Help Us Mark The Delta Hazards! GPS Coordinates Anyone?

[VA_SF_BAY_DELTA]

Hello,
I am new here. I found this thread doing a random search. I am a regular at Boatered and Coastside.

Somewhere back in this thread is a phone number for VA that is wrong. My direct number is 925-382-4422. Our office on BI is
925-684-2183 and the corporate dispatch is 800-367-8222.

I also wanted to add that there is a new wreck out in Franks Tract. I believe it is what is left to the 35'-40' houseboat that was tied off to the bank just inside the Mokelumne River off of the SJR for the last few months. The wreck is out in the middle or the tract, but tends to move around some. The wind we had yesterday flipped over the already swamped wreck. It is now (dirty brown algae) bottom side up with what is left of the house floating right next door (for now). Watch out for it.

I am happy to answer any questions on what I do or on VA in general.
Thank You,

[Ken C.]

Thanks Phil for the info! And welcome to Western Bass!

Is that new wreck pretty obvious?

[VA_SF_BAY_DELTA]

The hull is totally upside down and covered in bottom growth, which is about the color of the water. Whats left of the house is white, but only from one direction. The other side looks like brown paneling. I don't expect the house remains to stay with the hull. We will see.

[MikeD]

I was surfing and came up with this in a thread about hazards in Franks Tract. Check out the thread at www.boatered.com. Just enter Franks Tract in a forum search.

First blind sunk in the 2003 hunting season
38 02.535
121 36.140

...

Just talked to Phil to get an update on the 35-40ft houeboat that has floated in to Franks from the Mok River, he said its now within 50-100' of the duck blind mentioned above

For those of us with handheld GPS units on board I've had great luck with a freeware program called GPSU (http://www.gpsu.co.uk/) that loads my GPS with waypoints and uploads and downloads tracks and routes in and out of my GPS. I was using a Magellen 315 but it recently died, now using a Garmin Geko 201. If you have a handheld GPS with the data cable to hook it to a computer then this program will talk to the GPS. I've put together a couple of waypoint files, one with these hazards and another with the first 100 waypoints listed on the Fish n'Map. Feel free to PM me if you'd like a copy

[Ken C.]

From MikeD on another thread:

We hit the 2" pipe in the eastern side of Big Break today, *big* scratch but no hole thankfully,. . . (it) was in line with the duck blind about 100yds to the east of the blind in line with the where Dutch dumps into BB, I'd put it somewhere in the vicinity of 38.01755, -121.696458

Thanks Mike, can you tell me what "datum set" your GPS is using? Those coordinates don't match the usual xx.xx.xxx format. If you let me know I can try to convert it to WGS84 format so I can use it with the rest of my coords on my Lowrance.

[MikeD]

Thanks Mike, can you tell me what "datum set" your GPS is using? Those coordinates don't match the usual xx.xx.xxx format. If you let me know I can try to convert it to WGS84 format so I can use it with the rest of my coords on my Lowrance.

sure ken

that datum is in H.DDDDDD format, in H:M.MMM it would convert to

N38:1.060, W121:41.780

WGS84

( the N is usually implied, and the W is considered to be negative so for a gps that doesn't take W/E it would be '-')

[DeltaDan]

For a newbie-- I learned 2 weeks back, that the opening between Little Franks out to "piper slough" ?? -- Is not really an opening at all. Thank gawd I have an alunimum boat and was wearing shorts that day !

[VA_SF_BAY_DELTA]

Dan,
That is a regular spot for my company. Here is a recent picture of what happens to boats at low tide. Whem heading away from the 5 zone on Piper Slough, be sure to follow the left bank around that horse shoe bend...don't try to cut across Little Franks Tract.

[Ken C.]

Dan, that rock pile would be located right here:

38 02.911 / 121 38.659 submerged rock pile at Little Franks heading west from Piper Slough

And:

38 02.911 / 121.38.666 another submerged rock pile at Little Franks heading west from Piper Slough.

