Lakes and trips

[allhunter]

Its been a while but now life is slowin back down and the itch for me to get spearfishing again is running wild. I need some help though. Does anyone know any good lakes within an hour of Appleton? Also does anyone know of any websites that tell vis or anything like that. Lastly I know there used to be some trips on here just wondering if those where still up and when they would be. like i said i want to try and get out quite a bit this year but in years past have struggled finding clear enough lakes.

Adam

 

[Whopperhead]

There is a lake east of you called Lake Michigan - Can get very clear on good days- 80 ft vis or better on some days. That's were I would be going if I lived that close. In June/July - I go there (2 hours away) about once a week for the Perch. Always big carp in there and other fish. Lake Michigan is great! Always clear lakes in Waukesha County. but that may be more than an hour away. Greenbay can also get pretty nice.

 

[allhunter]

There is a lake east of you called Lake Michigan - Can get very clear on good days- 80 ft vis or better on some days. That's were I would be going if I lived that close. In June/July - I go there (2 hours away) about once a week for the Perch. Always big carp in there and other fish. Lake Michigan is great! Always clear lakes in Waukesha County. but that may be more than an hour away. Greenbay can also get pretty nice.

Alright and when you say good days does that mean when theres a west wind? thats what i have been reading on here.

 

[Whopperhead]

West wind or No Wind. Or find a Break wall- that helps alot too. OR......... Go out really Deep- it will clear up eventually.

 

[reason]

I use Lake Link to sort out new lakes before i go for the first time. It has a great deal of info from where to put in to topography and vis sometimes. It will also give an idea of what fish are in the lake and where your likely to find them. www.lake-link.com

 

[ShallowDiver]

My dad (pinggene) and I used to use this map. It is a little old now, but I would imagine the water clarity has stayed somewhat consistent. Maybe some of these other guys (Scott or Jon) could comment on whether or not it is still accurate. http://www.lakesat.org/documents/wi_lake_clarity_poster.pdf

 

[Whopperhead]

IT's a good reference to use. Thanks for posting it. Are you back in WI?

 

[ShallowDiver]

I am, but my Dad is still out in seattle

 

[BigThreeForLife]

Hi all, I'm new to spearfishing locally, have a few spearfishing trips in Hilo Hawaii. I live in Chicago, but am willing to travel. I've purchased everything needed to start spearfishing locally (riffe 3mm cryptic camo wetsuit, riffe gloves, riffe boots, riffe long fins, riffe dive knife, frameless mask, 90cm aimrite gun, float)... just looking to gather as much information as possible, spearfishing spots, and anyone who would want a new partner... so far all I've seen is Lake Michigan is a great place once the season opens. Any info is appreciated.

Chris

 

[kraftyjack]

I have a feeling Blackhawk is going to be clear this weekend if it isnt raining. Heading out on saturday and sunday probably around 9 or 10.

 

[thudspud]

Any report on Blackhawk? Was thinking of hitting it up this weekend.

 

[kraftyjack]

was too windy last weekend so i didnt want to take a long trip for nothing. It was pretty close 2 weeks ago though so i imagine it will be good to go. Im trying this weekend as well, if i end up going on friday evening i will post about the clarity that night.

 

[kraftyjack]

kinda late to post this, but im heading out for blackhawk at noon today.

 

[honda2w]

When spear fishing in the Milwaukee area of lake Michigan are there areas you can't dive? Like around the break walls? And has the coast guard ever talked to any body while they were spearing?

 

[Whopperhead]

Just make sure you're not in the Channels. Or where the Boats Travel a lot. Breakwalls can be speared, they usually hold all the fish.

I've never had Coast Guard talk to me. But always keep your license with you.

 

[kraftyjack]

Going to blackhawk saturday, probably be there around 8 or 9 am. On wednesday at blackhawk a fisherman dropped his phone in the water and recruited me to go find it, i didnt even think to bring my speargun and wouldnt yah know, saw one of the biggest crappies of my whole life. Gonna go to that spot and kill him tomorrow.

 

[honda2w]

whopperhead do you spear on the out side or inside of the break wall? Or by south shore?

 

[Jon]

You can spear south of the south shore yacht club. Go either inside or outside if you wish. Stay out of the channels or you'll get run over. Inside depth is maybe 10' max, and there are weeds and fish to be found. Out side of the breakwall might get you down to about 17'. Not as many weeds out there, but there are carp and perch to look for.

Once you get south of the break wall there is a rock reef that goes out to the green can buoy. The top of the reef is 12' or so and the bottom will be 20' to the north and 40' to the south. You would probably need a kayak to get out to it, but it's not impossible to swim it if you climb down the cliff and go straight out.

Another option is to go north and enter off of Atwater beach. There are two shipwrecks out there. One is in 10' and the other is in 18'-23' of water. My father-in-law just found a whole other section to the larger one last year when he was scootering to the north. There are fish around the jetties and off in the weed beds. you may even find some perch hiding out in the ship ribs of the Appomattox.

From there you could also start heading north to Doctor's park, so south to Sheridan or Grant park. All of these will have large hills to climb down to hit there water.

Stay out of south shore yacht club and it's surrounding mooring field. The same goes for McKinley marina and everything inside the breakwater there. IT is possible to dive those places in the winter when the boats are pulled, but this time of year you're looking at a ticket and maybe even a minor decapitation.

Another fun dive to do, if it's not crowded, is to walk out to the mid point of Government Pier and jump in on the north side of the wall. There are orange ladders built into the walls at certain intervals that you can climb back up. I've done it many times in full scuba so I know that they will easily support a freediver. Of you swim north a ways you might even find the remains of the old love rock (water intake) in about 25' of water. It's a huge structure that comes up to about 12' if I remember correctly. I also remember seeing perch hanging around it the last time I was there. Of course I had scuba students with me doing a check out dive so I couldn't spear any of them, but they were there.

Jon

 

[Whopperhead]

whopperhead do you spear on the out side or inside of the break wall? Or by south shore?

What Jon said.

Remember - Lake Michigan Perch does not open until June 16th and you can only shoot 5!

 

[honda2w]

Has anybody had run ins with the coast guard or problems with them, diving in lake Michigan ?