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Posts: 3913
| Dang but this lake is big and confusing. Everything looks like everything else from the boat. I usually use treelines on the horizon to stay aware of where I am, but that doesn't work with all the islands. I had to use my Lowrance unit to get back to Spring Bay Resort yesterday. If that unit broke I would be a troubled boy for sure. What can I do to help myself not get lost on the Big V? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | look for the gifts to the Gods of tobacco piled on the rocks ... |
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Posts: 3913
| Ok, any suggestions besides Sled (who is obviously either on good drugs or is a shaman, one or the other)? |
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Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | Could tie a really long rope to the dock at the resort and just follow it back when you're done |
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Posts: 3913
| Good idea, Espy. Can I borrow yours? |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | Had a lodge owner friend of mine tell me a story a while back about a first timer on LOTW that was hesitant to leave the bay the resort was in, didn't want to get lost. Fished that 1 bay the entire week, and then complained to the resort owner at the end of his stay about how featureless LOTW was... C'Mon Man!!!!! |
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Posts: 323
Location: Elk River, MN | Really though I think it's just a matter of getting to know the lake and landmarks that will help you know where you are. You mentioned what would happen if your unit went out/lost power, hopefully you'd at least have some sort of backup like a phone or handheld gps in that instance. |
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Posts: 705
Location: Alex or Alek? | Print off a hard copy map. |
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Posts: 734
Location: Watertown, MN | Well when I rig my boat this is main reason my bow and console units are interchangable so if console goes down I can swap my bow unit to get back home. I also have 2 independent modules and back up parts for gps.
Troy |
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Posts: 755
| Map & Compass... Mark the map with "way points" (cabins that stand out,places you have caught fish, pieces of nature that are not going to get blown over etc...so you have points of reference if/when you actually need it.. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Download the Navionics ap for your smartphone for a backup. |
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Posts: 1086
| Mojo1269 - 10/10/2016 2:38 PM
Map & Compass... Mark the map with "way points" (cabins that stand out,places you have caught fish, pieces of nature that are not going to get blown over etc...so you have points of reference if/when you actually need it..
^^^^ THIS!
Just sit there and try to imagine the fact...that Lake of The Woods is not new on this planet. It has existed long before all the gizmo gadget technology hit the store shelves. Mankind...for decades...generations...centuries...found ingenious ways to navigate big bodies of water for many, many years without getting lost and loooooooooong before GPS came to be.
Keep things simple. Rely on some common sense. Get back to basics. Trust me...it can be done.
I'm a firm believer that humans these days rely way too heavily on all their fancy, creature comfort, luxurious gizmo gadget technology. When most of the time the GPS (Greatest Possible System) between their ears is all that's needed. I know that sounds harsh and I'm not saying this is YOU that I'm speaking of. No...when I make that analogy statement, I'm really thinking about the group of people that have a huge GPS device stuck to the windshield in their cars, blocking 85% of their view, to help them get the 5 miles to and from work each day in the city. It's those kinds of people that I just shake my head at...
Plan as if you had a tragic series of events on the body of water..for example....say your boat is out of gas, you've drained the boat's batteries (all of them; cranking battery and all trolling motor batteries, you've been out there for a few days, cell phone battery is dead and/or no signal, but you have a trusty, waterproof map...with hand written notes, icons, landmarks marked in Sharpie to help you row back home.
Always plan for the worst and always hope for the best. 
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Posts: 1296
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | When traveling AWAY from an area that you know, keep looking back behind you to see what the terrain looks like if you were trying to get back and then venture out a little further each time out. Worked on Eagle Lake, it'll work on Vermilion. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | name your spots
give them names so you start to make a reference to them and use a naming system that ties to regions or themes ...
first 10 years on LOTW for me was pre-GPS (at least for us) and we ran around from oak island to the big narrows to the tug channel etc... map of course but when you build your spots by name, the association builds and pretty soon it's in your head and in your Map (GPS).
before i would go to Eagle, i would close my eyes and go fish all my spots in my head pointing out key indicators on the trip to and from spot to spot. GPS is good, but if you don't engage your other senses you'll never know it as well as you could. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: Chisholm, MN | Just pick a smaller area of the lake and learn that. Branch out more when you feel more comfortable with where you are. |
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Posts: 111
| Use a paper map. Starting at the dock pick out a spot you can see and motor to it. Pick out the next spot you can see and motor to that. Keep going. If you ever get lost just turn around and go back to the last spot which you should still be able to see. Worked for 30 years pre gps on the woods and other canadian shield lakes. It sounds like a hassle but it isn't and very effective. Defiantly beats running around not knowing where you are. Need to add, use the map, gps, and sonar to track the depth for safety.
Edited by 39 degrees 10/10/2016 5:12 PM
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Posts: 1220
| I'm among the worst at having become overly dependent upon the GPS map chip but know sooner or later it will fail. On LOTW I make certain to have a map and a compass along. If need be, you can read the number on the buoys or a unique island shape. Blinking lights on cell towers will help too as well as simple stuff like sun setting in the west. Some resorts also have tips like all the channel markers having the red marker on your left on the way back. |
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Posts: 3913
| good tips, thanks all. Part of my problem is my new boat. I went from being all confident with a 15 hp tiller to holding on tight with a 250 Verado. Cant help but to throttle down and play with the tilt trim and Atlas hydroponic jackplate. So far, the Yar Craft 209tfx is a "point and just ****ing go" boat.
