Ess Lake State Forest Campground Boat Launch

There's literally one trailer parking spot at this launch, so if someone's already there with a trailer, you're waiting or getting creative. Best to launch early or on weekdays — weekend mornings during summer you'll run into other fishing boats jockeying for position.

This is a kayak-and-14-footer kind of lake. The single-lane ramp works fine for smaller fishing boats and party barges, but don't try to muscle anything big down here. The approach is tight and wooded, so long trailers will test your patience.

Ess Lake has genuinely clear water — you can see the bottom in the shallows near the launch and spot minnow schools from the ramp. Great visibility for picking your line out, but it also means fish can see you, so deeper water is where the walleye and pike hang.

The campground and launch sit well off the main road, back in state forest land. Gravel roads the whole way in, and signage is minimal — plug it into GPS before you lose signal. It's part of the charm, but first-timers often drive right past the turn.

There's a no-wake rule from 7:30 PM to 10:30 AM, which makes this lake dead calm for early morning fishing. The flip side is that midday on summer weekends the small lake can feel crowded with ski boats and pontoons buzzing around. Plan your fishing accordingly.