Lake Erie Hazards

[dutchman]

I was thinking about taking my boat to Lake Erie (1998 20' Sylvan Eliminator) but a friend advised me that I would putting my boat at risk and advised that I hire a guide instead. He felt that there are dangerous reefs and such. I have GPS X 2 on the boat and marine band also I'm cabable of reading maps. any input appreciated Thanks :)

[Den]

Depending on the area that you are going to there are a few hazards. it is easy to eleminat just about all of them except the human error factor. get a decent chart on the area that you are intending to fish ahead of time and look it over good and write down the reef areas that you may be near. the western end can be dangerous if you are not familiar with the reefs, but from Kellys island east there is very littl structure to worry about unless you run very close to the shoreline. just use common sense, watch the sky for fronts and storms, and wind switches. the boat that you have is more than sufficiant to handle erie. if fishing the west end, look over the chart good, and it is easy to go around the reefs. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Eye Can II]

There are more than fifty natural rock reefs and shoals in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie's western basin. Not all are hazzards to navigation, but many can be. Due to lower lake water levels use extreme caution. A current navigation chart and the knowledge of how to use it is essential. A copy of LORAN and GPS Coordinates Chart of Lake Erie, available from, Sea Dog Marine, P.O. Box 26026, Cleveland, Ohio 44126-0026 is an invaluable aid. It lists 256 accurate waypoints for cruising and fishing. All western basin reefs are listed plus all Lake Erie ports and harbors.

[ETT]

two points;
1. Lake Erie is international water, therefore there are no "guides" only Charter Captains that are Coast Guard Licensed to carry six fishermen. There are a few that use small boats, but very few.

2. In the Islands area there are around a half dozen tricky dangerous areas. East of Kellys it is "clear sailing" except for the same kind of floating junk every lake has. Ordinary caution should be sufficient. Good luck.