Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 1500; Flight Crew Type 1000
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Weather; Procedure; Human Factors
Today I taxied to the ZZZ strip with ATIS weather to ZZZ Runway XX. I noticed 4 or 3 maybe snow removal vehicles working around but not yet on the runway. I called in to the Tower and I introduced my airplane numbers and request for takeoff. The Tower asked me to repeat my call sign and I did.  The Tower told me to wait. I heard quite a bit (of half) the Tower radio traffic communication.  The Tower then told me I was cleared for takeoff and I confirmed.  I noticed that the snow removal vehicles all had backed off and so I took off successfully; without incident.  One of the snow removal drivers called into the Tower and told them I took off the strip.  I verified this and was told to call into the Tower later.  I called in and told the Tower how it happen from my prospective after my flight. They say they are passing the incident on. There was a southeast wind and in reflection; the Tower may have told me I was clear to take off southeast; which is from the lake; not the strip.  I should have reiterated my position on the runway when he asked me to repeat my tail numbers.  I do not believe I called for a southeast take off; but there was a southeast wind that I was in my mind.  I was also watching the snow removal equipment but believed he must have told them to back off on a different frequency. There was no other radio traffic until I was 8 to 10 miles away. The lake was empty and the Southeast water lane; frozen; is right in front of the Tower. He could have helped the situation if he said he could not see me. He did not see me take off at all. It was the snow worker that saw me. When I returned about an hour later the ATIS changed to MIKE and the strip was closed.  I had no issue landing on the lake to the southeast. I have flown out of ZZZ since I was a training pilot. I use the lake in the summer and occasionally in the winter. I regret this happened today; regardless that all was safe and there was no chance of any collision with truck or another plane.  It was my intention to follow ATC control; I am sorry if I heard/misinterpreted; or even possibly asked for the incorrect runway. I will certainly talk more to the Tower when they are short and listen more acutely.  I will be more certain of the runway as well and add it to my checklist as I am with wheels and skis. I have caught miscommunication from the Tower in the past coming in on floats but was able to talk it out.
A pilot departing from an airport with a hard surface runway and water lanes reported he took off from the runway but found out ATC had cleared him for takeoff from the water lane as the runway was closed for snow removal.