Maple River State Game Area Unit A Boat Launch

Unit A's launch is a dirt ramp, not concrete, and it's in rough shape. If you're putting in anything bigger than a small jon boat or kayak, you're asking for trouble. Unit B down the road has a much better ramp if you need something more solid under your tires.

The Maple here is more backwater than river — very little current, wide and slow-moving. In warmer months the water gets stagnant and can smell pretty ripe. Great for kayaks and small boats, but don't expect to drift anywhere fast. About 1.5 hours of steady paddling from the Tallman Road put-in south of the bridge to the French Road DNR launch.

People tear up the launch area with big trucks and leave trash behind. The drives around the ramp get rutted out, especially after wet weather. DNR hasn't put much money into maintaining it, so come expecting a bumpy approach.

Weekends draw camping groups and can get noisy, but Monday through Friday this place is practically empty. Twenty trailer spots sounds generous for what's really a lightly-used launch — you'll almost never compete for space. Best fishing and wildlife viewing happens at dawn before anyone else rolls in.

Honestly, this spot is better for birding and wildlife than serious fishing. Sandhill cranes, eagles, osprey, great white egrets, beavers, mink — the place is loaded. Fishing is mostly panfish and the occasional smallmouth or pike, but if you want consistent catches you're better off heading toward Ionia.