North lake, Wauk. Cty. Boat launch, WHATS THE HANGUP?

do we have walk on public access for ice fishing at the proposed launch area? it is public land right?

The saga continues: from the Milwaukee Journal

Dec. 7, 2009 | Waukesha - The North Lake Management District, representing lakeshore property owners, has asked Waukesha County Circuit Judge Donald Hassin to review a state agency's decision that constructing a public access to the lake in the summer of 2010 would not significantly affect the environment.

The 437-acre lake is the largest water body in the county without public access, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. A DNR staff analysis last year determined that a more comprehensive environmental impact study was not needed prior to construction of the access.

The DNR purchased the former Whitey Krause property on Reddelien Road in the Town of Merton for $1.125 million in 2005. The 6.5-acre parcel includes 233 feet of frontage on the northwest shore of the lake.

Construction of the access site, with boat ramp, dock and parking lot for 16 vehicles and trailers, will cost $475,000, department officials said.

bass abductor is absolutely correct. Many preach catch and release, but then don't pracice it.

You add a launch to a nice lake in a metro area like Milwaukee and the fishing will suffer!

I suppose the best way for me to prove my point about North lake would be to invite anyone interested in fishing out there next spring to hop in my jonboat. The spring of 2010 will be very good, you will see all kinds of crappie, bass, and gills spawning, the spring of 2012 I can guarantee that you will see nowhere near as many fish spawning and hanging out in the shallows. I fish alot of lakes, of all different depths, acreages, and water clarities, there is not a single one is Southern Wisconsin where I have caught the quality or numbers of certain species that I have at North. I havent lived in Wisconsin for quite a decade yet but from what I have heard Pine lake used to be alot better than it is now. It sounds like it used to have very limited access, some guys in my neighborhood tell of unbelievable catches, they also tell of how much Pine has gone downhill since the launch went in. I never fished Pine before the public launch went in but have several times after it went in. The fishing was good but not even in the same ball park as North. The first time I went to North I didnt have a clue and I had one of my best fishing days ever, not many lakes you can go out and smash em your first time out. Up north maybe but not down here. That is what I love about North the up North feel, limited pressure, great fishing, and beautiful scenery. I will quit braggin on North, just wanted to get my 02 cents in. In case it wasnt clear before I agree with public launches on all lakes, even North. I just worry about how much the fishing will suffer post public launch.

After reading some of these posts it sounds like this lake will be fished out in minutes.Not everybodies fishing skills are the same and the DNR will keep check on fish populations like they do on Pine.I for 1 would like to fish this lake and i WONT be waiting by the gate to open up.

One of the few times I called TIP-WDNR on someone on Pine lake,he was washing painting supplies and buckets from a pier. Another was for frozen-in,unattended tip-ups (resident's kids)...I've seen blatantly unattended lines on North as well....Look at some of the piers on Pine - WAY over the legal size. There's a few that have as much square footage as the first floor of my house.

Nighttime shining shows that several piers have numerous cans (and other garbage) around them. There's folks who obviously use "their" lake as their own private golf range....There's places where the pattern of weed die-back can only be the result of private aquatic herbicidal treadment. Straight out from the property lines for 100' or more.

Last year I pulled a single pontoon from the lake. There had been holes punched in it in a pattern - obviously so it would sink faster.

Pine's the only lake where I've been requested to "please don't fish here". Not once,but three times. What bugs me is those people actually felt they had the RIGHT to ask. (One didn't really "ask")....If I could please move a couple hundred yards so they could have their privacy.

Some of the worst violators of boating SAFETY laws are residents.

I can't be sold on the idea that lake residents (in general) take the best care of the resource.

The best watchdogs - imo - are the folks who fish a lake often. Folks who practice selective harvest. THEY pay attention to what's going on at the lake more than those who use the lake as beautifull scenery and an after-dinner cruise...Who's kids tear up the water with high priced wakeboard boats with no regard for other users of that lake.

On the other hand,I've met some residents of that lake who are very concerned with the health of the lake. And I've seen some fishermen - especially on the ice - who've made me embarrassed to call myself a fisherman.

I have no doubt that North will suffer - at least to a small extent - due to increased boating and fishing pressure. But that's not a good enough reason to keep "the masses" off.

Well, you might be right about North Lake, but a public boat launch has not hurt the fishing on Browns, Eagle, Geneva, Delavan and many other lakes across S.E. Wisconsin. I fished North years ago before access was all but snuffed out and the fishing was like anywhere else....some days good and some others not.

I both look forward to and dread the fact North will have a public launch next year. The reason I look forward to it is because I have always wanted to get out there and be able to utilize my electronics. It will also be nice to be able to have an outboard out there. The reason I dread it is because the fishing will go downhill very quickly. It will not be a "special" lake for very long once the masses come out. I have fished the lake with a jonboat and trolling motor for a few years, mostly we fish in spring and fall. The fishing isnt what it was a couple years ago, the reason being is becuase of what someone previous said, there have been more guys fishing the last few years. When I first started fishing out there it was fantasitc, now that there is more pressure the fishing is just good on North. In about 2-3 years the fishing will only be mediocre, just like every other lake with public access in Southern WI. The right thing to do is to add a public launch at North, only problem is that when the launch goes in at North fishing will go South. Luckily there are alot of lakes in the area and for the guys who want to fish by themselves there will still be a few options, just on a smaller scale. RIP North lake.

Say What?

if this is such a huge deal like it sounds to many people john boat and a motor will get you all the accsess you need dont have to wait for a public peir many get on the lake this way so it is not as private as you think its not pressured to bad yet but year by year it is getting more its nothing to see 10 trailers now buy the river it used to be maybe 1-2 ive already met many respectfull anglers out there and many that dont care so it will end up like the rest of the lakes around one way or another just my thought

I always find it ironic that fisherman and boaters from all over southeastern Wisconsin are welcomed and even encouraged to use the boat launch facilities along Lake Michigan paid for by the taxpayers of the counties bordering the lake. Yet when residents of these counties bordering Lake Michigan look towards fishing on the inland lakes, they find that their lake access to be nonexistent or very limited. Many lakes have committees of local residents who do everything they can to keep these people off of what they consider they private ponds. The lake residents are more than happy to use the launch sites on their own lakes most often put in by the DNR and paid for by our tax dollars. They want everyone else to stay away.

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thatbassguy.... excellent post !

thank you, unclesmallie, for reminding me of my station in life.

i am not rich, therefore i should not be allowed access to north lake. awesome!

keep in mind, these people CHOOSE to pay such high taxes for the privilege of living on a lake. a privilege very few people are fortunate enough to experience.

as someone pointed out, the lake does not belong to them. it is simply a public lake with no public access.

i do agree that it is sad the way some people treat our lakes and rivers. i do quite a bit of shore-fishing at a lake where i cannot take 2 steps in any direction without seeing a bait container, a potato chip bag, or a soda can. it makes me so mad when people are willing to take from nature, but not willing to help preserve it. i think the fines for littering should be raised, and maybe include the possibility of losing your fishing or hunting license. just a thought.

but, should everyone be punished for what a few might do? i don't think so.

The difference being the damage is already done on most of the other lakes. Once a public access is in place in would be close to impossible to undo it. Lake owners and lake resident owners have a completely different idea of how to treat the a lake and its surrounding shore line. While I agree a a lake is "owned" by the tax payers imagine if you will waking up to the public using your yard with not much regard for how precious you feel it is. Let's leave North private for the people most invested in its beauty and condition.