Lake Erie Boating Intro/Help

[Vandalizer]

Hey guys!
I'm curious what others here may be able to tell me about boating on the Sandusky Bay and on Lake Erie in the Port Clinton to Sandusky areas? Boating, swimming, beaches etc.
It looks like Sandusky Bay is pretty shallow, but I've seen a video of an enforcer hauling ass through there. Wondering whether that was a bad idea, in a dredged area, or if the whole place is safe even though it's shallow.

 

[Hack]

I'm curious what others here may be able to tell me about boating on the Sandusky Bay and on Lake Erie in the Port Clinton to Sandusky areas? Boating, swimming, beaches etc.

Lake Erie water snakes. They're everywhere.



Not much help other than that. Put-in-Bay is the party port. Check for 'special weekend' events.

 

[merc245]

Been on the bay at least 1/2 dz times, never been impressed with it. The bay its self is a relic of its industrial past. And can get pretty ruff, I've seen 3 ftrs + out there. If you head to the backwaters, its brown, shallowry, (good for duck hunting) and you swear you hear banjo's playing. Few bars back that way if you enjoy sitting on pallets drinking warm bud. Lymans is nicer place located on the main bay, you also have cedar point right there.

As for beaches per say, you can drop anchor in front of cedar points beach. there' also a beach on the other side of the harbor entrance that's kinda nice if the wind isn't blowing off erie to strong. The place people like drop anchor inside the cut I found to be mucky with gross water.

Going out on erie is always a crap shoot, been able to go 15 miles to P-I-B in 35 minutes in the starflite only to come home in 6 + ftrs the next morning/afternoon. (2.5 hrs)

The Snakes, remember when Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs was on PIB to catch Lake Erie Water Snakes with that blonde snake babe. the area they were catching them was the exact place I dropped anchor one time to take a nap before heading back across to the Bay. I saw 3 or 4 snakes in the water, thought they were going to come in the strflite with me. Made my nap a rather uncomfortable and short one! A, how have you been, that's my 2 cents. Merc245 " that was my favorite rootbeer colored boat too"

 

[Vandalizer]

Thanks for the help.
It's about close enough that I could boat there regularly, sounds like I probably wouldn't want to though.
I'm past the partying point of my life, good beaches and swimming with someplace I can open the boat up for a long stretch is really all I want.

 

[corey331]

Thanks for the help.
It's about close enough that I could boat there regularly, sounds like I probably wouldn't want to though.
I'm past the partying point of my life, good beaches and swimming with someplace I can open the boat up for a long stretch is really all I want.

I don't know where you are exactly located, but I bet its not far form me. I have zero desire to ever go back to Lake Erie. Its shallow, rough, full of zebra mussels, snakes and toxic algae blooms. Just my $.02. I know its a lot farther, but come on down to Cumberland. Once you go there, you won't want to go anywhere else!!!

 

[ekkick]

If you are going to boat Lake Erie check the weather prior to going out. I fished the lake for years, and was usually on a 30' Sportcraft and many times we took a beating even on it. I had a pulse 210 I ran there twice then upgraded to my Convincor. The Convincor was fine but very seldom will you ever be able to open it up. It is more slow and steady and roll with waves 75% of the time. You can run smaller boats on the back side of the bay, south of Route 2 bridge, but that depends on wind direction. I lost my place there to the ex so haven't been up for 12 years, but have heard the snakes are bad now. Corey is correct, you can't beat Cumberland for a Checkmate.

 

[DropTop5.0]

I miss that little brown boat too and I had it on Cumberland. That's all I got except I hate snakes and welcome back.

 

[Hack]

...remember when Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs was on PIB to catch Lake Erie Water Snakes with that blonde snake babe. the area they were catching them was the exact place I dropped anchor one time to take a nap before heading back across to the Bay. I saw 3 or 4 snakes in the water, thought they were going to come in the strflite with me.

Yeah, as I recall every one of those snakes bit him. The snakes really have a bad attitude.... And they were almost extinct until a few years ago. Not a snake lover.

If you are going to boat Lake Erie check the weather prior to going out. I fished the lake for years, and was usually on a 30' Sportcraft and many times we took a beating even on it.

