Hopatcong Access

[EsoxPox]

Can anyone point me to the best access area for this time of year? I've used the State Park access but was wondering if it is open after the swimming season is over? Or is Lee's Marina a better place to go? Is there a fee to launch at Lee's and do they still collect fees in the fall at the State Park access? Thanks for any help guys.

[AndyS]

Go to Lee's. 24 hr. it's like 7 or 10 bux.

[acabtp]

Go to Lee's. 24 hr. it's like 7 or 10 bux.
You haven't been there in a while, have you Andy... they raised the launch fee this year to $18

[AndyS]

:eek: During the week it was around 10 bux.

[FASTEDDIE29]

18 every day. 10 at night monday- thursday

[EsoxPox]

$18 Wow that's rough! How about the state park ramp. Does someone man the booth for early rise fishermen? Is the state ramp open all year?

[jimmythegreek]

theres been nobody at lee's the few times I went after labor day during the week but it was after work like 5ish. Weekends theres someone there during normal hours and it is 18 bucks. ramps are open 24/7 tho. I have heard u can launch next to Alice's for free but theres no place to park. I guess you could launch ur buddy and park somewhere and just get picked up off a dock.......

[wolf man]

i went to hopatcong early in the summer and couldnt believe what these places were charging! i called every launch there, everywhere was nearly 20 bucks! and some of the marinas said you had to be out of the marina by a certain time! no thanks! i paid the launch fee because of the drive i made to get there,but itll be the last time i go until these fees are reasonable! and the sad thing is i try and help out and clean out lakes, when ever i see garbage or beer cans or bags floating in the lake i take them out! now they can clean it out themselves!!!!!!

[kcritch]

I was just there last Thursday and state park ramp is open...its $12. Plenty of parking and the ramp is fine. You pay inside the ranger station that is to the left of the entrance. There was nooone in the little guard house when i went. Its at the south end of the lake and is the same entrance as the beach. I do not know how bad it gets on weekends buht it was empty on Thursday.
Here is the address for directions:
1 Lakeside Blvd, Landing, NJ 07850

[EsoxPox]

Yeah that's the one I referred to as the "state ramp". Last time I was there was on Memorial Day Saturday. The cars were lined up back into town. We waited and it didn't take all that long to get in. The sign said $20 but they only charged us $10. I just wondered what happens when there is no money takers in the booth. I do remember seeing a Ranger station inside to the left just as you come in. What happens when you get there at like 6AM? Is there a gate that they close or can you just drive in?

[TomKaye]

It's been a while since I've launched there.
Over the years, I've arrived a few times at 0555. Staff opened the gate at 0600 or 0605 if the coffee was late brewing. :) :)

kcritch is right......this time of year, when summer help is back to school,
you pay at the ranger station to the left of guard shack. Don't know what the rate is anymore. Sorry.

[bigfishy]

Payed ten bucks on an early afternoon weekday in june;)

[flatcreek]

Just called Hopatcong park to see if my senior pass would allow me to launch my boat. Got it at Spruce Run and it allows me in the park free during the summer season and allows me to launch my boat, in the off season there are no fees.. Well at Hopatcong it will also allow me in the park and to launch my boat free during the summer season. But during the off season I must pay a launch fee because the senior pass is a parking pass. Somehow this makes sense to someone in our government. I would like to ask that person to please stand up and take a bow.

[EsoxPox]

Thanks guys. Doesn't sound like there's a cheap way to get on the lake. I've only been to the lake a few times can anyone tell me more about launching next to Alice's and about where it's at. Anyone else ever try it there and find a place to park?

[Sidewinder]

Lee's park is the cheapest on the Lake... Unless they are allowing people to launch at the state park then that is just a bit cheaper.

Good Luck!

[acabtp]

at both the state park ramp and lee's county park ramp, there are envelopes and a drop box to use for paying your launch fee if the facility is unattended at the time you put in. you have to mark your license plate # on the envelope so they will know if you don't pay. remember to bring exact change.

[EsoxPox]

That's good to know at least I'll know it won't be a wasted trip. Thanks all!