Det River, LSC Landmarks

[BAMBAM]

For those of us who are relatively new to the area, it can be confusing to read about 'the firecracker', the RenCen, or the 'sputnik', etc. when hearing about various places on St. Clair, Detroit River, and Erie. I have found a good website for explaining the nicknames for places on Erie and their accompanying GPS marks. Can any of you point me to a similar websitefor Detroit River or Lake St. Clair?


FYI - I have figured out the RenCen...but not the firecracker!

Thanks

[ESOX]

Try a Fishing Hotspots map. That and a good chart should explain it all. I am not aware of a website with all the names on it. Most of the names. The Hwys and Cuts, and the bouys and light names (St. Clair Light, Firecracker etc. are on both maps, most are real names, not nicknames.

[BAMBAM]

I have the computer version of the hotspots map which I can download onto my Garmin 162 GPS.
I did find somethings like Strawberry light and A buoy or B bouy.
When I look for firecracker, I get nothing on this.
When I highlight a likely looking 'thing' (a bouy or a light) I am told it is
G"1PH" FLG or R "2FLR"
or something similar. I am sure the locals probably have nicknames for a lot of these places. If I could find that list, I would add it to my waypoints on my GPS.

I am looking for something like this one about Erie http://www.cliftond.com/nic%20names.htm
only with LSC landmarks (and GPS coordinates, if possible).

[Gone Fishing]

Don't know of a websight but I might be able to help with specific landmarks. The firecracker is a large red and white marker at the entrance to the St. Clair Cutoff which is right next to the South Channel. Feel free to ask, someone will have the answer.

[Joe_G]

The GPS coords for the firecracker are:

N42_30.988
W82_41.400

The undescores should be degree symbols...
can't figure out how to make em.
I have several other landmark GPS coords
but it's punch out time...shifts over
talk to you later....joe

[Fried Fillets]

BAMBAM,
I'm not a huge Erie fisherman, but I went to the site you gave for Erie landmarks / nicknames and I have never heard of any of those places. Generally, the most common places you here about are; the Sputnik, the Onion, E-bouy.........which the hotspots map for Erie doesn't show these places and I've always wondered exactly where they were located. Ask me, or any of the other members of this site, general locations for landmarks on LSC and I'm sure we can help you out............Steve

[goosewa]

I would have to say that most of the nicknames were created by locals to the area.

Bambam,

If you did not already know. The G"1PH" FLG or R "2FLR" that you mention is the method used on Charts to call out the Identification, Color and Lighting characteristics of Lighted Bouys or other Aids to Navigation.

The same method is also used to identify un-light or "dead head" Aids to Navigation.

-Goosewa

[Joe_G]

goosewa......
There's a website out there that explains those
G"1PH" FLG or R "2FLR" designations really well.
I found it once a while back.....but darned if
I can find it again. Been searching for 3 hours
now, no luck so far. Do you know the name of the website? thanks.........joe

[ESOX]

http://www.sailingissues.com/navcourse9.html

[goosewa]

Joe,

My family does alot of offshore Cruising/Fishing especially in Southern Florida (Intercoastal Waterway), Central America and the Bahamas . So when I was 14, my father thought it may be a good idea for me to take a Advanced Boating and Navigation Course with the US Power Squadron. That was one of the things I learned in the class.

I will have to check out that website. It is always a good idea to brush up on stuff like that. Now only if I could brush up on Dead Reckoning. You never know when the GPS Sat will go down.

-Goosewa

[Joe_G]

Perfect......thanks esox...

goosewa, my folks just moved to Key West.
They run a 500 HP 26' tiara...must be nice.
I've never taken a boating course but would like to. When you check out that website, would you
mind passing along the address.
Dead Reckoning? Never heard of it. I hope I,m
not the only 40 year old sitting in the class LOL
O.K...Don't want to get too far off of
BAMBAM's original post.........joe

[goosewa]

Joe,

I have relatives that owned a Marina in Stuart, Florida (The Sailfish Capital of the World as it is commonly referred to). Spent alot of time down through out the year until my Uncle finally sold it a while back.

My cousin moved down shortly after my Uncle purchased the Marina. He started off as a mate on a couple of Charter boats that moored at the Marina. He loved it so much he went to school and obtained his Captains License and could legally run boats up to 100 tons.

He is still down there any currently is a full time captain running a 92' Motoryacht owned by an Executive of a well known Home Appliance Franchise. I try to get down there a couple of times a year for some fishing over in the Islands. Last time I talked to him he was just leaving the Keys on his way up to Annapolis, Maryland.

If you think the Great Lakes is nasty, get on the ocean. It is a completely different ball game.

As for dead reckoning. It is a form of "manual" navigation. Allows you to plot a course that is based from a past position taking wind speed(s) and water current into account. I took it when I was kind of young and struggled though it. Never used too much but is a good thing to know when you need it. Consider it the next step up from plotting/charting a course.

Here's a webpage which goes into a little detail about it.
http://www.irbs.com/bowditch/pdf/chapt07.pdf

26' Tiara??? If I am guessing it probably a 2600 Open or a 26 Denali. That is an aweful nice boat and is suprisingly fast. Gas or Diesel Engines?

-Goosewa

[BAMBAM]

Well, I tried LSC for the first time, lauching out of Metro Park. Pretty nice launch, but I have to admit that my 20 ft Lund looked puny compared to most of the crafts I saw! Anyway, trolled for muskies, but only caught one nice walleye. Lots of weeds and grass!
I will try it again...hopefully soon!

[Joe_G]

goosewa.....it's a 26' tiara pursuit hardtop,
with twin 250hp evinrudes. I call those engines
the washer/dryer package....I'm a Merc man myself.
I head down and fish with them whenever I can,
and my favorite to fish for is the dolphin.....
(the pretty green & yellow ones, not Flipper)
talk to you later.....joe

BAMBAM, if you get into anything descent, just give us a general location if you don't mind.....
Not looking for GPS #'s or anything....good luck