in 6-8 feet on a calm day. Great for sight-fishing panfish along the weed edges. The clarity also means the water stays cool longer into summer, so adjust your patterns accordingly.

Tucked right near the Indiana border about 3 miles from Kinderhook, and there's minimal signage pointing you to the launch. If you're coming from the south, plug the coordinates into your GPS rather than relying on road signs or you'll drive right past it.