I will be moving to Chicago in January to live there for about a year. When it warms up I was hoping to do some diving and hopefully (if the law allows) some spearfishing in Lake Michigan. Anybody have any input on this?
I saw a number of divers around the harbors near downtown a few years ago. Also, don't miss out on diving Lake Geneva, Wisc....about 75 miles NW of downtown Chicago. Clear deep water. Bring your wet suit, though.
I know nothing about the spearfishing rules up there, even though I spend summers on the Wisc. Illinois line. There is a Chicagoland fishing site that may help. You will have to Google it, if I can't find it on my listings. R
I doubt that January is the month that I would choose to move from TX to Chicago. I lived there for 40 years. Nothing like skiing at 20 below to make you appreciate the South.
Oak Street beach, on Lake Michigan, is full of swimmers most of the long, long. long summer...(about 6 weeks). Inland lakes are warmer but pretty cloudy. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is clear and probably warmer than the Great Lakes.
My kids wanted to swim in Lake Michigan 30 years ago. We took them to the beach. One run into the water...they turned around almost instantly ...and we went to the much warmer Cedar Lake.
Summertime water temps will hit the low 70's on the windward side of the lake, and mid 60's on the side that has the wind blowing out. The cold water upwells when the wind blows offshore. Thermocline is 8-20 feet down and it will drop there into the low 60's/upper 50's. Since the Zebra mussels took over 20 years ago, water clarity is awesome. Lot's of big (30lb) carp for spearing.
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