Ford Lake Boat Launch

Ford Lake is shallow in a lot of spots with submerged debris scattered around. I've seen more than one prop get chewed up out there. Stick to the main channel areas and go slow until you know the lake — it'll save you an expensive trip to the prop shop.

The courtesy dock is nice for staging, but the launch docks themselves are surprisingly short. If you're running anything over 18 feet, most of your boat will be hanging past the dock end, which makes loading a real wrestling match in any wind. Bring someone experienced to help on the dock.

By mid-summer the algae bloom can get pretty gnarly, especially in the shallower coves. It's not just ugly — it'll clog your raw water intake if you're not careful. The lake isn't exactly pristine, so plan accordingly.

With only about 6 trailer spots, a holiday weekend will have you circling. But weekdays? You'll practically have the place to yourself. Three lanes mean you're never really waiting to launch — the bottleneck is parking, not ramp time.

This is the sole public launch on Ford Lake, so you don't have alternatives. The upside is it's well-maintained by the state and easy to find. If you're visiting between Memorial Day and Labor Day, budget $8 for the day pass or grab the $20 annual pass right after Memorial Day to max out your value.