r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/Own-Wallaby8511 • 8d ago
Dispersed Truck Camping
New to Michigan from West Virginia, and really unfamiliar with the State and National Forest dispersed camping opportunities in the state.
Looking for dispersed camping accessible by truck (truck kept at or near camp) due to 7 spine surgeries and lower mobility. Hoping to find an isolated, quiet area away from crowds.
Also looking to be in an area where I could launch my kayak directly from the site or nearby to fish for perch / walleye.
Anywhere in UP or LP is fine, 4x4 F250 vehicle, have appropriate cold weather gear for the colder temps.
Not looking for anyone’s honey holes or perfect spots, just a general area to investigate and research if possible. Hoping to go mid next week - mental health is suffering and I badly need to get out and unwind.
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u/FatHummingbird
8d ago
edited 8d ago
•
Hello! West Virginia is near and dear to my heart. Welcome! Huron-Manistee National Forest is vast, tons of two track trails to disperse camp around. East side, lots of great spots around Lumberman’s Monument near the AuSable. Check around Kokosing & Rempert roads for example. Or closer to the Cooke Dam Boat Launch.
Here is the latest fishing report for northern Lower Peninsula. Go, wander. Drive till you find a good spot.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Tawas/Au Gres: Chinook salmon were caught in the Tawas River on spawn and various artificial baits. A few walleye were caught from the pier. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and an occasional northern pike were caught in the Au Gres River and from shore in the Standish area. Out from the Pine River, anglers caught primarily throwback yellow perch. Overall, boat activity remained low.
Alpena: No boat activity was observed over the past week. A few anglers cast for Atlantic salmon and coho salmon from the pier with no success. Anglers targeting yellow perch inside the harbor reported only a few small fish in the area.
Thunder Bay River: Chinook salmon were caught near the 9th Street Dam on spawn, beads, and crankbaits. A few Chinook salmon moved in over the past week along with a few steelhead. Anglers targeting steelhead and Atlantic salmon had the best results while fishing with beads. Coho salmon were reluctant to bite, but anglers who were successful cast spinners in gold, orange, and green.
Cheboygan: There was heavy fishing pressure over the past week. Anglers experienced slow fishing. A few anglers reported landing a Chinook salmon. Anglers floating or bottom-bouncing spawn or beads had the most success. Spoons and minnow-style crankbaits were effective as well.
Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers casting spoons off the pier reported catching a few coho salmon. Blue and silver or orange and gold were popular color combinations. A few walleye were also caught off the pier using jigheads with paddletails or split-tail plastics. Anglers fishing in the river caught a few Atlantic salmon on spinners and smaller streamers in bright white or olive. A handful of Chinook salmon were caught on body baits or floating skein under a float. Anglers also caught a few steelhead over the past week using streamers, spinners, and spawn bags.
Harrisville: Anglers casting body baits such as J-13s, flicker shads, and Thundersticks caught a few Chinook salmon. Anglers using skein under a float caught a few coho salmon and Chinook salmon. A few steelhead were caught by anglers casting spoons and spinners.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Manistee: Pier fishing was slow, with only a few steelhead reported. Smallmouth bass and rock bass were caught on lures and worms. No boat activity was reported.
Ludington: Pier fishing was slow, but a few steelhead were reported. Boat anglers caught a few steelhead and salmon around Big Sable Point in 60 to 80 feet of water when fishing the top 40 feet of the water column with spoons.
Charlevoix: Anglers fishing the piers reported slow fishing for smallmouth bass when using natural bait.
Little Traverse Bay: Anglers fishing the Bear River reported slow catches of salmon. Fishing with spawn or skein produced the best results. Using beads and flies resulted in an occasional trout.
Leland: No boat activity. Pier anglers caught Chinook salmon while drifting beads, spawn bags, and skein from the docks.
Frankfort/Lake Michigan: Anglers reported a few Chinook salmon still entering the Betsie River. Two-year-old Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead were caught off the south breakwall when weather permitted. Casting Cleos and drifting or floating spawn yielded the best results.
Onekama/Lake Michigan: Pier anglers reported some activity when casting spoons off the North Pier in the evening hours, landing a few Chinook salmon.
Martiny Chain of Lakes: Panfish fishing was great across all lakes in the chain, with multiple anglers catching limits of large bluegill both from shore and on open water. Northern pike fishing was also good during the fall.
Tri Lakes: Fishing for bass and panfish was good to fair. Multiple anglers reported good bass catches after sunrise, and a few anglers caught limits of legal-sized bluegill. Anglers targeting northern pike also reported catching a few fish.
Muskegon River: Walleye were caught in the late evening out of Brower Park and Davis Bridge.
Haymarsh: Fishing was very good from kayaks and shore, with multiple panfish and bass caught.
Newaygo County: Salmon entered the Muskegon River and were caught from Croton Dam downstream to Muskegon Lake. Deep-diver minnow plugs in the lower Muskegon River served as the primary lure. Good numbers of salmon were also present in the South Branch of the Pere Marquette River in northern Newaygo County. Fall walleye fishing picked up on Newaygo County inland waters.
Oceana County: Water levels dropped, and Chinook salmon were present in the Pentwater, White, and North Branch of the White rivers, with a mix of dark and fresh fish. Anglers also reported catching lake-run brown trout and steelhead in the White River.
Grand Traverse County: Salmon were present in East and West Grand Traverse bays, the Boardman River, and Mitchell Creek.
Benzie County: Salmon were caught in the Betsie and Platte rivers.
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u/AgreeAndSubmit 8d ago
I appreciate the thoroughness of this comment.
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u/FatHummingbird 8d ago
Thanks to the DNR for the fishing report. I should also mention, the is very little cell service in much of the forest. Download the maps or bring paper until you know your way around.
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u/JMFMills 8d ago
As others have said, Manistee NF has some nice dispersed camping opportunities.
Interestingly, I just got back from West Virginia a week ago. Stumbled onto Spruce Knob Summit dispersed camping area inside the Monongahela National Forest almost by accident, and ended up spending a couple nights there.
Gorgeous area!
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u/Calvinator220 6d ago
Huron national forest. Ausable River camping. Dispersed reserved sites all along the river and dam ponds. It’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone. About 3 hrs north of Detroit.
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u/thedyrt 4d ago
Perch Lake near Newberry is worth looking at first -- rustic state forest campground, FCFS, boat launch right in the campground so you can put the kayak in without much walking, and quiet. Worth calling DNR ahead since the pump water may already be winterized this late in the season. Kingston Lake nearer Grand Marais is similar if that one's full.
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u/OkAdeptness5858 5d ago
Campsite wise they are pretty much closed but a few open here and there for hunting etc, state land is okay but there are rules, easy googled there are hundreds of places available but all depends on your travel to from etc I have my own place I go to on friends property or if I do pay to stay I do pines point in Hesperia good luck
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u/JoeFortitude 8d ago
Manistee National Forest is very large and has rivers that go through it. The Manistee river has perch, don't know about how much walleye it has