Newburg Lake

[vyndrup]

I've fished NL a few times from the shore since it was "cleaned" and have caught some mediumish sized bass. Has anyone here ventured out in a boat? I saw a couple of kids out there last weekend and heard someone talking about some big pike caught on the south side of the lake. Has anyone experienced this or heard any similar tales? I have a small flat bottom row boat and would love to check it out.

[flipper]

I also fish from shore, But down the road from the sherriffs station is a launch I just dont know if you can use it or have motors on the lake. You may want to inquire at the Sherriffs station to be sure!

Flipper

[vyndrup]

I was told once before that you cannot use motors on the lake (it's small enough and my boat rows very easily)

[Krull]

I live now and grew up within 2 miles of Newburg Lake. My advice is this. I recommend finding another lake. The cleaning and dredging of that lake did nothing. The chemical levels were above what they tested at before the "cleaning" within 2 years. The Lake is a cesspool, please do not even consider keeping a fish out of there. I am not kidding. In regards to motors, I have to believe they are not allowed. I do not know this for sure, but I have never, ever, ever seen a boat under power out there and I have been driving by that lake at least twice a year for the last 16 years, and lived in the area for 24 years (ok save 4 years at WMU) Just some friendly advice, I understand that people are looking for different things in their outdoor experience, but their is a reason you never see anyone out there fishing and just wanted to explain the why's. If you are into it, and want to release the fish, there are some mamoth Carp in that lake and on the rougue nearby. I did fish the Rouge occasionally as a kid around there, but again, even at 10 years old, knew not to keep anything for consumption.

[Overdew]

I don't fish there but saw a guy with huge pike caught out of there a couple years ago. Reports of a bunch of walleye also. That lake is MUCH cleaner than it used to be so give them some credit.

[vyndrup]

I so very seldom keep fish. Salmon and perch are about it. Catch and release is about all I do. I don't know about the regulations but for the record, the two kids on the boat last weekend did have an electric trolling motor.

[Connor4501]

I think electric trolling motors are allowed but check with the sheriff's office...However, when it comes to fishing the lake, I preferred it more before they drained and dredged it. Have seen a 8+ pound bass hooked and broken off at the east pier before the dredging and have personally caught and released many over 5 pounds...Not as big now and tougher to find. As for pike, have seen quite a few smaller ones since the restocking of the lake but nothing like the 40+ inchers in the years before the draining...Mostly caught thru the ice, many fish hovering around the 20 pound mark were taken from Newburgh and Phoenix Lakes back in the 1980's and early 90's...We obviously didn't fish those lakes years ago to eat our catch, we fished them for the chance at a wall-hanger, and although my biggest bass out of Newburgh was only 5 1/2 lbs, I have seen some pike taken that were headed straight for the taxidermist later that day...I never targeted pike too much on either lake, but the people that did target them thru the ice wouldn't catch many but when the tip-up flag went up, it could be a wall-hanger...

I grew up fishing these lakes and honestly don't even know if Phoenix even supports pike anymore, but Newburgh does, just not the trophies of yesteryear...Vyndrup, you wanna have some fun with pike, go below the dam...;)

[Krull]

I don't fish there but saw a guy with huge pike caught out of there a couple years ago. Reports of a bunch of walleye also. That lake is MUCH cleaner than it used to be so give them some credit.


I agree appearance wise and smell wise, it is better, but the articles that have come forth over the years regarding the actual testing of the lake say different. Maybe it is just the local news hack trying to stir things up ect, as it was a monumental PITA trying to maneuver around that area when they were doing it and fixing the dam, so they are taking there shots at the entire project. Remember the diver who died there about 8-9 years ago working on the dam, got caught up in the undertow. Anyway, if you enjoy it, by all means keep going! I agree with a previous post, if you want the mamoth Pike, go below the Dam. Good luck- Krull

[DetroitIron]

My buddies used to clean up on bass on that lake in the mid 80's (damn, 20 years sure fly by). I myself caught a rather nice bass from that lake on the south side near a drainage pipe, but the fish was "grey", not the usual green I am used to seeing. I thought the coloring on the fish was strange.

Too bad the GM chrome bumper plant on Eckles road (now flattened) spilled all their untreated chemicals down the sewer, from 1952-1985, which made its way down the road into the lake (much like all industry operated from the 1940's until recently). All the sewer drains didn't help either. Its a damn shame the price Mother Nature pays for industry and jobs.

[DetroitIron]

When you say go "below the dam", you are talking on the river, right?

[Krull]

Below the Dam = River, correct. I almost mentioned the color of the fish but refrained. Since you opened the door Detroit, I will agree 100%. I noticed an almost yellow "HUE" on all the fish I caught, they just did not look healthy.

[RyGuy525]

How do you get down to the river? I fish the lake often and have never gone down there.

[DetroitIron]

I'll have to try down there with a Daredevil or something and see if I can catch a toothy gator down there, funny color or not. Still love to catch them. Anything else that "lives" in the water under the dam?

As much as it sucks that some of our waterways arent the cleanest, its still a nice area, Newburgh Lake, and the Rouger River valley in general. I applaud them for trying to clean up the lake. They knew there a lot of heavy metals sitting on the bottom of Newburgh.

In fact, much of my youth I spent riding BMX bikes along the Rouge, hitting jumps and tabletops and blasting down hills in the woods there, much , floating makeshift rafts down the river (knowing if we fell in we better pick up a bottle of peroxide on the way home), having bonfires with friends (including hot female friends) in "secret" spots along the river....we had as much fun as the Potowatomi Indians probably did back in the day.... the Rouge River area in general is making a comeback. I just hit a cool bike trail that starts along Michigan Avenue near Andiamo restaurant in Dearborn, it goes over several new bridges over the rouge, over by Henry Ford Estate where there is a wildlife presevatory (I saw a big buck and several does last fall tiptoing along the river) through UM-D and HF community College, and onto Hines Drive along the River. This trail may extend as far as Melvindale at a future date. Very cool area, many good memories growing up along Hines Park in general and the Rouge River valley.

As a kid I heard about stories of people catching pike out of the Rouge and other fish (they mention this behind Henry Ford Mansion that the workers there caught pike and had fish fries on friday) and always wished the river was more fishable in our neck of the Rouge (Dearborn Heights / Westland area). If they get all the rest of the communities together to connect the sewer lines and street runoff in one main line going to the treatment plant, we may indeed be fishing the Rogue in all stretches someday.

[WAR EAGLE]

That lake can be accessed with a boat as long as doesn't use a gas powered motor, your supposed to go to the Nankin Mills building on Hines drive and get a sticker to launch there and it's good at other wayne county parks although i'm not sure where else you could go. I think the sticker was about $5 for the year but I don't think anyone will even check for it.
I fish there because it's real close to home and when my 5 year old gets bored of fishing after 15 minutes I don't have alot of time invested in the trip. You can catch small gills and largemouth all day in there but I would't eat anything out of there.