And I believe that would be the rock pile that started the idea behind this whole thread!

[DeltaDan]

After I had to strip and jump in with two boys from the DTT ..... I am lucky I did not have my cell phone inside my shorts. Also I do not know how to use a GPS other than the hand held Garmin eTrex Vista basically for cookie crumbs while hunting and the use of toppo maps loaded.


......Gotta say though- That Bwitch of a rockpile will be eating many more boaters -- and thankfully I was just idling though as I am smart engoufgh to not always trust what I can see with the nekid eye.

[912nitro]

My GPS will be here next week from BPS .
I will be marking these spots in it in the next couple of weeks.
Anyone found any discreptencies that should be corrected ?

[MikeD]

didn't get GPS coordinates on these but here are a couple in the bottom of Mildreds. all coordinates guessed at by me looking at a map and doing a "aaaaaah, right abooouttt there".

1) on the south side in the levee break by the water ski area, on the left side about 10-15' out is a 8" branch/log that sits on its side at about 6" deep. you'll hit it at low tide if you try to go thru on the big motor at low water. I'd put it at about 37.58.3502, -121.31.6474. stay to the right going thru this cut because it gets less than a foot deep at 0 tide on the left side. all the cruisers go thru on the right/east side to avoid the shallow shelf on the left/west.

2) just east of that lower opening is a 1" pipe that sits about 10' off the shore, visible at low tide - (this one is a real WAG) 37.972525, -121.525753

3) further east down the shore there is a metal tower that sticks up out of the water, very visible at all tides - sits up about 5-6' out of the water. between that tower and the shore is a huge metal bucket from a very large backhoe that has the attachment flange sitting just under the surface at low tide. its not an area you'd be on plane at but if you are not paying attention you'll sacrifice some gelcoat

I'll get these coordinates tightened up next time thru.

[Brian]

That's hella nice of you Mike. We just don't seem to get enough participation on this important thread. I would assume that it competitive in nature(as guys want you to get into trouble). Why else would they not flood this thread with the data requested? When it comes to safety and/or major damage, I think guys in the know should let it out. Anyway, be waiting for the more precise coords. Thanks again for not being an a--hole.

Hey Wooch, Instead of comming in here and trying to jack this thread, why dont you go out and mark some hazards and post them in here. Instead you come in here and insinuate that (some guys want you to get into trouble) give me a break. I've gone out and comfirmed the coordanates that have been given. Have you? I didnt think so.

[Jason Wood]

Southeast corner by the islands that line Soundmound... Sunken barge that it tied up to the lone tree out there to the north... About 12" underwater at low tide... Pretty darn big too!!!

N 38 01 44.59
W 121 35 24.18

[MikeD]

1) on the south side in the levee break by the water ski area, on the left side about 10-15' out is a 8" branch/log that sits on its side at about 6" deep. you'll hit it at low tide if you try to go thru on the big motor at low water. I'd put it at about 37.58.3502, -121.31.6474. stay to the right going thru this cut because it gets less than a foot deep at 0 tide on the left side. all the cruisers go thru on the right/east side to avoid the shallow shelf on the left/west.

was fishing the bass-n-tubes tournament today in the south mildreds area - guess who rowed himself over the top of the sunken log at low tide??!? as my feet got all tangled up in the log (nothing like something from the deep grabbing your feet in the water) I almost screamed like a little girl: "ahhhh! what the hell is that?!? - oh ess - I'm an idiot...<laugh>"

looks like its been hit since the last time I saw it, the long branch was gone and just a jagged edge was there. didn't have my GPS with me either so I still don't have good coordinates. stay to the east on the way thru, very shallow on the west side

[Ken C.]

Bump...

[MikeD]

bump again, with winter on us now and the cold weather/cold water it's more dangerous than ever to hit a submerged object.

a reminder to:

- load the emergency assistance numbers in this thread into your cell to have on hand

- have a GPS of some sort with you, either handheld or part of your onboard electronics

- know how to plug GPS coordinates listed here into it

- know how to use your electronics so that you can see hazards on your GPS as you get close to them while flying around in the delta.

