Selfridge Boat Launch

Later in the season, seaweed piles up on the ramp surfaces and makes things slippery — especially on the outer lanes. Wet concrete plus a layer of weed is a recipe for spinning tires. Honestly, bringing a rake isn't a bad idea if you're launching mid-summer through fall.

With 14 lanes and 197 trailer spots, this place handles volume better than any other launch on the Michigan side of St. Clair. Weekdays and normal weekends you'll rarely wait. But Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekends? Get there early morning or you'll be circling the lot. Friday afternoons around 3 PM also get surprisingly hectic.

When Lake St. Clair is running high or you get a strong sustained northeast wind, the parking lot can flood. It's low-lying and there's not much drainage to speak of. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing if you're leaving your truck and trailer for the day — park toward the higher spots near the entrance.

You need a Michigan Recreation Passport to get in. They check at the gate house, and they will turn you away without one. If you've been getting in without being asked, those days are over. Save yourself the headache and just get it on your plate renewal.

The launch sits back in a protected canal, so even when the main lake is rough, it's relatively calm here. About 600 feet of fishable shoreline between the piers — bluegill and perch are the regulars. Just watch your lines when boats are coming and going, because some captains cut way too close to the pier walls.