DNR Access Site Parking Permit

[Papa Smurf]

Where can I get a parking permit to park at the DNR access sites, in particular, the one on Big Portage Lake? I can only fish on Wednesdays or Thursdays and the booth is always closed. Is a permit required if the booth is closed? Is a Michigan State Parks sticker good at these sites?

[jpollman]

Papa Smurf,

No a State Park sticker is NOT good at the "Boating Access Sites".
You must buy the $4 daily or the $24 annual sticker.

Here's a link to the DNR's B.A.S. list.

DNR Boating Access Sites (http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_10884-65805--,00.html)

[FishTales]

Papa Smurf,

I have been to several DNR access sites, and the general rule is, if there is no attendant on duty you can park for free.
If the attendant shows up after your there, they might ask you to pay, but then thats a good thing because then you can get your annual permit. It's 4 dollars a visit or 24 for an annual permit.
I believe their fiscal year is Jan 1 to Dec 30.

[Papa Smurf]

Thanks guys. I've been parking there for several years with no sticker (since the booth was closed every time) and I've never had a problem. However, someone brought up an interesting point in another thread about this same boat launch - that parking is limited and it's not fair for those that have paid the money for a sticker to not get a parking spot while someone else with no sticker does get a parking spot. I should probably buy an annual sticker to be fair.

Also, what about the Rec. Areas like Waterloo or Pinckney? I always buy a permit but there have been a few times I got up there late and the headquarters was closed. I fished anyway but didn't feel right about it. Anybody know what the policy is in this case?

[jpollman]

The way I feel about it is that if they want you to pay to use a site that's fine. I'm more than willing to pay for a days use or even an annual permit if I'll use it more than occasionally. But, if I get there and there is no attendant on duty and no way to pay, what am I supposed to do ? Drive all the way home and NOT fish just because there's nobody there to collect my $4 ? That happened to me last year at Bald Mountain before I'd gotten my annual permit. I pulled in and there was nobody on duty. I went to the "self-serve" box to get an envelope and put my $4 into it and slip it in the box. There were no envelopes and I wasn't just going to put $4 in the box with no way to tell WHO'S money it was. So I pulled in anyway and fished. As I was getting ready to pull the boat out I noticed a park rangers' truck parked up behind mine. So I pulled the boat up to the launch and went up to see what was up. SHE WAS WRITING ME A TICKET !!! I'd explained to her that THERE WERE NO ENVELOPES in the self serve box. What was I supposed to do ? She kept on writing ! She was still going to give me a ticket. But I was able to pay her the $4 and then it was ok. What kind of CRAP is that. If I hadn't seen her there writing the ticket, I'd have gotten it and had to pay it. (I'm sure it would be more than the $4 entry fee) I think it's STUPID that if they don't make it possible to pay your entry fee that they'll still give you a ticket. Oh well, I just get my annual now and don't worry about it .

[TrailFndr]

I have gotten a few ticketrs over the years ofr parking without the sticker, its a pay the day ticket, in other words, no fine, no extra as long as you go pay it. if they have to look for you, it will cost you, but otherwise, its simply go to the office and pay for the use.