Are there any other access points besides Harty’s and French park?
Do I need a permit for the Park access and if so, how do I get one?
Does the ice always open up just to the west of the launch at the park? I looked through Google Earth and it appeared to open up there in a couple pictures from seperate years.
There’s one on the west side of the lake. It is off of West Medicine Lake Parkway at West Medicine Lake Park. It’s gated in the summer, but I believe they open it for ice access in the winter. And, no, you don’t need a permit for French Park (unless you’re launching a boat 
).
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There’s one on the west side of the lake. It is off of West Medicine Lake Parkway at West Medicine Lake Park. It’s gated in the summer, but I believe they open it for ice access in the winter. And, no, you don’t need a permit for French Park (unless you’re launching a boat
That’s a good one to use. I believe I saw that the gate is open now, too.
That’s good to know, because if I fish the west side, I’d rather access the lake from the west side. Unless Harty’s plows all the way over there, until January 1, I’d be nervous trekking across the lake. Thanks!
I didn’t think you’d need a permit to access the lake from French, but I wanted to know for early ice if I parked the car at the access. I would assume I’d need one to do that. I fished Spurzem last year which is part of 3 rivers and saw the sign at the launch, but I was able to park on the lake. That was hairy in itself, since it was windy, 40 degrees and only 12″ of ice.
They must be driving trucks out there now or close to it. I know some smaller cars have ventured out.
I KNEW IT!
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…but I wanted to know for early ice if I parked the car at the access. I would assume I’d need one to do that.
It’s been a few years since I have done that, but I don’t think you need a permit. The permit is for boat trailer parking, as far as I know. I’ve never had a permit using the French Park access in the winter, and I have never had a problem.
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It’s been a few years since I have done that, but I don’t think you need a permit. The permit is for boat trailer parking, as far as I know. I’ve never had a permit using the French Park access in the winter, and I have never had a problem.
You probably are right. I think I have only seen the signs at the access and trailer parking.
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They must be driving trucks out there now or close to it. I know some smaller cars have ventured out.
Haven’t been out myself but I just drove by and there were at least 4 trucks out on the ice that I saw.
I mainly use that access on the west side for ice.
In driving to work down 169 I’ve seen some trucks on that area by Harty’s but scares me. That shallow section on the southeast side does freeze over before the main body. I know of an area between the landing on the west side adn teh French Park landing that is typically thinner than the rest. Yes, there is typically a plowed road from the west landing and guessing the folks at Harty’s do it.
short answer – I wait to drive on the west side for at minimum one cold week after other people start driving. not all of the lake has consistent ice.
That’s how I am. I like to see a good number of caged pigeons in trucks out there first before I go out in the truck.
I was wondering if there is a spring to the west of the boat launch because 2 images from Google Earth showed a circular opening there in the spring before ice out. And I don’t think there is an aerator. Could have been ducks making it too.
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And I don’t think there is an aerator.
There is no aerator.
Probably not a normal feature. I just saw it for one year in Feb and April when looking in Google Earth. It probably was just where the ice started thawing that year.
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