A New Way of Tubing at Big Bass Lake

Well, what won’t they come up next with at Big Bass Lake? This takes tubing into a whole new direction. Rather than the “donut” this is more like a bench where the feet go first. And instead of lying on your stomach, you can rest on your backside.

How many other strange ways are there to have fun at Big Bass Lake with? My last time at Big Bass Lake was 1995 and I saw someone try Water Walkers which were styrafoam legs looking much like a storks. Of course the water has to be near still for those to work and one prances atop the water like a stork which requires extremely good balance.

Yet I wonder how this new form of tubing has caught on at Big Bass Lake?  And what other new conveyances are being tried out on the lake?  Let us know by way of a comment.

Bridge to Nowhere

The bridge to Big Island was perfect for those who wanted to avoid going around that island to get to the Big Bass Lake store. I personally know that rowing our boat under that bridge was a massive time saving in contrast to having to row completely around Big Island to get to the store.

Now, however, there is no Big Bass Lake store to go to as it has been closed down for several years. For boats needing gasoline that has also made getting that fuel more difficult as there was always a pump just below the store.

One might call that bridge now a bridge to nowhere. I would say that the majority of boats that use that shortcut were heading to the Big Bass Lake store. I wonder if it still has high usage today?

The Manistee National Forest From Lake Michigan

I took this picture with my feet in Lake Michigan feeling the cold water lap around them with wave after wave. This picture probably best describes the closeness of the Manistee National Forest to the shores of Lake Michigan as only that small sand dune separates the two. Just over that sand dune is a camping area with picnic tables galore and the road that takes one back out to US 31, and then a short jog over to the Freesoil Road and then back to Big Bass Lake.

Hiking trails also abound in this area. This area also has two multi-step lookout towers that provide you with an excellent panorama of both the Manistee National Forest and Lake Michigan.

The Quagmire Creature Encounters Mark O’Brien

Once on a trip with the Marion Boys Club one of our boys was using the commode late at night and said he heard bushes moving about behind him near the quagmire swamp and thought he had encountered The Quagmire Creature.

This monster is said to have inhabited the quagmire swamp behind our wooded beachfront.  This is one thing that I have never mentioned before about our property because only two boys from separate clubs ever related to experiencing it. 

We could never find any evidence of any sort of tracks the next morning following that incident.  Jay reported hearing low growling sounds behind him.  He finished his business quickly and ran back to the tents but told no one until morning.

On a trip with the Hoffman Estates Boys Club, Mark O’Brien also reported seeing the Quagmire Creature.  Whereas the first boy only heard the creature, Mark said he actually saw it.  He was collecting wood behind our campsite a good fifty yards away from the main site when he saw this creature emerge from the bog and advance toward him.  He must have been observing Mark from the swamp for some time.

Mark himself was a troublesome youth and was always getting into mischeif.  He appeared angelic but within him were many devils.  I can only speculate that Mark may well have seen him and maybe even encountered him.  But when the Quagmire Creature came face to face with Mark it was probably more than it bargained for.  When the boys heard his accounting of the incident many believed that it was the creature that fled for his life and was never to be seen or heard again. 

You’d have to know Mark to really appreciate this accounting.  But never again on any boys club trip was there any sighting of The Quagmire Creature.  Once with Mark was more than enough for it I am certain.  I can almost visualize it jumping headfirst into that swamp never to be heard from again.  What a pity for it made for great campfire stories.

Family Outing on Big Bass Lake

The family that boats together stays together. At least on Big Bass Lake. What a way to spend a day! How about a cruise around te whole lake? Or what about dropping anchor at Sunken Island for a quick swim in three feet of water even if tis section of the lake appears to be in the middle of that lake?

Or what about cruising around each island on the lake?  You might want to eat a picnic lunch on Turtle Island.  What about checking out the channel between Big and Little Bass Lake while you’re at it as it is just east of Sunken Island. 

Maybe get out the water skis for a few laps around the lake with a family member?  Or even tubing for those a tad younger?  And, then there’s always time for a little fishing for who knows, one of you might get lucky and bring supper home with them? 

Any other ideas for a day out on the lake?