I stopped by the Sanford Park launch last night and it looks usable now althought there are still signs at the enterance saying the beach and launch are closed due to low water. No doubt in a week or less the lake will be usable again although my bet is the Sanford Lake Marina launch may be a bit of a challenge if you have a larger/heavier boat like me.
Hey guys I was looking forward to fishing Sanford when to water came back up but the work on the dam is taking longer than expected (of Course) and the water level is still to low to launch a boat and since they lower the water level in the winter they are now talking about leaving the water level where its at for the winter. Looks like I'll be on Budd lake the rest of the year.
i found this on the sanford lake association website
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To Sanford Lake Association Board of Directors from Lee Mueller:
On Thursday, October 7th two wet spots in the embankment returned where they had previously been observed last August. At the same time, the water levels in two of the three monitoring wells began to rise above acceptable levels. As a consequence it became necessary to return to a lowering of the Sanford Lake water level. Initially we dropped the level down to just under minus two feet for a couple of days, but the wet spots did not go away, and the water levels in the monitoring wells remained higher than is acceptable before the construction work is completed. We have now dropped the water level to at least a minus three feet and we will keep it there until next spring when the winter draw-down period is concluded.
Lee W. Mueller, Architect & Co-Member Manager
Boyce Hydro, LLC
6000 South M-30 (P.O. Box 15)
Edenville, MI 48620
tel: (989) 689-3161 / fax: (989) 689-3055
I was thinking about a Sanford trip to meet up with my buddy returning home from WI to the East side of the state (Thanksgiving Weekend). Does not look like that will happen. If we still wanted to plan a one day adventure…would you recommend Budd or Wixom? I guess we could always cast Anchor Bay if the weather allowed too.
Both good choices. If you have not fished Wixom before (and even if you have) it is possible to feel a little "lost" out there just because its big, long and basically looks like you should be fishing every inch of it, which would take a couple years to do. So that can be intimidating on day one, but if that doesn't bother you then the upside is greater on Wixom with unlimited size potential. And you are almost sure to have some pike action in between longer musky dry spells. On Budd, you can can almost be assured of seeing some muskies, and it does put out good sized fish too. Because of its size and clear water, you can pretty much fish the whole lake and every spot twice in a day out there. Good luck
I like Budd. It's small and easy to cover. The muskies seem to only average around 36in but there are some beauties in there. Make sure you check out the deep water there are huge schools of blue gill and muskies feeding on them. The SE corner of the lake from the fishing pier down my favorite area to cast. But thats just my opinion and I'm a newbie.
Hey guys I heard of the news the other night that the dam owner won't pay for the repairs on the dam. The cost is about $85,000 and wants sanford businesses and residents to pay for the repairs. I don't understand how he can do this but it's a ugly situation and I've heard that several lawsuits have been filed from residents when the lake was lowered with little notice causing there boat to become beached at the dock. Anyone looking to fish Sanford in the next 6 months should look into doing it through the ice, from shore or from a boat you can carry.
There is also Steve Griffin's January 23, 2011 article.
Fishing still pretty good on Sanford Lake <url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
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Snippets:
Of a species that draws more local angler interest, Baker said, "We know the pike population (on Sanford Lake) is plenty healthy." Three straight years of surveying have identified the lake as a potential source of northern pike brood stock for hatchery production, if techniques are proven to disinfect eggs so they don't carry viral hemorrhagic septicemia.
And yes, there are muskies in the lake, too, including monsters like the 51-incher speared earlier this winter whose captor hasn't been identified.
"There's been no real change in muskie populations or management," said Baker. "Like other mature programs, we still plant them when we can get fish."
Watch the local Midland papers for a press release today. I am involved with a newly formed organization, The Sanford Lake Preservation Association (SLPA), which consists of local homeowners and interested parties. The SLPA has secured funding to complete the remaining repairs needed and, if Boyce Hydro executes a contract with the SLPA in connection with this funding, we should have the water back up on Sanford in time for opening day. Going forward the SLPA will be working with the local homeowner's association, municipalities, county and other interested bodies to attempt to come to a long term solution in connection with the dispute with Boyce.
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