Dead Stream Flooding Boat Launch

There's no formal boat ramp here — no lanes, no dock, no paved surface. You're basically dragging a small boat or canoe down to the water's edge. Forget anything bigger than a 14-footer; it's just not set up for trailers.

This is a flooding, not a lake. Expect shallow, weedy, tannic water with submerged timber and stumps everywhere. If you're running a prop, you're going to have a bad day — stick to a kayak, canoe, or jon boat with a small kicker trimmed way up.

Most people come here to check out the dam and the surrounding wildlife area, not specifically to launch. Kids love jumping off the dam wall in summer, so expect foot traffic near the water access point on warm weekends.

Managed by the forestry unit, so think pit toilets and gravel two-tracks — not a manicured DNR launch. The access road off Old 27 is straightforward but rough in spring when the frost heaves settle. Campsites are nearby and spacious, which makes it a decent base camp for multi-day fishing trips.

This water has been fished hard since the '70s and it still produces, mostly pike lurking in the timber and panfish along the edges. Early morning before the wind picks up is your best bet — once it gets choppy in the shallows, visibility drops to nothing and navigation gets dicey around all those stumps.