Lake St. Clair?

Compared to the Great Lakes, LSC is a big puddle, but the reality is that unless you own a freighter, the vast majority of the lake is navigable and well marked/charted. One of the surprises would be the reef that extends to the E/SE off of Metro.
 
If you haven't already, check out ActiveCaptain.com It's my favorite resource for quick access to nautical charts and satellite imagery. You can take a look from home and start to get familiar with the lake before you even leave for the marina. You'll notice the reef area that extends to the north from Gaukler Pt (Nine Mile tower area). I avoided that for years, going up and around, but you'll notice that local folks cut through it. It's not as dangerous as it looks, as long as you're watching. High water this year also helps to remove some of the stress. Other dicey areas include the north channel (marked, but keep watch) and the 'moot. The latter might be one of the few places where following the guy ahead of you can be a good plan. I don't recommend that normally, because you never know how lost or clueless another boater is, but the 'moot is sandy. If he comes to an abrupt halt, stop following. :grin:
 
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My rule of thumb when growing up on the North Shore of that lake with boats up to 30 feet was if the sounder read 3 feet we were good to go. (on, off and to and from planing)
There's another spot that came back as an island about 18 years ago off the Middle Channel on a line toward Metro Beach. Not sure if it's still visible.
If ever anchoring along the shipping channel side of Seaway Island be aware of the tidal change when ships pass through. Two anchors and well off-shore suggested. Water will drop three feet. Many boats get set on the bottom high and dry then pushed up further when the wave returns. If timed with two ships passing each other the drop is even more. Amazed at what I've seen over the years with boats at that spot. :smt101

On the plus side, 90% of the bottom is sand and silt so if you should bump it damage is usually the extent of lost paint.
 
Thanks for information. Just got the boat from algonac and drove through the channels across the lake to Selfridge. Saw a lot of 3.5's and was getting worried.

Paul
 
Assuming that you stayed in the North Channel to the end and then shot across Anchor Bay to the base marina, the 3.5's you saw were probably the result of how your sounder is calibrated. With the levels we're seeing this year, I doubt that course would take you into anything less than 5' of actual depth.

The area between the MacRay channels is referred to as Poorman's Bay. (MacRay is so expensive that we can't afford the fuel to get past the channel) Where chart datum says 3-4', we're seeing more like 5-6'. If you drop anchor there this wkd, you can put a gaff hook to the bottom and get a reference point of how your sounder is calibrated.
 
Brings to mind a good question, is the sounder from the bottom of the hull or the out drive?

Thanks,

Paul
 
I've been to this area but have always gone to a marina. Anyone know of any spots where one could safely swing off the hook for a night?
 
Paulairforce said:
Thanks for information. Just got the boat from algonac and drove through the channels across the lake to Selfridge. Saw a lot of 3.5's and was getting worried.

Paul
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As others have mentioned it's actually deeper than the sounder readings. That being said my 3 foot statement is actually a 4 1/2 to 5 foot depth.
I never got worried seeing 3.0 or better on the sounder when running.

Funny how growing up thinking 6 inches of water is a big difference in depth and how I ran the boat.
Now running Lake Superior with it's extreme clarity I would find myself getting nervous with what appears to be shallow water in areas and its still 50 feet deep. :wow:
I think it's the mostly rock versus sand bottom difference.
 
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KC_Sundancer said:
Now running Lake Superior with it's extreme clarity I would find myself getting nervous with what appears to be shallow water in areas and its still 50 feet deep. :wow:
I think it's the mostly rock versus sand bottom difference.
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I don't understand how you northern boaters trust that clear water. How the heck is that stuff supposed to float a boat?!? When we see through water in LSC and Erie, some of it is vodka and lime.
 
Jimmy Buoy said:
I've been to this area but have always gone to a marina. Anyone know of any spots where one could safely swing off the hook for a night?
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Friends of mine spent the night at Poorman's last night. It's "safe", yet not protected. Muscamoot is very protected.
 
LSC scared the bejesus out of me when we were sea trialing my boat. We got out to the middle of the lake and were on deeper water, but this shot was taken on the way back to MacRay Harbor. If you look closely you can see the sand we're stirring up off the bottom. Yikes!

P4020772-1.jpg
 
Gofirstclass said:
LSC scared the bejesus out of me when we were sea trialing my boat. We got out to the middle of the lake and were on deeper water, but this shot was taken on the way back to MacRay Harbor. If you look closely you can see the sand we're stirring up off the bottom. Yikes!

P4020772-1.jpg
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Ha! I understand completely! I have a slip just north if macray on the base, and the depth numbers worry me a lot. Most my boating experience is out of Valdez/Seward/prince William sound/ Homer Alaska and lake Michigan.. Lake St. Clair is scary shallow.

Paul
 
So, Paul, how did you like Elmendorf?

I spent 4 years there in the 70's (yeah, I'm an old fart) and boated out of Seward, Whittier, and along the coast from Homer going north. Some mighty nice salmon fishing in those waters!!!
 
Gofirstclass said:
LSC scared the bejesus out of me when we were sea trialing my boat. We got out to the middle of the lake and were on deeper water, but this shot was taken on the way back to MacRay Harbor. If you look closely you can see the sand we're stirring up off the bottom. Yikes!

P4020772-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Stirring up the bottom was a normal thing somewhere in our day on the lake.
 
Loved Elmendorf!, spent 8 years there followed by another 5 in Fairbanks. Fishing was the mission. Alaska is an awesome state.

Paul
 
You're right about AK being a great state. We fished and hunted all over the state. My best "trophy" was a Boone & Crockett mountain goat I got on the hills down on the Kena Peninsula. Always had fish & caribou in the freezer.
 
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