I suspect my navigation abilities are dulled by smoking weed many times my body weight. |
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Posts: 271
Location: davis,IL | What...you don't enjoy a little challenge? Vermillion isn't exact the great lakes....seriously though, mark a waypoint at the dock. Go out fishing, keep the gps on and follow your track back to the dock.
Edited by muskydope 10/10/2016 5:40 PM
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Posts: 2026
| Easy answer, don't go out at night. During the day, find the bigger bays, Wakemup and Head O Lakes and just head west wherever there's big water... Around the islands though. Channel markers going into Head O Lakes on both sides. Steve will give you a map, study it. It's a big lake. At night, stay close, or just in Spring Bay. |
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Posts: 3913
| was once on LOTW and ran across a houseboat desperately seeking 2 of their guys who went fishing that morning and never came back. They left around 9am in a 12' boat wearing nothing but shorts, to be back by lunch. It was almost dusk and the Kenora skeeters were preparing to feed, which is a scary thing to get caught in wearing only shorts and a huge sunburn. The guys were still MIA later that night per the OPP who stopped our boat to ask "Did you happen to see?". Never heard of the outcome but I suspect the skeeters ate those boys dry and the body husks just blew away. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Do a little homework before you go out, too. Study your paper map along side google earth/aerial images of where you'll be. Can help you identify key features that you'll recognize when on the water. |
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Posts: 1636
| Save enough time during the day to make it back if before dark if you are unsure about making your way around during the day.
At night, if you just so happen to be out and can not see the tree tops or recognize anything, it is okay to use your electronics as a guide - but, not as if you are going to be exactly where it says you are. One time I was driving at night and someone turned off some of the power on the front of the boat due to a light being to bright for him. We had to come to a complete stop and afterwards... I just continued forward. The outcome was not too bad, but things could have been a lot worse. Luckily, we had a lot of help between us and everyone who was in the area.
I guess my main point is to pay more attention to your path than what other people are doing and where other people are driving. Gotta pay attention to them, but make sure you have an idea where you want to do. The more you go out, the closer you will get to remembering where you are in any given location.
I am comfortable driving around the Northwest Angle and Sabaskong Bay without a GPS or a lake map. I owe it to a lot of time and opportunity provided by a lot of people. Listen to all of these guys - they know what they are talking about.
The landscape is beautiful.
I would not blame the plants for anything.
Good luck. |
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Posts: 55
| On the west side of the lake (I stay at Spring Bay as well when I am up there) if electronics crap out and you think you are lost then just head to the south shore and head west along the shoreline. Just not too close, as those rocks will sneak up on you. You'll eventually get around to Spring Bay. Just make sure you take a couple pictures on your phone of what the entrance to Sping Bay looks like so you can refer to it. You can learn the lake pretty quick after a few trip but it is real easy to get turned around. A good map definitely helps as does knowing where all the resorts are along the shore on the map in relation to where you are and where you are staying staying. The resorts all have signs along the shoreline to help you identify them. |
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | Was out there in Oct. a bunch of yrs. back (I'd been going up for 18 yrs back then even) and I had a newly retired friend from the cities along. We did a lot of looking into my fav. spots and fished all day.
On the run back, over 10 mi. he was a bit awed. He asked a couple questions and I told him to "...hush, I was counting trees". He got real serious, real quick-like!!
Funny...he got back at me later!! |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Dont let the size of the lake scare you. There is good fishing all over this lake. Start close fishing near where your staying and expand from there . Have fun its a beautiful lake to fish |
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Posts: 140
Location: Scandia MN | Send me a PM and go with me - Up here alone again with 35 years experience + I have the map 3 GPS units and both chips - - - -
Edited by tbaatz 10/11/2016 9:53 AM
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Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Get a GPS. Mark the launch, mark the lodge. Mark spots as you fish them. Watch your trails as you drive to and from spots.
If this is not enough of a guide, you need to hire guides or fish on smaller lakes. Sorry. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Slamr - 10/11/2016 10:41 AM
Get a GPS. Mark the launch, mark the lodge. Mark spots as you fish them. Watch your trails as you drive to and from spots.
If this is not enough of a guide, you need to hire guides or fish on smaller lakes. Sorry.
Did you read his original post? I believe he can do just fine with the GPS. He was asking about what to do if it broke. |
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Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | 14ledo81 - 10/11/2016 11:49 AM
Slamr - 10/11/2016 10:41 AM
Get a GPS. Mark the launch, mark the lodge. Mark spots as you fish them. Watch your trails as you drive to and from spots.
If this is not enough of a guide, you need to hire guides or fish on smaller lakes. Sorry.
Did you read his original post? I believe he can do just fine with the GPS. He was asking about what to do if it broke.
Rough crowd,and no I didn't.
So heres my revised advice:. Do what Larry Randell told ya. Stay sober and go further and further everyday. |
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