Access to plowed lakes how does it work?

OK So I’m one of those terrible new wheel house owners that ruins the lake by my presence I have a very small house 4×4 truck. When you go to pay accesses and use the road are there places to park your house? Meaning somewhat plowed enough not to get stuck. I only have been on Mille Lacs 2 times with a hub we just walked over the plowed ridge and fished. I don’t want to get stuck on a plowed ridge not sure how this works can anyone enlighten me? It will be a while before many can get up north and they can plow out the lakes but by me doubt I could even get out at all. Thanks Thinking Leech lake possible or from there south.

Most likely need someone to plow you a spot or follow a beaten path.

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You won’t be able to go through any dnow banks pulling a house with the snow we have. You will have to pay access fees and then pay for a plowed spot unless one is open. Don’t be the guy who trys to set up on the plowed road.

It’s find a spot someone else has abandoned, clear an area yourself, make a deal with another fisherman that has a plow or offer a few bucks to the resort plow guys if they are out.

OK got it if you have them plow a spot we talking under $100 bucks to have a spot plowed?

mrpike1973 wrote:

OK So I’m one of those terrible new wheel house owners that ruins the lake by my presence

That’s good humor right there

Different lakes and resorts vary greatly. Some resorts plow individual spots ahead of time for wheelhouses. Others will put the majority of the snow bank on one side of the road allowing you to get off one side of the road with your house. Fwiw I have never paid someone to plow me a spot and I’ve had a wheelhouse since 2008. Granted I have a “smaller” house (8×17). Just a word of advice, always back your house off of the road instead of driving forward off the road….1. that way if you get stuck you can pull straight ahead and get out and 2. If you really get stuck its easy for someone to pull up and hook up a tow strap up.

Smellson wrote:

Different lakes and resorts vary greatly. Some resorts plow individual spots ahead of time for wheelhouses. Others will put the majority of the snow bank on one side of the road allowing you to get off one side of the road with your house. Fwiw I have never paid someone to plow me a spot and I’ve had a wheelhouse since 2008. Granted I have a “smaller” house (8×17). Just a word of advice, always back your house off of the road instead of driving forward off the road….1. that way if you get stuck you can pull straight ahead and get out and 2. If you really get stuck its easy for someone to pull up and hook up a tow strap up.

Very good advice and would also second that every resort is different. Plenty of places are now plowing wheelhouse spots and then charging for “custom” spots

Pick a resort and stop in and pay them for using their road. They normally have maps they will give you a copy of for the roads. Usually there are 100’s of spots already plowed off the main roads to set up on. Just find an open spot and start fishing.

mrpike1973 wrote:

OK got it if you have them plow a spot we talking under $100 bucks to have a spot plowed?

I’ve given a plow driver a $50 a couple times and if I left the house in the same spot for a few weeks they re-plowed the trail to the house whenever it snowed.

mrpike1973 wrote:

OK got it if you have them plow a spot we talking under $100 bucks to have a spot plowed?

If your just going for the day or a weekend, a $20 should do.
For one spot…

Thanks guys Dan your welcome! I found humor in it as well.

Smellson great advice thanks

FYI, some resorts on Mille Lacs will not allow trucks with plows on their roads.

-J.

see what you do is start off the access point with a good running start, make sure your doing no less then 100 mph by the time you hit the lake. The rest will explain itself

Make sure you fire up your strobe light on your 30 foot tall flag pole before hitting the ice.

Their roads aren’t “theirs”. Lakes belong to.the state.and are public.

Yrnemesis wrote:

Their roads aren’t “theirs”. Lakes belong to.the state.and are public.

they have a right to refuse service, not let you on, through private property if they choose!

Just a question , do any locals plow out a public access and plow a road to connect it into the plowed roads on the lake?

If you shortcut your way unto somebodys roads and you get stuck on a pressure ridge or something it will be REALLY Expensive getting off.

I’ve never understood the guys who spend 1000’s on a fish house and then won’t want to pay somebody to maintain a road for them.

I was just curious Dutchy because here in WI I don’t know where anyone plows ice roads. On Winnebago fishing clubs put bridges over cracks and heaves but I’m not sure if they plow roads. Access is off public parking lots and landings.

My reply here is based on my experience with resort ice roads on Mille Lacs. If someone cuts a road into a resort road, the resort will close that cut up as soon as they see it. If you are on a resort road without a road pass hanging on your rear view mirror, The resort guys will be happy to collect the pass fee on the spot or escort you off the lake. Or you go off road of the resort plowed road and roll the dice on the “safe ice”. (Or getting stuck in deep snow or slush)

-J.

Man that’s wild. I understand charging a fee to access the plowed road from their private property on shore, but beyond that they have no authority. If you put in the work to make your way over to any area of the lake via public access, you are within your rights. I get wanting to protect your business but escorting someone off “their” road? Wow.

Jon Jordan wrote:

My reply here is based on my experience with resort ice roads on Mille Lacs. If someone cuts a road into a resort road, the resort will close that cut up as soon as they see it. If you are on a resort road without a road pass hanging on your rear view mirror, The resort guys will be happy to collect the pass fee on the spot or escort you off the lake. Or you go off road of the resort plowed road and roll the dice on the “safe ice”. (Or getting stuck in deep snow or slush)

-J.

We’ve had a resort try to tell us we couldn’t fish a area because we didn’t pay them nor come through there access, we told them to f right off. I wasn’t even on a plowed road nor came from one. We were on wheelers and no one can block a area just because they have a resort. If I launched there I would pay. The resort dude tried to throw a hissy fit and we just killed him with kindness. He went away salty and after that I wouldn’t ever launch at his resort just because the fit he threw.

It’s amazing what a plow driver will help you with for a few beers.
DT