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Around the County: Hoag’s Lake
Around the County is a presentation of Preferred Credit Union, www.preferredcu.org, located locally at 266 N. Jebavy Dr., Ludington.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
FREE SOIL TOWNSHIP —On the last day of September, I took a ride on my side by side exploring parts of Free Soil Township. My destination was Hoag’s Lake. Most of the 35.3 acres lake is surrounded by private property, except the northern tip, which is located in the Manistee National Forest. The lake is only about 18 feet deep at its deepest point.
Fishing on the lake includes bluegill, largmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. According to the MNF, the site is also popular for waterfowl hunting.
Manistee National Forest’s Hoag’s Lake Day Use Area features a boat ramp (mostly for smaller boats), parking, picnic area, grills, vault restroom, a sandy beach and sandy swimming area. A MNF foot trail also crosses through the day use area. That foot trail intersects with MNF roads to the east.
Standard Manistee National Forest fees apply, $5 per day or $15 per week. The area is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week from April 1 to Nov. 30, according to the MNF website. It is closed from Dec. 1 to March 31. Special use permits are not required for individuals or small groups of 74 people or less.
The day use area is located off of Rybicki Road, just north of where Hoague, Stephens, and Rybicki roads intersect.
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