Submerged Net Stakes

[phil]

WC Readers:
I've been studying my "Hot Spots" map of the Western Basin of Erie and noticed many references to 'submerged net stakes'.

What are these? Why are they there? Who put them there? Do you want to avoid them? Is this an area that those pesky walleyes can be found? (Structure?) I can only guess what these are. I hope that someone can shed some light on this query.

To me they sound like tackle grabbing little monsters to be avoided at all costs....

Inquiring minds want to know.....
Thanks,
Phil

[phil]

Just bringing it up to the top.
Anyone????
THX,
Phil

[Juls_WI]

I have first hand experience with submerged monsters..but mine was of the tree variety..;-)

I'm only guessing, but I think they would be for the perch nets. Don't know anymore than that...sorry.
Just helping you keep this at the top. I'm sure one of our Erie boys can tell us the answer to your question.

Juls

[ezmarc]

I'm an Erie boy and I don't know either, but would sure like to.

Have boat will travel

[Fuzzy]

I watched another boat as were racing back to the wiegh-in cut to the 'inside lane' closer to shore; right into a net field and got stick like glue in a net. He passed the rest of us but didn't take heed to the net stakes and flags. I treat those things like mines. Be very careful. Another guy told me he once lost his lower front teeth on the console dash when he got stuck in one.

[phil]

What I don't understand is why are they (nets and stakes) there anyway? I thought commercial fishing was kaput on the Ohio side of Erie. Remove 'em if they are abandoned, and if they aren't abandoned, why are they there to begin with???

What do the notification flags look like? I want to be sure I avoid.

Why would ODNR allow active nets to be placed anywhere around the western basin, given all of the sportfishing going on.

I can imagine the damage to a small boat running 30+ mph. Kinda like one of those jets landing on an aircraft carrier. WOW! No thanks!

Still looking for an answer - keep 'em coming.
Phil

[Eric]

I think the net stakes are from long ago. We fish the areas of them on the map with them all the time. Think about it, If they were put there long ago, they were put there for a reason!!!!!! The net stakes with flags must be avoided like the plague, the one's close to shore are real shollow, the ones out in deep water I was told are at least 4 foot under water. I've ran my 26 footer over them by mastake with no problem. but never troll in to them, the outcome is costly. Correct me if I'am wrong on the stakes on the map.

[Fuzzy]

Good question for the ODNR. Ask them. Seems like the state should clean them up and fine the netter. I don't know for sure but somebody must get injured each year because of them and that's a known hazard.

[ezmarc]

I don't think the submerged stakes Phil is talking about are the same as the flagged nets you see around lake Erie. You definitely want to stay away from the nets if possible, especially while drifting or trolling, you can usually work your way around them, but it is nerve-wracking to say the least if it is hazy or lowlight conditions.

The state still allows netting (trap nets?) on Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay. Walleye are taboo but still get caught in the nets. We're not supposed to eat any Catfish or carp out of Lake Erie but the netters ship them to other states I believe. Ironic huh! If you fished west of Huron last fall there were miles of them, they were also east of Kelleys last fall. They don't have lights on them either, so they are impossible to see at night. Go out during daylight and check the area you want to fish in.

I've got those submerged stakes marked on my GPS, but have never heard of any one having problems with them. It would be nice to know for sure what they are though. Anyone know for sure?

Go away Ice!

[Redskin]

I asked the same question of a Lake Erie Charter Captain last year at the Milwaukee Sport Show. He knew of them from the map and had fished those areaas many times, but never had any problems with snags etc. His thought was that they were there a long time ago but were probably not a hazard at this point - at least based on his experience....Hope this helps.

[Steve W.]

They are stakes/poles that are left from when netting was legal. We have them at Little Bay de Noc also. They are similar to a telephone pole driven into the bottom to which the nets were attached. They eat crankbaits like crazy if you troll through them. I once lost 5 baits in 1 pass thru an area that is infested with them. Hope this helps. Steve W.

[Boatnut]

Phil,
keep in mind that the navigational info on the "hotspot" maps is taken from NOAA charts. The most recent chart I have of the western basin is the 20th edition, dated Oct. of 1986 and it shows them. I'm sure they've been there for decades. I doubt NOAA has re-surveyed the lake in 40 yrs!

Mike(boatnut)

[phil]

WC:
OK, I get the fact that the submerged net stakes are from long ago and probably not much of a consequence now other than possible tackle thieves.

Could someone explain the current use of nets and what sort of markings and/or hazards to look out for? I sure as h-ll wouldn't want to get caught in one!

Pardon my ignorance, new to the western basin boating/fishing scene...
Thanks in advance,
Phil

[Boatnut]

Phil,
For Ohio waters, the end of the net closest to shore will be marked with one flag and the other end will be marked with two flags. I'll try and get more info later today.
hope this helps.
Mike(boatnut)

[bob oh]

Mike,

You're right these stakes are from long ago. They did hold nets and may or may not still be there. However, I have been told, by ODNR people, that some of them were huge (like railroad tie size) and if the water is shallow where they are located (especially now with low water levels)you should be very careful cause they could do some damage if struck. If area has decent depth there shouldn't be a problem and a lot are probably gone. I was told they still use them in Canada. You are also right about the flags. You can get away many times running between the flags, but sometimes you get caught by net so I just normally run around the nets to be safe. If we can get law passed to do away with the nets we won't have to worry them anymore ;-)

Bob

[ezmarc]

Another thing about these nets is that they are usually in groups, so if you see one set of flags, chances are there will be more, sometimes lots more in that area. A lot of them also have smaller white styrofoam floats in between the main flags but not all of them. It would be nice to get rid of them altogether!

GO AWAY ICE!!

[FJH1]

We were trolling on Little Bay de Noc last season and kept seeing the top of a pole sticking just inches out of the water. Usually it was visable between swells. I'm not certain, but I would guess we were in 30'+ depths (just into the Bay by the narrows). After asking a guy that spends a ton of time up there in the fall I was told that it was a net stake. I'd sure hate to hit that thing at WOT, bye bye lower unit! I imagine with Lake Michigan at a normal pool depth this stake would have been several feet below the surface, however, with the lake down as far as it is these hazards are now coming to the surface.

Best Regards,

FJH

[ErieAngler]

Commercial fishing is very much alive on Ohio waters of Lake Erie. The net stakes you are citing from the charts are from many years ago and although I have not seen or snagged on one in the past 15 years I do remember seeing one sticking out of the water as a kid when grandpa put me behind the wheel, pointed me towards West Sister, and fell alseep. I almost hit one. I would be suspicious at best of those on the charts.
The modern nets are trap nets that are set with a long "lead" to funnel fish into the "basket". The ouside marker should have 2 flags stacked on it and the inside stick should have one. These nets will catch anything that swims into them but walleyes, pike, bass, and other non legal species must be returned to the water unharmed by the commercial operators and they are monitored VERY closely by the ODOW for specie, seasons, and minimum length regulations.
Best bet is to avoid them alltogether but one of the previous posts mentioned the fact that the offshore nets are generally set well below the surface. Throttle down to be safe and pass over them. Inside nets should be gone around to the outside(double flagged) stake.
Go get em

[Boatnut]

For those interested, here is a link to one of ODNR's webpages, describing flags and how nets are typically set.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/odnr/wildlife/fishing/fishregs/fsh10.html
Mike(boatnut)