To Bushwacker:

[Duke]

I was reading your posts about hunting in the ol days growing up in Delton, and couldn't resist picking your brain for a spell if you don't mind. A little off subjuect though-

Growing up in Delton I figure there's a good chance you visited or maybe even fished Gun Lake. My parents have owned a cottage there nearly all my life, and I spent all my summers and free time fishing and duck hunting the lake and the area (Fish Lake). I am fascinated by the history of the lake (or any Michigan history for that matter).

First off I wonder if you remember much about the lake- what the fishing was like, or anything at all you remember about it? Thanks for takin the time to answer, if you please! How's things up in Wawa now? Beautiful country...

[MIBow]

not to but in, but I spent some time on Gun Lake as a kid. My uncle had a cottage there and we used to float the old pontoon boat out to the sand bars and swim lots of times.. In the early 60's when I was going out there, we used to go play mini golf in the evenings, and there was a "road house" where you could go see Ted Nugent or Bob Seeger (if you were old enough).

I grew up in between Richland and Galesburg and spent a lot of time fishing the channel of Gull Lake, where it crosses M89 and some of the little lakes and ponds in that area. I spent many hours on Little Long Lake hunting turtles with my best buddies in the 60's

We also made many trips out to Gilkey Lake Tavern, for the "old movies" and good times too!!

[Duke]

Wow, that is pretty cool- I don't suppose you remember where or what the place was called where Nugent & Seager played do ya? I bet I know the mini-golf place (at least it looks like it is straight out of the 60's even today)!

Did you ever hear any 'musky stories' out of Gun? I have come to devote my fishing life (if not more) to this fish, and I know Gun historically had big fish. It still has a few, but I think spearing took a large toll on Gun's muskies, which is a real shame. The lake has always been a real fish factory, but is pressured to death any more.

[Bushwhacker]

Duke,

Good to hear from you. Actually, I never spent that much time over at Gun Lake. We did go there once in a while for a swim or picnic in the late 50's in the Yankee Springs area, I think that was the first time I ever saw a charcoal BBQ was at the park there, not many people had their own then. If I remember, it was nice swimming, shallow and sandy. Sounds like MIBow knows a bit more about it than I do. I know more about the Cloverdale or Shultz area, Long Lake etc.

MIBow,
I think that "road house" was called "The Note" if I rememember right. I spent my 21st birthday evening there in 64, but things got a bit fuzzy. I've also spent a few hours at the Gilkey Tavern, also the Prairie Schooner south of Richland near Prairieville.

Not much winter here yet, sounds like more snow down there, we've got maybe 8" of snow, but 6-8" of black ice for ice fishing.

Bushwhacker

[MIBow]

yea, THE NOTE.. I was only a little kid in the "hay days" there.

One of my familys favorite road trips was to the Schooner!! We used to go there quite a bit. I spent my 18th (legal to drink in 74 ) at Gilkey and there abouts!!

Duke: I cant help you out with the Muskie question. I have never really fished for those critters and know little of the status Gun Lake these days.. I spend what little time I have to fish, wandering around the various trout streams hunting for steelhead and brook trout.

[Benelli]

Duke,

I’ve lived here in Delton for about 8 years now, learning a little bit of the history of the area myself.

I haven’t fished Gun Lake much, extremely crowded in the summertime. I always targeted smallies and was not aware of any good muskie populations. Crooked lake in Delton and Thornapple in Hastings are the muskie waters, I think the current state record was taken from Thornapple.

On the history side, I heard Al Capone had a cottage (hideout?) on Gun Lake. Guess that place may have been near Chicago Point on the lake.

To those who remember the Gilkey Lake Tavern, sorry to say that it is now out of business. Also, I went there back in 94 to get a nice prime rib dinner, came to learn that they were only serving up topless dancers! They went back to the restaurant for a while, changed names, and then went out of business about 3 years ago.

[Duke]

Yes, you are right about Capone visiting the lake. Our cottage is w/in a long drive (golf) of the former 'hideout', in the Cascades. And that is why the resort is called Chicago Point, because of its clientele (not only mobsters). Before he passed away, we had an ol' timer neighbor who remembered as a boy seeing drunken men, in suits, jumping/falling in and swimming. During Prohibition. Interesting stuff!

As for the musky fishing, there really isn't any GOOD populations, but you may find a few (the spearers still do). I fish the lake (mornings & evenings!) pretty often, and have never caught one there. The DNR quit stocking the lake years ago because the ignorant lake association didn't want all the panfish being eaten. Fools, musky were natural in the lake forever, I have a historical book about the lake that shows many pictures of giants that came out of the lake in the '40s & '50s.

The state record did come out of Thorn a year ago, and Crooked received an initial plant of northern (pure strain) muskies 2 years ago I think. So they are still growing up, but the lake did get hybrid tiger muskies for years. Those tigers should at the very end of their life cycle now, if any are left actually.