Ditto on the weather check. Winds out of the east are bad do-do on Erie. I kept my 22' Sylvan in a couple different rack-n-launch marinas down there for 5 years. I did a lot of screaming out in the AM and crawling back in the PM. I'll leave the Great Lakes to the guys/gals with the 35'+ vessels.

OP: Gotta be some decent sized lakes in Ohio, I'm just not familiar with the state. Where in central OH are you and how far are you willing to tow/launch from home?

 

[corey331]

OP: Gotta be some decent sized lakes in Ohio, I'm just not familiar with the state. Where in central OH are you and how far are you willing to tow/launch from home?

There really aren't anymore.

1. Buckeye Lake- Dried up for the next year or two due to a dam failure/repair

2. Indian Lake- A shallow mudhole full of stumps

3. Grand Lake/St. Mary's- A shallow man made lake full of stagnant water that is so full of toxic algae blooms that you are not allowed to swim or fish in it

4. Alum Creek- Nice lake, but ridiculously busy now that Buckeye Lake is out of order

6. Ceasars Creek- Another nice lake, but kind of small. Also get extremely packed on the weekends. Makes it very rough and choppy and kind of dangerous to ski/tube on with all the boat traffic.

Really, the best option is the Ohio River, which I love, especially in the upper pool up river from Cincinnati. We used to put in around Ripley and run up past Portsmouth to the islands. There is a huge hot boat scene there at the beach area. Its also a very beautiful section of the river. Other than that, if you want something REALLY nice you drive a few more hours south to Cumberland/Dale Hollow/Norris lakes, which in my opinion are some of the best boating lakes in the country.

 

[Vandalizer]

Thanks Corey.
I'm in metro Columbus, so my primary options are Alum Creek and O'Shaughnessy. Alum Creek would have to be a week night only option, and I don't know anything about O'Shaughnessy.
The Ohio river sounds nice, I loved boating on the Saginaw river and it has to be much better than that. You have any videos running along the river? Only problem there is that is 2.5 hours away, not ideal.

 

[Problem Child]

Or come up to Michigan. We have 1100 lakes over 10 acres, 98 lakes over 1000 acres and 10 lakes over 10,000 acres. I've always wanted to haul the boat to Sandusky for a long weekend at Cedar Point. Yes the Ohio River has alot to offer when it's clear of debris . Had a great run from Tanners to Cincy and back .

 

[Gimme Fuel]

Thanks Corey.
I'm in metro Columbus, so my primary options are Alum Creek and O'Shaughnessy. Alum Creek would have to be a week night only option, and I don't know anything about O'Shaughnessy.
The Ohio river sounds nice, I loved boating on the Saginaw river and it has to be much better than that. You have any videos running along the river? Only problem there is that is 2.5 hours away, not ideal.

The Sagnasty aint perfect.....but darn sure is fun!

 

[corey331]

Thanks Corey.
I'm in metro Columbus, so my primary options are Alum Creek and O'Shaughnessy. Alum Creek would have to be a week night only option, and I don't know anything about O'Shaughnessy.
The Ohio river sounds nice, I loved boating on the Saginaw river and it has to be much better than that. You have any videos running along the river? Only problem there is that is 2.5 hours away, not ideal.

I don't have any, but here is one from ckaluger, a member on here.

https://youtu.be/E8_CZ7G_dv8

If I remember right this was last fall in the Wheeling, WV area. I grew up on the Ohio River and it will always hold a special place in my heart. That's the main reason I am looking for a smaller boat to keep at my house and take to the river as I leave my Convincor at Cumberland year round. Also, the upper pool above the locks east of Cincy is deeper, and a lot cleaner than the river is near downtown Cincinnati usually.


You oughta pack that boat up and bring it down to Cumberland in a couple of weeks for the owners rally!!! It won't be that boat's first time there and I sure would like to see her again!!! Love all that rootbeer flake!!!

 

[Vandalizer]

I sold my enticer in 2011 after I moved to Columbus, not mine anymore. I'm actually boatless and have been since.
I just recently started looking for a restored mx15... That was my original want before I stumbled on the root beer enticer.

 

[illMATTic]

Thanks Corey.
I'm in metro Columbus, so my primary options are Alum Creek and O'Shaughnessy. Alum Creek would have to be a week night only option, and I don't know anything about O'Shaughnessy.
The Ohio river sounds nice, I loved boating on the Saginaw river and it has to be much better than that. You have any videos running along the river? Only problem there is that is 2.5 hours away, not ideal.

