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Spearing/Clarity reports - S.E. Wisconsin
- Thread starterbgill
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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I've come across musky, walleye and rockbass if you get under the boat slips at SSYC. You need to dive in the fall after the boats have been pulled to see them.
If you get out and dive the breakwall of the outer hoarbour you'll find lots of big walleye to look at- but not shoot. You need a kayak or boat to do so. This is also a great spot to dive for anchors.
Jon
If you get out and dive the breakwall of the outer hoarbour you'll find lots of big walleye to look at- but not shoot. You need a kayak or boat to do so. This is also a great spot to dive for anchors.
Jon
I threw Jon in the car and headed to L. Michigan today. The weather was nice. The water was warm (70F). But, the visibility, wind and water current made hunting a little less enjoyable than I had hoped. We entered the lake south of the Marina, near the soccer fields, and climbed down the hill. Inside the breakwall was the usual 2 feet of visibility. Outside the wall, waves were bouncing off and causing all kinds of rockin' and rollin'. Jon got a bit seasick, but that was probably due to his previous evening. We still got fish, but had to work hard for them. Visibilty was usually less than 10 feet by the wall, so "spot-spearing" was all but impossible. I worked my way all the way down to the marina and back. NO WAY could you get even a little bit out into the outlet channel today. Boat traffic was off the charts, and a 2-3 knot rip current was blasting through (bringing out very murky water).
Certainly not the best day out, but a day at the lake none-the-less.
Here's our catch: Largest 14.25, smallest 12.75. The other six were all 13.x.
Certainly not the best day out, but a day at the lake none-the-less.
Here's our catch: Largest 14.25, smallest 12.75. The other six were all 13.x.
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The water was also WARM. I was getting overheated in my 3mm. I ended up climbing onto the wall to peel off my suit and took off my vest, gloves, and hood. I jumped back in and felt much better. The water was 70F (which is very warm for Lake Michigan) and we were both overdressed. The slight east wind kept refracting waves off the wall so things actually calmed down a bit as you got further out in the lake.
The vis was better than what Ted said. I could easily see the bottom 20' in almost any place I saw- outside of the breakwall. In side the wall the vis was pretty bad- unless you laid on the bottom and could get a few feet of vis. Last time I dove here I had over 30' of vis on the inside of the wall.
Ted also showed me where you guys were going through the wall in the past and all I can say is that you're lucky you didn't get run over, or a ticket- it's illegal to swim through there!
Ted also went for an extended swim so we misse dour 2pm dive charter I had scheduled for us. The original plan was to shoot some perch ther ein the morning and then go out with my father-in-law for a wreck diving in the afternoon. I got to see at least one shipwreck anyway, and we got a lot better workout this way as well.
Nice job on the "belly filet" on that perch there Ted! I knew you had to do it once you found it possible.
Jon
The vis was better than what Ted said. I could easily see the bottom 20' in almost any place I saw- outside of the breakwall. In side the wall the vis was pretty bad- unless you laid on the bottom and could get a few feet of vis. Last time I dove here I had over 30' of vis on the inside of the wall.
Ted also showed me where you guys were going through the wall in the past and all I can say is that you're lucky you didn't get run over, or a ticket- it's illegal to swim through there!
Ted also went for an extended swim so we misse dour 2pm dive charter I had scheduled for us. The original plan was to shoot some perch ther ein the morning and then go out with my father-in-law for a wreck diving in the afternoon. I got to see at least one shipwreck anyway, and we got a lot better workout this way as well.
Nice job on the "belly filet" on that perch there Ted! I knew you had to do it once you found it possible.
Jon
Allow me to retort. Vis was usually less than 10 feet by the wall. This is because the murky water kept seeping through the rocks. Once you got a little bit off the wall, it was as Jon stated. But, all but one of the fish came from the wall, and I tend to like to hunt where the fish.....are.
Jon was also right about me biting off more than I could chew re: the swim and taking hours to get my @ss back to our entry point. I counted: 12,368 waves crashed into my head on the way back. :blackeye Coming back through the breakwall was general craziness. The SE wind was colliding with the strong rip current, throwing up huge waves - adding insult to injury - making it all the more difficult to swim through. Jon knew well enough to find his way around these currents. I put the pedal to the metal and wiped myself out. :head
Jon was also right about me biting off more than I could chew re: the swim and taking hours to get my @ss back to our entry point. I counted: 12,368 waves crashed into my head on the way back. :blackeye Coming back through the breakwall was general craziness. The SE wind was colliding with the strong rip current, throwing up huge waves - adding insult to injury - making it all the more difficult to swim through. Jon knew well enough to find his way around these currents. I put the pedal to the metal and wiped myself out. :head
I know we're not to be in the channel - but what if we are just crossing it to get to the other side- is that illegal? I actually don't know if I'll be back at SSYC this year anyways- probably try other spots. while I was on the "Point" - there was a "Police" boat drive up - look at me and then drive away.
This pic is the "Cool" Jammers dotey is talking about - there are SO MANY things wrong with this picture- I don't even know where to begin.
This pic is the "Cool" Jammers dotey is talking about - there are SO MANY things wrong with this picture- I don't even know where to begin.
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To get technical about it, if you swim through that area you need to have apremit from the city and be bonded for something like $100,000 in case of damge. That's what we need to do commerical dive work in there and if the cops, or the coast guard, want to be pricks they certainly can.
