To: John & whopperhead

[advocate]

Dear Jon and Whopperhead,

I've been told you're the 2 most active free divers/spearfisherman for the IL/WI area so please hit me back with a reply. I'm not far from the IL/WI border myself. Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks.

 

[Jon]

The weather sucks for diving around here right now so I find myself to be much more active in the winter. Right now the lakes are pretty green, but they clear up pretty nicely in the fall and stay that way through late spring.

I did get quite a bit of diving in earlier this month, but that was while on vacation up near the Michigan border. Lakes are cooler, and cleaner, up that way. I used to get out on Lake Michigan quite a bit (on both snorkel and scuba) but have been sticking closer to home the past couple of years due to kids and family.

Welcome to DB!

Jon

 

[advocate]

Thanks for the reply, Jon. Are you getting anything together within the next couple of weeks?

 

[Jon]

Nothing planned other than the odd trip up to Devil's Lake with my family. It's a nice lake to do a bit of monofin swimming in, but they don't allow spearfishing in there anymore.

Scott has been getting out and doing a bit more spearing than I have as of late.

Jon

 

[advocate]

Thanks, Jon. Just sent Scott a message so we'll see what we can do. He seems pretty hard-core (e.g. ice-diving) so I'm hopeful. I appreciate your reply, though. FYI: Lake Geneva also doesn't allow spearfishing, nor do they allow scuba diving as of late (you probably already knew all that but just in case). Take care.

 

[Jon]

WHAT?!

When did that change? I've been spearfishing there before and used to work on (and teach scuba from) a dive charter boat there about 20 years ago.

I know that the local dive shop went out of business earlier this year, but I hadn't heard that diving/spearing was banned.

Did someone tell you that or did you talk to the Lake Patrol?

Jon

 

[advocate]

Someone told me about the scuba, but Lake Patrol showed me a rule that bans all devices that propel spears. Told me no spearguns. Not sure if even the Hawaiin sling is out now.

 

[Jon]

The Lake Patrol pulls a lot of weight on the lake, but they are not the ultimate authority. Time to check the DNR spearfishing rules to see if things have changed in the past year.

Jon

 

[advocate]

Right you are.

 

[Whopperhead]

Lake Geneva is a good lake to go to when we don't have to dodge boaters. what they should ban is "Boaters who haven't taken a class" I would be shocked to find out they banned SPEARFISHING- Khel might know something too.

 

[Salehthefish]

Hello and welcome on DB

All best

 

[advocate]

Thank you!