I was in Upper Arlington for a while. Alum Creek is a joke on the weekends. I couldn't even imagine it being busier. The launches are super steep too.

O'Shaughnessy is just a short little reservoir. Not enough room to open it up.

Sad to say... your only option for cruising and nice water to jump in is Alum Creek. If you can hold your cool at the launch you will be OK. Take a drive up there one Saturday and check out the chaos.

 

[Vandalizer]

Left out the Maumee River?

I may have inadvertently left a good option of the table- the Maumee River near Grand Rapids OH... A but further away, but looks like the next plausible option. I found an old thread where zstevens and ndaniels talked about it as a good option but it's over half a decade old. Anyone have some recent experience they can share?

 

[ndaniels]

The Maumee is a blast. I've taken every boat I've ever owned up that way at one point or another. My favorite boat I've had on that river was by far my old Exciter, but that was mainly because it had such a shallow draft and I didn't have to worry about it. With the 24 I didn't venture past Napoleon because I was worried about depths too much.

I've been wanting to get down to the upper pool on the Ohio and check it out. I've heard it's a good time and it's close. With our first kid on the way, that's probably going to be my only chance to get out on the water for this season after August

 

[Vandalizer]

Totally understand... if you would like someone to exercise your boat every so often, I'm not too far away...

 

[Instigator]

Boated central Ohio to Erie to the Ohio River all my life.

Take your boat to work and go to Alum straight from work.
Will be calm w/fewer boats.
Delaware Resivoir is another 1/2 hr north. Very similar but less crowded.

O'Shaunesey was a great place to ski and nice scenary 20 yrs ago, don't know now.
Griggs Resivoir is same river but one dam south. Even prettier w/gorgeous water front homes. Winding and I think 8 miles between dams.
Was 45 mph limit when I was there last.
Plenty of places to sneak though.
Raced there yrs ago.
I think both have 20' length limits??

Indian Lake is shallow but big fun if your careful.

Muskingum River 1 hr east of Cols goes through Zanesville and also big fun. Many pools between locks and each a bit different. Most facilities are basic but great fun.
Raced there for yrs.

As to Sandusky Bay, I played on it every weekend as a kid in an 8' hydroplane I built. Yes you have to have your **** together.
There is a gorgeous mile long sand bar coming off the south corner of Marble Head. 100's of boats there on nice weekends.
Including many your size if it's the one in your avatar.
There is a nice marina there to explore and island just behind it.
One side is always calm.

At the back of Sandusky Bay is the causeway to Cedar Point.
Cross under it for calm water and gorgeous water front houses w/plenty of canals to explore.
A river leads off it to a TGI Fridays w/docks.

Look at an Ohio map and all the bodies of water, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Find a state park office and get one of their maps. It will tell you specs on all of them.

I sold boats in Cols a 100 yrs ago and after listening to customers bitch about Alum and lack of water in general, I took an Ohio map and drew a 60 ml radius (travel time equal to Alim plus wait at ramp) and counted all the water w/unlimited HP ratings.
Theyre were 13.

Sorry for the book but if you look, the truth is out there ��

If you need more, give me a call and I'll talk till u tell me to stop.

If your boat is bigger, let me know and I'll adjust the info.

If big enough to handle Erie on a good day, it's the ****.
Was there last weekend and around half a dozen of islands and was gorgeous.
No Algee yet.
Snakes along shore lines in some areas but they're black snakes and won't bother you.
If the gods are smiling, you can do much.

I've been across and back in a 19', 80 mph cuddly a bunch of times and spent the weekend on it.
At anchor off a beach and at nice marinas.
Yes, many times it become my camper behind the last bar of the night when the lake was rough.

Gary

 

[zstevens]

Sorry took so long to reply, everyone has pretty much covered it ... Western end of the lake is shallow also, algae mess last few years , no wave pattern alot of times . Wife & myself both work odd schedules so we're off a lot of mid week trips out if we're hitting lake either go in at Cullen park in point place (mouth of maumee river ,or perrysburg /rossford ... Grand Rapids at Mary Jane you can always find a stretch of river to play .