The Final Leg of the Portage-to-Zukey-Lake chain

Heading up the Huron River from Tamarack Lake, the next body of water is Whitewood Lake, which many boaters say has one of the best swimming holes on the chain in a quiet bay.

Whitewood Lake is a 62-acre natural, hard-water kettle lake, which consists of a 40-acre downstream west basin and a 22-acre upstream east basin separated by a channel approximately 400 feet long. The channel depth between the two basins varies, but it has a maximum depth of about 15 feet. The east basin has a maximum depth of 27 feet, a volume of 328 acre feet and a mean depth of 14.9 feet. The west basin has a maximum depth of 50 feet, a water volume of 1041 acre feet and a mean depth of 26 feet. Patty’s Lake is a 2-acre, 20 foot-deep basin off the east basin. The Huron River flows through both basins.

The next body of water on the chain is Gallagher Lake, which many say is really just a wide spot on the Huron River and isn’t a destination lake by local anglers. It is only 76 acres and the deepest point is only 30 feet. The fishery is similar to those of Zukey and Strawberry, but less impressive.

Next is Strawberry Lake, which is the second-largest lake on the chain at 257 acres. The lake is located in south central Livingston County about five miles east of Pinckney. The maximum depth is 50 feet. Large colonial and ranch homes sit on the hillsides overlooking the lake. Access is on either Zukey Lake through a private marina that charges launching fees or via a public access site several miles downstream on the Huron River at Big Portage Lake.

The bottom of deep, fairly clear Strawberry Lake is 90 percent sand and gravel and 10 percent silt. Its features include an irregular shoreline, limited shoal area, and steep contour changes. Other than a band of milfoil weeds that circle the drop off and a few pockets of lily pads, there is little cover. Even so, magnum bluegills and huge crappies are twin calling cards. This lake also holds pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass and walleye. Crappies average 10-12 inches and the Pike are 26-27 inches. Some anglers claim that Strawberry Lake is the best crappy fishing in Livingston County.

On the north end of the lake the Huron River continues on to Ore Lake. On the southwest side of the lake, Devils Basin connects Strawberry Lake to Zukey Lake.

Ore Lake is 192 acres and has a maximum depth of 81 feet. Because much of this portion of the Huron River is difficult to navigate, many people don't consider Ore Lake as part of the chain of lakes. It is hard to take anything but a small boat up the river. Plus it can't sit deep in the water.

Zukey Lake has many sandbars. Good directions and a lake map are important if you aren't going to run aground or run a prop. There is a sandbar that stretches from the east bank to the west bank and is particularly hazardous. Many boats have bottomed out here. Toward the end of the summer when the lake levels are lowest the water here is sometimes only ankle deep in the middle of the lake.

Zukey Lake is 155 acres and has a maximum depth of 35 feet. It has nice crappies and bluegills and holds small northern pike and largemouth bass. The Devil’s basin at the south end is good for blue gills. But again be wary of the sandbars. Still it is well worth the effort to cross the sandbar to the famous and historic Zukey Lake Tavern; the only full-service restaurant on the chain of lakes, it seats over 400 people. You can enjoy great food that includes sandwiches, burgers, salads, great ribs, steaks, fish and seafood and even some Mexican dishes. You can order out or dock your boat and go inside or sit on the outside Tiki deck.