Western Basin Reefs

[gregnwtf]

They do use the shooting range but not as often as you may think. Believe me that if you get in the way or too close they will run you off. They do patrol the range. Cone, Little Pic and Niagara are at the outside edge of the reef area and are good spots during spring and deeper water is all around them. There is a string of white and orange bouys that run across Flatrock straight east and west. The days they shoot, just stay north of that line.
Your GPS may show these if you have a Navionics chip.
Go to NOAA, Office of Coast Survey, find chart 14830.
Zoom in and you will see plenty of info.
I have a paper chart like this from @ 1969 and shows old info that nobody remembers. It shows when the Chicks where really there and the little speck island on top of Gull. It's a Non Navigational chart , but everything is right on. It also shows a firing range line north of West Sis to Middle Sis and SE that was used then. Talk about a huge area to avoid 40-50 yr ago.
The map that Wakina shows , the line of bouys is nicknamed the Picket Fence. Yes Zone one is in close, just avoiding that area is the safest bet. A couple years ago they closed the entire reef area ( 1 and 2) for at least 2 weeks, I just dont remember what month.

[Hoss928]

Gull island ? Is that no longer and now a reef ?
Chicks ?

[Hoss928]

Also looks like a number of shallow spots to be very aware of.

[gregnwtf]

Gull island ? Is that no longer and now a reef ?
Chicks ?

Gull had a small shoal, a tree or two that stuck out. Now its all under about 2 ft.
The Chicks are the sunken rocks off Hen Island in 2 spots. Big Chick is a pile of rock and sand with a nasty smell of bird poo. It is probably the size of a football field I guess with nothing there. Bad Poo smell ! These are in Canada just north of North Bass. There is the Transport. Another sunken pile row of rocks at 2ft. None of these have warning bouys or lights. I fish Canadian waters during the summer to get away from the crowds and pull some eyes out of the shallows. Steep dropoffs, huge rocks and clear water.
The Gull spot does not have bouy on it but is near the red can. I was near the skinny spot in fall of 2011. Nothing there, just watch for waves the look different, stay away and watch the depth.
The skinny spot on Crib is @ 200 yd west of the green bouy.
Study the charts !

[wakina]

Here is another map with the GPS numbers for the various reefs! Please note the shallow spot on the map for Crib Reef! There is another shallow spot on Niagara that you should be aware of and is clearly visible on the map! You can damage your boat on either spot with the shallow water conditions so use caution!
Danger Zone 2 is marked with a line of cans that run west to east and are numbered 1 thru 14 and start just South of L-can on the west side of the firing range. That line of cans also cuts across Flat Rock Reef! Zones 1 and 2 are closed to boaters if there will be .50 caliber fire from Camp Perry. That can line has been moved a little further to the North the last couple of years for whatever reason they have. A-can, B-can and C-can marks the outer most northern perimeter line of the firing range and was used when they fired a lot of anti-aircraft flak shells at drones in years past.

http://wbsa.us/denied/map.jpg

I have also reposted the other map so you can see where the patrol boat is usually stationed when Danger Zone 1 is closed to boaters due to small arms fire. It is located just outside and East of the mouth of the Toussaint River and it will be anchored somewhere between Buoy 40 and Buoy 45 marking the perimeter of danger zone 1 and will be flying a large red flag.

http://wbsa.us/denied/range_map.jpg

[Hoss928]

I usually launch from Catawba so I come in from the east.
It looks like G can would be a boundary on that side ?

[wakina]

A, B and C the north Boundary. C, D, E, and F would mark the East boundary with F, G and H the South boundary. C and F would also represent the Northeast and Southeast corners of the firing range. A-can would be the Northwest corner. A, J, K and L would be the west Boundary.