The Wide Waters River

The Wide Waters River is a public boating-access site on Net River in Iron County, Michigan. The water here is classified as a river/stream. The launch is an improved hard-bottom ramp best suited to small and mid-size trailered boats and hand-carried craft.

By the numbers, the site offers 1 launching lane, 5 marked tow-vehicle/trailer parking spaces.

It is owned and maintained by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Baraga State Park).

The Wide Waters River is an improved hard-bottom ramp best suited to small and mid-size trailered boats and hand-carried craft. The ramp surface is gravel/hard-bottom.

Facilities: 1 launch lane, 5 trailer parking spaces.

It has vault or flush restrooms on site.

Posted access hours: Open 24 hours, daily.

A Michigan Recreation Passport is required on the vehicle for entry (buy it with your license-plate registration or online at the DNR; non-resident day or annual passes are also sold).

Net River is open to public fishing, boating and paddling across the Great Lakes State. Anglers here target walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, bluegill and other panfish.

In the cold rivers and the Great Lakes, salmon, steelhead, brown and lake trout run seasonally.

As moving water, it fishes by current — target seams, eddies, holes, bends and woody cover rather than open flats.

The Wide Waters River is a public access point to Net River for trailered boats, kayaks and canoes.

This launch sits on Net River; look for other public access points, marinas and shoreline fishing spots along the same water, and check the Michigan DNR for the full list of access sites nearby.

River current, woody snags, shifting sandbars and changing water levels are the main hazards. Respect the current, scout unfamiliar stretches, give way to any commercial traffic, and never anchor from the stern in a strong flow.

Carry U.S. Coast Guard–required safety gear, wear your life jacket, file a float plan for longer trips, and remember that spring and fall water is cold enough to cause hypothermia quickly.

A Michigan fishing license is required for anglers 17 and older. Follow the Michigan DNR's seasons, size and creel limits, which vary by water and species.

Clean, Drain and Dry: remove all aquatic plants and animals, drain every compartment, and never move live fish or bait between waters — this is how invasive species like zebra mussels and invasive carp spread.

Observe posted launch rules, no-wake and idle zones near the ramp, and any local watercraft controls.

Access/parking fee: Michigan Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry.

Stage your gear before backing down to keep the lanes moving, especially on busy mornings. Check the ramp depth for your boat's draft, and rig the trailer lights to handle a dunk.

Arrive early on summer weekends for parking, and have a plan for wind direction before you launch on open water.