New Years Day Diving/Carp Shoot in Madison WI

[bjpete]

For all of those in the Madison WI area, it's time to start thinking about the annual New Years Day Freedive/Carp Shoot. We'll be diving at the outlet in Lake Monona starting at about 11AM. In past years the visibility has been good and the water temperature at the MGE outlet is around 60 degrees (F). Not to worry, there is no discrimination, if you prefer to SCUBA you are more than welcome to join us, and if you are a warm water type, you too are more than welcomed.
Later,

Brian

 

[Jon]

Sounds good to me. I'll bring along an extra gun for anyone who wants to give it a "shot".

Here's a video Ted and I shot a couple winters ago- edited by Ted, of course.




Jon

 

[Pinggene]

My new 5mm Elios has not arrived yet. Do you think I would survive in a 3mm hooded vest under a 2 - 3mm cheapo "sport" wet suit?

I did go in Lake Michigan for a while last summer, but it was after an East wind...I think the temps were warmer than normal.

Thanks.

Gene

 

[Fondueset]

Ted sure does some nice work with those vids. On the 3/2 mil question. My daughter went in for about 20 minutes last March in her 3 mil plush lined suit - but it's and elios custom. I think you'd survive but be thoroughly miserable.

 

[Pinggene]

Fondueset,

Thank you for the reply...my thoughts exactly...I don't like miserable.

I'll just keep patiently waiting. With the warm weather we have been having, there may be open water all over the place when my suit arrives!

Did you need to make any "modifications" to your suit, or was it good out of the box?

Gene

 

[Jon]

I checked it out yesterday and the vis was pretty good, but the pipe is not on and the warm water is not flowing- which means water temps in the mid 30's instead of the mid 50's. You might want to try your suit, or rent a scuba suit or see if you can fit into one of Brian's extra suits.

I will be there but my internet is out right now, I'm actually at a coffee shop right now fueling both of my addictionsrofl , so don't expect a reply any time too soon.:head

Jon

 

[Jon]

It turns out that I was the only freediver that dove, but there were a half dozen scuba divers who showed up.

Water temp was 36 degrees and the vis was a good 20'. I did manage to shoot at least one carp, and here are some of the stills from my camera gun.

Jon

 

[Fondueset]

Looks good! Jon is that a teak mt0?

 

[Jon]

Basically it is. Ted found a guy in Hawaii to custom make a couple of guns and he used all Riffe parts but made us a wooden version of a MTO. We would have just bought Riffes but they don't make mid-handle guns short enough for the crappy vis that we get around here, and the MT series hadn't come out yet.

Jon

 

[Pinggene]

Jon,

How deep were you when you got the carp?

I'll bet there are a number of lakes without ice...have you tried any others?

Have you ever tried Lake Michigan during the winter?

Good photos!

Gene

 

[Jon]

I was only in about 3' of water.

I've done a lot of scuba diving out in Lake Michigan in the winter but never much freediving. My father-in-law runs winter charters out to the wrecks so I've dove them quite a bit. We require drysuits and redundent systems (H-valves, pony bottles or doubles) plus a drysuit due to the extreme nature of the diving conditions so I've never braved it- more worried about what would happen if your boat sinks 5 miles out in the middle of winter when the coast guard may not be able to help you than getting a little bit cold on a dive. Winter conditions out there provide visibility of over 100'. The water gets pretty cold, colder it seems than when just ice diving, and wehave had many charters where everyones regualtors freeze up and the dives are all cut short. The funny part is that the same regulators will work just fne the following weekend when we do our ice dives. i think it's becuase of the water flow in the lake allowing lower freezing points and the surface weather being so much more harsh- many times we come in with the entire top of the boat is frozen in ice.

Check out some of Fonduset's photos to see what winter is like in Lake Michigan.

Jon

 

[Pinggene]

I was thinking of trying off of the Sheboygan breakwater. One would think that there may be some carp or other shootable fish in the area. Being close to shore would also allow for a quick exit & cup of Hot Coco if needed.

The visability would be awsome. I would think that it wouldn't be frozen over...especially this year as warn as it has been.

Gene

 

[Jon]

That would be a nce place to try. When I lived in Milwaukee we would often go and dive the marinas in the winter time to look for all kinds of lost 'treasure'. No boats to worry about that time of year and decent vis.

Jon

 

[Pinggene]

Hey,

I hadn't thought of the "treasure" thing. Great idea. As soon as I get my suit, I will post an "outing" to see if any would want to join me.

Sheboygan has a nice beach to start from that gradually gets deeper & has two breakwater walls. I doubt there would be very many fishermen to contend with this time of year...perhaps a few.

Not sure what the vis will be like inside the breakwater, as this is the outflow of the Sheboygan river. I think it would depend on the rain/flow. When I went in the Summer, the vis inside was around 10', so still spearable & treasure huntable.

gene

 

[Jon]

In the middle of winter I've had vis of more than 30' inside the marina docks. That was even before zebra mussles invaded so I know it has to be better than that now- as long as we don't have a lot of strong winds from the east.

Jon