Wabascon Lake Boat Launch

Fair warning — some of the homeowners on Wabascon can be aggressive toward boaters. I've had people roll up on paddle boards screaming at me while I was anchored and fishing, and it went on for hours. You're fully legal on a public lake, but don't let it catch you off guard.

There's no dock here at all, so launching solo takes a little finesse. The ramp itself is newer concrete with plank extensions, but you're on your own getting the boat off the trailer. Best suited for smaller boats and kayaks.

Four trailer spots in a dirt lot that can get muddy and rutted. Realistically, if two other trailers are there, you're already feeling crowded. Upside is this lake barely gets traffic — I've launched dozens of times and rarely see another rig.

Wabascon is a solid pike lake. Ice fishing season is when it really shows — I've seen multiple pike pulled through the ice in minutes. Open water fishing can be hit or miss, but the pike are definitely in there if you work the weed edges.

This is part of Fort Custer State Recreation Area, so you need a Michigan Recreation Passport to launch. There's a basic DNR outhouse but zero other amenities. Quiet spot to test a motor, paddle, or just decompress — don't expect anything fancy.