Low Water Warning for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River

[Baron49]

It has been reported in the Watertown Daily Times and I personally can attest to the extremely low water in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.  The water according to all the marina operators in the local area is down 3 feet since July to one of the lowest points anyone can remember in recent history.   Many of the larger boats are stuck in the mud at their slips in many marinas with the owners wondering how they are going to get them out.

The River Control Board opened up the Robert H. Moses Power Dam is Massena, NY to help prevent flooding down stream due to the recent storms and floods and warned area residents to expect "quite a dramtic" rate of drop in the water levels.  Now with Fall here the levels will be dropped even further and this is causing a huge problem for boaters and marina operators alike.

I was on Chaumont Bay off Lake Ontario yesterday and have to say it is the worst I have ever seen in 40+ years of fishing there.  With the jack plate raised completely up and the motor trimmed as far as possible I was still digging up the bottom at the ramp, my boat only draws 12 to 14 inches of water.  I went out and checked several of the many rock shoals and most were inches under the surface in places most people run right over not thinking about it.   The local marinas are being swamped with calls to repair lower units and hulls that have hit some of the thousands of rock piles and shoals that dot the St. Lawrence River. 

If you are planning a Fall trip to this area have an EXCELLENT chart, a good depth sounder, and a spare prop with you.  If you are not within the channel markers by even a few feet you WILL hit a rock shoal!  Pay close attention as this is the worst low water condition anyone has seen.

Baron

[Baron49]

Wanted to add a little bit more to this post.  Been fishing the Chaumont bay area off Lake Ontario for over 40+ years and my last trip out hit a rock pile!...... :cussin:   I knew the area well and also was aware the water is over 4 feet lower then normal.  Went way wide of where the shallow area was and still hit bottom.  Tore up my 4-bladed prop, skeg, spun the hub, and bent the prop shaft to top it off.   Great way to end the year.......but the fishing was excellent!