Down the wall further, by the other two shipwrecks, your out of the commercial mooring area and they let most things fly. In the middle of winter, when all of the boats are out, they also ease up on everything and let divers swim around in the marinas. During the summer time all best are off and the tickets can be steep- just ask the jetskier with the $32,000 ticket!
From what I saw yesterday it would we worth whie to bring a boat and go out to hit the reef off of the south end- or go down to Kenosha where it looks like there are fish everywhere!
If you go out about a mile straight out from where Ted and I were diving yesterday you can ususally find the smapling nets the University/DNR put out for perch- they are the ones with the black floats on them.
Another thing to think about it that the further south you go in Lake Michigan the shallower, and warmer, it gets. Of course we can only go so far south because spearing perch in Illinois is illegal.
Jon
Down the wall further, by the other two shipwrecks, your out of the commercial mooring area and they let most things fly. In the middle of winter, when all of the boats are out, they also ease up on everything and let divers swim around in the marinas. During the summer time all best are off and the tickets can be steep- just ask the jetskier with the $32,000 ticket!
From what I saw yesterday it would we worth whie to bring a boat and go out to hit the reef off of the south end- or go down to Kenosha where it looks like there are fish everywhere!
If you go out about a mile straight out from where Ted and I were diving yesterday you can ususally find the smapling nets the University/DNR put out for perch- they are the ones with the black floats on them.
Another thing to think about it that the further south you go in Lake Michigan the shallower, and warmer, it gets. Of course we can only go so far south because spearing perch in Illinois is illegal.
Jon
Nice post on the day's trip you guys! Cool pics too!
And I DO have to say as well...Nice job on the perch fillet Unirdna! Now THATS utilizing the fish!
Hey dotey! You tryin' to elbow in on my playgirl shoot! It seems that your brother has a "natural" talent with the camera! roflThere's a shot of me just like that floating around here too! :t
BTW - Right on about "swimming" through the boat channel...A canoe or Yak is fine though!
And I DO have to say as well...Nice job on the perch fillet Unirdna! Now THATS utilizing the fish!
Hey dotey! You tryin' to elbow in on my playgirl shoot! It seems that your brother has a "natural" talent with the camera! roflThere's a shot of me just like that floating around here too! :t
BTW - Right on about "swimming" through the boat channel...A canoe or Yak is fine though!
I don't know- we could make a "Wisconsin Speargun Hunters" Calender. NOT!rofl
:naughty
PICS: 1st- BGILL, 2nd - dotey
:naughty
PICS: 1st- BGILL, 2nd - dotey
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ok- enough with the hijacking of the thread-
So, I might be going on Wed now- Lake Mich - Kenosha area. Getting there early and leaving around 2-3pm
Send me a PM if you want to go or meet there.
So, I might be going on Wed now- Lake Mich - Kenosha area. Getting there early and leaving around 2-3pm
Send me a PM if you want to go or meet there.
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I'll be working in Kenosha on the afternoon of the 6th...I plan on doin' some freediving/spearfishing too! But I probably won't be getting in the water until 2 or 3 p.m....:head So most likely I'll see you there - but you'll probably be on your way out by then!
Last time I was there the bigger perch were right along the deep edge of the near shore breakwall - Near the sand actually. In close were thousands of little guys.
I plan on swimming out from the beach this time and hittin' the "island"...The "island" is virtually un-dived....No one goes out there except me I think....Never ever saw anyone else out there. So be careful if you go there! The currents can be wicked strong. Only "homeboys" and myself used to dive at some of the spots I've let you guys in on...Even took you guys to Golden...My fave! But I'm sure you guys are good stewards of the water! Never did get to Moose this year...From what I hear it is still a fairly quiet lake - not many know it's open again. I'll hitt'er this fall.
I've recently discovered a few more very clear lakes kinda close to home - And there is also Beulah which I've been itchin' to try - Just have'nt found the time - So I've stuck mostly with the "tried and true"...Although Powers Lake was pretty nice...Lots of crappie's in there!
Good luck - Hope to see some of you at Kenosha!
Last time I was there the bigger perch were right along the deep edge of the near shore breakwall - Near the sand actually. In close were thousands of little guys.
I plan on swimming out from the beach this time and hittin' the "island"...The "island" is virtually un-dived....No one goes out there except me I think....Never ever saw anyone else out there. So be careful if you go there! The currents can be wicked strong. Only "homeboys" and myself used to dive at some of the spots I've let you guys in on...Even took you guys to Golden...My fave! But I'm sure you guys are good stewards of the water! Never did get to Moose this year...From what I hear it is still a fairly quiet lake - not many know it's open again. I'll hitt'er this fall.
I've recently discovered a few more very clear lakes kinda close to home - And there is also Beulah which I've been itchin' to try - Just have'nt found the time - So I've stuck mostly with the "tried and true"...Although Powers Lake was pretty nice...Lots of crappie's in there!
Good luck - Hope to see some of you at Kenosha!
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I was looking at the "Island". I thought if the shore was no good- then take a swim out there.
Yeah- I have to leave by 2pm so, I can get home, clean fish and get to bed before work.
Yeah- I have to leave by 2pm so, I can get home, clean fish and get to bed before work.