- upgrade your life jacket so that it'll still float you if you hit the water with all the extra winter clothing you'll be wearing

If you have a GPS in your onboard electronics package - or even a handheld laying around that you can take out on the water with you - but have no idea how to use but have always wanted to learn it I'd be happy to help you out, feel free to PM me

[Jason C.]

can we make this a Sticky Again?

[Otay Michael]

There were two rebars sticking up out of nowhere over by the exit out to False River from Russo's, to the right of the large island. They were bent over from being hit but I straightened one up (hard to bend in an aluminum boat, the boat moves more than the bar) so folks would have a better view before hitting it!

What would be better would be a service, maybe by local fishing clubs to join together, and buy some buoys and post them at these hazardous spots. They could have advertising on them maybe? Cooch's guide service, Berkley Fishing Lures, Russo's Marina, etc.?

Lakes down here in San Diego County with hazards have them, sans advertising, as the city pays for it.

Those underwater rock islands over by 'the wall', for new folks, are really dangerous. I was amazed how big and unmarked they were. Mindblowing for a new boater hitting that with any speed, and you would because who would expect them so far out?

[Jason C.]

Otay, those arent rock piles. They are peat chunks that have just been stuck there for years now. That is if you are talkin about the sea wall in franks!

[DeltaDan]

There were two rebars sticking up out of nowhere over by the exit out to False River from Russo's, to the right of the large island.

No Jason - It those are two LARGE solid pieces of solid 3" cylinder steel bars that stick out and sort of crisscross each other if Otay is talking about the same hazzard that I am picturing. One does bend as mentioned .... The other does not.

At first from a distance I thought it was a tree to buzz bait over as structure.

With the 20 mph winds and way to slow realization of what those are in the morning first light ... I am now sporting a Perma-Love Tap down the side of my gel-coat.

I'll take a Pic and post them the next time out of Russo's - It was more in the South Western Bowl of Franks -- At the North end and just South of of the False River Levee - in between two big tulie islands and 4-8' deep.



Again -- It is the Delta so WTH can you do about anything out here. -- Take up Lake fishing ?

[Otay Michael]

There were two rebars sticking up out of nowhere over by the exit out to False River from Russo's, to the right of the large island.

No Jason - It those are two LARGE solid pieces of solid 3" cylinder steel bars that stick out and sort of crisscross each other if Otay is talking about the same hazzard that I am picturing. One does bend as mentioned .... The other does not.

At first from a distance I thought it was a tree to buzz bait over as structure.

With the 20 mph winds and way to slow realization of what those are in the morning first light ... I am now sporting a Perma-Love Tap down the side of my gel-coat.

I'll take a Pic and post them the next time out of Russo's - It was more in the South Western Bowl of Franks -- At the North end and just South of of the False River Levee - in between two big tulie islands and 4-8' deep.



Again -- It is the Delta so WTH can you do about anything out here. -- Take up Lake fishing ?

You are both right. I was talking about two different hazards, both the rebar and the small stone islands. I saw the 'peat chunks' and took a shot of one I got a bass over 2 weeks ago, but the rock piles are more like 100 to 200 yards away from the wall, easily noticed on low tide but mostly, or completely, hidden on high tide.

Here is one of the peat chucks, and it is soft so not to worry is my guess ( come to think about it, except for hitting with the trolling motor I guess ).



But aren't those rock piles out about 200 yards? They sure looked like rock, but if they are peat that would be a blessing.

What about my idea of posting buoys as 'an act of kindness to your fellow boaters' by a group or two? I think it's a great idea for you guys up there. I'd donate a piece of art to an auction to raise money to buy them, putting my mouth where my mouth is!

[MikeD]

remember that gps coordinates are what we are after, so if you have marked a hazard with your gps then post those coordinates here