Thread: Long and Maybe a bit OT, Santee navigation

The posts with squares and numbers are the channel markers. Basically the one you are at, aim for the next one. The clear channel is narrow and VERY curvy. Very easy to get out of it. Navionics is very close and you could probably follow it. If you don't have it you can even download their boating app on your phone.

As you mentioned.....lakes can become very dangerous to your equipment. IMO nothing replaces time spent on the water "learning" the areas you are fishing in. A good depth finder with maps is CRUTIAL marking underwater obstacles. In my lakes the red and green markers mark the river channels (green is Ga/red is SC). The creek channels are also marked in creeks full of submerged timber.

Originally Posted by hobbz

The posts with squares and numbers are the channel markers. Basically the one you are at, aim for the next one. The clear channel is narrow and VERY curvy. Very easy to get out of it. Navionics is very close and you could probably follow it. If you don't have it you can even download their boating app on your phone.

I know when heading upstream keep the red markers on the right, green on left and mark the original river channel. But you're saying the poles with squares and numbers are channel markers as well. Do you keep these markers to the right or left depending on going upstream or down? Or if you're aiming from one to the next you're okay as long as you pass close to them?
On the second day there I did get the Navionics app on my phone which is helpful in following the river channel. But I'm still confused as to the rock piles at either end of the canal. Thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by gabowman

As you mentioned.....lakes can become very dangerous to your equipment. IMO nothing replaces time spent on the water "learning" the areas you are fishing in. A good depth finder with maps is CRUTIAL marking underwater obstacles. In my lakes the red and green markers mark the river channels (green is Ga/red is SC). The creek channels are also marked in creeks full of submerged timber.

You mean a depthfinder with map built in correct? I've been looking at upgrading to a side scan Garmin 7 or 8 but for another $100 bucks I can get the map version. Certainly cheaper than a prop, or worse, a lower unit. I guess at either Santee lake, it's just a good idea to raise the motor any time you're in water less than 10 feet deep. Although I've not yet been in Moultrie, my understanding is, unlike Marion, Moultrie WAS mostly logged before flooding. I need to go to Santee sometime and forget fishing, just find some safe passages to places I want to fish, like you said. Hard to drive 4 hours and not fish though!!! Thanks for the help!

Ive gotten to where I wouldnt run my boat without maps (GPS) on anymore. The maps shows you soooooo much...creek/river channels, submerged timber, etc. Even when trolling you can see when youre coming up on a shallow point so you can adjust course before getting too shallow. And alot of times my longlining involves following the creek channels which are also marked on the maps. Theres so many people that just doesnt realize how shallow theyre running their boats/props when they dont kave a depth finder with maps.

The rockpile I know of on the canal is man made and plenty deep enough not to be a hazard. It's there, along with the rocks at the top of either side, to be a fail safe should one dam or the other fail, to hold water in the other lake, as to not completely drain both lakes. That's how it was explained to me anyway.

I've bought and installed a new Garmin Echomap UHD 93sv. I've been wanting a side view sonar, figured I'd get the 7 and didn't really need the maps, but gabowman makes sense and the maps are at the very least, handy to have. Bass Pro had some of the last generation 93's on sale, and family had given me a BP gift card so I pulled the trigger.
Of course I had to get a Ram mount, which is awesome by the way! Everything is installed and working and I am itching to get on the water with it. I think this (4th of July) weekend is not the time though, so I'm gonna have to itch a while before scratching.
I realize the map won't ID all underwater obstacles but certainly will be helpful in following channels and for monitoring water depth BEFORE I wander into shallow water. Helpful for fishing AND navigating. Can't wait to try the side scan.

Originally Posted by TreednNC

The rockpile I know of on the canal is man made and plenty deep enough not to be a hazard. It's there, along with the rocks at the top of either side, to be a fail safe should one dam or the other fail, to hold water in the other lake, as to not completely drain both lakes. That's how it was explained to me anyway.

The day after destroying my prop on upper Marion as described in the OP, we went to the canal. Where the canal opens up into Marion I saw boats fishing near one of those markers on the left. Later we ventured up near there, idling along to see if we could see what it was and hit something with my new one day old prop. Wasn't like a stump, figured rock and sure enough had small chips along the leading edge. Thank goodness we were barely moving but still, rough on the motor.
So.... I don't know.
But as you exit the canal it's on the left, near the first marker. Further up Mac's and Harry's is on your right and there ARE some markers that say "ROCK". I'm going back down in July and I may venture up to near that spot and using side scan, see if I can see just what is where. I intend to spend some time in that area NOT fishing just trying to learn the water.