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Lake Erie Charter Captain Dave Adams of D & D Charters answers questions and provides tips and insights into fishing the region.
If you would like to Ask the Captain a question, please click HERE.
March 17, 2002
Frank Asks:
Dave -
I have a question about learning how to navigate and reading my GPS. I am in the process of purchasing a new Targa Tracker 18 and I am putting a Lowrance X15MT on my boat with GPS. I fish at Pymatuning a lot and the Allegheny River and I am a fanatic walleye fisherman, so I am purchasing an all around boat. I've been on Lake Erie a number of times for smallmouth out of North East and chartered a few charters for walleye. Been out with Jim Armstrong per your recommendation. What I would like to know is there anyone I can hire to take me out on my new boat and show me the ropes of navigating or is there a class I may attend to learn how? I will have my boat by the end of April, please email me with any info you may have.
Thank you,
Frank Maslo
Captain Dave's Response:
Hello Frank,
The art of piloting culminates in position determination. Underway on a body of water of any size, where the safety of your boat and its crew is at stake, it's not "where you should be," or "where you think you are," but your knowledge of "where you are for sure" that counts. Developing an ability to accurately determine your position (under a wide range of conditions) should be one of your primary goals.
A class on navigation would be great. But where we live, few, if any, classes are available. There is, however, the perfect book that will aid in developing the ability to navigate. Purchase the book: Piloting, Seamanship & Small Boat Handling, by Charles Chapman. Another way to learn your unit is to ask another boater, who does have GPS experience, to go fishing with you. From there, experience is the best teacher.
Take a lesson from this boater; always remember to trust your instruments, not your instincts. Because on water, with no visible landmarks and the sun obscured by clouds, getting "turned around" is easy.
A few years back, for example, when the only available electronic aid to navigation was LORAN, we did get "turned around." We were fishing out of Lorain, Ohio. Anxious to fish, we hit open water and ran full throttle for 12 miles. After stopping the boat (beyond the sight of land), we set up the gear and fished for a couple of hours (in all directions). Then, as is always the case with anglers, we decided it was time to try another area.
But, guess what? My LORAN unit had failed (later on, I discovered a loose ground wire). Now, being that the fishing was fast and furious for those few hours, and that we had paid little attention to trolling direction, the prospects of reaching port (at least the one we launched from) didn't look all that promising. It was time to rely on our compass to return. Even though we had fished in all directions, my "gut" instincts said go one way, but the compass read differently. We did the smart thing. By using the compass, chart, and allowing for magnetic variation (the difference, in degrees, between true north and magnetic north) we arrived safely back at port - be it a lot wiser in the ways of navigation.
Since that somewhat exciting day of navigation class on the water, while piloting to my fishing spot and while fishing, I always check compass direction.
If you haven't already bought a Global Positioning System (GPS), get a fixed mount unit, with a 12-channel receiver. As far as accuracy goes, most GPS units are accurate to 50 meters. When equipped with differential GPS (DGPS), though, accuracy increases to 10 meters. And if you're fishing a body of water such as Pymatuning, the accuracy of DGPS is helpful in "pinpointing" a previous hot spot.
According to the United States Coast Guard, the correction signal received from DGPS units improves the accuracy of GPS. The US Coast Guard operates a network of DGPS broadcast stations in the 285 kHz to 325 kHz frequency band. Positions of 10 meters or better are achievable using DGPS (USCG signals) vs. 100 meters or better for GPS (Standard Positioning Service).
Most GPS units include at least the following basic functions: plotter screen, highway screen, and latitude/longitude screen. The plotter screen shows the actual course traveled, the highway screen shows which way you are going, and the latitude/longitude screen shows position. These units are easy to use and you will be surprised how quickly you learn to navigate.
Also, while underway, get a feel for the compass while navigating with GPS: by doing so, this will help in developing the ability to determine position.
Congratulations on your new boat. It will open a new world for you; and in time, navigation will become second nature to you. Keep an eye on the compass, watch you don't get pooped (take a wave over the stern), keep the bow quartered into the waves, and catch fish.
Good fishing,
Capt. Dave Adams
Dave Adams is an author and professional charter captain who operates D & D Charters on the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie.
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